Quick tips for air conditioner performance

By Advanced HVAC Systems

Quick air conditioner tips

Don't let your house get too hot.

While smart thermostats like the nest are great for saving energy, letting your house get to hot while you're away at work will only make your air conditioner have to work harder to cool you down. I recommend only setting it back a few degrees and not turning the cooling off during away times.

Also, keeping your curtains drawn or adding a reflective treatment to your windows is a big help.

Supply and Return.

Make sure your supply registers and return air registers aren't covered up. Your grills are usually placed near the outside walls of the home which makes it easy for them to get covered by furniture or long curtains. Ensuring these are not covered is critical to the airflow cycle. Return air registers are especially important. An air conditioner doesn't actually add cold air but it removes hot humid air. If you have a two storey home these registers should be installed up high to get rid of the heat.

Clean machine

A clean air filter is necessary. Too often, when on a "no cooling" service call I find that the air filter hasn't been cleaned or changed. Your air conditioners evaporator coil "indoor section"  needs airflow to do its thing. Regular filter maintenance is key to ensuring the longevity and performance of your air conditioning system.
Your condenser or "outdoor section" must also be kept clean. Grass clippings, overgrown bushes and dust can clog up the fins or block the airflow needed for a good refrigerant cycle. A good spray with the garden hose should do the trick.

Scheduled maintenance

As with any piece of mechanical equipment a proper tune-up will keep things running smooth. I recommend my customers get this done in the spring to avoid any problems.

 

Why I like the Nest thermostat

By Advanced HVAC Systems There are a few "smart" thermostats on the market now, but one stands out above the crowd. Enter the second generation Nest thermostat.

Top features

• Auto Away

Instead of having to turn down your thermostat when you leave the house (and back up when you return), Nest will automatically adjust to save energy by sensing that you are away.

• Auto Schedule

Once installed Nest will default to a set temperature and hold those defaults until you change them. After a week Nest will have learned your basic schedule. You have taught Nest when you wake, leave, return and sleep.

• Nest Leaf

When in energy saving mode a Nest Leaf will appear on the screen. Basically when you follow the leaf you save money. The leaf is visible straight away based on the default setting. After that Nest will personalize the leaf to your personal schedule.

• Reminders

When set up Nest will remind you when to change your filters and have maintenance performed.

• History

Nest will save up to 10 days of system usage, how often and for how long your system ran for. This will help you make smart choices about schedules and temperature set-points.

• Looks

Nest looks good. The stainless steel ring will reflect wall colours and blend into your home. Because all adjustments are made by pressing the outer ring, no unsightly fingerprints or smudges are left behind.



By Advanced HVAC Systems

Single stage, two stage or Modulating furnace.

By Ian Stringer If you are thinking about replacing your old furnace and you've done your research, you may have heard the terms single stage, two stage and modulating and are wondering which is best. Well, let me first explain the differences between them.

A single stage furnace basically has an on or off mode with a multi speed blower which can be set to deliver air at a given CFM or cubic feet per minute. Which usually equates to loud, louder or loudest. Basically a builders grade furnace and one I wouldn't recommend.

A two stage furnace starts at a low heat output (low fire) and will "ramp up" to high fire as the demand of the house requires it to. These furnaces also come with an optional variable speed blower motor which will also speed up as the output of the furnace changes. Variable speed motors are typically more quiet.

A modulating furnace will initially start up on high fire much like a single stage furnace. But once the home is satisfied the furnace will modulate the output so that the temperature never varies more than 1 degree. Basically it will fire more frequently for shorter periods ( quick bursts) without the usual blower noise or whoosh of air. These furnaces are whisper quiet when firing on the lowest output.

So which is best? I have always been an advocate of the 2 stage furnace with variable speed motor. They are efficient and relatively quiet and really only about $500.00 more than the entry level unit and quite a bit less expensive that the modulating variant. However if "total comfort" is your goal then choose the modulating furnace. I have had one installed since November (2014) and absolutely love it. The house feels neither hot nor cold, just comfortable. It can get a bit loud on high fire, but it rarely gets there. It will save me money, but it wont pay for itself in quite a while. Compared to my old single stage clunker it's a Cadillac. Quiet and comfortable but a bit more expensive. Advanced HVAC Systems

Why is my air-conditioner icing up?

By Ian Stringer The most common cause for your air-conditioner to "ice-up" is poor airflow. As an HVAC technician the first thing I check when called to check an air-conditioner that doesn't seem to be cooling is the air filter.
Yes there are filters in your air-handler or furnace. This is the number one cause of poor cooling. Air filters should be checked every month to ensure proper operation of your A/C.
Below are pictures of an iced up A/C and a diagram explaining the refrigerant cycle of a residential split air-conditioner.
If the refrigerant cannot extract the heat from the air inside the home (due to poor airflow across the evaporator) it wont take long until it freezes up.
If the air filter seems OK the next thing to check is the blower itself. Some older furnaces or air handlers have belt driven blower motors. If the belt is loose or broken there will not be sufficient airflow moving across the evaporator coil.
Next, if it seems that maintenance has been neglected and the filter (at present) looks good  then there is a good chance that the evaporator coil has become clogged.
If all these symptoms are not evident, its time to call a service guy.
At this point the cause is most likely an undercharge of refrigerant or a leak. Ensure that, if there is a leak, it gets repaired. In fact its illegal at least in Canada to add refrigerant to a system that has a leak. Just "topping up" the system is a band-aid, if not repaired it will leak again.

By Advanced HVAC Systems

Air conditioner service and maintenance

By Ian Stringer

As a homeowner , the best way to ensure the longevity of your new air-conditioning system is to change or clean your air filter on a regular basis. In fact that and ensuring the condenser or "outdoor unit" is clean and unobstructed is all you should need to do. 

However having your air-conditioner serviced in the spring isn't a bad idea.
A good tech will check your evaporator or "indoor section" to make sure its clean and the drain isn't clogged. Also the airflow of the furnace should be checked. Belts on older model furnaces can stretch   over time. Any of these can issues will cause a lack of airflow across the evaporator which can cause ice build up and eventually a mess.

Advanced HVAC Systems

What does a SEER rating mean?

By Advanced HVAC Systems

 First off, what is a SEER rating? SEER is an acronym for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating.
So what does this mean to the average consumer?  Theoretically the higher the SEER the more efficient the unit. It is a metric used to measure the cooling output (BTU/hr) for each unit of energy consumed (watts).
The problem is the SEER isn't very accurate.  Units are tested for SEER at a base temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. So what happens if the temperature were to rise 10 degrees? In short you will lose an equivalent ton of cooling. The capacity of the air conditioner goes down and energy consumption goes up.

SEER believe it or not is a marketing tool used to make air conditioners seem more efficient. A more accurate way to measure efficiency is the EER or Energy Efficiency Rating.
Similar to the SEER the EER is calculated by taking the total BTU's of rejected heat and dividing it by the energy used to reject that heat. The difference is EER's are measured in a controlled environment (95 degrees outdoor and 80 degrees indoor) and SEER's take seasonal variables into account. Therefore values will vary depending on where the unit is tested.

That being said. A higher SEER is still better, but may not be worth the additional cost depending on your climate. Annual savings probably wont justify the higher cost of the higher seer unit.

Advanced HVAC Systems

HRV vs. ERV

By Ian Stringer
First off what are they. An HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) will bring fresh air into a building while exhausting stale air to the outdoors. The HRV will transfer some of the sensible energy from the conditioned air, to the unconditioned outdoor air, through an impermeable divider using cross current flow. This cuts energy costs by reducing the need to preheat outdoor air.

An ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) has the same capabilities as an HRV, but takes advantage of Latent energy. Forcing water out of humid summer air and into dry winter air.

One common misconception of ERV's is that they are only economical in climates with extreme indoor outdoor humidity differences.  This link shows a study done in Ottawa that shows ERV's are economical in less extreme conditions.

Thanks for reading.

Choosing a heating contractor

By Ian Stringer

Advanced HVAC Systems

So, you've decided you want (or may even need) a new furnace or air-conditioner . Your next step is choosing the right people for the job. A true professional will get the job done right the first time in a timely manner and on budget. Here are a few things to check when selecting the right company.

• References - Any reputable company will have a list of satisfied customers for you to call.
• Licenses -  Your contractor has to be licensed. If they are like me they are proud of this achievement and will gladly show it to you.  
• Insurance - It is just good common sense to check this one out.
• Contract - Be sure to get a written contract signed by both parties to ensure there are no surprises when the job is done.
• Warranties - Double check warranties. Most equipment with have a quality warranty but check the fine print. Usually it is good for the original buyer only and is only valid once registered on-line.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope it helps someone out.

Sincerely;  Ian Stringer

+Advanced HVAC Systems

"Integrity at its best! "

What should annual furnace maintenance include?

By Ian Stringer Like most pieces of mechanical equipment, your furnace works hard and needs to be tuned up from time to time. In fact, most manufacturers require that regular maintenance be done  to keep warranties eligible.

So what should this tune up include?

• Change/clean filters
• Perform combustion analysis
• Check and clean the blower assembly
• Measure the gas manifold pressure
• Check temperature rise 
• Check burner for proper ignition and flame
• Check the integrity of the venting system 
• Inspect electrical components for wear & tear
• Check all safeties 
• Clean all drains 
• Check and clean pressure switches and hoses

Why maintenance matters

Advanced HVAC Systems

By Ian Stringer

  ADVANCED HVAC SYSTEMS

       " Integrity at its best!  "

Advanced HVAC Systems is a professional heating contractor serving Peterborough and the Kawarthas. With over 15 years of experience we offer a wide range of heating and cooling products to fit our customers needs. Fully licensed and insured we are committed to the highest standards in installation maintenance and service for both residential and commercial spaces.

Our focus has always been delivering quality customer service. We understand that as a homeowner you have many options when it comes to choosing your heating contractor. That is why we offer more than just equipment. We also offer integrity!

Please take a moment to visit our website. Whether a thermostat or a serviceman you can trust, we are confident you'll find what your looking for.

www.advancedhvacsystems.ca

" Integrity at its best! "