Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing Blog: Archive for the ‘Energy Efficiency’ Category

How SEER2 Just Made Your Home More Energy Efficient

Monday, April 17th, 2023

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or SEER system, was used up until SEER2 launched on January 1st, 2023. The main point you need to know as a homeowner is that certain air conditioners and heating systems are no longer available for purchase due to having a low rating under the new system.

So what does this mean for you? The wave of SEER2-ready HVAC systems come with a higher cost than you may have heard in previous quotes for a new air conditioner or furnace.

SEER2 impacts air conditioners, heat pumps, evaporator coils, gas furnaces, and single packaged units. Think about SEER2 as raising the bar on the lowest acceptable energy standards for these systems and components.

This means some older HVAC equipment is no longer available for purchase or installation because it doesn’t meet the minimum requirements set forth by SEER2.

Tags: Energy Savings, SEER2
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Energy Savings, HVAC | Comments Off on How SEER2 Just Made Your Home More Energy Efficient

New Year New SEER

Monday, February 27th, 2023

2023 has brought some changes to the HVAC industry and with those changes are details and vocabulary every homeowner should know about. Previously, the industry has used something called seasonal energy efficiency rating system, often known as SEER.

SEER measures air conditioner and heat pump cooling efficiency, by taking the cooling output for a typical cooling season and dividing it by the total electric energy input during the same time frame.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps, Home Efficiency, SEER2
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Home Performance | Comments Off on New Year New SEER

Get Your AC Unit Ready for Summer

Monday, April 23rd, 2018

Don’t wait until your family is uncomfortably hot this summer to check in on your air conditioning unit. Make sure its ready to beat the heat by following these simple steps below.

Tags: AC, Air Conditioning
Posted in A/C, Air conditioning, Comfort, Comfy Home, Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, IAQ | Comments Off on Get Your AC Unit Ready for Summer

Energy Saver 101: Home Performance Assessment

Thursday, March 2nd, 2017

Having a qualified and experienced inspector perform a Home Performance Assessment is the first step to determining how to best prioritize efficiency upgrades and ultimately save you money on your energy bills.

You may have heard these referred to as Energy Audits, or some similarly negative phrase that leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Instead of looking at this as an anxiety-inducing inspection (thank you, IRS), we find it far more accurate to think of HPAs as a tool for big-picture analysis of your home’s indoor air quality, potential energy-loss areas, evenly-heated rooms, and other issues. Home Performance Assessments are done to better your family’s well-being and safety. We’re on your side!

Your home is likely the biggest investment that you will make; getting a Home Performance Assessment can ensure it operates efficiently, comfortably and safely. A Home Performance Assessment can result in utility bill savings between 20 and 50 percent–with the ever-rising cost of utilities, the potential savings grow each year.

Through utility bill analysis, infiltrometer testing, thermographic imaging, duct leakage and repair, indoor humidity and moisture control, combustion gas analysis, weatherization services and IAQ analysis, a Home Performance Assessment is the best and most comprehensive step for you to take towards saving money and improving your home.

Tags: home performance, infographic
Posted in Drafty, Duct Analysis, Ductless Heat Pump, Ductless Heat Pumps, Efficiency, Energy Audit, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Home Performance Assessment, IAQ, Weatherization, Windows | Comments Off on Energy Saver 101: Home Performance Assessment

Go Geothermal

Tuesday, February 21st, 2017

Looking for an efficient, cost effective, and environmentally friendly heating/cooling system? A geothermal heat pump is the greenest way to go.

The basics

Even though the air temperature fluctuates a significant amount over the seasons, the ground absorbs nearly half the suns energy, keeping a more consistent temp under the surface. Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of this fact by employing earth loops– usually closed-system loops made of piping– to tap into stable underground temperatures and deliver heat or cooling when you need it.

These systems work by circulating an antifreeze solution in the loop between the ground source heat pump and your house, exchanging heat and distributing it through a conventional duct system to heat or cool your house.

Geothermal heating

It’s winter and the air outside is at its coldest. A geothermal heat pump system easily absorbs ground heat from the abundant supply stored below your home, and consumes less energy than a traditional pump system in the process.

Geothermal cooling

When warm summer weather rolls around, a geothermal heating and cooling system absorbs heat from your home and transfers it to the underground loop where it is then absorbed by the cooler earth. The geothermal heat pump uses the cool water returning from the ground to create cool, dehumidified air conditioning for your home.

Different kinds of loops

Depending on what your unique space and lifestyle requires, different kinds of earth loops may be installed.

Horizontal Loops
Often used when adequate land surface is available. Depending on geothermal system needs and space available, pipes are placed in trenches that range in length from 100 to 400 feet.

Vertical Loops
The ideal choice for a geothermal heat pump when available land surface is limited. Well drilling equipment is used to bore small-diameter holes from 100 to 400 feet deep.

Pond (Lake) Loops
Very economical to install when a large body of water is available for use by the geothermal heating and cooling system. Coils of pipe are simply placed on the bottom of the pond or lake to capture the geothermal energy.

Open loops (Well-Water Systems)
In ideal conditions, an open-loop application can be the most economical type of geothermal system. These use groundwater from a well as a direct energy source.

Images and descriptions via waterfurnace.com

Fun facts

An EPA study of energy efficiency concluded geothermal energy is the most environmentally friendly heating/cooling system.
The United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory concluded that geothermal energy is more efficient and cost-effective compared with conventional residential systems.
Available everywhere in the United States, geothermal energy can be found underground virtually anywhere.
Geothermal cost savings can be increased by geothermal energy incentives, available from federal, state, local, and utility sources.

Cost comparison

Energy and cost savings of geothermal heat pumps will vary by region and type of conventional system they’re compared with. But the energy cost of geothermal versus conventional HVAC systems will always be lower — and the geothermal system will always be greener.

Click to enlarge.

How much can you save in energy costs with a geothermal system? Calculate your home’s potential geothermal system cost savings

Looking for more information? Check out energy.gov for further resources: https://energy.gov/energysaver/geothermal-heat-pumps

Posted in Blog, Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Geothermal, High Efficiency, High Efficiency Systems, Incentives, ROI, savings | Comments Off on Go Geothermal

6 Tips to Keep Your Wallet Happy This Winter

Wednesday, December 14th, 2016

Don’t let your winter heating costs get you down

Sure, in the short walk from your heated car to your heated office the cold winter air may be refreshing, but I’m sure there are few among us who don’t appreciate the comfort of a well-heated house at the end of the day. I’ll also bet there are few among us whose energy bills don’t see some kind of spike in these winter months either. That part’s not so comforting.

But before you scramble to take up residence someplace more tropical, we’ve put together 6 tips to help keep your house warm and wallet happy this winter.

1. Go smart (with a smart/programmable thermostat)

Automatically control the temperature of your house when you’re working, sleeping, or otherwise occupied with a programmable thermostat, and you can save from 5 to 20% on your heating bill. No need to worry about remembering to turn your heat down when you leave the house–programmable thermostats take the hassle out of heating.

Tags: Energy Savings
Posted in Air Duct Cleaning, Annual Maintenance, Blower Door Testing, Comfort, Comfy Home, Duct Analysis, Duct Cleaning, Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Energy Savings, Furnace, Furnaces, Heating, High Efficiency Systems, Insulation, savings, Thermostat | Comments Off on 6 Tips to Keep Your Wallet Happy This Winter

How important is a “Home Energy Checkup”?

Wednesday, January 20th, 2016

Only if you believe that a “leaky home” can waste money

And you should! Whether you are heating or cooling your home, leaky homes can waste your hard-earned dollars!

The best way to evaluate your home is to have it professionally tested. Home energy assessments, home energy audits and home energy check-ups are all pretty much the same thing. The important element is to choose the right type of professional contractor to perform any one of these evaluations of your home.

As explained in this video from the U.S. Department of Energy, a home energy checkup is a series of tests and inspections to help determine how your home can be more efficient. Finding the source of inefficiencies in the home will help you understand how you could be wasting money. It is common to find problems in most homes like:

insulation
trap doors/access doors to attics
lighting
appliances
dirty filters
leaky duct work
airflow and sources of air leakage in the home

The good news is that all of these problems areas can be fixed! Many times, homeowners are tricked into purchasing new heating or cooling systems that can cost thousands of dollars. But it is quite common that a new system is not what the homeowner needs. What’s worse is that the new system will not operate as efficiently as expected because the true source of inefficiencies in the home have not been addressed. It is common that homeowners can save more money in the long run by doing a little bit of investigative work on the front end.

So why wait until those energy bills start adding up?

You may also be interested in:
Solving Drafts (and Other Common Problems) with Duct Repairs
The Importance of Sealing Attic Penetrations

Posted in Blower Door Testing, Community Energy Challenge, Energy Audit, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Fuel Costs, Heating, High Efficiency, Home Improvement, Understanding Energy Efficiency | Comments Off on How important is a “Home Energy Checkup”?

Aeroseal Featured on PBS’s Hometime with Dean Johnson

Monday, January 18th, 2016

This last weekend, Aeroseal duct sealing was featured on national television (again).

Check out this clip from Hometime for a great explanation of how the procedure works and how you could see improvements to indoor air quality, dust, consistent comfort and heating expenses.

I encourage everyone to ask your local heating and cooling contractor if they can provide this service. If they can’t, then make sure to find out who can!

Don’t let anyone tell you that hand sealing the duct system is “just as good” as sealing them from the inside.

If you are in BARRON HEATING’s service area, check out this page for more great information and how you can take advantage of this innovative opportunity: http://www.barronheating.com/aeroseal/

Posted in 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, AeroSeal, Air Duct Cleaning, Air Sealing, Allergies, Clean Home, Community Energy Challenge, Duct Cleaning, Energy Efficiency, Energy Savings, Healthy Homes, Home Improvement, IAQ | Comments Off on Aeroseal Featured on PBS’s Hometime with Dean Johnson

Which is the BEST HVAC brand?

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2015

Government and utility consumer protection authorities unanimously agree that your satisfaction depends much more on picking the right contractor than a particular equipment brand.

One question we are asked time and time again is “What brand of furnace or air conditioner should I buy?”

Once a homeowner becomes more informed about the secrets of the HVAC industry, they always realize that the brand question is almost irrelevant.

Regardless of brand, today’s equipment is very well made. Modern air conditioners and furnaces are similar to modern televisions. It’s almost impossible to buy a bad TV nowadays. All the major brands make really excellent products that rarely break down. Like a TV, modern heating and cooling equipment is also very well made and dependable.

Unfortunately, the comparison stops there. When you buy a TV you can take it home, unpack it and plug it in. While a TV works right out of the box, a central air conditioner, heat pump or furnace must be very carefully selected and installed in order to work as the manufacturer intended. It can’t be just plugged in. Unfortunately for consumers, the installing contractor is the weak link in the chain.

A replacement HVAC system is NOT a plug-in appliance. It is much more like a home renovation project – which depends much more on the contractor than on the renovation materials used.

Government and utility consumer protection authorities unanimously agree that your satisfaction depends much more on picking the right contractor than a particular equipment brand. Energy Star says a good contractor:

Will ask lots of questions about how the old system performed, and what you are hoping the new system will do.
Will measure and inspect your home and recommend the right size system for your home.
Will inspect or test your existing air duct system, explain the possible impact your old ducts will have on your new equipment, and provide upgrade options.
Will explain multiple options for equipment efficiency, comfort and noise reduction features, warranty – and brand.
Will install and commission your new system properly to best industry practices.

Buying a new heating and cooling system is a big investment – both upfront and long term due to utility and repair costs. Invest the time to become an informed consumer. Focus on the contractor and their business practices, not on the equipment brand or brands they happen to prefer and recommend.

If you are in the market for a new system, give us a call. We’d be happy to come out and chat about your needs, and explain how we follow the best industry practices so that you are 100% satisfied!

Posted in 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, AFUE, Air conditioning, Ductless Heat Pump, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Furnaces, Installation, PTCS, Understanding Energy Efficiency, When to Replace | Comments Off on Which is the BEST HVAC brand?

Do you know your home? Really?

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015

A little bit of useful knowledge can go a long way for homeowners.

The average suburban family home has become a much more complicated and sophisticate system than ever before! Long gone are the days of wood-burning stoves and cracking a window open to feel the cool summer breeze. Today’s home commonly has forced-air ductwork, higher efficiency HVAC systems, geothermal systems, and electronic control systems. Many of these systems are new to contractors so it is no wonder that the average U.S. homeowner does not understand how to keep their home performing well. Homeowners must rely on a hired expert – but choosing the right one and one you can trust can be a tricky path.

So, how can homeowners protect themselves? Get to know your home! There are three basic categories of knowledge every owner should have about their home:

Required knowledge
Useful knowledge
Advanced knowledge

Required knowledge

What kinds of things fall into the category of required knowledge? We recommend the following:

Water source: where does your home’s water come from (municipal water, well water, spring water)?
Waste water: where does your home’s waste water go (septic tank, municipal sewer pipe)?
Water main location: where is the water main for the home?
What type of water heater does your home have?
What type of appliance heats your home and where is it located?
What type of fuel is used to heat your home?
Does your home have an emergency on/off switch for the heating system and where is it located?
What is the location of your home’s fire extinguisher?
Does your home have air conditioning and where is it located?
Does your home have a thermostat control and where is it located?
Where are the locations for the main electrical panel and circuit breakers?

Useful knowledge

What kinds of things are useful and good to know about your home? We recommend the following:

What type of roofing is on your home’s roof?
What type of plumbing supply pipes are used in your home (copper, PVC)?
How is your home insulated (attic, roof, walls, how much, what type)?
Are your windows single-glazed, double-glazed or triple-glazed?
Does your home have removable storm windows?
Does your home have a mechanical ventilation system, if so, what type?

Gathering answers to these questions will better prepare you for work that might be performed in your home and will help prevent you from being swindled by crooked contractors.

Advanced knowledge

If homeowners take a little extra time to learn a few building science principles and consider their home as a “whole system” it will be easier to select the appropriate contractor to perform repairs, maintenance or conduct testing on your home. Some of the things that would fall into this category include:

Why does infiltration and exfiltration matter?
Where are air leaks most often located?
How air movement can undermine the performance of fluffy insulation.
How can positive and/or negative pressure affect your home?
What kinds of conditions can lead to condensation within your home?
What are the most cost-effective energy retrofit measures?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of different types of heating fuel?

We are not suggesting that homeowners become home performance experts, but by getting to know your home a little better you can protect yourself and save money in the long run by choosing a contractor with knowledge and confidence in home performance service work. By gathering some basic knowledge about your home, you can work with your contractor to decide how to make your home the best total system it can be for you and for your family.

Posted in Blower Door, Blower Door Testing, Customer Service, diagnostics, Duct Analysis, Energy Efficiency, Home Improvement, Insulation, Whole House Fans, Windows | Comments Off on Do you know your home? Really?

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