| How Your Thermostat Can Save You Over $180 Per Year |
| 2013.05.20 12:00:00 | |
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There is an easy way to save more than $180 a year on your air conditioning and heating costs and it is probably already hanging on a wall in your home. The little box that controls your home’s temperature is key in providing efficient heating and cooling to your home. Here are three tips to help you save more than $180 a year on energy costs using only your thermostat.
Use Your Time Wisely
If you are like most of us, you are away from your home at least eight hours a day and asleep for another eight. If you are paying to heat and cool your home to the same temperature all day long, you have not taken full advantage of your programmable thermostat.
According to ENERGY STAR, you can reduce your yearly energy bill by as much as $180 every year by installing and using a programmable thermostat. To maximize your energy savings, adopt a schedule similar to the ones below:
Example Summer Schedule:
* Wake at 6:00 a.m. – temperature is set at or above 78° F.
* Leave for work at 8:00 a.m. – temperature automatically increases 7° F.
* Come home from work at 6:00 p.m. – temperature returns to or above 78° F.
* Go to sleep at 10:00 p.m. – temperature raises at least 4° F.
Example Winter Schedule
* Wake at 6:00 a.m. – temperature is set at or below 70° F.
* Leave for work at 8:00 a.m. – temperature automatically decreases 8° F.
* Come home from work at 6:00 p.m. – temperature returns to or below 70° F.
* Go to sleep at 10:00 p.m. – temperature falls at least 8° F
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Programming your thermostat similar to the schedules above will help you take full advantage of the energy savings of a programmable thermostat.
Give Your Air Conditioner and Heater a Vacation
When you go on vacation, or are away from home a day or more, give your air conditioner or heater a break, too. Programmable thermostats have a vacation setting or hold button that allows you to override its pre-programmed settings. By making sure your heater and air conditioner run only minimally while you are gone, you can increase your energy savings even more.
Get in The Zone
Many homes have zoned heating and air conditioning systems. If your home comfort system is zoned, install a programmable thermostat in each zone and enjoy the maximum amount of energy savings.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Bradbury Brothers services most of southern Montgomery County including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Pinehurst,Shenandoah as well as northern Harris county including Cypress, Klein, Spring and Tomball. Visit our website at www.BradburyBrothers.com and check out our special offers.
Tags: energy savings | programmable thermostat | Texas | Bradbury Brothers | The Woodlands | heating | air conditioning |
| Problems With Your HVAC System? Could Be Your Thermostat |
| 2013.05.06 12:00:00 | |
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Is your heating and cooling system not turning on? Does it shut off before reaching the desired temperature? Does it continuously turn on and off in short cycles? Don’t immediately blame your heater or air conditioner. The true culprit could be your thermostat. Although small, your thermostat plays a significant role in your home’s comfort and it could be the real issue is one of these three common thermostat problems.
Bad Location
By far, the most common thermostat problem is improper placement. It sounds minor, but where you place your thermostat in your home plays a large role in your comfort level and your system’s efficiency. If a thermostat is placed too close to a vent or in direct sunlight, it will give inaccurate readings or cause your heating and cooling system to work harder than it needs to.
Where to place your thermostat:
* Out of direct sunlight – If the thermostat is getting a lot of direct sun, it will register a higher temperature than the rest of your home. That means in the winter during the day your heater won’t turn on, and in the summer your air conditioner will work overtime.
* Away from vents – Thermostats that are placed too closely to vents often shut off your comfort system prematurely. For example, a thermostat may turn on your cooling system, but the vent quickly cools the area around the thermostat, causing it to turn off the air conditioner before the rest of the home is cooled.
* Near the center of your home – Ideally, your thermostat should be reading the median (average) temperature of your home. This ensures more even heating and cooling throughout your home. Hallways just outside bedrooms are usually good places. Keep it away from kitchens and any appliances that give off heat.
Accumulation of Dirt or Dust
Over time, dust and dirt accumulate on the inside of your thermostat. This can lead to inaccurate temperature readings that cause your cooling and heating system to function incorrectly. To fix this common thermostat problem, remove the housing and use a soft brush to gently clean the moving parts.
Old, Inaccurate Model
It may be that your thermostat problem is simply a result of an older thermostat that could benefit from being replaced. Older mercury-based thermostats are less accurate than today’s digital, electronic thermostats. Modern programmable thermostats regulate your temperature within one or two degrees of accuracy and help you save up to 15% on your energy bills by only running your system when you are home and awake.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Bradbury Brothers services most of southern Montgomery County including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Pinehurst, Shenandoah as well as northern Harris county including Cypress, Klein, Spring and Tomball. Visit our website at www.BradburyBrothers.com and check out our special offers.
Tags: air conditioning | The Woodlands | Bradbury Brothers | Texas | programmable thermostat | energy savings | heating |
| Green Options for Your Home HVAC System |
| 2013.04.22 12:00:00 | |
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We believe in being good stewards of the earth and our resources. That’s why we are committed to helping you reduce your carbon footprint and save money with our green air conditioning and heating options for your home. (And no, we are not talking about the color of your system.) We have broken down several of our key energy-saving products below and listed them in order of least to most energy savings. All energy savings estimates come from the ENERGY STAR website.
Programmable Thermostat
Savings: 5-8% of your heating/cooling costs
You could save up to $180 a year on your annual heating and air conditioning costs by simply installing and using a programmable thermostat. With a very low initial cost, a programmable thermostat is a great green option that quickly pays for itself.
Air Duct Sealing & Insulating
Savings: up to 20% of your heating/cooling costs
We have found that many homes’ ducts are leaking air through holes, cracks and unsealed joints. This greatly affects your air conditioning and heating system’s efficiency.
High Efficiency Air Conditioners and Heaters
Savings: up to 30% of your heating/cooling costs
The most obvious green option for your home is newer, more energy efficient equipment. If your current system is 8-12 years old, you may save up to 30% on your energy costs by upgrading to a high efficiency air conditioner, furnace or heat pump.
Other Green Heating and Air Conditioning Factors
* Air Filters – change them every 30-90 days for optimum system efficiency
* Installation – the installation of your system will affect its efficiency, so choose a company you can trust to do it right.
* Size – a cooling and heating system that is too small or too big will not be energy efficient. Make sure your unit is properly sized.
* Home’s “shell”– For maximum efficiency, your home’s “shell” should be as air tight as possible.
According to ENERGY STAR, heating and cooling your home accounts for nearly 50% of your energy use. By using these products and services correctly, you can significantly cut your own energy consumption, helping preserve our planet for future generations while also saving yourself some money.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Bradbury Brothers services most of southern Montgomery County including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Pinehurst, Shenandoah as well as northern Harris county including Cypress, Klein, Spring and Tomball. Visit our website at www.BradburyBrothers.com and check out our special offers.
Tags: programmable thermostat | energy savings | high efficiency air conditioner | high efficiency AC | AC repair | Texas | Bradbury Brothers | The Woodlands | air conditioner | cooling | air conditioning |
| What is SEER and Why Does It Matter? |
| 2013.04.15 12:00:00 | |
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If you have ever shopped for a new air conditioner or heat pump, you may have come across SEER. While many homeowners know the SEER of the cooling system they purchase is significant, they don’t fully understand what it is and why it’s important.
What is SEER?
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy in order to give consumers a way to accurately compare the energy efficiency of different heat pumps and air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the more energy efficient the system is.
How is the SEER determined?
To calculate the SEER of an air conditioner or heat pump, the amount of cooling supplied during a cooling season (measured in Btu’s per hour) is divided by the power consumed (measured in watts) during the same period. The cooling equipment is tested in a laboratory setting where an exact set of conditions is known to exist.
The U.S. Department of Energy specifies these precise conditions in order to provide an environment where each air conditioner and heat pump can be evaluated under the same circumstances. This allows the SEER to be used to accurately compare the efficiency of cooling equipment from different manufacturers.
How much will you save?
Current U.S. law dictates that all air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured after 2006 must have a minimum SEER of 13. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this represents a 30% increase in efficiency from the previous minimum SEER of 10. In If your system is over 10-years old, you could save as much as 30-40% on your cooling costs.
Other considerations that affect SEER
It is important to note that an air conditioner or heat pump’s SEER is measured under a specific set of circumstances with ideal conditions. For example, if your home has significant air leaks or an improperly sized duct system, it will greatly affect the efficiency of your air conditioner.
Also, while the SEER is a significant factor in the purchase of a new cooling system, it should not be the only one. Other considerations include:
* Size of system – Air conditioners and heat pumps that are too big or too small for your home waste energy.
* Installation company – Even if you purchase a high SEER system, the energy savings can be negated by a poor installation.
* Additional features – Many cooling systems have additional features that both extend the life of the unit and increase energy efficiency.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Bradbury Brothers services most of southern Montgomery County including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Pinehurst, Shenandoah as well as northern Harris county including Cypress, Klein, Spring and Tomball. Visit our website at www.BradburyBrothers.com and check out our special offers.
Tags: air conditioning | cooling | air conditioner | The Woodlands | Bradbury Brothers | Texas | AC repair | residential AC repair | high efficiency air conditioner | high efficiency AC | residential AC |
| Selecting Your Air Conditioner: Single Stage Versus Two Stage |
| 2013.04.08 12:00:00 | |
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Air conditioners come in a variety of brands, capacities, and sizes. And while there are a number of important choices to be made when selecting a new air conditioner for your home, deciding between single-stage and two-stage can be the most confusing.
What are single-stage and two-stage air conditioners?
Until recently, most all air conditioners have been single-stage. In fact, if you are in the process of replacing your current air conditioner, it is probably a single-stage. Single stage simply means the air conditioner has only one operating speed. In contrast, two-stage air conditioners have two separate operating modes that increase your cooling system’s efficiency and your home’s comfort.
How do they work?
Understanding how each of these types of air conditioners work will allow you to more easily decide on which one is better for you and your home.
* Single-stage air conditioners - Like a light switch, a single-stage air conditioner is either on or off. When your home’s temperature rises above your thermostat’s setting, it turns on 100% until your comfort level is reached and then turns off completely.
* Two-stage air conditioners – A two-stage air conditioner is more like a fan switch: it can be off, on, or at a medium speed. When your air conditioner only needs to cool your home a few degrees, it uses its “lower gear” to accomplish the task more efficiently. And when the cooling load is more strenuous, it uses its higher speed to cool your home quickly.
Which one is better for me?
Everyone has different needs, budgets and requirements, so it is difficult to say whether a two-stage air conditioner will serve you better. There are pros and cons to both.
Two-Stage Air Conditioner
* More energy efficient
* Lower setting allows for quieter operation
* Greater savings on energy bills
* Cools your home much more quickly
* Helps with de-humidification
* Purchase price is more expensive
Single-Stage Air Conditioner
* Still very energy efficient
* Sufficient in many smaller homes
* More affordable
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Bradbury Brothers services most of southern Montgomery County including The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Pinehurst, Shenandoah as well as northern Harris county including Cypress, Klein, Spring and Tomball. Visit our website at www.BradburyBrothers.com and check out our special offers.
Tags: air conditioning | cooling | air conditioner | The Woodlands | Bradbury Brothers | Texas | AC repair | residential AC repair | high efficiency AC | high efficiency air conditioner | residential AC | energy savings |
