Posted by admin on June 15, 2015

Do you know if your furnace is efficient? For many homeowners whose furnace came with their home when purchased, it is an important variable to consider when you are looking for ways to improve your energy use. You need to know what the furnace efficiency ratings (AFUE) tell you about how your furnace works and how to determine your furnace rating if it isn’t already posted on your furnace.

What do the numbers mean?

Your furnace efficiency ratings simply tell you how much it will cost to for you to heat your home; ratings fall between 50 and 100. If the rating on your furnace is in the higher range, you can expect that you will get more heat for the amount of energy used. In other words, this means that the lower the rating is, the less efficient your furnace is, and the more that it will cost to heat your home.

What the efficiency ratings measure is how much heat the furnace will produce compared to the actual amount of energy that is needed to produce that heat. For example, if your Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating is 90 percent, this means that 10 percent of the energy is lost, while 90 percent will become heat. However, this rating does not measure how much heat will lost through the walls or duct work in your home. In some parts of the home, up to 35 percent of heat can be lost.

How can you know that your furnace is efficient?

The federal government requires that each furnace have a sticker with the AFUE rating on it, however depending on the age of your model it may not. This rating appears on a yellow sticker that will have the percentage of heat utilized by your furnace, so you know how efficient your furnace is.

If you have an older furnace, then you might have to do some investigatory work to find out just how efficient your furnace is. Here are some things to look for:

• Continuous pilot light. If your pilot light is always on, this is an older furnace that is not efficient. They tend to be in the 56 to 70 percent range of furnace efficient ratings. The duct work on these machines is complicated, and usually entangled.
• Models that were built more recently and have a fan that controls the airflow also do not have a pilot light. These furnaces are likely in the 80 and 83 percent efficiency ratings range. 
• Models that have two heat exchangers with sealed combustion units usually have furnace efficiency ratings of 90 to 98.5 percent.

Your furnace efficiency rating is important, not only because it tells you how well your furnace operates but also how much money it should cost to heat your home. If you need an estimate to learn more about replacement furnaces to bring up your rating, please contact Climate Experts.

Posted by admin on January 19, 2015

Upgrading boiler heating systems is all about improving efficiency and safety. Unmaintained boiler heating systems can be dangerous for a number of reasons. The most common danger from outdated, unmaintained boilers is hot water leakage. Boilers use steam to spread heat, and they run the risk of leaking or otherwise expelling this hot water vapor, contact with which causes severe burns. However, boilers also can save you on energy costs if they are properly retrofitted to give you the best efficiency possible.

Efficiency Equals Money

Every winter, home owners crank up their boilers and pay too much to heat their homes. Efficiency is essential to saving money. You will need less energy to heat your house when winter sets in if your boiler has been upgraded. There are a few things you can do to improve your home energy efficiency, such as making sure that there is little wasted air in your house. Wasted air is heated air that escapes your house through doors and windows. All houses will have a certain amount of wasted air (and wasted energy), but two ways to cut down on wasted energy and wasted money are to invest in double paned windows and improve your door’s seal. An effective door seal keeps air from escaping through the door when it’s closed. Double paned windows provide another barrier against the cold air outside. Single pane windows are only composed of one pane of glass. Cold air comes through single pane windows very easily, meaning that you will need to use more energy to get your house to a comfortable temperature, costing you more money. Insulation has a great deal to do with energy efficiency as well. To make sure that you are paying the lowest amount possible to heat your home, see to it that that your insulation efficiently keeps the heat you’re paying for within the walls of your house, and is not escaping to the outside.

The Best Way to Raise Efficiency

The best way to raise the efficiency of boiler heating systems is to update them with the latest technology. Canadian Energy Efficiency Regulations measure boilers’ energy effectiveness with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. The government requires all boilers and furnaces to display their AFUE so that consumers can compare the efficiency of new models. Oil fired hot water boilers are required to have an AFUE of 84%, while steam boilers are required to have an 82% AFUE rating. Unfortunately, older low-efficiency heating systems of any kind, boilers and furnaces, have AFUE ratings between 56% and 70%. Retrofitted boiler heating systems have an average AFUE rating between 90% and 98.5%. This is a huge difference, obviously, and a difference that could save you a chunk of your monthly heating bill.

The Canadian government recommends that the costs of repairing a boiler heating system be weighed against the cost of replacing the unit altogether. A new boiler system is sure to carry a high AFUE rating, and will solve any kind of safety or efficiency issues you may have with your older, but otherwise sound, system. Making the decision to repair or replace a boiler heating system comes down to analyzing the cost benefits of improving the efficiency of your boiler system by either replacing or repairing it.

Get Your Boiler Repaired

For more boiler heating systems, a repair and a retrofitting is the most cost-effective way to improve the heating efficiency in your home. Take the first step to saving money on your heating bills by calling Climate Experts to arrange a free estimate. Climate Experts Heating and Cooling Inc. offers the best heating services for all homes.

 

Posted by admin on September 04, 2014

Winter is coming — and no, we aren’t quoting any popular television shows! This means that you will be relying on your furnace a lot in a few months. But what if it isn’t working? Your furnace not heating would be a big problem for your indoor comfort during the colder months. Fortunately, we have a few tips for what to do when this happens:

Double check your thermostat

Before you convince yourself that your furnace not heating means that it is broken, double check your thermostat. You may have forgotten to change the temperature settings or may have missed a step required to get your furnace going.

Also, it could be your thermostat that is broken, so double check that it is functioning properly.

Make sure that your furnace is turned on

Many random occurrences could cause a furnace to be switched off. There is an easy fix for this; all you need to do is find where the shutoff switch and connected breakers are (they are usually located right next to the furnace). This could save you from a little bit of embarrassment and from having to spend money on a furnace repair service professional who shows up and just flips a switch.

Change your furnace filter

This is likely the most common issue related to a furnace not heating. All furnace filters are subject to dust buildup, which can severely restrict airflow. A telltale sign of a filter clog is a furnace that is attempting to heat your home with no hot air coming out.

Make sure that your fuel source is working

Double check that your oil or gas line is supplying your furnace with the fuel that it needs. You can double check this with your energy supplier. Also, find out if they can send out a technician to verify an energy supply line’s functionality (this is usually free).

Flush the drain lines

Furnaces, even high efficiency ones, discard several gallons of water through their drain lines every day. Mold, backups and other clogs that restrict the drain lines will force the furnace to cease functioning.

Flushing a drain line is usually a pretty simple task. Simply disconnecting a drain line and flushing it out with diluted bleach is usually more than enough to get the furnace going again (assuming that a drain line clog was the problem).

Check your ducts for debris

Air ducts can also get clogged enough to stunt your furnace’s ability to function. They can get backed up by anything from random foliage debris to small animals, which are drawn in by the heat.

Check your ducts for leaks

Duct leaks are a common problem with heating systems. In not cases, they force your furnace to work harder to heat your home (this increases your energy bill). Sometimes, however, a duct leak can be so extreme that your furnace stops heating your home properly.

Make sure you get your furnace checked for duct leaks as you search for the root cause of the malfunction.

Call in a repair service

Sometimes the cause of a furnace malfunction can only be determined by a professional. If you can’t figure it out, they can.

If all of the above fails, it may be time for a new furnace

If your furnace is not working for unknown reasons, then you will probably need a new one.

Is your furnace not heating? Call the team at Climate Experts today to schedule an appointment to service your furnace, or to replace your existing furnace with a brand new, high efficiency furnace.

Posted by admin on July 20, 2015

When exploring ways to improve the efficiency of your homes heating and cooling systems, a mini split air conditioner should be near the top of every list. While mini splits don’t suit every home or business’s needs, the immense benefits they offer make them worth learning about and giving an earnest consideration. It is important to know the basics about a mini split air conditioner, so that you can make an intelligent decision when purchasing one.

What Is A Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner?

Ductless mini split air conditioners aren’t that different from traditional air conditioners in basic mechanics. Like a conventional system, you have a compressor and condenser outside of your home or business, where the noise and hard work occurs. Inside your building however, the differences become apparent. In place of bulky ductwork pushing cooled or heated air, a mini split air conditioner system has small copper pipes pumping refrigerant to independent wall mounted blowers. Ductless mini split air conditioners serve as year-round HVAC solutions, offering cooling in the warm months and heating in the cold months.

The Benefits of a Ductless Mini Split

• High Efficiency. By eliminating ducts, mini-split systems lose far less cold air than a forced air system and use less power in doing so.
• Zone-Based Cooling. With a central air conditioning system, the best you can do to avoid cooling down particular rooms is to close vents, which is hardly an ideal solution. Ductless mini split air conditioners however cool or heat only the rooms you program them to.
• No Ducts. The copper pipes used for a ductless mini split system take up far less space than the ducts for a forced-air system, making them easier to install, viable for more locations, and less visually conspicuous.
• Quiet. Ducts are noisy, carrying the sounds from your compressor throughout your home. Window units are even worse, as they place the entire unit within a room for all to hear. Ductless mini split air conditioners however, offer a compromise.

Downsides

• Cost. The startup costs for a ductless mini split air conditioner typically run higher than the startup costs for the conventional alternative. Though you will save in the long term, you need to be able to make the initial investment.
• Installation Quality Matters. Any poorly configured HVAC system loses efficiency, but the loss can be massive with a ductless mini split. It’s incredibly important that your contractor installs your unit correctly. This can be avoided by using a trusted installation company.
• Visibility. There’s no easy way to hide the blower in each room. While most owners won’t find their indoor units visually offensive, it may be a challenge to match your unit to certain aesthetics of your home.
• Noise. While most find the sound of the interior units’ fans unobtrusive, some home and business owners might find the focused sound more distracting or unpleasant than the generalized roar of a duct based system.
• Slow Catch-Up. If you turn your systems off during the day, expect to be warm or cool for longer than you would with a traditional system—the nature of mini splits make them slower to achieve comfortable levels, starting from an uncomfortable state.

If you’re looking for unobtrusive high-efficiency cooling and heating, few options can compete with a ductless mini split air conditioner. You’ll need to carefully consider your own needs and expectations before making the final decision, but the advantages certainly outweigh the disadvantages. Ensure that you hire a quality company for the installation of your air conditioning system, and you will surely reap the benefits.

Posted by admin on October 05, 2015

Changing the home air filters in your ventilation system regularly will ensure that your home is filled with clean air, and comfortable to live in. You have probably heard many times that changing your home air filter is an absolute necessity, but never why it’s so important. To have the best understanding of home air filters, you need to know why changing them is so important, and the differences in air filter types that will affect your changing schedule.

Regular home air filter changing will help to avoid a multitude of health problems, including allergy flare ups and respiratory difficulties that worsen with air-borne contaminants. Home air filters have all of the air in the home pass through the system as it moves between vents, fans, and the like. These filters capture the debris in the air, so when the dust-filled air in the home goes into the filter, clean air comes out. A dirty filter not only reduces air flow, but forces the HVAC system to use up to 15% more energy than one with a clean filter.

How Often Should It Be Changed?

For your air flow system to work properly, the air filter should be changed every three to four months. There are many variables in how often it should be changed however, including the size of your home, amount of people in the home, and the quality of the filter itself. If someone in the home has asthma, allergies, or other respiratory issues, changing the filter on a monthly basis may actually be recommended.

Differences in Air Filters

Different home air filters have different efficiency levels. Efficiency is measured by the quantity of air-borne contaminants that an air filter removes from the air. Depending on how efficient your home air filter is, the changing schedule may have to also change.

Electrostatic Air Filters

These filters don’t block air flow to your ventilation system, and will not likely clog. However, they are not the best at removing air-borne contaminants, and should be used in homes where residents are not sensitive to dust.

Fiberglass Panel Filters

These filters trap easily trap large dust particles that accumulate and cause blockages and air flow problems. These filters needs to be replaced often due to the large quality of contaminants they accumulate.

Media Air Filters

These are the filters of choice for HVAC professionals, but are usually only supplied to professionals and cannot be found in stores. These filters have multiple layers of fibers so they catch the highest amount of air particles, meaning they will need to be changed regularly and not forgotten about.

Proper Maintenance

It is important that home air filters are changed regularly and fitted properly. Regular maintenance will ensure that any problems are caught early, and you’re well aware of how your system is running. For your home air filter needs and other HVAC requests, Climate Experts is here for you. Give us a call today and let us repair your air quality! 

Posted by admin on January 26, 2015

When a home-owner powers on their heating or cooling unit, they expect it to distribute temperatures throughout the home evenly and efficiently. Once the home thermostat is set, then insulation becomes the key to keeping a home warm during the winter, and cool during the summer.

Unfortunately, the same benefits that an air-tight home provides for insulation destroys its ability to ventilate properly. In a tight space, hot and cold air slowly seeps through the home; the more insulated the home, the slower the climate control system takes to work.

The natural solution to this problem is to open the windows or doors to improve ventilation. But as soon as the doors and windows are open, all the hot or cold air escapes, forcing the HVAC system to work harder with less results. Also, the excess or lack of humidity outdoors will either dry out the home’s air, or leave it unbearably muggy.

Providing the utmost efficiency for an HVAC system can be an infuriating process: that is until the homeowner invests in a heat recovery ventilation system.

This Paradoxical Problem is solved by Heat Recovery Ventilation:

To counteract this problem, heat recovery ventilation systems have become a common solution; especially when providing the most efficient heating during Canada’s harsh winters. What makes heat recovery ventilation so valuable is that it gives the climate control system the ability to breathe as if all the windows were open in the home, but with minimal heat loss. This saves inordinately on bills overtime, and provides a more comfortable internal climate.

Even during the summer, when conservation of heat is less important, the heat recovery ventilation will still provide the benefit of retaining moisture that would otherwise have escaped without it. This prevents nosebleeds and discomfort associated with refrigerated air-conditioners, which are known to sap the indoor environment of all its humidity.

How Heat Recovery Ventilation Works:

Providing optimal climate control is as much an art as it is a science. There are many sources of heat in your home. From hot water heaters to gas heaters, boilers and more. A heat recovery ventilation system recovers and recycles heated energy from the exhaust air stream of these heat sources and recycles it directly back into your home. As exhaust air passes through the system, its heat is captured by the heat exchanger, which then, in turn, heats in incoming, cool fresh air.

Tired of Inefficient Ventilation?

Are you tired of an exorbitant electricity bills, your home being too cold or dry, or suffering from poor air distribution? We are the Climate Experts, the Durham region’s foremost HVAC specialists. Contact us today for a consultation or pricing estimates for a heat recovery ventilation system installation.

Posted by admin on March 23, 2015

You may not be aware of how dry the air is in your home until you spend a winter dealing with dry air related illnesses. From endless flu viruses to cracking skin, the health effects of dry air can be harmful. A home humidifier will improve the overall quality of the air, and in turn improve the health of all those living in the home. But you may be asking yourself, how does a humidifier work?

How Does a Humidifier Work?

A humidifier is an air treatment system that takes in dry air and releases the air back out with additional moisture. Rather than directly adding steam into the air, it emits a cool to lukewarm invisible mist of moisture. Different types of humidifiers use different technology to accomplish this, but they all have the same general process. These machines are also very easy to maintain, and can withstand years of hard work.

In contrast, steam humidifiers work by internally heating water and producing steam, which is then forced throughout your home. These humidifiers will reuse the moisture in the air before adding its own. Given that steam is inherently hot, these machines will warm the air in your home, making it more comfortable during the colder seasons.

By moisturizing the air, warm mist and steam humidifiers can actually keep you from raising the internal heat level in your house. Dry air can make a room feel colder, but this warm and moist air produced by the humidifiers will raise the temperature of the room, keeping everyone more comfortable.

What are signs of low humidity?

Now that you know how humidifiers work, it is pivotal to know the signs of low humidity.

• Dry skin, colds, etc. Low humidity dries out your skin and mucous membranes. This can lead to; chapped lips, itchy skin, a sore throat, flu viruses, nose bleeds, sinus problems and pressure. 
• Chills. With low humidity in the winter, your home will feel colder. People can mistake this cold temperature with a faulty thermostat, and increase the heat to fix the problem. If you notice the air
• Static electricity. Combined with the dry air, you may notice an increased level of static electricity throughout the home. Static appears when two surfaces touch, and one of them as a high resistance to electrical currents. Simply, if you see a spark from touching a metallic surface, this is static.

There are various other signs of low humidity that you may notice around the house, such as electrical problems or cracks in wooden furniture. It can even go as far as drying out and killing house plants, as a means to find any moisture possible.

What is the ideal humidity level?

The ideal humidity level should is between 30% and 50%. Humidity conditions above 50% can be dangerous, and you could create conditions that produce mold, bacteria, pests and dust mites. If the air is below 30% then you can expect to start seeing some of the aforementioned negative health effects of low humidity. You can easily measure the humidity level in your home with an inexpensive hygrometer, but it may be so apparent the test is avoidable.

Your home will feel more comfortable, your loved ones and you will experience fewer health problems, and you can all breathe easier with a humidifier. For a free estimate, please contact the Climate Experts

Posted by admin on September 15, 2014

Many homes across the country utilize underfloor heating systems. Your everyday underfloor heating systems use either fluid flowing pipes (hydronic system) or electric resistance elements (electric systems). Both have their advantages, but you’ll find that hydronic radiant floor heating is a great system for maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home.

Hydronic systems for underfloor use localized floor heating for thermal comfort in residential homes. This method is also often used for melting ice and snow on sidewalks or and driveways, as well as larger applications such as landing pads. You can also find hydronic radiant floor heating systems used for conditioning the turf on soccer or football fields and to prevent frost in places like skating rinks or freezers.

Hydronic piping can also be put into a concrete slab called a poured floor system or wet system. You can install hydronic radiant floor heating underneath a floor covering (sometimes referred to as a dry system) or even attached directly to a wood sub flooring.

Hydronic radiant floor heating systems use a mix of propylene glycol or antifreeze with water to transfer heat in a fluid through something called a closed loop. What that means is it recirculates between the floor and the boiler, reheating the fluid once it’s dispersed heat into the system.

Hydronic heating can utilize a number of different power sources, including:

• boilers
• natural gas
• propane
• coal and oil
• electricity
• solar thermal
• wood and biomass
• bio fuels

Hydronic floor heating comfy on your feet – it facilitates warmth through otherwise cold flooring such as terazzo, tile, slate, and concrete.  It can also have a very lasting effect on the quality of your indoor air as well. Something else hydronic underground heating does is establish temperature conditions that are less likely to support things harmful to your health, such as mold, bacteria, dust mites, and viruses.

Hydronic radiant floor heating is an excellent alternative to traditional duct heating in a home, especially if you have hardwood or tile flooring, and it is less wasteful as well as safer for the environment. Take advantage of opportunities to reduce heating costs, protect the environment, and also keep your home more comfortable and the air quality higher by making use of radiant floor heating systems.

If you’re considering having hydronic radiant floor heating installed in your home, contact the Climate Experts team today. We can install and maintain your entire system!

Posted by admin on February 01, 2016

During the warmer months, you fight against humidity to keep your home from feeling hot and muggy inside. While humidity’s effects are not as readily apparent during the winter, it can still cause a number of health and comfort problems. These include an increased likelihood of catching colds and flus, dry and itchy skin, aggravated asthma, cracking and peeling of woodwork and paint, and a temperature that feels lower than it is, wasting energy by you to turning up the heat. To combat these problems, there are a number of steps you can take to keep your home humidity levels up.

Creative Ways to Increase Home Humidity Levels

• Air dry your dishes and clothes. The evaporating water will add moisture to your home and cut down on the energy you use on drying cycles.
• Skip running your bathroom exhaust fan when you shower. Instead, use a small fan to blow the humid post-shower air throughout your home
• Keep houseplants well-watered. Instead of letting them suck up all of the water, leave a little extra to be evaporated into your home.
• Use a spray bottle. In a pinch, you can increase home humidity levels by using a handheld spray bottle to spread a light mist around your home. Take care not to soak your furniture, walls, or flooring to prevent damage. The mist should evaporate quickly.

For Optimum Home Humidity Levels, Use a Whole Home Humidifier

The above tricks work for quickly adding humidity when your home starts to feel uncomfortable, but they won’t help you fully control your home humidity levels. Ideally, your home humidity levels should be between 30% and 50%. Without these imprecise tricks, you could quickly find yourself in a situation where your humidity is too high instead of too low.

To achieve maximum comfort and energy savings at the proper humidity levels, install a whole home humidifier. A whole home humidifier monitors the humidity levels in your home using a hygrometer and increases them as needed.

Depending on the size of your home and layout of your current HVAC system, your whole home humidifier may tie into your existing ductwork, or it may be installed as a standalone unit. Humidifiers use significantly less energy than furnaces, so once it’s installed, you should start to see your energy bills drop even as your comfort increases.

To learn more about whole home humidifiers or to request a free estimate, contact Climate Experts today.

Posted by admin on October 20, 2014

When you have a home, you have to keep it running as efficiently as possible. Whether it’s a home for you, you’re a home builder or you need to replace the furnace for your business, furnace sales and replacement is pretty serious business. Beyond the shock of wondering if you really need a new furnace the first question you may be asking yourself is, “how much does a new furnace cost?” That’s an excellent question and one which deserves further scrutiny.

Furnace Facts: Before we get into costs there are a few things that individuals unfamiliar with furnace functions need to know. 

• Furnaces make heat through combustion in the furnaces burner
• Produced heat passes through an exchanger; air from air ducts is blown through thus warming it
• Furnaces blow warmed air to ductwork which sends air through the home

Some think that your home’s furnace only works to keep the air in your home warm. But a good furnace actually plays a critical role in the successful operation of your home air conditioning system. This is why you hear the term HVAC being used; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are very closely related.

Furnace Benefits: When you have a furnace that is working as it should, your home remains comfortably heated. If you have ever had your furnace on the fritz you understand the frustration. One thing furnaces do well is obviously they warm the air when your home or business needs it. However depending on the type of furnace you have you are going to be benefiting from the furnace’s level of fuel efficiency. It’s actually called the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or AFUE. Current models have a 80% AFUE minimum. 80% means that for every dollar you spend in heating your space, .80 is dictated to the generation of warmth. Older model furnaces have a 60% AFUE or  lower. That may be one reason you are looking into getting a new furnace; your older one is working harder and harder to spit out less warm air. Current models have a 95% AFUE or better; that could be a definite component in deciding about which of the new furnaces you’re going to be getting.

Furnace Costs: So how much does a new furnace cost? Well some of these numbers may surprise you. On the lower end for a newer furnace you could be looking at somewhere around $2500. Higher end furnaces with better efficiency and features may cost you as much as $10,000. However you need to take into account just how your space is going to be heated, how often you would use it, and how long you plan to stay where you are. On a long enough time line the question “how much does a new furnace cost” becomes moot. You are where you are and you’re staying put. But even if you plan to sell and move in the future, buyers may ask about the new furnace and their realtor has to give them the full disclosure; investing in a good furnace can add significant value to your home.

You should always be thinking about your home and even when you are enjoying the warmth of the summer air, you know all too well that winter is close at hand. Replace your furnace and add value to your home or business. Call us now for a free estimate to see how much you can save!