Category: Thermostats

How Is a Smart Thermostat Beneficial?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

School, work, and errands keep families out of the more than inside in most cases. Why should households need their heating and cooling units on if no one is at home?  Smart thermostats safeguard to create an energy-efficient space. Budgets see the benefits when the energy bill comes in.

Saving on Schedule

Smart thermostats are easily programmable. Any homeowner can set it to come on and turn off according to their life’s schedule. The diversity of settings are accessible through an easy to panel and in some cases, from an app on a smart device.  A homeowner is called away on business, and through their smart thermostat and device, reprogram any time settings. A routine and spontaneous lives benefit from the energy and time efficiency.

Getting with the Program

Smart thermostats are the seven days a week protector of comfort. Work all week? The programmable technology knows when someone is home and when someone is not. It also knows the difference between a Monday and a lazy Sunday.  The ease and convenience of a smart thermostat is only a fraction of why it is beneficial.

Energy efficiency is trendy, but it is one that is here to stay. It saves money for homeowners while improving and sustaining the environment, overall economy, and the air quality of someone’s space.

Knowing When

Who, what, when, how, are all important questions when it comes to a smart thermostat.  Many systems learn on their own and without manual programming. Automation is the future and that future extends to who comes and goes from a home, what are pets or people, when people tend to come and go, and how often the temperature changes.  The Infinity™ Series is only one of many brands that guarantees comfort and reliability.

Benefits of a Smart Thermostat in Charlotte, NC

Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical provides excellent HVAC services to Charlotte and the surrounding areas. Contact us when you’re ready to upgrade to a smart thermostat!

How Wireless Thermostats Work

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

In recent years, there has been a growing trend in electronics to go from wired versions to wireless versions, so it should come as no surprise to you that there are now wireless thermostats available. Wireless thermostats are an ideal choice when a more flexible installation is needed, but they are also perfect if you want to have the ability to fine-tune the room temperature easily.

Wireless thermostats are believed to be beneficial for energy savings because you can better control the temperature. This may also provide your family with more comfort than is possible with a conventional wired thermostat.

Wireless thermostats are not without issues, however. Just as other wireless devices, wireless thermostats are dependent on the lack of reception interference. How well it will work for you will depend on various things about your home, such as its construction and presence of other electronics.

Wireless Thermostats in Charlotte, NC

The best way to know if your home would be conducive to a wireless thermostat is to give us a call at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical to arrange a consultation. We will come to your Charlotte, NC home and check to see how well it would work for you and discuss the advantages and potential disadvantages of this type of thermostat. It is not difficult to change your heating system over to a wireless thermostat, so we can take care of it in just one short visit if we determine that it is a viable option. This is a very affordable way to upgrade your system and add value to your home. Give us a call today to discuss this modern technological breakthrough!

What Type of Thermostat Is Best for Your Charlotte, NC Home?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Few people give much thought to their thermostat. Maybe you have always just thought of it as a feature attached to the wall of your home that controls the heating and cooling systems. But if you find yourself with the need to replace your air conditioning unit or have a new air handler installed, did you know that this is the perfect time to install an upgraded thermostat to fit your new system?

Thermostat Installation in Charlotte, NC

If you have decided to opt for a new thermostat, you must consider several available options, including digital, multiple climate zone, programmable, and Wi-Fi thermostats. There are also other features you may way to look into, such as adjustable cycles, filter-change reminders, auto changeover switches, and more. So how do you determine which thermostat is best for you?

Here at Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical in Charlotte, NC, we like to make sure that you are comfortable in your own home. From helping to maintain your system to installing new parts and ducts, we strive to keep our customers satisfied–and this includes helping you choose a new thermostat for your home.

The most popular type of thermostat today is the programmable thermostat. This allows you to program a schedule into your thermostat to raise or lower the temperatures at specific times of day. If you are going to be away during the day, for example, you can set the thermostat to a higher or lower temperature and then have it return to normal just before you return home. You can also set the thermostat to go down to a lower temperature while you sleep.

The Wi-Fi thermostat is an option you can combine with a programmable thermostat. This allows you to program your thermostat remotely from a computer, cell phone, or other mobile device.

If you are unsure what you need in a thermostat, don’t hesitate to ask us for advice. We’d also be happy to install your thermostat for you and make sure you receive the best levels of comfort in your home.

Saving Money On Heating With Programmable Thermostats

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Heating your home is a constant game. It is hard to save money, remain comfortable and be responsible to the environment at the same time. With rising energy costs and a green movement that is bringing everyone more in touch with their footprint on the Earth, homeowners are looking for reasonable solutions in heating and air conditioning their home.

Most heating options that are environmentally friendly are very costly to homeowners and can take weeks to install. One improvement you can make that is fairly cheap and very quick to install is programmable thermostats.

Programmable thermostats only range from $50 to $200, which is hardly anything considering the costs of replacing furnaces, installing new windows, or buying more efficient appliances. This small cost yields big savings, savings of about 15% a year.

Other than significantly lowering your energy bills, programmable thermostats are much more convenient to have in your home, and can save energy without you even remembering to turn the thermostat down. Most programmable thermostats can save more than six temperature settings for every single day, and you can override them without messing up the daily or weekly program that the thermostat is set to.

This can do wonders to save you money on heating during cold winter months. For example, your house can be a nippy 60 degrees while you are at work, and then–while you are in traffic on your commute back home–it can automatically move up to a toasty 68 degrees or 70 degrees. When you step in the door, the temperature is right where you want it.

Signs of Needing Furnace Repair

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Furnace repair can be a very expensive part of life. It is important to catch the signs early, so you avoid a catastrophe and an even more expensive mess. Here are 7 signs that can help you realize whether you need furnace repair or not:

  • The prices of your gas and electric bill are going up. Furnaces lose efficiency with age, and this can increase exponentially if the furnace has not been properly maintained. This causes your furnace to work harder for the same amount of output while using more energy and eventually causing your gas or electric bills to rise. The money you pay the gas and electric company every month could be used to pay for new furnace.
  • Your furnace is multiple decades old. The life expectancy of a furnace is between 16 and 20 years. Any longer than this and your furnace is probably close to its end.
  • No matter what the thermostat says, you are still uncomfortable. Your furnace may lack the ability to properly distribute the air in your home, making some rooms warmer than others. Also your thermostat may need replacing.The furnace is making strange noises. Furnaces tend to make strange and loud noises near the end of their life. This could be a sign that the furnace is about to give.
  • Members of your household getting sick. As furnaces get older, they run the risk of getting damaged and cracked. This can cause carbon monoxide to leak into your home undetected and cause harm to your family. Symptoms include disorientation, nausea, and flu-like symptoms. It is highly recommended that everyone have a carbon monoxide detector installed in each living area of your home. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, or if your carbon monoxide detector goes off, get out of the house immediately and do not go back in until the area has been inspected by professionals and proven to be safe
  • Yellow burner flame instead of a blue burner flame. A yellow burner flame might be a sign that your furnace is producing carbon monoxide. This is very dangerous to the members of your household.
  • Dirty or dusty home. Old furnaces cannot properly moisturize and clean the air inside of your home.

If you see any of these signs, you should consult with a professional to see about furnace repair or replacing your furnace.

In need of furnace services in the Charlotte metro area? Call Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today at 704.665.5998 or contact us online!

How to Avoid Needing Furnace Repair

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Furnace repair can be very expensive and cause quite a headache for homeowners. It is very important for the longevity and efficiency of your furnace that you keep the system maintained properly to avoid a big breakdown at the worst time.

So how do you prevent running into issues with your furnace and needing furnace repair? The best way is to schedule annual furnace tune-up with a heating and air conditioning professional. Although this may have some cost associated with it, you save 5-10% in energy costs each year by ensuring your furnace is operating at maximum efficiency, and your furnace technician will be able to catch small problems before they become big ones.

Another small step to assist in the avoidance of furnace repair is to change the furnace’s air filter regularly and clean it once every month. Many furnace repair technicians have reported that as many as half of their furnace repair calls are caused by dirty motors. Keeping a clean and fresh filter can prevent these breakdowns and save you money.

If you choose to do your furnace maintenance on your own, remember to proceed with caution. Remember that you are working with an appliance that runs on flammable materials and has the potential to be very dangerous. Generally speaking, you shouldn’t perform any maintenance on your own furnace that is more involved than changing the filter.

If you do happen to run into issues that may need furnace repair, before you call for assistance, make sure to check these simple fixes to avoid an unnecessary service:

  • Check to make sure the thermostat is set at the right temperature.
  • Check to make sure all registers in the house are open and not blocked by furniture.
  • Check to see if the pilot light is on. If it is not, follow the instructions on the furnace to get it going again, but take the safety precautions VERY seriously. This can be dangerous if not done correctly. If your pilot light goes out often, you may have a larger problem that needs to be addressed by a technician.
  • Check to make sure the circuit breaker is on.

Greening Up Your Home Starts With the Sensible Use of Air Conditioning

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

In the Charlotte area of North Carolina, summer is hot and humid with temperatures averaging in the mid to high 90s. Air conditioning in this part of the country is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. That said, however, it’s important to try and “green up” your home and save money by minimizing use of your air conditioner. Here are some ways to do this:

  • Dress lightly if it’s hot, and set the air conditioner to a little higher temperature.
  • Use an indoor fan along with your air conditioning unit to disperse the cooled air through your home more efficiently.
  • Never set the thermostat to a colder setting when first switching the air conditioning unit on. It’s not going to cool your home any quicker. In fact, it will increase energy consumption and could cause the air conditioning unit to freeze over.
  • When it’s cool in the morning and night, open the windows and doors. Your home will stay cool for a while, depending on how well it’s sealed and insulated. When it starts getting hot, turn on the air conditioning until after the sun has gone down. Then open the doors and windows again to let the cool air in.
  • To cut down on extra heat, close the blinds on the west, east and south-facing windows. Better still, install shade screens or exterior shades to block the heat before it even gets into your house.
  • If your air conditioning unit is old, consider purchasing an Energy Star rated model. You can save between 10 and 14 percent of your energy costs.

Tips Versus Myths of Household Heating

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Heating your household (and the money it costs to do so) is a topic of much discussion between all sorts of people; as such, it is expected that some myths will arise through all the conversation. We know how myths work: what one person hears will be relayed to another, possibly even changing slightly, so on and so forth. So then how do we know which little tips to trust? Which are misleading?

One very common myth is that leaving the thermometer set at a constant, modest temperature will save money and energy. The reasoning is it takes more energy to heat or cool an area to a temperature than it does to maintain the temperature. This is generally not true; it is indeed better to set back your thermostat a few degrees when no one is home, for example.

A tip is to actually install a programmable thermostat, so it can regulate the activity of the heating and cooling systems depending on the time of day and whether someone is home or not.

Another myth (misconception may be a better word) is that using an electric heating system is more energy efficient than a fuel powered furnace and would save you money. Homes using electric heating are getting their power from fuel-burning power plants, which because of the size and distance are likely even less efficient than a household furnace.

If you are dissatisfied with the energy consumption of your home heating system, a tip would be either to convert to solar energy panels, or to a more modern, high-efficiency furnace, which can be up to 98% efficient. Call Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today to learn how we can help with your home comfort needs.

Common Culprits That Call for Furnace Repair

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Of course there are any number of things that necessitate furnace repair, certain problems occur much more commonly than others, as well as range from minor to potentially dangerous. Knowing what to look for can be helpful both in deciding how to proceed with the furnace repair process and also to help you communicate more effectively with your furnace repair technician.

One of the first things to check when your furnace fails to start is the thermostat. A faulty thermostat will not allow the furnace to recognize the need to start heating. The good news is a broken thermostat is also one of the more simple problems to have repaired.

If the furnace turns on, but one or two of the rooms of the house are not receiving air, the problem is likely to be in the air ducts themselves. Perhaps one or more of them are broken or have become blocked. This problem can become more difficult when the air ducts are in places difficult to reach.

If your furnace is lit, but none of the rooms are receiving air at, the problem could be the blower or the circulating fan. This problem will definitely call for a furnace repair. The blower takes the air from the cold rooms, runs them through the heat exchanger, warming the air, and then sends the warm air back into the house. A disruption in the flow of air can also cause overheating in the furnace itself.

Clogged, dirty, or blocked air filters can also cause problems and lead to furnace repair. It is essential to have clean and clear filters through which the air may move freely. Restricting the flow of air can cause unnecessary strain on the system and increase energy consumption. However, this problem is more an issue of maintenance. Make sure to clean your filters at a very minimum of once every three months during the use of the furnace; more often would be even better. Caring for and getting routine maintenance for your heating system will help prevent the need for furnace repair in the first place.

Programmable Thermostats: How to Make the Smart Decision

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

Investing in a programmable thermostat will quickly pay you back, as the average energy savings you can expect from using these devices approaches 10 percent. By selecting a model with “smart” capabilities, you can lock in the highest savings possible while providing the ultimate in convenience.

Programming options

Standard and smart programmable thermostats generally allow homeowners to set their devices for up to four daily schedules. But weekly scheduling options differ from one model thermostat to another.

You can choose:

  • 7-day programming, with a separate schedule for every day of the week
  • 5-1-1 settings, with one schedule for Monday through Friday, and one schedule for each weekend day
  • 5-2 programming, with one schedule for the weekdays and one for weekends
  • 1-week settings, with programming that extends the entirety of the seven-day week

Programmable thermostat features

You can also select various features for added convenience, including:

  • Touch screen capabilities
  • Backlighting
  • Reminders to change your HVAC air filters and the thermostat’s batteries
  • Vacation override button

Smart capabilities

A standard programmable thermostat will give you all of the features listed above, but a smart device offers an additional perk: web-based access. Remote access to a programmable thermostat can give a homeowner a multitude of options, including the ability to:

  • Change temperature settings from another location using a phone or computer
  • Adjust temperatures remotely when your schedule changes, so that by the time you return home the temperature will be comfortable
  • Change the time period of an existing setting, allowing you to adjust any of the four daily settings
  • Set a 365-day schedule, a feature available on some smart programmable thermostats
  • Lock out manual adjustments, ideal when you don’t want home occupants, like children, to manipulate the thermostat and make changes to the temperature or time settings
  • Receive a text or email when your smart thermostat senses that the home’s temperature is above or below the setting, allowing you to remotely respond
  • Receive alerts when humidity sensors read levels that are too high or too low

Use the power of “smart” programmable thermostat technology, and boost your overall energy savings and convenience. For help, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical — serving the Greater Charlotte area as a local, family-owned company since 1972.