CCAC

New Dedicated Blog Page

David — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:42:47 +0000

Follow my Heating and Air Conditioning Tips and Information on my dedicated Blog Page at blog.ccacac.com. All my information is relevant to the climate and conditions in Corpus Christi and the surrounding South Texas area.

Cold Weather Tips

David — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:26:18 +0000

While it is cold outside we tend to stay inside and try to stay warm. Just like in the summer time humidity in the air makes us feel warmer. In the summer we are trying to keep our humidity level below 50% in our homes to feel more comfortable. Now while it is cold and the humidity level in many of our homes is below 30% we want to add humidity to make us feel warmer. Some ways you can add humidity to your home is by running the shower on hot and letting it steam up the bathroom, this will add humidity to the home. You can also put a pot of water on the stove to boil. In both cases be careful and don’t leave them unattended. In the extreme cold when our heaters are running much more we get dryer than any other time. There are Humidifiers that can be installed in your central heating system, much more common up north, but in our climate with the minimal amount of heating we normally do it is not worth the expense. When it gets too dry in our homes it can cause respiratory problems and even nose bleeds. Not a normal problem for South Texas, but this has not been a normal winter.

It’s Cold Out There

David — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:09:45 +0000

With this cold weather we are having right now comes the need for all our heaters to run properly. Having your heater professionally checked every year is the best safety measure you can do for your family. Making sure that your heater is running safely can give you the peace of mind knowing that is one less thing to worry about.

Some other safety concerns in the cold weather are fireplaces or any type of burning going on in the home. Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a real concern. Carbon Monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that is poison. The first symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning are fatigue and then flu type symptoms. These symptoms are relieved when you go out into the fresh air. Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be deadly. If you have any source of flame in your home, gas heat, fire place, gas stove, gas water heater, or anything else that burns you should have a good quality carbon monoxide detector in your home. Another potential for carbon monoxide poisoning is if you have an attached garage and you run your car for any time at all with the garage door closed. This can allow combustion fumes into the home.

For any specific questions or for more information you can always contact me here http://www.ccacac.com/about/contact-us/

Heating System Check-Up

David — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:53:53 +0000

Even though we don’t have much of a winter heating season you really should have your heating system checked for safety reasons. A gas furnace should be checked every year to make sure all the safety controls are working properly and the system is operating and there are no problems with corrosion or leaks in the gas piping or heat exchanger. A leak in the heat exchanger can cause poisonous Carbon Monoxide gas to escape into the living space. This is an odorless gas than can make you sick and could even cause death. The first symptoms are fatigue, head aches, and flu type symptoms. Electric systems should also be checked every year to make sure that all the connections are tight, all the safeties are working properly, and that the heat strips are cycling on and off properly. A heat strip that is stuck on can cost you tremendously on your electric bill. And don’t trust your safety to an amateur, make sure your system is inspected by a professional, your families safety depends on it.

COOL WEATHER IS COMING

David — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:51:54 +0000

I know we don’t have really cold weather here in Corpus Christi, but did you know that on the average we have about 850 heating hours per year. That is not much compared to the 2600 cooling hours we have and nothing compared to the brutal cold weather they have up north, but it is enough heating hours to need a heater. The good thing about our heating hours is that 98% of them are above 32 degrees and the majority of the heating hours we have are actually above 40 degrees. This makes our climate the perfect climate for a Heat Pump. If you have an all electric home or are currently using electric heat then when it is time to replace your system you really should upgrade to a Heat Pump. A heat pump is over 3 1/2 times as energy efficient in heating compared to electric heat. On an average winter in Corpus Christi a heat pump will save you anywhere from $250 to $600 on your heating bill. (Depending on what size system you have) We always size the back up electric heat large enough to handle the entire load of the house so you will not have to worry about not having enough heat. The cooling efficiency is the same for a heat pump compared to a standard air conditioner so it is a wise move.

Tax Credit Ending

David — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:55:16 +0000

The up to $1500 Federal Tax Credit for installing High Efficiency Air Conditioning systems or Attic Insulation will be ending on December31, 2010. If your air conditioning system is 10 years old or older then you really should think about taking advantage of this tax credit now. The new system has to be installed and paid for before the end of the year. It also has to meet the minimum efficiency guidelines for the program. They are very high and most systems installed do not meet the minimums. Another thing to watch out for is that many contractors are making equipment match ups that meet the efficiency standards, but are really mismatched systems that will do very little if any moisture removal. In many cases if you install a new super high efficiency system and you find that now you have to set your thermostat way cooler to feel comfortable your problem is humidity control. Running a more efficient system at a lower temperature to try and stay comfortable is not going to save you any money on your electric bill. The match up is critical for efficiency and comfort. You also need The AC-Enhancer to help your air conditioning system pull more moisture from the air which allows you to feel comfortable at a warmer temperature. See The AC-Enhancer for more info.

Attic Insulation also qualifies for the Federal Tax Credit of 30% of the installed price of the insulation. If you can see the top of the ceiling joists in your attic then you do not have enough attic insulation. The Department of Energy recommends R38 in our climate if you have gas heat and R44 if you have electric heat. R38 is about 15 inches of insulation. Attic insulation is one of the energy saving measures that pays for itself the quickest. At CCAC we now install blown-in attic insulation and this is the time of year to do the attic work. See our page on Attic Insulation.

You need to check with your Tax Accountant to make sure that you qualify for the Tax Credit and there are rules and regulations that do apply.

A/C Hurricane Preparedness

David — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:43:27 +0000

When it comes to your air conditioning system there is not much to prepare for in the event of a hurricane. The concern is if you loose power what can you do. If you have a generator and want to run your air conditioner be very careful to make sure the generator has enough power to handle the start-up load of your air conditioner. It is typically about 50% more than the standard running load of the A/C. If you don’t have a generator then the main thing to concern yourself with is when the power comes back on. It is advisable to turn the system off while the power is off and make sure the power is back on solid before starting your air conditioner again. If the power blinks on and off and your air conditioner is trying to start with low power or blinks off and on this can damage your unit and could even cause it to fail. The other thing to check is to make sure there are no loose objects around or large tree limbs that could come crashing down into your outside unit. If the area around your outside unit is prone to flooding, make sure the water has receded below the bottom of the unit before you turn it back on to minimize the possibility of electrical shorts. When in doubt be safe.

Thermostat Settings

David — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:50:38 +0000

Many people ask me what they should set their thermostats at in the summer to be comfortable. The answer to that question varies greatly. Most people are very comfortable at 76 degrees if they have good control of the humidity in their space. At 76 degrees and 45% relative humidity most people are comfortable. But if the humidity is at 65% the temperature has to be below 70 degrees to maintain the same comfort level. So if you have to set your air conditioner below 75 degrees to be comfortable then it is not the heat that is making you uncomfortable, it is the humidity.

Part of the problem is that the Air Conditioning Manufacturers have been fighting to increase the SEER rating of their equipment. The SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is the rating that all equipment is compared by. This is how many BTU’s of cooling are delivered for every Watt of energy consumed. The manufactures figured out that it takes more energy to remove moisture from the air than it does to just drop the temperature. The less moisture they remove the higher their SEER rating can be. The problem is in a humid climate like ours comfort is drastically reduced by these system match ups.

The AC-Enhancer can help with some of the problems of humidity control and also help with the problems of oversizing. I firmly believe that most every air conditioning system out there can be improved by installing The AC-Enhancer on it. It dramatically increases the amount of moisture removed by your existing air conditioning system and increases the start-up efficiency. This allows you to feel more comfortable at a warmer temperature and will save you on your cooling bill.

Click the link below to see the Humidex Rating chart which shows the relationship between Temperature, Humidity, and Comfort.

Humidex Graph

Federal Tax Credit Info

David — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:59:07 +0000

There is a lot of confusion about what qualifies for the federal tax credit when it comes to air conditioning equipment. The Federal tax credit is just what the name implies a “Tax Credit”. It is not a deduction which would give you less money back in your pocket. The stipulations are that you must replace your entire air conditioning system, not just a piece of it, and the new system must meet the minimum efficiency ratings set up by the federal government. For a Heat Pump System it must have an SEER of 15 an EER of 12.5 and an HSPF of 8.5. All of these are efficiency ratings related to air conditioning and heat pumps. For a non-heat pump system the SEER goes up to 16 and the EER goes to 13. The governing body that keeps up with the ratings of all the equipment match ups is the Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).

Be careful when purchasing an air conditioning or Heat Pump system that other companies say qualify. The manufactures are all trying to get as many match ups that qualify and in many cases they are oversizing the inside coils to get more SEER rating and this is really bad for humidity control. It takes more energy to remove water from the air than it does to just drop the temperature, so if you remove less water you can get a higher SEER rating. The problem is your home stays much more humid and you tend to turn the temperature down colder to try and feel comfortable. This actually causes the unit to consume more energy and negates the added efficiency. If you lived in Arizona or a very dry climate this would be fine, but not in a humid climate like ours.

Another concern about the tax credit is that you can only claim a total of $1500 combined for 2009 and 2010. If you claimed any of the tax credit in 2009 then you will be limited on what you can claim in 2010. The tax credit is 30% of the cost for the qualifying energy saving measure up to a total of $1500. Attic insulation and other high efficiency appliances also can qualify.

In order to get the Tax Credit you must actually owe taxes on your return. If your tax liabilty is less than $1500 total then the maximum you can get is whatever your tax liabilty is. You should consult your tax preparer or CPA for advice and to see if you qualify.

Misinformation about the R22 Changeover

David — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:12:56 +0000

I have heard a lot of reports lately about other companies telling customers things about the R22 refrigerant phase out that simply are not true. R22 refrigerant is being phased out, but new R22 refrigerant will be available until at least 2020 and then recycled refrigerant will be available until at least 2030. Some outside condensing units that use R22 are still available and in many cases are a good choice for the consumer. Some companies are trying to scare customers by telling them if you install a R22 condenser now in a few years when you need to change out your inside equipment you will not be able to get an R22 compatible inside unit. This is NOT true. Just about all the inside units being built right now are backwards compatible to be converted to R22. All you have to do is change the expansion valve to an R22 valve. If you are going to change the entire system then I recommend you change it to a system that uses the new refrigerant R410a. If your inside unit is less than 4 years old you can probably upgrade it to a R410a system with the proper flushing of the lines and coil. If your inside unit is 5 years or older and you need to change your outside unit then ACT QUICKLY while the R22 condensers are still available.