Stop Air Conditioning Your Attic!

A duct system that is well-designed and properly sealed can make your home much more comfortable, energy efficient and safer during our hot Arizona valley summers. Sealing and insulating ducts can help with common comfort problems, such as rooms that are too hot in the summer.

In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts distribute conditioned air throughout the house. In a typical house, however, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. The result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set. Sealing those leaks in the ducts is a must to get better performance from your heating and cooling system. In addition, insulating ducts in unconditioned spaces that get especially hot or cold (such as attics, garages, or crawlspaces) can save significant energy.

So how do you know if your home has poorly performing ducts? The Energy Star website has several things to look for which are good indicators:

• you have high summer and winter utility bills;
• you have rooms that are difficult to heat and cool;
• you have stuffy rooms that never seem to feel comfortable;
• your ducts are located in an attic, crawlspace, or the garage;
• you find tangled or kinked flexible ducts in your system.

If you recognize any of those indicators, have a professional air conditioning company use a product such as Aeroseal in your ducts. Aeroseal allows them to find and seal any problem cracks without causing damage to your home. It only takes one application to seal undetectable holes in your ductwork with 98% effectiveness.

Have annual maintenance done on your system before hot or cold weather begins. When air is leaking out of cracks in the ducts, extra air and energy must be used to heat or cool the space causing more stress on your HVAC unit. A professional technician can find small problems before they get bigger, such as determining if your fan motor is dying; a big warning sign for an air conditioner. A technician can also check electrical connections and check your voltage and will add refrigerant to your system.

Consider installing new HVAC equipment if yours is over 10 years old. A well-designed and sealed duct system may allow you to downsize to a smaller, less costly heating and cooling system that will provide better service.

While you can’t eliminate all air leakage, sealing ducts and other areas where air can escape will help significantly. Wolff Mechanical is dedicated to helping your home achieve maximum efficiency, reliability and comfort. Visit our website to view the services we provide and call us today for a free in-home estimate.

Image source: http://www.wylio.com/credits/Flickr/9100874498

Save Your AC, Use the Ceiling Fan

Using ceiling fans in your home may help cut down your energy costs; however there are a few things of which you should be aware to use your ceiling fan efficiently. Ceiling fans do not actually cool air in the room. The only reason a ceiling fan should be turned on is if there is someone in the room who will feel the benefits of the air movement.

“Ceiling fans are considered the most effective... fans, because they effectively circulate the air in a room to create a draft throughout the room. If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort... Install a fan in each room that needs to be cooled during hot weather.” When you raise the thermostat’s setting, you can save about 1 percent on your energy bills for every one degree you lower your thermostat. Over the summer, that 4 percent savings will add up.

When buying ceiling fans, be sure to look for the Energy Star label. Fans that earn the label move air on average 20% more efficiently than standard models. Be sure to check the noise ratings, and, if possible, listen to your fan in operation before you buy it.

When installing a ceiling fan, remember “ceiling fans are only appropriate in rooms with ceilings at least eight feet high. Fans work best when the blades are 7 to 9 feet above the floor and 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling. Fans should be installed so their blades are no closer than 8 inches from the ceiling and 18 inches from the walls.

“Larger ceiling fans can move more air than smaller fans. A 36- or 44-inch diameter fan will cool rooms up to 225 square feet, while fans that are 52 inches or more should be used in larger rooms. Multiple fans work best in rooms longer than 18 feet. Small and medium-sized fans will provide efficient cooling in a 4- to 6-foot diameter area, while larger fans are effective up to 10 feet.”

This summer, save energy and stay comfortable by using your ceiling fans. It will alleviate the strain on your wallet and your air conditioning unit. For more information about ways you can save energy throughout your home, contact Wolff Mechanical today. We’re happy to put our expertise to good use for homeowners in the Phoenix valley area.

Image source: http://pixabay.com/en/house-panel-ceiling-fan-light-315331/

It’s A Dry Heat

We’ve heard it a thousand times here in the valley of the sun, “at least it’s a dry heat.” Though the winter months here in the valley may not be a debate, the summer months are another thing all together! So we go from our air conditioned homes, to our air conditioned offices/schools, back to our air conditioned car, and return to our air conditioned homes once again; and that’s how we survive! But are you and your household members continually at odds over what the temperature of the thermostat in your house should be set at? One person is always too hot, another too cold, of course someone else thinks it’s just right. ;)

Either way, when it gets hot outside, the AC will be turned on! So before the heat actually arrives, it is time to get ready for it. By performing certain tasks before the season is officially upon us, you can avoid many foreseeable issues. A neglected AC unit can cost up to 50% more to run and can lead to many more issues than one that has been properly cared for. If you feel comfortable doing some home maintenance steps yourself, there are some helpful hints we found at the ConsumerEnergy Center website. http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/summerize.html

On the EnergyStar website, there are additional tips they share for cooling down your home or business to get ready for summer. Energy Star is “a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy program to help us all save money and protect our environment through energy efficient products and practices.” http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/promotions/cool_change/downloads/CYW_Topfiveways.pdf

If you can’t figure out the problem, call a professional in like Wolff Mechanical. A professional will perform a complete inspection, safety tests, tune-up, cleaning, and perform repairs. Though we don’t guarantee it will stop any squabbles over what the thermostat should be set at, preparing beforehand will keep you from having to make an “emergency” call when temps are soaring and repair people are busy! Your comfort is our top priority, so we pride ourselves on same day service. Call us today at (602) 814-0004.

(Image source: http://www.brooklynartproject.com/photo/help-im-melting)