Category: Sealing Air Leaks

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.

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.

Boost Your Heat Pump System’s Performance With 3 Insider Tips

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

According to research from Energy Star, 50 percent of all heat pumps have significant problems with leaky air ducts, inadequate airflow and incorrect refrigerant pressure. These factors affect the performance of your heat pump system, making it work harder and use more energy.

Your HVAC technician can improve the performance of your heat pump system by performing these tasks and checks:

  • Check the refrigerant charge and correct it, if necessary.
  • Make sure the duct system is properly sealed, clean and insulated.
  • Check the airflow and fan speed.

If you have an annual maintenance plan, your technician can check the ducts, airflow and refrigerant on his next visit. If you hear noises in your ducts or coming from the blower, you should call for service right away.In addition to the maintenance performed by your HVAC technician, there are a few things you can do to improve airflow and performance of your heat pump system:

  • Make sure there is no furniture blocking vents and air returns.
  • Vacuum dirty vent and air return covers.
  • Change air filters regularly.

Homeowners in the Charlotte, North Carolina area can call Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical for guaranteed service and maintenance by trained technicians. For your peace of mind, we offer maintenance and service plans to ensure that your system is always operating at peak performance.

Duct Sealing Helps Manage Unruly Energy Bills

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Furnaces, central air conditioners and heat pumps use a series of ductwork to transport heated and cooled air to every room of your home. In most homes, as much as 15 to 20 percent of this air is lost through leaks in the ductwork. You can prevent these leaks by having professional duct sealing completed.

Here’s a look at four benefits of duct sealing.

1. Lower energy bills:

When conditioned air escapes into the attic or garage through which your ductwork is traveling, your energy bills go up. Therefore, by sealing these gaps, you enjoy more of the air that you paid to heat or cool. You might even be able to downsize your heating and cooling equipment to a unit that is smaller and less expensive to operate, saving you even more on your energy bills.

2. Improved comfort:

Many homes have comfort issues that involve some rooms being too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. The problem is most likely that leaky ducts are wasting air on the way to these rooms. Sealing ductwork ensures that every room is kept at a more constant, comfortable temperature.

3. Better indoor air quality:

Air can certainly escape through gaps in ductwork, but air from unconditioned spaces can also be picked up. This brings dusty air, particles from insulation, fumes and odors into your home. Seal these leaks and prevent your air quality from deteriorating.

4. Environmental responsibility:

The production of electricity is a huge contributor to global warming. You can do your part by having duct sealing done and conserving energy as a result. This is certainly a step in the right direction.

For more information about duct sealing, please contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical. We’re happy to answer your heating and cooling questions, and offer to our expert advice and services to Charlotte-area residents.

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.

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.

Heating Efficiency: Four Ways to Help Your Furnace and Ductwork Do Their Job

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

If solutions existed that could maximize your heating efficiency, wouldn’t you want to know about them? Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical mission is to help homeowners stay comfortable and save money, and we don’t “hide” industry secrets from homeowners — we help them. With that in mind, here are four of our best tips to help you optimize the efficiency of your heating system for the ultimate in energy savings.

The ductwork in your home is prone to losing energy. Because it is comprised of a series of connected pipes, these connections can and will loosen over time. In fact, ductwork can lose up to 30 percent of conditioned air that travels through it, and is known as one of the most common contributors to energy losses, so taking action here can translate into significant savings.

The ducts in most homes should have dampers that you can manually adjust. Optimizing the position of the dampers will allow more or less air into your home. If you have rooms that are overly hot or cold, you can avoid energy losses by adjusting the dampers to provide precise amounts of heated air into each space.

The state of your return grilles is just as important as supply ducts. In fact, they are critical to creating an exact amount of return airflow back into the furnace to keep it running efficiently. In general, homes tend to have insufficient returns, so have a professional assess your home’s returns and make necessary adjustments.

Once your ducts are sealed, dampers adjusted, and cold-air returns upgraded, it’s time to work some magic with the thermostat. Setting the temperature low enough while maintaining comfort is a delicate balance, but you can expect, as a rule of thumb, a savings of one percent on energy bills if you turn down the thermostat by just one degree. Higher setbacks, obviously, get higher savings.

Level the playing field for heating efficiency by sealing ducts, using dampers, ensuring airflow return. Then, let your thermostat do the work! In the Greater Charlotte area, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical for help with all of your home 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.