Category: Energy Efficiency

A Little Care Goes a Long Way to Ensure Your Solar Power Panels Are Working Efficiently

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you have recently had solar power panels installed in your home, you’ll need to invest some time in maintaining them. Solar panel maintenance is a twofold process that involves a technician and a homeowner working together to achieve maximum performance.

There are some preventative measures that you, as the homeowner, can take to reduce the amount of maintenance your solar power panels need. Beyond that, a qualified technician should handle any repair or replacement tasks.

Here are the things that you can do to ensure your solar power panels stay in good working order:

  • Check the collectors once a year to ensure they are not blocked by plants or new construction. Even if your solar power panels are in partial shade, their performance can deteriorate.
  • If you notice that the collectors are dirty, clean them. Like shade, an accumulation of dirt can affect performance.[/list_item]
  • Make sure the sealant around the penetrations in the roof is in good condition.
  • If your solar power panels are not roof-mounted, regularly check the bolts and nuts on the support structure.

These simple checks will enable your new solar power panels to efficiently convert sunlight into electricity and reduce your energy costs.

How To Boost the Efficiency of Heat Pumps

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

ENERGY STAR® has found that heat pumps are one of the most energy-efficient HVAC systems on the market. The efficiency and capacity of your heat pump depend on sufficient airflow. For every ton of a heat pump’s air conditioning capacity, there should be between 400 and 500 cfm (cubic feet per minute) of airflow. However, performance and efficacy will deteriorate if the airflow is less. Factors such as debris, snow, and a sluggish fan can all interfere with your system’s capacity.

Additionally, studies conducted by ENERGY STAR show that 50% of all heat pumps have significant problems with leaky air ducts and refrigerant pressure. Issues like these can amplify your system’s power use or even negate its effects entirely. These factors influence the performance of the whole heat pump system, forcing it to use more energy and work harder. If your energy bills are soaring, a few minor tweaks can yield excellent savings.

How To Amplify Your Heat Pump’s Efficacy and Reduce Energy Usage

With the help of your friendly HVAC technician, you can adjust your heat pump and achieve its full potential. This will include:

  • Making sure your refrigerant levels are correct and replenish them where necessary
  • Performing repairs to fix refrigerant leaks
  • Making sure your fan and airflow speeds are where they need to be. In some cases, this will be as simple as raising your airspeed and cleaning your evaporator coil. However, if your energy bills are skyrocketing because your heat pump is not performing as it should, we may suggest having your ductwork enlarged. This investment might seem drastic, but it will pay for itself through many years of energy efficiency.

Things You Can Do To Improve Your Heat Pump’s Efficiency

An efficient heat pump uses up to 25% less power than an inefficient one, so some maintenance will go a long way. If you take good care of your heat pump, you can prevent it from overextending itself, which, in turn, would raise your utility bills and shorten your system’s life span. Routine maintenance will maintain airflow and keep your indoor air clear.

  • Keep debris, furniture, and snow away from your system. Never cover your heat pump or place objects near the vents.
  • Clean your air intake zones often. This will work best if you unscrew your vents, then use a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner to remove dust and dander.
  • Change your filters every month.

How Acosta Can Help

Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has worked with heat pumps for over four decades. Our certified technicians can perform regular maintenance that keeps your heat pump in perfect condition. Our Peace of Mind Guarantee assures you of absolute satisfaction. With Acosta by your side, your heat pump will experience fewer disruptions and a better economy throughout summer and winter. We’ll keep your SEER rating where it belongs.

Call us to arrange a service at 704.665.5998.

[cta href=”https://www.acostainc.com/contact/” text=”Schedule Service”]

A Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioning System Can Do a Mighty Big Job!

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Ductless mini-split air conditioning systems offer you a space-saving alternative to large conventional heat pumps, air conditioners and furnaces. If mini-splits are properly sized for your home, they are just as effective and powerful as larger units that involve bulky networks of ducts to deliver air conditioning around homes.

A central outdoor unit is the main controller of a ductless mini-split air conditioning system. You can attach as many as four smaller units to it through a wall conduit. The great thing about mini-splits is that, when deciding where to put them, you’re not hindered by duct arrangements.

This means you can focus on cooling and heating rooms or spaces that are used often, leaving those that are used less frequently with no air conditioning. All four of the air-handling units can operate separately, thereby reducing overall energy use.

Mini-splits are extremely energy-efficient. They reduce the energy that’s often lost with ducted air conditioning. They also help improve the quality of indoor air. No air is circulated through ducts, so there are fewer airborne contaminants and particles in your air. This cuts down on the aggravation of allergies and respiratory problems like asthma.

Small mini-splits give you numerous options for room design and arrangement because they can be positioned almost anywhere, and even incorporated into a room’s design.

The initial expense of a ductless mini-split system is about 30 percent more than central cooling and heating systems – and twice more expensive than window air conditioners. But, the advantages and convenience of mini-split air conditioning easily justify the initial outlay.

Ductless Cooling: An Innovative Option When Your Choices Are Limited

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you have a space in your home that’s a challenge to cool, or if you’re going to add space, consider ductless cooling. These HVAC systems don’t require ducts to distribute the air. They use technology that simply moves the heat from your space outdoors. These systems, also called ductless mini splits, present some major advantages compared to other types of air conditioning systems because they offer energy efficiency, easy installation and flexibility.

Energy efficiency

Ductless mini splits must meet the same energy efficiency standards that air conditioners and heat pumps do. The SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) has to be 13 minimum. Since ductless cooling goes directly into the room, the systems can be as much as 30 percent more efficient than central systems where the air is delivered through ducts. Duct leaks and temperature loss may occur in systems with ducts.

Easy installation

Not having to extend or install ducts makes installation fast. The ductless systems have two primary components: A condenser sits outside and an air handler inside. A conduit connects the two and carries the refrigerant, drainpipe, electrical wiring. The air handler (fan section) can sit on the floor or hang from a wall or even hung from the ceiling.

If you’d like more information about ductless cooling, contact us at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We’ve provided HVAC services for the Charlotte area for more than 40 years.

Elements of a Well-Designed Duct System

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

As a homeowner, you’re likely to think that your duct system is not as important as your heating and cooling equipment. But it is. That’s because a well-designed duct system can boost the efficiency and comfort potential of your HVAC equipment—significantly.

You see, your HVAC equipment relies heavily on your ductwork to deliver the heated and cooled air that it generates. If your duct system’s design is under par, your comfort and efficiency can be greatly hindered—no matter how efficient your system is.

To develop a well-designed duct system that will efficiently deliver conditioned air and boost your home comfort, it should:

  • Meet the heating and cooling load of individual rooms, which is calculated using the Manual J method
  • Be properly sized, using Manual D
  • Minimize air leaks with a tightly-sealed system that keeps conditioned air inside of the ductwork
  • Balance the return-air and supply-air portions of the duct system, so that the home remains at a neutral pressure
  • Reduce temperature gains and minimize temperature losses as the air moves through the supply and return ducts.
  • Install registers where they are not blocked by room furnishings
  • Supply outlets located away from return outlets so air will not short cycle
  • Utilize a return grille on each floor of a two-story home
  • Plan for a return duct in rooms with doors

Provide adequate insulation for ductwork that runs thru unconditioned spacesWith these design principles in mind, your duct system can optimize heating and cooling equipment operations, boosting efficiency to expected levels and ensuring a comfortable home while minimizing hot and cold zones.Enlist the help of an expert to design your duct system for optimal results. Proudly serving homeowners in the greater Charlotte area for over 40 years, Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical is happy to help you design a new system, or retrofit your existing one. Just give us a call today! With our expertise and expert training, you can rest assured that we’ll get the job done right the first time.

Your Energy Bills: Six Easy Ways to Take Charge and Stay Cool

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

With summer comes unavoidable increases in our home energy bills as we add the air conditioner to the assortment of electronics and appliances we already use every day. Here are a few ways you can save substantial amounts of money while still keeping your home at the temperature you prefer.

1. Cooling efficiency: Home cooling accounts for about half of what we spend each month on energy. You can get much better results and impressive savings by installing a high-efficiency cooling system with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 15 or higher. Consider a solar assisted air conditioning unit.

2. Seal air and energy leaks: Locate and close up any holes, gaps or openings where conditioned air can escape your home. Line edges of doors and windows with weatherstripping and seal glass panes with silicone caulking. Check the ductwork in your air conditioning system; all segments should connect snugly together and be sealed with metal tape or mastic.

3. Shut off and unplug: Turn off energy-consuming devices when not in use, including lights, computers, televisions and appliances. Unplug computers and other electronics if you don’t expect to be using them soon. They will consume a small amount of electricity even if they’re not turned on.

4. Install a programmable thermostat: Use a programmable thermostat to control when and at what level your air conditioning system runs. For example, they let you set the air conditioner to run at a lower energy-saving level when everyone is out of the house during the day.

5. Install energy-efficient windows: Install Energy Star-certified windows with energy-saving features such as low-emittance (low-E) coatings and double-pane construction. These types of windows can reduce home energy bills by up to 25 percent.

6. Reduce hot water usage: Cut back on hot water consumption by using low-flow fixtures, cleaning only full loads of clothing or dishes and fixing hot-water leaks.

For 40 years, Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has offered expert heating and air conditioning services to customers in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information on reducing summer energy consumption while still keeping your home cool and comfortable.

Your New Air Conditioner: Pay Attention to the Seer Ratings, But Consider These Features, Too

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

No matter what brand of air conditioner you choose to buy, the unit should be as efficient as possible so that it provides good cooling at a reasonable price. An Energy Star certification will ensure you’re getting a model that has passed government tests for efficiency. The unit should have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 15 or higher, with higher SEER numbers indicating better efficiency.

Beyond SEER, however, there are several other features that will improve the performance of your new air conditioner while providing high levels of efficiency and ongoing savings on your monthly cooling bills.

  • Variable-speed air handler: Variable-speed blower motors in your air handling system are designed to operate at lower energy consumption while delivering the right amount of air circulation for your indoor comfort. They produce all the air you need without using excess energy.
  • Automatic delay fan switch: This feature shuts off the fan a few minutes after the unit’s compressor turns off. This ensures that all cooling left on your indoor coil is circulated before the fan is shut off.
  • Fan-only switch: This feature lets you run the fan in your system for ventilation only. It also circulates the air in your home cleaning it as it passes the filter and the air movement makes it feel cooler, keeping air circulating through your house without spending money on unnecessary cooling.
  • Filter reminder: Filter changes keep your air conditioner running efficiently and reliably. A filter reminder will let you know that it’s time to put a new filter in the system to keep it running at its best and without breakdowns.
  • Sound Rating: A noisy air conditioner can be a source of aggravation. Make sure the model air conditioner you choose has a low sound rating to reduce stress-causing background noise in your home.

For 40 years, Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has been a trusted source of professional heating and air conditioning services for customers in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information and expert advice on air conditioners and the features that will work best for you.

The Home Energy Audit That You Can Do Yourself

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you could access a map that would show you the most inefficient locations throughout your home, would you want it? Well, you can create your own home map with a home energy audit. And once you know where your home is losing energy, you can make low-cost improvements that will significantly boost your energy-savings potential all year long.

You’ll need to perform a two-step process to locate air leaks, because some leaks will be clearly visible, while others are hidden and will require more effort to locate.

First, visually inspect your home for leaks, looking primarily along the home’s exterior shell, or the outer walls. Other common areas where leaks tend to occur are around window frames, doors, electrical outlets, plumbing pipes or wiring. Don’t forget to check the attic hatch, too, and any ducts that penetrate through walls or ceilings.

Next, you’ll need to conduct a test to locate hidden leaks. To find them, your home will need to be depressurized, because a lower pressure will draw outside air in, creating air movement that you need to find leaks.

To depressurize your home, close all windows and doors in your home; if you have a fireplace, close the flue. Then, you should turn on exhaust fans in the bathrooms, kitchen exhaust fan and clothes dryer. This process will exhaust the air within your home, drawing fresh outdoor air into the home through any air leaks that may be present.

The next step is to light an incense stick. Its smoke will show you where air leaks exist, as you move the stick slowly alongside common trouble spots listed above.

Most air leaks are easily fixed using caulk or weatherstripping, both of which you can purchase at a home improvement store.

Conducting a home energy audit can lead to real savings, as Energy Savers estimate that homeowners can often save as much as 30 percent a year as a result of making improvements. If you’d like some help, give the experts at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical a call today. We’ve been serving the greater Charlotte area as a local, family-owned company since 1972.

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.

Whole-House Air Cleaner and UV Lights – for That Breath of Fresh Air You Need

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you’re looking to improve the quality of your indoor air with one simple purchase, a whole-house air cleaner and ultraviolet (UV) lights are two of your best choices. Knowing what pollutants trigger allergy or asthma symptoms for you or members of your family is the first step. However, if multiple contaminants trigger these symptoms, there’s an even better solution.
Manufacturers such as Lennox now recognize the advantages of various technologies, such as whole-house air cleaners and UV lights, and you can now choose equipment that combines multiple indoor air-quality solutions in one system.

One such system, Lennox’ PureAir, utilizes a whole-house air cleaner and UV lights, along with odor and vapor protection to optimize results.

Whole-house air cleaner

This portion of the PureAir system relies on a filtration technology to target a range of problematic pollutants, including pet dander, pollen and dust particles. Utilizing a Precision Pleat MERV 16 filter, when the air first passes through the system it is able to capture the smallest of particles, down to 0.01 microns, taking them out of your home’s airstream.

UV lights

Next, the air passes over UV lights, designed to specifically target mold, viruses, dust mites and bacteria. Instead of trapping these pollutants, powerful ultraviolet rays zap them, so that they are harmless after coming into contact with the UV rays.

Odor and vapor protection

During the final phase, the PureAir utilizes powerful odor- and vapor-reducing technology to filter out volatile organic compounds, in addition to removing odors from a variety of sources, including those from cleaning solutions, paints and cooking.
When choosing a system, consider the following factors:

  • Clean air delivery rate (CADR). Select an system with a CADR rating that will match the square footage of your home
  • Operating costs. Air cleaners will generally work only as long as you run your furnace blower, even if your furnace or A/C is off, in order to circulate air. Run the numbers with an expert to estimate each system’s annual operating costs.

With a whole-house air cleaner like PureAir, you can expect cleaner air. For expert advice in greater Charlotte, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical.