How Many Cold And Hot Zones Does Your Home Have?

Do people in your home fight over the thermostat setting? In many homes, especially split-level homes, someone is too hot, someone is too cold and no one is happy.

Even in a home with adequate central air conditioning, mom or dad may find the temperature to be fine in the kitchen or living room, but their daughter is in the basement game room with her friends passing out sweaters for them. But then upstairs, their son is home from college wanting to study at his desk, but he can’t because the desk surface is hot enough to fry an egg! This is a house that might benefit from a zoned HVAC system.

What is a zoned HVAC system?

A zoned HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system allows the homeowner to set different temperatures in different parts or “zones” of the house. Rather than one thermostat for the entire house, each zone can be regulated with its own thermostat. A zone can be as small as one room or as large as an entire level of the house or an addition to the house.

How does zoning work?

In a home with an existing forced air heating and cooling system (and one thermostat), it may be possible to install an automatic damper system into the HVAC ductwork that would divide the home into zones.

The better way to set up a zoned HVAC system is with ductless mini-split units. These units come in a variety of styles and models, but basically it’s a rectangular heating and cooling unit that is mounted high on the wall (or into the ceiling). That’s actually the first part, the indoor air-handling unit (evaporator). It’s hooked up to the second part, an outdoor compressor/condenser. Several of the indoor units can be hooked up to one outdoor unit. Each indoor unit is controlled with its own thermostat.

Reasons why you might want a zoned HVAC system

Ductless mini-splits are a great solution for a newly constructed house, but also a good retrofit for houses with non-ducted heating systems (like hot water heat or electric heating). They also work well for new additions to a house that lack ductwork or separate buildings like a garage or shed converted into offices or hobby rooms. Why might you want to look into installing some ductless mini-splits?

1. To solve the multi-level home heating/cooling problem (described above).

2. To balance the temperature in homes where one side of the house gets more solar heat than the other side.

3. To heat/cool only the parts of the home in use. (Why heat/cool a huge house if you’re mostly only using a few rooms?)

4. To get heating/cooling in new house additions / separate buildings without installing ductwork.

Summary

To find out how a zoned HVAC system could work in your home, give us a call. With this surprisingly simple solution, you’ll never fight over the thermostat in your home again!

HVAC Preventive Maintenance is Essential (5 Reasons Why)

5 Reasons Why You Need a Maintenance Plan

What if – for a relatively small investment – you could save money, breathe cleaner air, enjoy increased safety and comfort in your home, and help the environment while boosting your overall peace of mind?

That’s just a quick synopsis of the benefits of getting regular HVAC maintenance. Now let’s take a closer look at why HVAC preventive maintenance is such a wise and worthwhile investment.

1. Save Money

Here are ways preventive maintenance benefits your bottom line.

  • Prevent costly breakdowns
  • Reduce energy bills
  • Extend the life of your system
  • Stay protected under warranty

Regular HVAC maintenance is said to reduce the risk of costly breakdowns by as much as 95%. Chances are you wouldn’t drive your car for 30,000 miles without getting an oil change; you’d be asking for trouble. This analogy holds true for your heating and cooling system.

Cut energy bills: Preventive maintenance helps ensure that your HVAC system runs at close to peak efficiency. This can mean savings of up to 30% on your energy bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Extend system life:  Regular maintenance extends the life of your system, reducing the likelihood that you’ll need to spend big bucks on an HVAC installation soon. It’s sort of like how annual checkups can help us humans live longer, except your HVAC doctor makes house calls.

2. Stay covered under warranty

It’s important to be aware that most HVAC manufacturers require proof of annual maintenance when a repair claim is submitted under warranty. Some of the components that make your HVAC system work are fairly expensive, so investing in annual maintenance to keep them covered under your warranty can save you a significant sum if something goes wrong.

3. Improve Your Comfort

You depend on your HVAC system to keep you comfortable year round. Regular maintenance helps your system produce and distribute the warm or cool air more evenly and steadily. It also reduces the odds that you’ll come home from work one winter’s day to find frigid air blasting through your vents.

But it can also be easy to take maintenance for granted, or to get used to the idea that a particular room is just too hot in the summer or chilly in the winter. Preventive steps like cleaning your ductwork can help ensure that your home heats and cools as evenly and efficiently as possible.

Regular maintenance will also minimize the chances that HVAC noises or smells will disrupt your quality of life.

Hvac-Maintenance

4. Keep Your Home Safer

You’ve heard the horror stories. Someone you know went away during the holidays and returned to find a frozen, severely damaged house. If you’re away from home and your heat stops working during a cold snap or one of those polar vortexes we’ve been hearing about lately, the result can be a domino effect of frozen or burst pipes, water damage and worse. The cost of repairs in this situation can be incredibly steep.

Preventive HVAC maintenance also helps safeguard you and your family against the risk of carbon monoxide – the colorless, odorless gas whose effects can be deadly. According to the Centers for Disease Control, exposure to even low levels of carbon monoxide can cause serious health issues.

The most common cause of carbon monoxide leaks is a cracked or failed heat exchanger. An HVAC maintenance checkup typically includes a carbon monoxide test that would detect any potential hazard. Your HVAC professional can also talk to you about the benefits of installing a carbon monoxide detector.

5. Help the Environment

For those concerned about their green footprint, keep in mind that a well-maintained HVAC system consumes considerably less fuel – and that’s good for the planet.

Such homeowners will also want to be aware of what kind of refrigerant is used in their system since the EPA has been working to phase out substances that harm the environment. HVAC technicians handling controlled refrigerant are required to have EPA Section 608 Certification and can help you understand what kind of refrigerant you’re using, its impact on the environment, and your options.

Your HVAC contractor can also talk to you about the benefits of using a programmable thermostat or switching from oil heat to natural gas so you can take to reduce your system’s impact on the environment.

6. Give Yourself Greater Peace of Mind

Finally, investing in a preventive maintenance plan gives you the comfort of knowing that if something goes wrong, you’ve already taken steps to make the situation as painless as possible.

New 2023 Residential Efficiency Standards

Requirements for 2023

The US Energy Information Agency recently announced that new minimum energy efficiency standards for residential central air conditioning and heat pump systems will be put into place starting in January 2023.

The new SEER standard

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and is a measure of the general energy efficiency of air conditioners and air-source heat pumps. SEER ratings indicate how well an air conditioner will perform, from an energy standpoint, across the whole season (not just during periods of peak use). Most AC units have a label that lists the SEER rating, among other specs. Florida currently requires a SEER rating of 14 or higher. The new standards for 2023 will require a SEER of 15 or higher for the Southern part of the US.

Regional Requirements

SEER regulations were first put into place in 1992 when President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act. At that time, federal regulations required a minimum SEER rating of 10 for heating and air conditioning systems. The national rating requirement rose and fell over the next couple of decades, setting at 13 until 2011. In that year, the US Department of Energy established regional SEER rating standards, understanding that the amount of energy used for air conditioning varied in different parts of the country. For example, the Southern region has a longer warm-weather season than the North, so AC units run longer and use more energy to cool homes in the region.

What the new SEER standard means for you

A good SEER rating can be a key factor in selecting an energy-efficient AC unit. The higher the SEER rating, the more you can save on electricity over the season, because the AC system needs less energy to function. Just by choosing a system with a SEER rating of 16 versus 14, you can knock about $50 off your electric bill for the year.

There are also environmental perks to using an AC system with a higher SEER rating. An energy-efficient unit can help reduce your carbon footprint by lowering greenhouse gasses and other atmospheric pollutants. In addition, most newer units no longer use freon, which used to be the standard coolant. Freon is a gas that is harmful to the environment, so most new systems use a refrigerant called Puron, which has been shown not to be harmful to the ozone layer.

Updating your AC to meet the new SEER standards

You are not required to replace your existing air conditioning unit if it has a SEER rating below the new standard, but if it fails and you need a new one, you will need to make sure it has a SEER of 15 or higher. When you do decide to update or replace your unit, there are several other factors to take into consideration, including the unit’s BTUs, the size of your home, the type of insulation you have, and if there are any leaks around your doors or windows. All of these factors go into making your Tampa home energy-efficient and help ensure you’re getting the most out of your system. A skilled HVAC specialist like the folks at Integrity Home Solutions can help you choose the most effective and efficient system for your home.

Find out how you can make your AC more efficient!

HVAC Maintenance

1. Schedule regular maintenance checks

Like any other machinery, your HVAC system needs regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly. A qualified technician can check for any potential problems and make necessary repairs. Many HVAC companies offer service contracts that include regular maintenance checks.

Skipping these checks can lead to more significant issues and expensive repairs. Note that you may not detect some problems, but professionals will. Some things the expert will do during a routine maintenance check are:

  • Check the thermostat to make sure it’s working properly
  • Clean or replace filters
  • Lubricate moving parts
  • Check the refrigerant level
  • Listen for unusual noises
  • Inspect the condenser and coils

2. Change your filters regularly

One of the most straightforward and crucial HVAC maintenance tips is changing your air filters regularly. A dirty filter can impede airflow and cause the system to work harder, decreasing efficiency and increasing energy costs. Filters should be changed every few months or as directed by the manufacturer. Note that worn-out filters can also be a fire hazard.

3. Keep the area around your HVAC unit clean

The area around your HVAC unit should be clean and debris-free. Doing so will ensure good airflow and prevent the unit from overheating. Ascertain the outside of the system is free of leaves, sticks, and other debris. Regularly sweep up any dirt or grass that accumulates around the unit. Additionally, clean the exterior coil at least once a year.

4. Don’t block the airflow to your HVAC unit

Be sure to leave enough space around your HVAC unit for proper airflow. Do not place anything in front of the unit, including furniture, rugs, or plants. Doing so will restrict airflow and cause the system to work harder, decreasing efficiency and energy costs. Obstructed airflow can also lead to the unit overheating.

5. Monitor your energy bills

You can understand how efficiently your HVAC system runs by monitoring your energy bills. If you notice a sudden increase in your energy costs, it may be a sign that your system needs maintenance. Other issues could be low refrigerant levels or a clogged filter. Other than monitoring the energy bills, check the performance. How fast does it warm or cool the house? Do you feel that it’s not adequately cooling or heating the home?

6. Use a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat can help you save energy and money by allowing you to set different temperatures for different times of the day. For example, you can set the thermostat to lower the temperature at night or when you’re not home. This will help you save money on your energy bills and reduce wear and tear on your HVAC system.

7. Insulate your home

Another way to save energy and money is to insulate your home. Proper insulation keeps your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter while reducing your energy costs. The HVAC system will not work as hard to maintain a comfortable temperature if your home is adequately insulated.

8. Get a tune-up every year

A yearly tune-up keeps your HVAC system running smoothly and efficiently. A technician will inspect the unit for potential problems and make necessary repairs and replacements. The exercise will help avoid costly repairs down the road and ensure that your system runs at its best. Note that a yearly tune-up handles more than regular maintenance. The exercise includes:

  • A thorough inspection of the entire heating and cooling system
  • Cleaning and adjustment of all equipment
  • Lubrication of all moving parts
  • Checking refrigerant levels
  • Testing ignition and safety controls
  • Replacement of furnace filters

9. Educate yourself on your HVAC system

The more you know about your HVAC system, the better equipped you’ll be to maintain it. Read the owner’s manual, visit the manufacturer’s website, and ask your HVAC technician any questions. You’ll understand how your system works and how to maintain it properly. Also, listen to the sounds it makes to identify potential problems.

10. Regularly clean the entire system

Clean your HVAC system regularly to keep it running smoothly. It includes cleaning the inside and outside of the unit and the ducts. You can clean them with a brush or vacuum and the vents with a hose. Cleaning the system improves efficiency and ensures no dirty air circulates, keeping your family safe from infections.

11. Seal any leaks around the unit

If there are any leaks around your HVAC unit, seal them up. Leaks allow conditioned air to escape, which can increase your energy bills. You can use weatherstripping or caulk to seal the leaks. If the refrigerant lines are leaking, use sealant tape, but it’s best to have a professional fix the leak.

12. Consider a new HVAC system

If your HVAC system is old and inefficient, it may be time to consider replacing it. A new system can save you money on your energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When shopping for a new system, consult an HVAC technician to find the best unit for your home.

Also, check the system’s star rating to ensure you’re getting the best efficiency possible. Another reason to go for a new unit is when the current one is not sized correctly, leading to discomfort.

Endnote

There are many things homeowners can do to maintain their HVAC system and reduce their energy bills. These tips will keep your home comfortable and your HVAC system running smoothly. Never ignore maintenance issues, as they can lead to costly repairs.