Category: Insulation

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.

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.

Increase Whole-House Energy Savings in 5 Quick and Easy Steps

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

When you approach energy savings in your house, there are a couple different paths you can take. You can focus on small tasks in each room that add up to energy savings, or you can think big. Consider these five quick and easy steps to maximize energy savings throughout your home.

1. Change your air filters.

Filters get clogged and dirty as they remove dust and other particles from the air. When this happens, your heating and cooling equipment has to work harder to blow air through, which eats up energy and drives up your utility bills. Changing your filters every one to three months eliminates this unnecessary expense. Filters may need to be changed more frequently during the peaks of the heating and cooling seasons.

2. Boost your insulation.

Insulation seals in heat in winter and helps keep your house cool in summer. Your whole house should be well insulated, but the attic is the most important area, since heat rises. Also consider insulating your ductwork to minimize heating and cooling losses.

3. Invest in preventative maintenance.

Stopping problems before they develop is much less expensive than trying to fix them later, and annual service is the best way to keep your heating and cooling appliances running efficiently.

4. Update your lighting.

If you still have old incandescent light bulbs in your house, they are wasting money and should be replaced. Fluorescent bulbs are much more energy efficient, and they also last longer. Of course, it goes without saying that turning off the lights when you leave a room is also essential to energy savings.

5. Install a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat allows you to program a heating or cooling schedule that varies by time of day and from one day to the next, allowing you to save energy by using your furnace and air conditioner less when you don’t need them, like at night or when nobody’s home.

For more information on ways you can save energy in the Charlotte area, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We’ve been locally owned and operated since 1972.

Minimizing Energy Loss in the Ductwork of Your New or Older Home

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Your ductwork is the network of large metal pipes that carries heated or cooled air from your furnace or central air conditioner to points throughout your house. Because all of the conditioned air in your home travels through the ductwork, there is an increased chance of energy loss within the system. Whether your home is older or has been newly built, there are effective ways to minimize energy loss in the ductwork.

Design

Your duct system must be designed to fit within the space available. It must also be able to supply sufficient amounts of conditioned air to all parts of your home. “Radial” and “trunk and branch” designs are among the most common. Too many “Y” branches or damaged ducts can cause poor performance. Design factors are easier to address during new construction, but even in older homes, ductwork can be rearranged for better efficiency.

Sealing

The entire ductwork system must be thoroughly sealed to prevent air leaks and energy loss. Ductwork sections should fit tightly together with adjoining sections, particularly at elbows and joints. Seal all connections with mastic, a specialized sealant for use on ducts. Taping does not last and is no longer an approved method.

Insulating

Ducts should be well insulated since energy can be lost through the relatively thin metal of the ductwork itself. Affix rigid fiber board insulation to external surfaces of the ductwork to prevent this energy loss.

Sizing

Ducts must be correctly sized to be effective and prevent energy loss. They must be big enough to carry and distribute enough heated or cooled air to the farthest points of the duct network. If your ducts are too small, they will restrict airflow within the system.

Placement

Place ducts in conditioned and insulated areas of the home where possible. Running ductwork through garages, crawl spaces, or unfinished basements or attics increases the possibility of energy loss.

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 ductwork sealing, insulation and design, and for additional information on reducing energy loss throughout the system.

Heat Pumps: Consider Efficiency Ratings and Advanced Features; But Also Keep These 4 Factors in Mind

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

When selecting a new heating system, It’s important to consider the efficiency of heat pumps and their features, along with a few lesser-known factors, that will determine your home comfort and savings. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know when evaluating heat pumps:

Because a heat pump is a multi-purpose home HVAC system, you’ll need to check out two efficiency ratings: Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) for heating, and Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) for cooling. You can maximize your investment by selecting a high-efficiency system with ratings above HSPF 8 and SEER 14. Keep in mind that systems with higher ratings will provide better monthly energy savings, but they will cost more to purchase initially.

The features included in a heat pump determine its overall efficiency. Advanced features that enhance comfort and savings include:

  • Improved refrigerant delivery with a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV), which will meter precise amounts of refrigerant according to the climate’s demands.
  • Variable-speed components, like a motor or air handler, which allows the heat pump to use energy wisely and increase home comfort.
  • Upgraded design for coils, which generally allow for an overall increase in the surface space of the coil so that it can take on more refrigerant.

While it’s important to consider the efficiency of a heat pump, you should keep the following points in mind:

  • Demand defrost capabilities are critical in the winter, which should ideally decrease the process of defrosting to minimize electricity consumption.
  • Noise levels are also a factor. Make sure the system meets minimum guidelines, generally below 7.6 bels.
  • The position of the unit will also affect noise and efficiency. Make sure it’s located away from windows, and protected from winds.
  • The installer should evaluate the position of the indoor coil, as it should generally be positioned upstream of the furnace to maximize efficiency.

Get the most out of your investment, by evaluating heat pumps with effective efficiency ratings and advanced features that will match your home’s needs. In the Greater Charlotte area, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical for all your home cooling and heating needs.

How Well Are You Prepared for a Power Outage?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Winter storms in the Greater Charlotte area have been known to knock out power and leave homeowners stranded in their homes for days at a time, until local crews can get roads cleared and power back up and running. Being ready for a power outage, therefore, is an essential step homeowners should take to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

Here’s a list of some basic preparations homeowners should make for potential power outages:

  • Keep at least one flashlight on hand, or ideally one for every family member, along with replacement batteries.
  • Get a battery-operated radio so you can keep up with reports on weather, road conditions, and so forth. This should also have replacement batteries.
  • Have a backup heating source in the form of a fireplace or wood-burning stove to provide warmth, and be sure keep wood in stock.
  • Tightly seal your home. This step should be done regardless of whether or not a power outage occurs, but if you are without power, the last thing you want to happen when you’re trying to stay warm is to have air leaks in your home. So take the time to seal leaks with caulk.
  • Insulate the water pipes in your home. You can use specially designed insulation for pipes, but if there’s an imminent storm ahead and you haven’t performed this action, you can do a quick insulating job by wrapping pipes with newspaper, sealed with plastic to keep moisture at bay.
  • Locate your home’s water supply shut-off valve so you can turn that supply off during a storm.
  • Keep reserve water on hand. If you don’t keep a supply of gallon water jugs already filled, a good alternative is to fill a clean bathtub with water, and fill any and all containers you can find with water. Remember that you’ll need some extra water for flushing the toilet.

Is your power outage toolbox filled with the appropriate materials? Take a few minutes and prep your home. For help with all of your home heating and cooling needs, contact the experts at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical, serving the Greater Charlotte Area since 1972.

Holding Down Your Heating Costs Without Spending a Fortune

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

It’s possible to lower your heating costs without investing a significant amount of money by using a multiple-pronged approach that will impact the overall efficiency of your home, and its heating system. Use one or more of the tips below to start saving on heating costs immediately.

No-cost tips:

  • Lower the temperature in your home. Doing so by just a few degrees can result in significant savings. Optimal time periods to dial back the thermostat are when you’re sleeping or away from home.
  • Run exhaust fans while you shower or use the kitchen. But don’t run them too long, or they’ll consume extra energy.
  • Lower the water heater’s temperature setting. Manufacturers generally preset systems to run at 140 degrees, but adjusting the unit’s setting to 120 degrees will still get you comfortably warmed hot water and save energy.
  • Use energy from the sun to your advantage by opening the curtains on windows that face the south throughout daytime hours. Close them when the sun goes down to keep heated air inside the home.
  • Don’t block heating registers, as this will reduce the total amount of heat that your home receives.

Tips that are low in cost:

  • Use caulk to seal leaks that occur around windows, doors, electrical outlets and plumbing pipes. You can even take advantage of tax credits that apply toward air-sealing materials.
  • Have your home’s insulation assessed. Upgrading old or worn insulation can improve energy savings in your home dramatically.
  • Leaky ducts can lead to a lot of wasted energy. To ensure that your ductwork system distributes air through a sealed environment, assess your ducts and seal leaks with mastic, a special putty substance designed to adhere to ducts.
  • Increase the insulation around your water heater to reduce standby losses.

You can ward off high heating costs this winter by implementing a combination of the above energy-saving tips, and reduce the amount of energy your home systems consume. For more energy-saving ideas, or to ask our efficiency experts a question, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today! A local, family-owned company, we’ve been serving the Greater Charlotte area 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.

If Your Ducts Are Leaky, You’re Losing More Than Air

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Over time, your heating system’s ductwork can develop cracks and openings that allow heated air to escape before it even has a chance to reach your living space. These hidden leaks can rob your home of efficiency, costing you a bundle in wasted energy. Fortunately, you can eliminate this problem by making sure your home’s ducts are tightly sealed.

There are number of benefits associated with having properly sealed ducts, including the following:

  • Lower energy costs – Eliminating leaks in your ductwork can dramatically reduce your home’s energy usage, resulting in significant savings on your heating and cooling costs.
  • Improved air quality – Fumes, dust and other pollutants can find their way into ductwork through unsealed cracks and openings, where they can then be distributed throughout your entire living area. Sealing your ducts can stop these contaminants from entering your heating system, thus improving your indoor air quality.
  • A more comfortable home – When your ducts are tightly sealed, heated or cooled air can get to the areas of your home where it most needed, making your entire living area more comfortable and inviting.
  • Improved safety – Leaky ductwork can cause potentially deadly gases like carbon monoxide to backdraft into your home. Sealing your ductwork reduces this risk.
  • A healthier planet – Sealing your ductwork can improve the efficiency of your entire heating system, reducing your overall energy usage. This can help to protect the environment for future generations to enjoy.

The cost of professional duct sealing can quickly be recouped through energy savings, making it a worthwhile investment for most homeowners.

If you live in central North Carolina and would like to learn more about how duct sealing can save you money and improve the efficiency of your home, contact us at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. Our knowledgeable staff is more than happy to answer your questions and help you find affordable solutions for all your home heating and cooling needs.

Three Key Areas in Your Home Where It Pays to Insulate

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

With the storm season upon us and the winter months approaching, proper insulation is at its most important. Your home being well-insulated results in energy savings, and ultimately more money in your pocket book.

Here are three key areas to pay extra attention to when assessing the insulation in your home:

  • Attic – Ensuring your attic is amply insulated is one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can make to your system’s efficiency. Before insulating, confirm that all attic-to-home air leaks have been completely sealed. Attics are typically insulated using loose-fill or batt insulation. Loose-fill style insulating is slightly more effective than batt when properly installed.
  • Ductwork – Insulating the ducts located in unconditioned spaces is vital to the efficiency of your system. The areas of your home which are usually unconditioned include garages, attics and crawl spaces. The temperatures often found in these areas can register quite a bit higher or lower than that of the conditioned air passing through the ducts. This variance in temperature will negatively impact your conditioned air due to the conductive nature of duct material. For this reason, an incorrectly insulated duct can sacrifice up to 30 percent of the energy being used to heat or cool your home. The ideal insulating style for ducts is to use rigid fiber board.
  • Foundation – The benefits associated with a properly insulated home foundation include lower heating costs, and the prevention of moisture issues and bug infestation. If your home has any below-ground rooms, those will be usually be much more comfortable as well, courtesy of a correctly insulated foundation. Tread carefully though, the cost of adding to or improving your home’s foundation insulation can be costly due to the invasive nature of the project.

These three areas are some of the most important — and oftentimes most neglected — spots in the house. Maintaining an open dialog with an expert will make the insulating process much more manageable.

Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has been serving the fine people of Charlotte for almost 40 years, and customer satisfaction is our specialty. Contact us today for your heating and cooling needs.