Category: Air Conditioning

Like the Temperature, the Cost of Your A/C Refrigerant Is Rising

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

During your air conditioner’s annual maintenance, you may find the system needs a charge of refrigerant to boost its cooling capacity. If so, you’ll also notice that prices of the A/C refrigerant R22 have increased dramatically (tripled since 2011). These increases are being felt all throughout the HVAC industry and are expected to continue for at least the next eight years.

R22 refrigerant prices are rising in response to recent government regulations in the Clean Air Act. These regulations require the gradual phasing out of R22 as an air conditioning system refrigerant. By the year 2020, R22 will no longer be made for use in servicing existing air conditioning units. After 2020, only reclaimed or recycled R22 refrigerant will be available to service existing systems.

In new air conditioners, R22 refrigerant has been replaced by more environmentally-friendly refrigerants, such as R410A. This is because R22 refrigerant has been determined to be a danger to the environment due to its ozone-depleting effects. An added complication for owners of units built before 2010 is that the newer refrigerants will not work in systems that where designed for R22.

About 80 percent of the existing air conditioning systems in the United States were built before 2010 and use R22 refrigerant, which means that most air conditioner owners in the country will be affected by the new regulations. Either homeowners will need to endure the steeply rising costs of and difficulty finding R22 refrigerant or they will have to completely replace their air conditioning system with one that can use the approved refrigerants. The situation may be somewhat relieved by using it as a reason to invest in a money-saving, high-efficiency cooling system.

For 40 years, Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has been a reliable source of heating and air conditioning services for Charlotte and nearby areas. Contact us today for expert assistance in making the transition from R22 refrigerant or for help finding a new air conditioner that meets required environmental standards.

Seven Moisture-Fighting Strategies That Will Keep Mold From Multiplying

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you’ve ever had a problem with mold in your home, you know just how problematic removing it can be. Mold can quickly multiply once it gets a stronghold in your home, but with moisture-fighting strategies, you can keep mold at bay in your Charlotte-area home.

Here are seven tips you can use immediately:

1. Don’t let plumbing leaks go unchecked

– Not only can these leaks lead to higher water bills, but they give mold a chance to grow. Quickly fix leaks yourself, if you have the skills, or a call in a plumber.

2. Keep your home dry

– Any time that an area in your home becomes wet, or even damp, you’re giving mold spores the opportunity to gather—and rest assured that they will reproduce quickly once they gain a foothold. When you shower, for example, use the exhaust fan to dry out the space, and wipe down shower and tub walls.

3. Watch indoor humidity levels

– You can purchase a hygrometer, which will allow you to monitor your home’s relative humidity. Ideally, humidity should remain below 60 percent, with 30-50 percent being an optimal range. If you find your home is overly humid, consider purchasing a whole-house dehumidifier.

4. Schedule regular maintenance

– Proper cleaning and inspections will help to keep your air conditioner working properly, and ensure that it can dehumidify the air.

5. Watch A/C drainage

– Because lots of moisture is produced during the cooling process, your A/C system must drain this moisture properly. Homeowners should keep an eye on the A/C’s drip pan and condensate drain, cleaning and unclogging as necessary.

6. Check equipment ventilation

– Equipment that emits moisture, like a clothes dryer, should be vented outside.

7. Keep the foundation dry

– This is one of the best moisture-fighting strategies. Be sure that the area around your home slopes away from your home, and keep drainage systems clear.

Don’t let mold get the upper hand in your home. Use moisture-fighting strategies to prevent it from ever getting a foot in the door. For expert advice contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical, serving the Greater Charlotte area as a local, family-owned company since 1972.

Is an A/C Tune-Up on Your Spring To-Do List?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

An A/C Tune-Up should be at the top of your spring to-do list. The largest consumer of energy in your home is your heating and cooling system. Keeping your HVAC equipment running efficiently will help control energy costs.

Having a spring A/C Tune-Up will get your A/C unit ready to operate safely and efficiently throughout the summer cooling season. You’ll also avoid the panic of having to repair a malfunctioning unit in the middle of the hot summer months to come.

When you schedule an A/C Tune-Up, your technician will:

  • Conduct a thorough inspection of the entire system and its related components
  • Test the A/C’s refrigerant. An incorrectly-charged system will waste energy and not cool properly.
  • Test the system for refrigerant leaks
  • Safely capture refrigerant that must be removed, according to industry standards
  • Check the ductwork portion of your HVAC equipment, ensuring that it doesn’t leak and allows for proper airflow
  • Assess the A/C’s airflow over the evaporator coil, and clean it. Improper airflow over the coil will lead to decreased cooling capacity
  • Test the thermostat, ensuring that its controls will deactivate the heating system when you set the thermostat to cooling mode, and making sure that it will meet temperature settings
  • Inspect all electrical elements, lubricating and tightening connections as necessary
    Test the motor, checking that belts are tight, warding off wear and tear, and lubricating the motor, too

As a homeowner, you can participate in maintaining the air conditioner by:

  • Changing the air filter before you start up the A/C
  • Checking the air filter monthly once you begin to use the air conditioner regularly, ensuring that the filter is not dirty, which will restrict airflow and lead to dirt buildup
  • Assessing the conditions around the outdoor unit, cleaning up debris that has accumulated throughout the winter, as well as vegetation that can block the unit and potentially restrict airflow and reduce efficiency
  • Inspecting the registers and grilles throughout your home to ensure that airflow is optimized

Contact the home-comfort experts at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical to schedule an A/C tune-up appointment, or ask about our annual maintenance plans. We’ve served the Greater Charlotte area as a local, family-owned company since 1972.

The Ductless Mini Split: An Innovative Solution for a Unique Situation

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

A ductless mini split could be the solution to your home’s unique heating and cooling situation. One of its main advantages is that a mini split doesn’t require ductwork to operate, extending installation options beyond where ductwork is located and often minimizing costs, too.

There are several other distinct advantages to using a ductless mini split, including:

  • Flexible installation – You can install as many as four indoor air handlers, which gives you the ability to select four spaces to receive heating and cooling. A separate unit is installed outdoors, and a central conduit connects the indoor and outdoor units. The outdoor unit will need to accommodate drainage, but it can be located up to 50 feet away from the indoor units. To install the air handlers, your technician will need only to drill a small hole to run the conduit, requiring minimal adjustments and construction to your home.
  • Zoned heating and cooling – Each indoor air handler is controlled by its own thermostat, so you can effectively provide zoned heating and cooling to the spaces. With the ability to increase cooling, for instance, to a ductless mini split located in an enclosed porch, you can provide as much cooling as necessary to that space, without also increasing cooling to other spaces in your home—spaces that don’t need more cooling.
  • An efficient system – Heating and cooling systems that rely on forced air through ductwork are susceptible to high energy losses. Because ductless mini splits don’t rely on ductwork, you’ll get a more efficient heating and cooling process.
  • Lower installation costs – Extending and retrofitting ductwork is a costly endeavor, and mini splits bypass that cost. However, to ensure optimal results, you’ll want to hire an expert who’s familiar with mini splits, as their location and size will dictate efficiency and performance.

A ductless mini split is an efficient, flexible solution to your home heating and cooling needs. For more information, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical, serving the Greater Charlotte area as a local, family-owned company since 1972.

The Ductless Mini-Split: A Heating and Cooling System That Does a Mighty Big Job

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Ductless mini-split heating and cooling systems offer homeowners a space-saving alternative to larger conventional furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps. When properly sized for your home, mini splits are just as powerful and effective as larger units that rely on a bulky network of ducts to distribute conditioned air around your home.

The main controller of a ductless mini-split system is the central outdoor unit. As many as four smaller air-handling units are attached to this unit through a conduit in your wall. When choosing where to put these units, you are not restricted by ductwork arrangements. You can focus heating or cooling in rooms or areas that are used more frequently, leaving rooms that are used less often unheated or uncooled. Each of the four air-handling units can be operated separately, which reduces overall energy use.

Mini-split systems are very energy efficient, reducing the energy loss that often occurs with ducted systems. Mini splits also help improve indoor air quality. With no air being circulated through ducts, there are fewer airborne particles and contaminants in your home’s air, which cuts down on respiratory issues and the aggravation of allergies or asthma.

The smaller mini-split units give you many options for room arrangement and design. They can be placed almost anywhere you want them. They can easily be incorporated into your room arrangements or simply tucked out of sight.

The initial purchase of a ductless mini-split system can be as much as 30 percent more expensive than central heating and cooling systems, and twice as much as traditional window air conditioners. However, the convenience and advantages of a mini-split system can easily justify a higher initial investment.

For 40 years, Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has been providing professional heating and air conditioning services to customers in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information on ductless mini-split heating and cooling systems and why one may be the best choice for your home comfort needs.

Four Questions to Ask When You’re Deciding on a Dual-Fuel System

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

A dual-fuel system is a combination of a high-efficiency heat pump and a conventional furnace. During milder portions of the fall and winter, the heat pump provides maximum comfort and energy savings. When temperatures drop below freezing, the furnace takes over, efficiently keeping your home at the desired temperature.

This makes dual-fuel systems a great way to cut energy costs, especially here in the Charlotte area, where our winters can go from mild to severe in the blink of an eye. If you’re considering a dual-fuel system, be sure to ask these four important questions:

  1. How large should my system be? A qualified contractor can perform load calculations to determine the proper size system for your home. Sizing is based on several unique aspects of your home, including the square footage, insulation level and micro-climate.
  2. How do I determine system efficiency? Dual-fuel systems provide year-round comfort, which means you need to be aware of both heating and cooling efficiency. Your heat pump will carry a SEER and HSPF rating, with higher ratings indicating a more efficient use of electricity. Furnace efficiency is measured by AFUE, which indicates the percentage of burned fuel that actually makes it into your home as heat energy.
  3. Which fuels will provide maximum efficiency and savings? Fuel prices vary depending on where you live, but a gas-fired furnace is often more cost-effective than other methods. Consult with local utility companies and your HVAC technician to determine which options would be best for you.
  4. Can I add a new heat pump to my existing furnace? To replace your existing air conditioning system with a heat pump, your technician must first determine that your furnace and ductwork are compatible with the new system.

Contact Acosta Heating and Cooling for more information on upgrading your heating and cooling system. Our staff can help you determine if a dual-fuel system is right for you.

Maintaining Your HVAC System: Easy Things You Can Do to Minimize Problems and Optimize Efficiency

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you want your HVAC appliances to remain in good working shape for as long as possible, some effort will be necessary on your part. Some of the things you’ll need to do may seem like a bit of a hassle, but the potential damage you’ll prevent will be well worth the time.

  • Regularly change your air filter. Ideally, you should check your air filter just about once a month. If it looks dirty, have it changed right away, and the absolute longest you should go without changing it is three months. Dirty air filters put a strain on your HVAC appliances, causing energy to be wasted and breakdowns to become more likely.
  • Get yearly equipment tune-ups. For heating and cooling systems to keep working properly, it’s imperative that you bring in a professional to tune them up annually. These tune-ups will go a long way towards preventing any major issues or breakdowns, as well as allowing the appliance to work more efficiently.
  • Consider sealing heating and cooling ducts. If you’re using a duct system in your household, you would be wise to have it sealed and insulated. You can use mastic duct sealant or foil tape for sealing ducts, and it can increase the energy-efficiency of your HVAC system by up to 20 percent. After you’ve sealed them, wrap them up well in duct insulation.

By following these steps, you can all but guarantee that your HVAC equipment won’t be having any problems in the near future. If you put in the work now, you’ll be minimizing the amount of work you’ll need to do — and money you’ll need to spend — down the road.

For heating and cooling needs in the Charlotte  area, contact the good people at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical.

Tell-Tale Signs That It’s Time to Replace Your HVAC System

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

The most obvious sign that your furnace needs replacing is when it is not working properly. Less obvious, but just as important, is determining whether or not it has become inefficient due to its age. If your system doesn’t blow sufficient hot air when the furnace is on, or cold air when the A/C is turned on, you will most likely need to look into replacement. If, however, the unit does not turn on at all, it could be as simple as only needing to change out the thermostat. A service call from your HVAC technician will be necessary to make this determination.

If you notice suddenly spiking energy costs on your bill, which are not related to a recent price hike, your furnace’s efficiency may well be compromised. A visit from a service professional may be in order. A trained technician can analyze your energy usage, discuss with you the efficiency of your current unit, and estimate the expected long-term savings of installing a new furnace.

As technologies have advanced and new energy standards have been implemented, the overall efficiency of HVAC equipment has greatly improved. Thus, newer furnaces are more efficient than older ones. If your furnace is 15 years old, despite the fact that it still may be churning out hot air in the winter and cool air in the summer, chances are it is keeping your home energy costs unnecessarily high. The current rule of thumb is to assess the efficiency and consider upgrading any furnace more than 10 years old. Additionally, efficiency standards were raised in 1992 and again in 2005. HVAC systems which pre-date these changes are most likely less efficient, and you would see long-term cost benefits from replacing your system.

To schedule a consultation with a service professional in the Charlotte Metro Area, or for more information related to furnace replacement or your home comfort needs, contact us at Acosta Heating and Cooling.

Choosing Your MERV Filter: Do You Know What Those Numbers Mean?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Your air filters play a huge role in the indoor air quality of your home, so it’s important to know how to pick the ideal filter for your system. Knowing how to compare various filters is the first step towards achieving the quality of air that you want for you and your family.

The easiest way to compare filters is by their MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value). This is a measurement of how effectively a filter can capture particles from the air that passes through it. Comparing the MERV of various filters will give you an easy way to figure out which filters are the most efficient.

A controlled test is performed on a brand of filter to determine its MERV. A pre-determined amount of particles of various sizes are sent through a filter and based on the difference of particles before and after filtering through, the MERV is established.

The lowest rated filters (1-4) are found frequently in new residential spaces. They are not designed to improve your air quality and only capture the largest particles. They are meant mainly to filter out the type of particles that could damage the heating equipment.

Filters rated between 5 and 12 are best for most homeowners, with 9-12 being the absolute best for controlling the amount of pollutants in your air. It is vital to replace them when necessary (1-3 months minimum) so that they continue to operate efficiently. If filters are neglected for too long, the captured debris will form a thick screen that actually makes your heating equipment work harder just to pass air through. This strain on your system also results in increased energy costs.

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are rated between 17 and 20 but are not commonly found in residential spaces because of the extensive ductwork modification that is frequently required to install them. They are more commonly found in hospitals and other places that rely on super clean environments.

For more information on MERV and how it impacts you and your family, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today. We serve the Charlotte area.

Elements of Expert Ductwork Design

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

It is important to not underestimate the importance of your ductwork design when installing a new HVAC system. It will have a huge impact on how comfortable you are in your home each day, as well how energy efficient your home is. Your HVAC system is only as strong as the weakest link and if you neglect the ductwork, you compromise your system’s performance and efficiency.

The first step in determining how your ducts should be laid out begins with figuring out what size air system is ideal for your home. A properly sized unit will provide optimal comfort while also keeping energy costs minimized. A professional HVAC technician can perform heating and cooling energy loads to determine how much energy is needed to provide adequate comfort to your home.

The actual ducts need to be sized as well. If they are too big, your HVAC system won’t efficiently circulate the air and your air will never be properly dehumidified, leaving a sticky, clammy feeling in the air.  If they are too small, not enough conditioned air will be distributed throughout your home, and it will put added stress on your HVAC system to try and move the air.

Once these steps are out of the way, your HVAC technician will begin to draft possible duct layout configurations. This also includes figuring out where the return and supply ducts will be placed throughout your home so that a natural airflow is established. Constructional features that may constrict where ducts can be placed also need to be taken into consideration.

The installation itself is, of course, the most important part. You should partner with a reliable HVAC technician to make sure they properly seal all of the ducts when installing them. This will ensure that they aren’t leaking valuable conditioned air into unnecessary spaces like the attic and crawlspace. Because most of the ducts get concealed in the walls or floors after installation, it is important that the job be done right the first time.

For more advice and help with designing the ideal ductwork design for your home, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical.  We proudly serve the Charlotte area.