Don't Forget to Have Your HVAC Unit Serviced Every Year!

Service HVAC Units Annually

Inspecting and servicing HVAC systems on an annual basis is recommended by almost every manufacturer and distributor. Unfortunately, many users overlook this fundamental necessity putting off service calls for longer periods of time you do to cost fears or just outright forgetting to make an appointment for a unit check-up.

Fear cost for servicing can be unfounded since skipping required HVAC system inspection will usually lead to spending a great deal more money toward inflated energy bills. Furthermore, an area that is always overlooked when it comes to maintaining an annual HVAC service call is putting the health and safety of the buildings occupants at risk. Calling upon the services of the licensed HVAC service technician on an annual basis will make sure that the unit is operating at its maximum efficiency. This saves money providing users with great peace of mind in better financial use of resources in the long run.

HVAC systems using oil or natural gas furnaces burn fossil fuels. These in turn emit a deadly by-product called carbon monoxide. Therefore, it is important to check the HVAC system for proper operation making certain that there is no risk from carbon monoxide poisoning harming a building's occupants.

HVAC design that can SAVE you money

Proper HVAC Design Can Save Money

Most people may not be aware that HVAC design does play a major part in system productivity as well as energy savings. HVAC systems that do not have great built-in controls will be wasting users a great deal money. An example would be if the system is simultaneously cooling and heating different areas throughout a building. Not only is this counterproductive, but it puts a great deal of operational strain on any HVAC system.

The California Energy commission reports that properly-sized HVAC systems need to be configured in order to provide the necessary airflow that is needed to meet the calculated cooling and heating modes from room to room in a building. System inspections need to be conducted so when air pressure drops across the handler, it always comes in within design specifications that provide the capacity to meet these calculated loads.

Going beyond proper design, experts indicate that regular maintenance is needed to ensure the best operation. Therefore, for example, air filters need to be on a must-change per month basis. Periodic examination is also need to make sure that systems are properly charged with refrigerant and that the system burner operation and draft process is running properly.

Manassas VA Comfort Professionals can and will inspect your home for energy efficiency as well as advise you on some easy steps to save you money!

And for more information, check out this article on Keeping AC Costs Low.

HVAC Technology and How It Has Changed

HVAC Technology is Changing

Throughout the world, home consumers and businesses are looking to save as much money as possible when it comes to energy output. The HVAC industry in the United States alone is a $200 billion per year operation that is the second-largest energy consumer in the country. Furthermore, 80 percent of the buildings where people work today will be the same ones that they will be working in 20 years from now. Therefore, the HVAC industry faces the challenge for retrofitting its current equipment making it up to date with more energy-efficient technology.

Government regulations are also the key source for influencing efficiency requirements. Demands for variable speed, multi-stage, and more complex operating equipment with remote capabilities are becoming the norm walking toward better fitting today. The HVAC industry is being pressured to make the transition from the legacy 24Vac control wiring to modern equipment utilizing serial communication. The Smart HVAC systems will have the ability taking complexity out of installation while setting up systems that can put to good use easily produce diagnostic information that will help operators prevented troubleshoot any equipment challenges. The future a HVAC service technician is going to have to need to know enough about computerized systems also qualifying them as IT experts.

A garden on the roof - Can it really Aid HVAC?

Rooftop Gardens Aid HVAC System

Rooftop gardens are offering much more than an aesthete appeal to nature lovers. The insulation provided by layers of soil help keep heat in a building during the winter and air conditioning during the summer. Anytime there is an airtight solution to reducing the frequency of operating a HVAC system, the better.

These gardens also help prolong the life of a roof and absorb rainwater, allowing runoff to be more gradual. Any type of natural shade aids in better HVAC control by shielding a building from winds and keeping the sun's rays from penetrating surfaces.

Energy Auditing Employment?

HVAC Industry Presents Energy Auditing Employment Opportunities

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, job opportunities in the "sustainable" fields will grow to a need for more than 30 million in the next 20 years. Immediate and future economic opportunity is closely tied to the country's attempted moves toward energy independence. But, these opportunities also present demanding challenges. Programs monitoring and operating HVAC systems need to include energy audits.

Energy auditing provides for greater detailed building inspection. Better inspection can lead to improving energy efficiency through energy auditing that makes recommendations for cost-effective upgrades and adaptations. This can create jobs in many sectors tied into operations such as HVAC service techs, insulators, carpenters, electricians and plumbers.

Educators and trainers need to incorporate "green" concepts into energy auditing training programs. These would include understanding terminology, blower-door testing and thermal imaging. Home energy usage is impacted by a number of factors including a structure's air tightness, effective airtight ducts and if these ducts work outside the thermal envelope. The need to transmit knowledge about blower doors, duct leakage testing, how to use these devices and what information revealed is important must be taught so auditing can effectively determine whether a system can be retrofitted or replaced.

Energy Efficiency for your HVAC System

Does Your HVAC System Operate As Efficiently As It Could?

Are you facing continuous maintenance challenges with your HVAC unit? Does your system comply with all environmental, safety and health requirements? Is your HVAC unit id great operating condition or are you throwing hard-earned money at it for absolutely no good reasons?

Whenever any facility assessment is conducted, one of the very first places examined is the HVAC. Determination must be made concerning life expectancy left in the system. Old systems suck up financial resources wasting energy. Additionally, poorly operating systems can cause bad indoor air quality situations that can put inhabitants at risk. Plus, if you are, indeed, wasting good dollars toward ineffective maintenance, you need to determine what is exactly wrong and then fix it effectively.

Examining monthly energy use is the best place to start an assessment. This is the area where costs savings can be considerable. Although lighting does present the area for the most potential savings, effectively operating HVAC units is the second area offering cost reduction. HVAC systems operating on high-tech controls can save on energy costs between 30-40 percent. Make sure there is life left, since the return on the investment of upgrades may take five years.

If you want your Northern Virginia HVAC system checked out, give Comfort Professionals a ring!