Category: Energy Evaluations

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.

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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.

Manual J: Why the Contractor Who Sizes Your Air Conditioner Should Know It Inside Out

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

The purchase of a new or replacement air conditioner for your home is not simply a matter of choosing a cooling unit and having it installed. Among the more important of the additional considerations is determining what size cooling system you need. The amount of cooling required to keep your home at desired levels is your home’s “load,” and each home has a different one. The air conditioner you choose must be correctly sized—big enough to meet the load, but no so big that it overcools and wastes energy.

If you are in the market for a new air conditioner, you should know your home’s cooling load. Ask your local trusted HVAC contractor to conduct a load calculation on your home using the industry-standard Manual J, “Residential Load Calculation.” This manual, published by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), contains all of the standards, procedures and technical details required to perform heating and cooling load calculations.

A Manual J cooling load calculation will give your contractor two important pieces of information needed to select and size your new air conditioner:

1. Sensible cooling load:

Proper cooling requires effective removal of sensible heat. Sensible heat is the amount of heat that can be felt, or sensed, and measured with a thermometer. The sensible cooling load is the amount of sensible heat that your air conditioner should be able to remove during very hot days. Manufacturers rate their units at 95 degree outdoor the design criteria for your city could be higher which will require additional calculations

2. Latent cooling load:

Latent cooling load refers to how much moisture the cooling system can remove during hot and humid summer days. Latent cooling load determines the amount of energy needed for indoor dehumidification during these hot, muggy conditions.

HVAC equipment recommendations should be based on expert interpretation of sensible and latent cooling load data. The system you buy should be no more than 15 percent oversized based on these load calculations.

Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has provided professional heating and air conditioning services to customers in Charlotte and surrounding areas for four decades. Contact us today for more information on heating and cooling load calculations for your home and why Manual J is the industry’s standard source for these calculations.

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.

You’ve Hired a Nate-Certified Technician – Job Done!

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Hiring a NATE-certified technician is a big deal. After all, your home comfort and savings depend on it. That’s why you can trust that the job will be well done, whether it’s a repair, maintenance or replacement job.

You can rest assured that a NATE-certified technician is the best possible designation to utilize when comparing technicians, because:

  • NATE is an independent, non-profit organization – Nationwide, contractors and customers alike value the NATE badge, with manufacturers, utility companies and heating and cooling contractors participating in, developing and approving its testing.
  • NATE covers all the bases – With NATE testing, technicians can attain certification in all areas of HVAC, including service and installation of all types of heating and cooling equipment, including energy-efficiency certification.
  • NATE thoroughly tests the technician prior to certification – The tests cover all factions of the heating, cooling and ventilation industry. That means that NATE tests don’t simply cover one piece of equipment, like other product-specific training organizations.
  • NATE testing covers relevant knowledge – Technicians are grilled on field knowledge, covering day-to-day problems and situations encountered by technicians.
  • NATE certification requires continued education credits – If technicians do not have acquire enough credits technicians must retest every five years to maintain NATE certification.
  • NATE testing is thorough – While the testing is rigorous, the tests are also comprehensive. Technicians must pass a core test and a specialty test. The core test ensures that technicians have a thorough knowledge of general HVAC scenarios and equipment, while the specialty test, selected by the candidate, covers unique and highly specific knowledge in several fields, like gas furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, air flow, including installation, service and maintenance.

With the value that NATE-certified technicians offer through NATE’s rigorous, comprehensive testing process, it just doesn’t make sense to use any other certification as a qualifier for selecting a technician.Get the best possible performance by choosing a NATE-certified technician. At Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical, we value our NATE-certified technicians, because they allows us to give our Charlotte-area customers top-notch service. If you need help with your HVAC systems, contact us today!

The Energy Star Yardstick: Pull It Out to See How Your Home Measures Up

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Energy Star is a government-sponsored website that helps homeowners reduce energy consumption. It features the Home Energy Yardstick, a program designed to compare your home to similar homes in your area in terms of energy efficiency, and then offer tailored suggestions to bring energy consumption down.

Here’s how it works:

On the homepage, you will need to enter information about your home, including its square footage, annual energy use, and fuel sources, along with your zip code and number of home occupants.

Once you enter that information, the program will formulate your score, and you can set a goal to reduce energy use by a specific percentage. In order to find out just how you can improve results, you’ll need to input the type of home systems (furnace, heat pump, central A/C, etc.) you use for the program to fine-tune the results.

Suggestions for improvement will include low-cost ideas, and projects that require a more significant investment, including:

  • Sealing air leaks and ductwork. These two factors can decrease the efficiency of a home by up to 30 percent, because leaks in the home’s exterior and the ducts allow conditioned air to escape through them.
  • Upgrading insulation throughout the home. The attic is usually a good location to begin with, as homes tend to lose the most energy through this space. Insulation is designed to prevent the movement of heat, so upgrading your home’s insulation to maximum efficiency levels will keep conditioned air inside your house.
  • Using a programmable thermostat. This allows you to program regular temperature setbacks to help avoid wasting energy by unnecessarily heating and cooling spaces when they are not in use.
  • Installing Energy Star-qualified HVAC systems. Though a larger investment initially, it’s an investment that will maximize energy savings and comfort over the long term.

The Energy Star Yardstick program includes detailed information and guides to go about upgrading your home’s efficiency. You can solicit the help of an HVAC professional to confirm the program’s results, or to conduct an independent energy evaluation of your home.
In the Greater Charlotte area, contact the area’s leading HVAC contractor, Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical – a local family-owned company since 1972.

An Energy-Savings Strategy That Will Serve You for the Long Term

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Have you ever wondered if your home was as energy efficient as it could be? It’s easier than you think to determine if you’re conserving energy and saving money. The U.S. Department of Energy has put together some helpful information for homeowners so they can assess where improvements can be made immediately, and plan for other improvements in the future. The most important thing you can do as a homeowner is to make a start; doing nothing is more costly than any energy-saving improvement you could choose to make. There are many easy, low-cost ways to begin saving energy today.

Every home can count on having a few problem areas where losing is heat is common. Fortunately, most of these issues can be easily fixed once you know where to look. Here are few simple ways to reduce household energy loss:

  • Apply do-it-yourself sealing wrap around windows and put air stoppers in front of doorways.
  • Change incandescent light bulbs out with energy-efficient light bulbs.[/list_item]
  • Do you have a fireplace? Make sure the damper is closed so warm air isn’t flowing out of the flue.
  • Turn lights off in rooms when you leave, and don’t leave electronic devices like TV’s and radios running if no one is in the room.
  • If you forget to turn off your outside lights during the day, consider installing a timer or sensor.
  • Once you’ve completed these basic things around your home, consider calling a professional technician for an energy audit and more advice on how to increase energy savings in your home.

Making an initial assessment of your energy use is only the first step. Making sure your HVAC system is properly maintained, insulation is appropriately installed, and installing energy saving appliances are wonderful long-term applications that will keep the energy savings coming. For more in-depth information on how you can make your home more energy efficient, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We have been proudly serving the Charlotte area since 1972 and are happy to answer questions and offer expert advice.

Lower Your Heating Bill — See Some Savings Now and Even More When You Upgrade Your System

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If you are looking for a way to cut your heating costs before winter rolls in, lowering your heating load can do just that. Not only that, but when you are ready to upgrade your heating system, the improvements you have made to your home can help you save even more.

Your heating load refers to the amount of energy needed to properly warm your home. The more energy efficient your home is, the lower your heating load will be. When energy is allowed to escape from your home, you end up requiring more energy to meet your heating needs, and paying more on your heating costs.

Here are just a few of the areas where energy-draining air leaks are common:

  • Attic doors
  • Light switch plates
  • Wiring
  • Baseboards
  • Mail slots
  • Flooring edges
  • Exterior caulking
  • Cracks in the siding, mortar and foundation
  • Window mounted air conditioners
  • Windows
  • Fireplace damper
  • Pipes

Many of these can be improved through simple and affordable measures. Weatherstripping, when used properly, can prevent warm air from escaping your house and block cold air from getting in. Caulk can also be used to fill small gaps.

An energy evaluation is the most thorough way to find all the spots that your home is losing energy from. An HVAC specialist will perform a variety of tests to pinpoint problematic areas and offer you practical suggestions that can resolve them.

Reducing your heating load really helps out when you are in the market for a new heating system. It needs to be measured by an HVAC technician to determine the size of the heating system you need. Larger systems are more expensive so the lower you can get your load, the smaller the heating system you can purchase without sacrificing any comfort. This can save you a substantial amount of money on a large purchase.

To learn more about how reducing your heating load can help you save money, and for help with implementing energy-saving strategies, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today. We have proudly served the Charlotte Metro area since 1972.

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.

Take Advantage of 2011 Federal Tax Credits for Maximum Savings On Your Home-Comfort Purchases

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

A lot of North Carolina residents are looking for ways to save money these days. At Acosta Heating and Cooling, we have some big savings available for you in the form of components eligible for 2011 federal tax credits, and the potential for lower home energy bills.

How much can you save? Well, that depends on which tax-eligible components you’re planning to install. If your central air conditioning didn’t provide the cooling performance you required this past summer, a qualifying upgrade could earn you $300 back; the same holds true for qualifying air-source heat pumps.

If you’re considering an upgrade to your furnace this season, you may be eligible for $150 back in tax credits, provided the systems qualify in terms of annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). Requirements vary based on the equipment and fuel source, but a good rule of thumb is to look for systems carrying a minimum 95 percent AFUE.

In addition, the main air circulating fan of your tax-eligible furnace may qualify for an additional $50 back. To qualify, this fan can consume no more than 2 percent of the total energy used by the furnace. Many fans qualify for tax credits even when the furnace does not, so be sure to ask your technician. In this instance,  you could still be eligible for a tax credit of 30 percent on the total cost of the fan.

Remember, these tax credits are good only through the end of 2011. However, the savings and comfort improvements from your home heating and cooling systems will continue for years and years to come. In fact, the long-term savings on your electricity and gas bills could easily exceed thousands in operating cost and you save now via the 2011 tax credits.

To find out exactly how much you can save, contact us at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We’ll help you choose the right systems for your home, and ensure that they qualify you for the maximum savings possible. We’ve been serving the Charlotte Metro Area for nearly 40 years, and guarantee that we leave our customers satisfied. Call us today with any questions.