With therising cost of energy you may want to consider a new heating and cooling system in Katy, Texas. The followinginformation can help you decide whether to upgrade to a new system, or correctproblems that affect your current system.
First, ifyour system is more than 10 years old consider a new one. Newer models willhave much improved energy efficiency and new features to increase your comfort.Consider the following when making your decision:
Yourequipment needs frequent repairs: age can affect efficiency and age can cause morefrequent break downs.
You leaveyour thermostat set at one temperature: Consider a new programmable thermostat.You can program temperature changes when they are needed. For example, programyour thermostat to 65 at bedtime in the winter, and when the occupants are allgone. Multiple changes can be programmed, ultimately saving you money.
Some roomsare too hot or too cold: Problems with your ducts, inadequate insulation, orinadequate sealing may be the cause. Check ducts for joints being sealed and theductwork for being insulated. Check any location where wire, pipes or ductexits the walls, basement or foundation. With the exception of a hot flue uselatex expanding foam or caulk to seal holes. Duct problems and inadequatesealing cause your system to overwork.
ExcessiveDust or high humidity: Your equipment may be poorly operating; the wrong sizesystem or leaky duct work can all cause these problems. Dirty ducts can causean excess of dust as well. Have duct cleaned every 10 years or more often asneeded. Change your filter every month.
Know theenergy star rating of your equipment: If your equipment rating is less than 5replace it. Go to www.energystar.gov for an analysis ofyour home. The higher the rating the more efficient it is.
Your bestdefense against high energy cost isa new energy efficient model coupledwith a well-insulated and sealed house. The money you save will pay for yournew system. An energy efficient central air unit can save you as much as 75%when compared to a 20 year old model. Reducing our carbon footprint goes handin hand with energy efficiency.
Choose thecorrect sized equipment: Having a bigger system won’t save you money. It maycost you more. A bigger unit will cycle more often, never reaching its peakefficiency. It will be unable to remove humidity from the air. Remember,humidity makes it feel warmer.
Yourtonnage need may be different than your old system. If you have addedinsulation, new energy star windows, and sealed air leaks, your system needsmay be smaller. Your old equipment may have been too large in the beginning.Also, if you have a new addition, this will change your system needs. Yourcontractor will need to gather the following information about your house:floor area, level of insulation and type and size of windows. He will do this by performing the following:
- Measure the square footage of your home noting the direction it faces
- Measure the square footage of windows and doors and note the direction they face
- Look in the attic to estimate the value of the insulation
- Look in basement or crawl space to estimate the value of the insulation
- If possible, look into the walls to estimate the value of the insulation
- Look at the duct system for leaks and estimate insulation value
- Note the number of appliances
- Note the presence of any leakage from a fireplace
- Note the number of bedrooms for fresh air needs
- Note the temperature you plan to keep your home
Aprofessional will calculate these things, so be careful that your contractor islicensed, and insured. Sizing is the most common mistake according to nationalsurveys. Many installers simply replace the same size as your old systemwithout considering changes made to your home or the increased efficiency ofnew systems. Your contractor can use an ACCA/ANSI Manual or the equivalentsizing tool that takes all the above and other factors into considerationincluding proper size duct. Computer software is also available to contractorsto calculate your home’s needs.
Choose ahigh efficiency Energy Star rated system for the best value and the leastimpact upon the environment.
If yoursystem is not ten years old or older, you may want to beef up your home bysealing it, installing energy efficient windows and doors, and addinginsulation. Even sun blocking window films or awnings can help. Reflective blinds and drapes can also assistyour wallet. Open the curtains on sunny windows in the winter and close them tothe sun in the summer. Considerinstalling a programmable thermostat, lower it to 68 degrees during winter daysand wear a sweater. Raise it to 78 degrees in the summer and turn on ceilingfans and other fans. Using a humidifier in the winter can make it feel warmer.Rugs on cold floors can make you more comfortable in the winter.
Certainly,have your system checked and serviced every year. The old saying that an ounceof prevention is worth a pound of cure certainly does apply to your homesheating and cooling. Clean coils make for a more efficient system.
If you’restill in doubt, your HVAC contractorcan advise you on whether you should correct any problems with your old system,or invest in a new energy efficient system for your home.
Cypress Heating and Air Conditioning is a leaderin the HVAC field servicing Katy, Plano, and surrounding areas. Our NATEcertified technicians provide professional HVAC related services, installationand repairs. If you are looking for helpwith your home or business’ HVAC system do not hesitate to give us a calltoday. One of our professional technicians will be more than happy to assistyou and schedule a service call at your earliest convenience. Cypress Heating and Air Conditioning is aproud member of the BBB and maintains a rock solid A+ rating.