COMFORT TEAM

Heating • Air • Plumbing

One of the common problems many residences face is uneven heating in your home. In one room, the temperature rises well above the thermostat setting, making it uncomfortably warm, while in another room, it seems as cold as a meat locker. You might have members of your household battling over control of the thermostat, as everyone tries to attain some level of comfort in one area of the home, causing another area of the home to get too hot or remain too cold.

If you are experiencing this problem, here are some things you can check:

Air Vents:

Air vents closed off in one room and wide open in another can lead to uneven heating. You may have to partially or completely close off vents for areas of the home that receive heating from adjacent rooms or in rooms that are not being used.

Insulation:

Poor insulation is a huge problem, especially in older homes. Depending on wall space and other factors, some rooms can be losing a lot of the heat that enters the home. This leads to uneven heating and higher energy bills

Windows:

Single-pane windows and older windows with leaks on the frame are another major source of escaping heat. You can often feel a noticeable difference in temperature right around windows. You may be able to correct this by re-caulking the window frame. If your windows are still a source of heat loss, consider replacing them.

Doors:

Doors with poor weather stripping can be a huge challenge for effective heating, allowing cold air and drafts to enter your home. They make your furnace work harder resulting in less comfort and higher energy bills. If, after checking all of the above, you are still experiencing uneven heating, consider contacting a member of our Comfort Team. We can do an inspection to uncover the causes of uneven heating and leave you with a more efficient and more comfortable heating system.

If after the above have all been gone through and your still experiencing hot and cold spots within your home, you should consider scheduling an APS/SRP Duct Test.  APS & SRP are both offering rebates of up to $250.00 to test and seal your duct work.  

For more information visit www.dialcomfort.com  

Benefits of a Pentair IntelliFlo Variable Speed Pool Pump

Swimming pool pumps use a ton of electricity.  It is estimated that standard pool pumps can consume as much energy as all other home appliances combined—often costing more than $1,000 per year! 

A typical 1 1/2 HP single speed pool pump uses almost 5000kWh (392kWh per month, 8hr a day) of power a year or $1159. A two speed model uses 3431kWh to accomplish the same task at a cost of $789, saving $370. Variable speed pool pumps, which can run at many slower speeds, like the Intelliflo will use even less energy, resulting in savings from $620-1360 a year according to the company. This makes it the most efficient pool pump right now.

Variable Speed Pentair IntelliFlo^® and IntelliPro^® pumps can typically cut energy use up to 90%, generally saving $620 to $1,360 in utility costs annually.  Pentair Pool has a Pool Pump Cost Savings Calculator to show variable speed pool pump savings and energy efficient design. Their Intelliflo VS-3050 variable speed pump costs $1100 plus installation.  It uses permanent magnet motors like a Hybrid car, to save additional energy.

*Savings based on comparison pump running between 6 and 12 hours per day at the national average of $0.15/kWh in a 20,000 gallon pool. Savings may vary based on plumbing size and length, pump model, service factor, flow rates and other hydraulic factors.

Tips for saving on heating and cooling bills

According to the federal government’s Energy Star heating and cooling guide, The average household spends more than $2,200.00 a year on energy bills, with nearly half of this going to heating and cooling costs. 

Saving energy means saving money but does not mean that you have to sacrifice your normal day to day activities.  It’s how and when you use your energy that could really help decrease the amount spent on energy consumption.  Here are a few tips that you can use to lower your utility bill.

Setting and Programing your Thermostat

Setting your thermostat to 78 in the summer and 68 in the winter will save you money on your utility bills.  If your household is empty during the week for any length of time you need to consider having a programmable thermostat installed.  If you have a programmable thermostat you will want to program your thermostat 2 – 3 degrees higher (in the Summer) and lower (in the winter) than what you usually have your thermostat set at when you’re at home.  By having a programmable thermostat installed and used properly you could save about $180.00 a year in energy costs. 

Maintenance

If you are responsible for a car then you are familiar with how important maintaining your car is.  You have to change your oil, check your tire pressure, check your break pads, ect. every so often.  The same is for your air conditioner and heater.  By having your equipment maintained every 6 month’s (before each season) durastically reduces the chance of a breakdown.  Changing your filters is one of the most import tasks in maintaing your system and is is something that homeowners can typically do on their own.  By keeping your filters fresh and clean you are lessening the debri that builds up on your coils.  Keeping your coils clean ensures that the air flow is not restricted.  If the coils are clogged not only are you doing damage to your system you are also increasing your utility bills.  Maintenance is always a good idea just for the sake of peace of mind in knowing that you had a professional go over your system and that you took the appropriate measures in ensuring you get the maximum performance out of your system.  Click here to read more about air conditioning and heating maintenance.

Duct Test and Sealing

If you are like most homeowners, as long as your cooling and heating system is keeping you comfortable, you dont give it much thought.  But what you dont see could be costing you hundreds of dollars every year.  Most duct systems are installed in attics or building cavities where they are hidden from view and rarely inspected.  Fixing duct leaks could save you more than $200.0in your annual energy costs while improving the comfort in your home. 

The results of an APS study in Arizona found:

1.  In Arizona’s desert climate, on average 50% of your annual energy bill is spent on running your heating/cooling system.
2.  As much as 33% of a heating/cooling systems airflow could be leaking through ducts causing a loss of comfort and system capacity.
3.  The impact is most severe in ducts installed in attics where temperatures can exceed 140 degrees in the summer
4.  On average, almost 15% of cooling capacity is wasted due to duct leakage.  While there will always be some leakage, homes with properly sealed ducts can often reduce leakage 3 to 5%.

For more information on this program Click Here to visit APS Rebate Program Site or Click Here to visit SRP Rebate Program site

As we continue in the triple digits here in AZ the last thing we want to do is open our utility bill.  We have a few tips that will keep your home comfortable while maintaining a reasonable utility bill. 

One of the easiest and most affordable way to ensuring you stay comfortable is by changing your filters regularly.  That means if you use 1″ filters change them monthly, 2″ filters change them every other month, 4″ filters every 6 months.  Changing your filters regularly will keep the flow of air consistent across your coils.  If you have clogged filters it restricts the air flow which will cause your system to freeze up in turn your air conditioning system will start to blow warm air.  NOTE: Above are suggestions as to when to change your filters if you have construction going on around the house or have pets you might want to change them more often.  

It is no surprise that 65% of our utility bill is the usage of our air conditioning system.  That is why it is so important to maintain your A/C equipment regularly.  By having your air conditioning system maintained regularly will ensure your system is running at maximum efficiency as well as keeping peace of mind that your system will not fail in the extreme heat.  It is recommended that you maintain your system every 6 months or before each season (Summer and Winter) starts.   

Keeping your air conditioning system thermostat set to a comfortable setting but not trying to freeze your home.  If you leave your home on a daily basis for a few hours or more an important tip that we can give you is to raise the temperature of your thermostat about 2-4 degrees higher than what you usually keep your thermostat at.  This helps your system run less when no one is home. If you raise the setting too high, say to 85 degrees and then come home and change it to 75 degrees, your unit will run for a very long time to try and catch up. In these extreme heat conditions, it may take 1 hour of run time to lower the temperature of your home. This increases your utility bill, and adds stress to your system. By keeping your setting 2 to 4 degrees higher when not home you will actually save money and not strain your system.  If you have a memory like I do I would recommend you having a programmable thermostat installed.  You can program your thermostat for the days you leave for long periods to warm up and set it for about an hour before you get home to cool the house.

Ceiling Fans keep the air moving in your home.  It makes your home seem cooler since you are moving the stagnant air around.  Ceiling fans also distribute the air throughout the home to make the temperature more even, eliminating hot and cold spots. 

The most costly but one of the best investments you will make is replacing your inefficient old air conditioning system.  I know people don’t like to hear it but what you could save in your electric bill by having a new air conditioning system installed will over time pay for the air conditioning replacement itself. Not only will it lower your utility bills but you will be more comfortable in your home and not to mention the nice warranty your receive with the system. 

I have to share this last tip even though it is not related to your air conditioning system.  This is something I found out myself when I bought my home that had a pool.    My pool pump was approx 10years old and one of my co workers informed me that having an old pool pump running consistently in the summer is costing me money.  I replaced my pool pump with a Pentair variable speed pool pump and my utility bill dropped that very next month.  I strongly recommend you look into replacing your pool pump.  Check with your utility company as well, they most likely have a rebate program for upgrading your pool pump. 

I hope these tips help keep you cool and comfortable this summer.

I got paid!!!

to lower my utilites!

This is no gimmick!

APS is paying up to 50% on the total sale price of a new geothermal unit, the government will give you a 30% tax credit, and the state is offering a property tax exemption !

Your out of pocket cost ends up being equal to or less than a basic unit & you drop utility costs by 40-60% annually! It’s a no brainier.

What is geothermal?

Geothermal units are electrically driven refrigeration devices which utilize the heat pump process to harvest energy from and reject heat to the earth. The earth acts as a heat source for heating and a heat sink for cooling.

In words we can all understand: It’s a unit that cools and heats your home for less!

ACT NOW!!!

Call us, get Geo with it, and get paid!

Relax, we'll take care of it!

Have hail damage?

 Don’t waste any more time!

Call us NOW at 480-266-3678  to get a free visual inspection of your equipment for hail damage and also get the pictures of the equipment emailed to you.

  Wait, there’s more!

Grab some extra savings  and get a 22 point precision tune up for $59.95

And that’s not all:

Start the year off on the right foot by purchasing a new unit and receive a $1500 incentive just for being our neighbor! 

Don’t forget the code word is: AIRPARK

* This offer expires February 28th, 2011
* $1500 incentive only applies if you purchase a high efficiency dual stage Trane system

Filters Work with Arizona Air Conditioners to Purify the Air You Breath

In our last post we discussed ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and ozone generators as two methods to purify the air you breathe.  The most effective method for treating the air rather than the coils is duct systems that are in-line of your Arizona air conditioners. These systems are placed in the center of the duct and parallel to the air flow and are known as filter based purification.  They trap airborne particles by size exclusion. Air is forced through a filter and particles are physically captured by the filter.  There are several options to consider.

HEPA filters remove at least 99.97 of 0.3 micrometer particles, and are usually more effective for particles which are larger or slightly smaller. They are effective down to 0.01 micrometers in many cases, but become ineffective for particles smaller than 0.01 micrometer. HEPA purifiers which filter all the air going into a clean room must be arranged so that no air bypasses the HEPA filter. In dusty environments, a HEPA filter may follow an easily cleaned conventional filter (pre-filter) which removes coarser impurities so that the HEPA filter needs cleaning or replacing less frequently. HEPA filters do not generate ozone or harmful byproducts.

Filters for HVAC systems at MERV 14 or above are rated to remove airborne particles of 0.3 micrometers or larger. This is the most common filter used in residential Arizona air conditioners. A high efficiency MERV 14 filter has a capture rate of at least 75% for particles between 0.3 to 1.0 micrometers. Although the capture rate of a MERV filter is lower than that of a HEPA filter, a central air system can move significantly more air in the same period of time. Using a high-grade MERV filter can be more effective than using a high-powered HEPA machine at a fraction of the initial cost. Unfortunately, most furnace filters are slid in place without an airtight seal, which allows air to pass around the filters. This problem is worse for the higher-efficiency MERV filters because of the increase in air resistance. High efficiency MERV filters are usually denser and increase air resistance in the central system, requiring a greater air pressure drop and consequently increasing energy costs.

Lastly properly sealed duct work to prevent leakage is very important. You can have all the filters in the world but if the ducts of your Arizona air conditioning system leak, you will never have clean air.

As you can see there are different choices for purifying the air in your home. Most qualified HVAC contractors can properly evaluate your home and recommend the best route for you.

Combining Air Purification Systems with your Arizona Heating and Cooling System Can Improve Your Health

The number one most often prescribed drugs today are respiratory drugs such as Claritin, and Allegra.  According to the American Lung Association, there are now almost 70 million people across North America with upper respiratory problems AND it’s on the rise! That’s one in 4 people with respiratory problems with the elderly and children being the most affected.  With statistics like these you have to be asking yourself how you can clean up the air in your home.  Most experts agree the most effective way to clean the air in your home is through the use of filtration within your Arizona heating and cooling system. Several different processes of varying effectiveness can be used to purify air. Different processes may remove different contaminants, so there is an advantage in using more than one process in a purifier.  We’ll discuss ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and ozone generators today and filters in tomorrow’s post.

* Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation- UVGI can be used to sterilize air as it passes UV lamps via forced air. Air purification UVGI systems can be freestanding units with shielded UV lamps that use a fan to force air past the UV light. Other systems are installed in forced air systems so that the circulation for the premises moves micro-organisms past the lamps. Key to this form of sterilization is placement of the UV lamps and a good filtration system to remove the dead micro-organisms. For example, forced air systems by design impede line-of-sight, thus creating areas of the environment that will be shaded from the UV light.  However, a UV lamp placed at the coils and drain pan of your Arizona heating and cooling system will keep micro-organisms from forming in these naturally damp places.

 * Ozone generators – These produce ozone, and are sometimes sold as whole house air cleaners. Unline ionizers ozone generators are designed to produce significant amounts of ozone, a strong oxidant gas which can oxidize many other chemicals. The only safe use of ozone generators is in unoccupied rooms, utilizing “shock treatment” commercial ozone generators that produce over 3000 mg of ozone per hour. Restoration contractors use these types of ozone generators to remove smoke odors after fire damage, musty smells after flooding, mold (including toxic molds), and the stench caused by decaying flesh which cannot be removed by bleach or anything else except for ozone. However, it is not healthy to breathe ozone gas, and one should use extreme caution when buying a room air purifier that also produces ozone.

These are two options for working air filtration into the heating and cooling system that is an essential part of an Arizona home.  In our next post we will discuss filter based purification.

Heating systems in Phoenix Arizona

 With forecasted highs of 98 degrees in the middle of October, most people don’t think about the heating portion of their HVAC system. It doesn’t seem as important as their air conditioning.  Until it gets cold that is. But as residents of the valley of the sun know, it still gets cold enough in winter for the need to heat your home. You don’t need to see snowdrifts outside to feel the chill of the dessert at near freezing temperatures. Plus, after months of triple digit heat, it doesn’t take much to feel uncomfortable.

 People generally believe that Phoenix heating systems don’t get the wear and tear from constant use in Arizona.  But the fact is, most heating systems in Arizona are heat pumps. What this means is that after running all summer as an air conditioner, when it runs in heat mode, it is an air conditioner running backwards. The same components that ran all summer long are now running again, backwards. The condenser fan motor, blower motor and the compressor are running year round. They are still running just as they did in the summertime, only moving the refrigerant in the opposite direction. they actually “air condition the outdoor air”. In summer they absorb heat from inside your home and move it to the outdoor air. In Winter they absorb heat from the outdoor air and move it into your home.

 If you do have a gas furnace, its true, the compressor and outdoor fan motor do not run in the winter, but, the indoor blower that ran all summer is running all winter. Gas furnaces also produce carbon monoxide. Improperly vented flue pipes can cause serious health problems. The fact that the furnace isn’t used all summer can increase the chance of birds or other critters nesting in your flue pipe. This can prevent proper venting causing unsafe conditions for you and your family.

 Routine maintenance in the fall may seem silly, but it is just as important as your summer tune up. Checking combustion on gas furnaces and defrost operation of heat pumps can save you energy, frustration when the cold does come, and assure your safety in the winter months.

 Most Heating and cooling companies offer maintenance programs that provide a summer tune up and a winter tune up. Other benefits include discounts on repairs, extended service hours, extended warranties on repairs made and other services to keep your system running as efficiently as possible.

Consumer Reports states in the June 1998 issue (page 3)

” Consider purchasing a service plan, perticulary if it combines cooling and heating functions. Most plans include 2 visits… a plan may allow the contractor to spot problems before they lead to a breakdown. You may also get discounts on repairs and recieve priority service, which could be a blessing should your cooling system break down during those blistering summer months or on a bitter cold day”

 Air conditioning by Jays Comfort Team offer 3 tiers on Comfort Club Memberships to meet your individual needs.

Each offer amazing benefits to keep you comfortable year round. To learn more visit www.dialcomfort.com or give us a call @ 480-922.4455. 

WARNING!!!!!

Don’t buy a new air conditioning or heating system from any home center such as Home Depot or Sears without knowing who the installing contractor is.

Most people don’t realize when you purchase a new heating or cooling system from a home center or chain store, the work is performed by subcontractors who are charged 10% for the job. This means they could be cutting corners to make a profit. Don’t get caught with a subcontracting nightmare!! Investing in a new energy efficient heating and cooling system isn’t just buying the “box”. You are depending on the installing contractor to do the install correctly so you can enjoy the efficiency promised, and a long system life. The most important day in an air conditioner’s life is the day it is installed. Proper equipment size, proper duct design and quality installation practices are crucial to performance and the longevity of your investment.

At Air Conditioning by Jay’s Comfort Team we never subcontract any of our installation work. All installations and service are done by our highly trained, certified technicians.  100% of our technicians are NATE certified ( North American Trade Excellence) 100% are certified master technicians by the Arizona Heat Pump Council. We are recommended by APS, SRP and Southwest Gas. All of the training and certifications are to assure that our clients receive the very best service when purchasing a new system, have a breakdown or just having routine maintenance done on their system.   

The North Carolina Alternative Energy Corporation a non-profit organization, examined Air Conditioning manufacturers’ efficiencies versus the actual efficiencies that result after installation; they found the following:

90% of the units tested exhibited some sort of energy-wasting, comfort-robbing problem!                        
Other significant HVAC industry comfort energy related surveys reveal that:

*93% of equipment installed have Duct Leakage resulting in poor indoor air quality, health and safety concerns, drafts and uneven temperatures and may DOUBLE HVAC portion of the energy bill                                                                      
*54% of equipment installed have incorrect refrigerant charge resulting in increased failure rate, reduced moisture removal, equipment typically noisier, uneven temperatures and could add as much as 17% to operation costs.  Reduce life of system and major components (Compressors) causing elimination of ROI.                                                 
*47% of equipment installed are over sized resulting in equipment not running enough to wring out moisture, air in sunlit & shade rooms does not mix, equipment typically noisier and shorter equipment life                                                
*70% of equipment installed have incorrect air flow resulting in uneven temperatures, poor moisture control, noisy grilles and registers and could add as much as 10% to operating costs 

When you measure every aspect of any business for results,
you are no longer are guessing!   

                       
Benefits YOU receive and are guaranteed when choosing
AIR CONDITIONING BY JAY to perform your system UPGRADE!

*Only HVAC contractor with Quality Control Division in the business!
*Guarantee that YOUR installation falls in the top 10%!
*Most Certified, Professional staff in the Valley
*100% Satisfaction Guarantee, IN WRITING!
*Best Performance on YOUR investment!
*Longest Life Expectancy on YOUR Investment!
*Fewest Break Downs over the life of YOUR system!
*Quietest Operation Possible!
*Highest Utility Rebates Available!
*24/7 Support and Assistance!
*Free Deluxe Comfort Club Membership!
*Lifetime Thermostat Warranty!
*Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty!