Did you know that your Twin Cities home’s indoor air quality can be much worse than the air quality outside? This is because while modern homes are better sealed for increased energy efficiency, such superior air sealing makes it difficult for fresh air to be introduced into your home. As a result, homeowners are often breathing in recycled air that contains common air contaminants such as:
Are you thinking about replacing an HVAC system in your Twin Cities home? Before you commit to the job, consider the following four key aspects:
If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, you have probably noticed the Energy Star label on some of the systems that you are considering purchasing. What does that label mean? Is it important to stick with Energy Star rated systems when you want to keep your home comfortable? Here’s what you need to know before you buy.
If you’ve been wondering if one of the newer high-efficiency air conditioners is worth it for your home, consider the following. A highly efficient A/C has a SEER rating of at least 14.5 in order to qualify for the coveted Energy Star label. Your savings begin the moment you make the purchase. Here are four more ways an efficient A/C pays off:
Home renovation projects tend to create dust, dirt and turmoil that may damage your home’s HVAC system. Components of cooling and heating equipment can be damaged by a buildup of dust and dirt, or can be knocked out of alignment by renovation work. If the renovation work will affect the operation of your HVAC system, you’ll want to discuss the project ahead of time with your HVAC contractor. This will provide an opportunity to find and address any potential issues that might arise. It’s easier to change the design during planning rather than make expensive changes after completion.
An increasingly popular type of air conditioner system available on the market is one that offers two-stage cooling, rather than the industry-standard one-stage A/C compressor. The two-stage system can operate at full speed, which is the single speed in a regular A/C, or a lower speed when outside temperatures don’t require full-on operation. This is the great majority of the time in the Twin Cities area, where our summers are relatively mild. Let’s examine the areas of improved efficiency that you can expect when investing in a two-stage cooling system.
Your HVAC system is not overly complex, although it’s much more technologically advanced than it was even a decade ago. Since most parts of the country, Minneapolis included, need cooling as well as heating, these systems have evolved to share functionality where possible.
If your home’s cooling system was manufactured before 2010, you should be aware that the refrigerant it uses, R-22, is being phased out by the federal government as a result of its negative impact on the Earth’s ozone layer. If you have a serious air conditioner malfunction with your older cooling system, you may want to give serious consideration to upgrading to an A/C that doesn’t use R-22, which sometimes goes by the brand name Freon.
With the temperatures on the rise here in the Twin Cities, keeping cool without wasting energy and money is a top-of-mind occupation. One of the things you can do to keep your energy costs to a minimum over the summer is to make sure you’re using a programmable thermostat to regulate temperature changes in your home. A programmable thermostat gives you hassle-free control over how much cold air the A/C produces and when, which saves time, energy and money. These devices offer the same benefits in the winter. There are three basic types of schedules for programmable thermostats:
When it’s hot and humid in the Twin Cities area, you need your A/C to keep your home’s climate cool and dry. If your system isn’t working as well as it used to, or is having performance issues, it’s time to find out why. Besides needing regular maintenance, your air conditioner needs some help from you to work properly and efficiently.
