Archive for the ‘Saving Energy’ Category
06.22.2012
Replacing an AC or Heatpump – What You Need to Know
Several times a day, we meet up with customers whose systems need a major repair and they are faced with the important decision of “repair or replace”. In today’s economic climate, it makes sense to carefully calculate the pluses and minuses of replacing an HVAC system. With that in mind, here are a few guidelines to enable you to get the cooling facts without the hype. 1) Consider the savings in energy costs. Having accurate records of past utility usage will help in determining if replacing your system before it breaks down permanently is a good choice. The savings you realize in energy costs may justify an earlier replacement and make you more comfortable at the same time. All our Comfort Consultants are trained to help you compute this savings; just ask! 2) Bigger is not better. A bigger AC or heatpump doesn’t mean you’ll be cooler. An oversized system kicks on and off frequently and doesn’t remove adequate moisture from the air, leaving your house cold and damp. An oversized system also has a greatly reduced lifespan, meaning you’ll be back replacing the system sooner. A properly sized system keeps a comfortable indoor environment with the proper humidity level, around 30-40%. Your […]
04.30.2012
Spring Planting Tips from Holtkamp HVAC
I walked outside a few days ago and was greeted by the first peonies of the season! It was worth all the work to see how gorgeous they are. (The chickies like to hide underneath them too so beauty and function! Thought I would share a picture with you. After I was done admiring the beautiful flowers, I was itching to go play in the dirt. I figured this would be a good time to share some spring planting tips that concern your home’s energy efficiency! 1) When planting next to your outdoor unit, be sure to keep a 28″ minimum clearance. Your AC and your electricity bill will thank you! 2) Don’t plant trees, vines or bushes where leaves, branches and debris can clog your outdoor unit’s fan. An unbalanced fan not only raises a racket but is an energy hog! 3) Resist the urge to construct a pretty little “box” around your outdoor unit to hide it. You know what I am talking about – with lattice or macrame or whatever the heck the neighbor used. This cuts down on airflow and decreases your unit’s life. Besides, a beautful Trane unit doesn’t need to be hidden! Stay tuned for more spring […]
02.23.2011
Use Your Ceiling Fan in Winter, Not Summer
Okay bloggers – the weather has been warmer the last few days here in Metro Atlanta. It’s awfully tempting to think it’s tomato planting season, but resist, I say, resist! We will be getting another cold snap (or two) before the weather changes for good. So if you have a broken furnace, you still have time to call and if you have a broken air conditioner, call ahead! So during this time of weather flux, here’s your Gwinnett HVAC Tip of the Week: During warmer weather, turn off the ceiling fan! Most homeowners use ceiling fans in summer, the exact time they shouldn’t be used. In summer the cold air falls to the floor; this band of cold air is best left undisturbed for maximum comfort and efficiency. Using a ceiling fan to draw it up to the ceiling makes no sense. There it mixes with hotter air and your AC runs constantly, especially if you have a vaulted ceiling. Now in winter, you want the warm air at the ceiling to come lower into the living space but make sure your fan is blowing the air towards the floor not drawing it up. Turn your ceiling fan on the […]
01.24.2011
Home Energy Savings Plan Is Easy With Holtkamp
We’ve had lots of customer questions lately about advertised “energy audits”‘ and “energy saving advice”. Sometimes it may seem difficult to separate the hype from the facts. Here’s the Holtkamp Heating & Air lowdown about energy audits. It can be summarized this way: you’d never take a road trip without a map. So why invest in home improvements without a plan? The Dept. of Energy estimates that well over half of the cost to run your home is spent on heating and air conditioning. Why waste money? The hard part is making sure the energy advice you’re receiving is backed up by facts and not just by a salesman who wants to sell you something. We are one of the few HVAC companies who is fully trained and authorized to perform a true energy evaluation of your home. Through Home Performance with Energy Star™, Jackson EMC Right Choice™, Building Performance Institute, Comfort Institute and Southface, you can be assured our energy audit will be thorough, backed by science and give you a prioritized plan for improvement. Spend your money where you’ll see the biggest paybacks, not where you’ve seen the biggest hype. We’ve spent many years training with these companies […]
01.13.2011
Holtkamp Heating & Air Sponsors Gwinnett Environmental Exhibit
Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center www.gwinnettehc.org 2020 Clean Water Drive Buford, GA 30519 770.904.3500
12.02.2010
How Low Can You Go? Winter Thermostat, That Is…
It’s common knowledge that reducing your indoor winter temperature will save you money. But what’s not common knowledge is how low and why. You first must consider what type of system you have – either a gas furnace or electric heat pump. If you have a gas furnace, you can set the temp as low as you can tolerate and you will truly save money. That’s because you’re simply reducing the amount of fuel you’re using. However, if you have an electric heat pump, it’s more complicated. An electric heat pump extracts heat from the outside air to heat your home when outside temps are 35 F or above. When outside temps dip below 35, back-up electric strip heaters turn on to bring your indoor temp up faster and make up for the difference. These strip heaters are much less efficient than the heat pump. That’s why if you own an electric heat pump, you should always keep no more than a 3 degree difference between high and low temps. In other words, if you prefer your indoor temp to be 70 F when you are home, then don’t turn it down to lower than 67 F at night or […]
10.29.2010
Need to Replace Your Furnace? – Heating101
Run your hands across this supple, shiny sheet metal. Notice the attention to detail on the riveted joints and the alluring, aluminum color. This baby comes packed with 100,000 Btu of pure, raw heat! Can’t you just see her sitting in your basement nestled next to your water heater? Woohoo! P-A-A-R-T-Y!! Sounds ludicrous, doesn’t it? Let’s face it: Buying a new furnace is just not exciting or fun (except to Matthew, of course). But with a little help, it doesn’t have to be intimidating either. So if your heat box has gone south for the winter with no forwarding address, this is “Heating 101”. When choosing a heating system, the first thing you must decide is the type of furnace or system you want. As you go down this list, efficiency, utility savings and cost increase. Heating Types 1) Standard – what would normally be installed in a new home 2) Multi Stage 3) Multi Stage & Variable Speed 4) Modulating 5) Duel Fuel – Gas furnace with electric heat pump Choosing a type should be based upon the importance of comfort level, utility savings, budget and the time you estimate you will stay in your home. A standard furnace […]
03.05.2010
Recessed Lighting Wreaks Havoc on Energy Bills
I confess I’m a fan of decorating shows. It began with “Trading Spaces”; the cardboard wallpaper room was my favorite episode. I’m now under no illusions that my neighbors are clamoring to decorate my “space” so I have progressed to watching “Clean House” just to make myself feel better there are people with more stuff than me. (Oh admit it; you watch for the same reason. It’s like gawking at the woman with the ghastly hairdo.) These shows are great for decorating ideas but not so good when it comes to energy efficiency. They often suggest installing recessed lighting to add a little zip to your indoor space. Recessed lighting is essentially cutting holes in your ceiling. Heat rises, right? Fancy term – the stack effect. Common term – money leaking from your ceiling. Avoid recessed lighting unless you’re fond of supporting your local utility company. If you already have recessed lighting, don’t fret. We can seal those lights and make them airtight. (Then we’ll slap your hand and tell you not to do it again.) Thinking of redecorating? Avoid recessed lighting when you have a choice. If you already have them, seal what you have. What’s it look like? […]
02.04.2010
Furnace Running Constantly?
Whenever a cold snap hits – lower than 25 degrees here in Atlanta Metro – your furnace or heat pump may seem to run constantly, leading you to believe that perhaps your unit is too small and unable to keep up. There is a simple explanation for this. Every unit is installed with a “set point”. This is a temperature determined by the United States Air Force Weather Data Service that reflects the typical coldest winter day for the area. Our set point here in the Atlanta area is 21 degrees F. That means that whenever the temp dips below 21 degrees, your heating system should theoretically run nonstop in order to overcome the cold. In fact, once an outside temp reaches below 21, your indoor temp could be several degrees below the thermostat setting. This is perfectly normal. Why do our heating systems need a set point? A set point is used to correctly size a system before installation. By knowing where the furnace or heat pump will be installed, the installing company can determine how big the unit needs to be to keep up with the area’s weather. A correctly sized furnace or heat pump makes the home […]
