Heating Your Home: The Basics Part I

Blueprint for Home Building host Jeff Wilson discusses adding a heating system to your new house.

Out of all the energy spent in and around your home, the central heating system accounts for more than one-third of it. This means you'll be spending a lot of time and money warming your home.

But before you can decide which system is best for your home, you'll need to know the basics.

Home Heating Basics

In general there are two common ways to heat your home using forced air from a centralized location:

• One method is a gas furnace.
• The second method is a heat pump.

A furnace warms your home by using either gas or electricity to generate heat that is then circulated throughout the house via a series of ducts and vents.

A heat pump differs from a furnace in that it doesn't generate heat. Instead it moves warm air from one place to another, usually from the outside of your home to the inside.

"Some of the factors in selecting which method of heating in a forced air system that you would use," Bill Rittlemann, project manager for IBACOS said, "would be to look at your access to utilities. Do you have gas service to your house? Is it inexpensive to bring it into the house? And then look at the cost of the energy itself."

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Buying a New HVAC system?

If you have an older central air conditioner, you might choose to replace the outdoor compressor with a high-efficiency unit, or replace the entire system. Today's air conditioners use up to 40 percent less energy to produce the same amount of cooling as those made just 10 years ago. Look for an ENERGY STAR rating and a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or "SEER" that is above 13 (the higher, the better).

If possible, install your new unit in the shade, which can allow it to run 10% more efficiently.
 
Don't have the funds readily available?

Evenflow Mechanical offers financing options to fit most budgets.....

For more information visit http://www.evenflowmechanical.com/financing.asp

Introducing the STAR Lineup of Ductless Air-Conditioning and Heating Units

• We offer more ENERGY STAR systems than ever.


• ENERGY STAR Systems incorporate eco-comfort technology, dual and triple-allergen filtration, and whisper-quiet operation.


• New technology revolutionizes the heat pump.


• Space-saving design means easy and unobtrusive installation.

We offer more ENERGY STAR systems than ever, and we're the industry leader.

 

We have Energy Star rated systems with dramatic increases all the way up to 26 SEER.

 

Our units incorporate eco-comfort technology, dual and triple-allergen filtration, and are whisper-quiet.

 

Eco-comfort technology makes these systems smarter in how they use energy and minimizes their impact on the environment. Plus, there are many advanced features like the i-see Sensor, that automatically detects room temperature differences and adjusts for greater comfort. Mitsubishi Electric's advanced multi-stage filtration systems dramatically reduce allergens and help eliminate odors. Our indoor units operate with sound levels starting as low as 19dB(A), quieter than a human whisper.

 

Mitsubishi Electric offers the most technologically advanced heat pump systems in the world.

 

Unlike older, inefficient heat pumps, there is no cold air delivery with Mitsubishi Electric's Cooling & Heating systems. The Hot Start system doesn't activate the fan until the desired temperature is reached, so it never blows cold air. Select models use Hyper-Heating INVERTER (H2i) technology that operates effectively down to -13 degrees F. These models give true year-round comfort from a single system.

 

These units provide easy installation, simple service and longer warranties.

Although, with our industry-leading reliability record, you won't have to worry much about that. Better yet, we've extended our warranties to seven years on compressors and five years on parts.
 

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Insulation and Air Quality: ERV

DIY Network shares information about an energy recovery ventilator.

What is an ERV?

One of the main advantages of a well-insulated and well sealed building envelope is that it takes less energy to heat and cool the home. An efficient building envelope keeps the conditioned air within the home that needs a smaller furnace and/or air conditioner that is working less often and this translates into real savings on the utility bills.

But when a home is well sealed a new problem arises the home becomes a plastic bag, which means any pollutants, such as dust, that may get in the home "stay" in the home. To solve this particular problem, the home needs to be ventilated, and this is where an ERV energy recovery ventilator comes into effect.

An ERV pulls in outside air and exhausts the stale air from inside the home, and it does this in an efficient way by using the "exhausted" air to condition or heat or cool the incoming fresh air. For example, during the heating season the cold outside air is being tempered with the indoor air via the ERV and, therefore, you'll be saving a good deal of heated air. The reverse is true in the cooling season.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

HVAC Financing Options

 

Learn how the energy savings from buying new equipment makes it affordable to finance the replacement of your old system.

Like a home or automobile, buying a central heating and cooling system could be one the largest investments you will make. But with the right energy efficient choice, you could see considerable savings over the lifetime of the system, which can also help offset your initial investment.

Energy Savings Practically Pays for Financing

Using energy savings to finance your purchase is a smart way to pay for your investment. Our financing program provides flexible plans and payment options for the home comfort solution that suits and satisfies your needs and budget.

Fast, Simple, Smart

By financing the purchase and installation of your home comfort system, you'll be comfortable with low monthly payments and the following benefits:

• Simple application process

• Fast credit decisions

• Exclusive cardholder promotions

• Low minimum monthly payments*

• Convenient monthly online statements

• Manage and pay your bill online

Home Comfort Financing is available through participating York Dealers. Apply for York credit today to start enjoying a more comfortable home tomorrow!

_{*Subject to credit approval}

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

 

Furnace Maintenance Tips

Home heating systems that aren't properly maintained may be less than 50 percent efficient. Learn more about the importance of periodic furnace maintenance.

When a home system's thermostat is turned up, an electrical signal is sent to the heating equipment, where a valve or relay-switch starts the fuel-burning process. When the furnace heats up, another control turns on the blower fan, which circulates warm air throughout the house. In the case of a hot-water system, a pump circulates hot water into radiators located throughout the house.

Furnace Inspection and Filters

It's best to have professionals conduct inspections and adjustments on your furnace. There are some things that homeowners can do themselves, however -- such as changing air filters on a regular basis. It's a good idea to know some basics about the furnace used in your home.

Safety Alert: Always turn off the fuel supply and electrical power before doing any inspection or maintenance on your furnace. Determine where the fuel supply is located and know how to turn it off. Similarly, turn off the electrical switch that controls the power supply to the furnace. After you have finished inspecting your furnace, remember to turn the fuel line and electricity back on.

The best place to start on your furnace is with the filter. A dirty filter will cause excessive strain on your furnace, increase heating costs and reduce the life of your equipment. Make sure that your furnace filter has a cover over the slot, ensuring an efficient return-air system. Not having a cover poses a safety issue. Here are some general guidelines for maintenance on various types of filters:

• Examine inexpensive fiberglass filters once a month during the heating and cooling seasons.
• Pleated filters can last up to three months.
• Wash and rinse permanent filters monthly.
• Clean electronic air-cleaner filters every other month.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Help Your HVAC Do Its Job

To get the most from your HVAC buck, use these general energy-saving tips. They'll help you support your system and save energy around the house.

• Get a programmable thermostat. It's easier to save energy with a programmable thermostat than a regular one because you don't have to think about it each time you want to change the temperature. You pre-program your settings so that the thermostat raises the temperature while you're at work and asleep, and kicks on the air conditioning when you're at home and awake. With smart programmable thermostats, you can even control the temperature from your smartphone.

• Seal your heating/cooling ducts and any open spaces. Make sure doors, windows, and nooks and crannies are shut and properly sealed. The less cool air that escapes your home, the less energy you'll waste, and more comfortable you'll be.

• Set your thermostat to your ideal temperature (not any colder). Setting the air conditioner to a colder-than-desired temperature doesn't cool down your house any quicker, it just keeps the unit working longer than necessary. So, set it to where you want it. And remember: You save up to 1 percent on your yearly cooling bill every time you raise the temperature by one degree for a period of eight hours. So, set it to around 78 degrees - after all, it is California!

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com