Monthly Archives: January 2012

How To Choose A Programmable Thermostat

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Programmable thermostat is a great device to control your home comfort and effectively reduce your energy bills spent on HVAC system. When shopping for a thermostat, bring information with you about your current unit, including the brand and model number. Also, ask your Houston air conditioning repair contractor these questions before buying a thermostat:

  • Does the unit’s clock draw its power from the heating system’s low-voltage electrical control circuit instead of a battery? If so, is the clock disrupted when the furnace cycles on and off? Battery-operated back-up thermostats are preferred by many homeowners.
  • Is the thermostat compatible with the electrical wiring found in your current unit?
  • Are you able to install it yourself, or should you hire an a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor?
  • How precise is the thermostat?
  • Are the programming instructions easy to understand and remember? Some thermostats have the instructions printed on the cover or inside the housing box. Otherwise, will you have to consult the instruction booklet every time you want to change the setback times? Most programmable thermostats completely replace existing units. These are preferred by many homeowners. However, some devices can be placed over existing thermostats and are mechanically controlled to permit automatic setbacks. These units are usually powered by batteries, which eliminates the need for electrical wiring. They tend to be easy to program, and because they run on batteries, the clocks do not lose time during power outages.

Before you buy a programmable thermostat, chart your weekly habits including wake up and departure times, return home times, and bedtimes, and the temperatures that are comfortable during those times. This will help you decide what type of thermostat will best serve your needs.

A programmable thermostat can pay for itself in energy saved in less than 4 year.

Buying A Central A/C Unit III

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While we learnt about few important tips while buying a new central air conditioner in “Buying A Central A/C Unit I” and “Buying A Central A/C Unit II”, here are the remaining tips for you from your local Houston air conditioning repair contractor.

Plan ahead and buy during non-peak season

If you plan ahead and purchase your system during non-peak season your HVAC work will be easier to schedule and you can more than likely receive off-peak season pricing.

Be aware of any efficiency rebates or special offers from HVAC companies

Check out the HVAC’s website to see if they are offering any deals. You can also go to our website and the Energy Star website for more details on cooling equipment.

When replacing an older model air conditioning unit (12-15 yrs old)

Replace all of the components of your HVAC system and not just some. All of the components of a central air conditioning system are designed, manufactured and calibrated to work together for optimum performance and efficiency. By replacing only some of the air conditioning components, your system will not work at peak performance or its highest efficiency.

Annual maintenance agreements are a good value.

This generally involves having the air conditioning checked in the spring and the heating checked in the fall. A regular check-up can help prevent repair or safety problems and will help to extend the life of your system. It will also help keep your utility bills down by insuring your system is working at peak performance.

Buying A Central A/C Unit II

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In “Buying A Central A/C Unit I”, we have discussed some of the things you should consider while buying your central air conditioning system. Let us continue exploring few more points you should remember.

Check the energy efficiency of your Central A/C unit

Pay attention to the efficiency rating (SEER). The higher the SEER (measure of seasonal or annual efficiency of a central air conditioner) reduced will be the operating costs. If you can afford, try to purchase the central air conditioning unit with as high SEER rating as possible. Although the upfront costs may be higher, with the rise in energy costs seen across the country, consumers are seeing a much quicker payback with less electricity being used. Also check availability of Tax credit.

You can check these with your local Houston air conditioning repair contractor or go to the EnergyStar website and download an Excel spreadsheet that will help you estimate your savings and payback by using an energy efficient air conditioner (located in the far right column, titled: “Savings Calculator”).

Don’t wait until it’s broken. Know when it is time to replace your A/C

Don’t wait until you’re desperate to cool your house down in the middle of the hot summer. If you have a technician that regularly maintains your system, ask the technician when you might need to replace your system. If your system is 12-15 years old, you should expect it to start failing more frequently.

Let us continue to explore few remaining tips in part III…

Buying A Central A/C Unit I

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A purchase of central air conditioner for your home or office is a considerable investment and you would certainly like to consider all related pointers before purchasing one.

Choosing a trustworthy HVAC Contractor

While choosing local contractor for your job, you should check many parameters like his qualification, experience, license to carry out such works, insurance coverage, acrreddtion by third party websites like Better Business Bureau. It is also important to check whether your selected Houston air conditioning repair contractor has expertise in particular brand or model you have decided to purchase. Check for references and feedbacks to get more information about his services.

Load Calculation

You should have an HVAC professional evaluate your home to determine the best air conditioner for cooling your home efficiently also known as a load calculation. This is calculated using the following factors, the amount of cooling needed in your climate, the amount of square footage you have to cool, and the condition of the “envelope”, which is the part of your home that comes in contact with the air outside.

Correct sizing of your air conditioning unit

If you install an air conditioner that is too large, it will cycle on and off too often, which substantially reduces its efficiency. If it is too small, your air conditioner will have to work too hard and use up too much electricity.