If you have just completed a home energy audit, you're probably wondering "what next?" The first step is to make a list of the efficiency improvements needed, and then categorize them by levels of importance and/or budget.
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Fort Wayne area summers can get awfully hot and sticky. Savvy homeowners with aging cooling systems who have chosen to upgrade to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner to prepare for the heat may wonder what criteria to look for when hiring a contractor for A/C installation.
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If you haven't had a quote on an air conditioner recharge lately, you're likely in for a shock. Prices on this service for older A/Cs and heat pumps have more than tripled in the past year because of the reduced R-22 refrigerant supplies available to contractors. The federal government has been phasing our R-22 refrigerant supplies because of their harmful effects on the environment and will have eliminated production of new R-22 by the year 2020. Equipment manufactured since 2010 has used a new refrigerant formula, R-410A, for which supplies are plentiful. This might make now a great time to consider an upgrade to a more efficient and better-performing cooling system.
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A dual-fuel system combines the best attributes of combustion furnaces with an air-source heat pump and helps you save energy throughout the heating season. In the winter, a heat pump extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it inside for efficient heating – that is, until temperatures fall to around 30 degrees. At that point, with a dual-fuel system, a high-efficiency furnace takes over the work for comfortable, relatively affordable heating. This is preferable to the emergency heat in a regular air-source heat pump, which will trigger an electric heating element that's expensive to use.
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If you're buying a heat pump, you no doubt want to be armed with the right questions to make an informed decision. In Indiana, we have cold winters and hot summers, so you're going to want a system that performs well throughout the year.
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When you're a homeowner in need of a new piece of heating and cooling equipment, sometimes the range of options can be overwhelming. The Energy Star Most Efficient label can make this chore a lot easier, while guaranteeing that you're buying both energy efficiency and solid performance.
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Duct sealing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your HVAC system's efficiency. In the average Indiana home, around 20 percent of conditioned air is wasted due to leaky ducts.
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Most homeowners aren't aware that they can perform their own energy evaluation on their homes. In tough economic times like we're experiencing today, it's important to save money every way possible. If you're not sure whether you're doing everything you can to keep energy costs low, here are a few tips that will help ensure your family stays comfortable, while you enjoy savings on utility costs.
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Buying new HVAC equipment, appliances, electronic devices and other products can be an expensive undertaking. As you are comparing and selecting possible purchases, you can find valuable guidance on the product's EnergyGuide label. This label will tell you about the item's estimated energy usage and give you a good baseline for calculating long-term costs of operation and potential savings.
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When the temperature soars, the relief from your air conditioner is much appreciated. Air conditioners work very much like large refrigerators, cooling the inside of your home the way a refrigeration system cools a fridge's inner compartments. By knowing how air conditioning works, you'll be better able to understand how it supplies that welcome cooling and will be more informed when the time comes for system maintenance or repair.
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Every home has a cooling load, the amount of cooling required to keep the interior at the temperature its occupants prefer. Characteristics of your home such as size, directional orientation and number of windows, as well as local climate, will determine the cooling load. Decreasing the cooling load will also decrease the amount your air conditioner or heat pump has to work, which will lower your overall energy bills. Here are some ways to get a lower cooling load:
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Improving the efficiency of your home cooling will not only make you and your family more comfortable, it will also reduce your monthly energy bills. Using a ceiling fan in combination with your air conditioner creates a home comfort system that is much more effective than either fan or air conditioner working alone.
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Air conditioners are sturdy pieces of equipment designed to provide years of reliable service. Over time, your air conditioner can develop problems that cause it to malfunction or fail to operate. Here are four of the more common issues that can shut down your air conditioning system:
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Preventive maintenance plans have numerous benefits. Foremost, you don't have to worry about scheduling annual maintenance, your heating and cooling system will operate more efficiently, and your warranty won't be voided due to lack of maintenance. You also get the peace of mind that your equipment is operating properly and safely. In addition, regular maintenance lengthens equipment life, so your small investment today will help protect your larger investment in the long run.
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If you had high energy costs last summer, they may be even higher this year, especially if you didn't upgrade your air conditioner or make any other changes. Investing in a high-efficiency cooling system and an annual maintenance program are good steps toward reducing your monthly energy bills, but it's important not to ignore the house itself. You may not be able to avoid high energy costs if your home's cooling load is not reduced.
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With our warm spring, you've probably already turned on your air conditioner this year. Did it perform as well as you expected it to? If not, it may be time to repair or replace your old equipment. Buying a new air conditioner is certainly a big investment, so you want to make sure you get the most from your existing system. However, that old air conditioner could be costing you more money than you know. Ask yourself the following questions when deciding whether to repair or replace your air conditioner:
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A lot of factors go into the decision to purchase home comfort equipment and select a provider to install it; HVAC warranties should be on your list of features to compare. Most HVAC equipment manufacturers have a warranty policy, but they are not all the same. HVAC contractors may also offer a separate warranty program, but not all companies do this, so if it's important to you, be sure to ask your contractor what type of warranty they offer and what equipment it includes.
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Whether you upgrade to a high-efficiency heating and cooling system or invest in preventive maintenance to keep your older system running efficiently, it's important to seal your ductwork if you want to get the most from your HVAC equipment and maximize home comfort. Air lost through leaky ducts forces your heating and cooling system to work harder and may cause some rooms in your home to be uncomfortable. Fortunately, you can affordably seal your ductwork and achieve meaningful energy savings.
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Purchasing an air conditioner doesn't happen very often, which is one reason it's such a big decision for homeowners. If you have never installed a new cooling system, it helps to start by learning a few A/C basics. Knowing how an air conditioner works can help you select the system that makes the most sense for your home.
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You have a lot of decisions to make when upgrading your air conditioner. What size should you get? How do you strike the balance between energy efficiency and the initial cost of equipment? What brand is the best? Many of these decisions come down to cost, but it's important to remember that the immediate investment can be offset by lower operating, maintenance and repair costs over the long term.
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