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

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