Tips for troubleshooting your heat pump

This image shows how air flows through a heat pump. Thermal energy is transferred from a higher temperature and places it in another location.

One of the most efficient types of home heating systems is a heat pump. A heat pump transfers thermal energy from a higher temperature and places it in another location.

But what should you do if your heat pump stops running properly? Are there things you can do to fix the problem or should you call your local HVAC dealer for help?  Hopefully the following tips can help you decipher what to do with your system.

If your heat pump is still running and is cycling on and off too often, the thermostat could be the issue. Check the thermostat’s temperature setting and if you find that the settings are where they should be and the problem persists, it’s time to bring in a professional for help.

If you find that the unit quits when temperatures outside cool down, you should consult your owner’s manual regarding the system selector switch. Depending on the model your unit may not have one. If it does, switch it to an emergency heat setting and after six hours switch it back.

What happens if your heat pump is not running at all? Is there anything you can do to troubleshoot that issue?

The first place to check is the power switch. See if the switch is on and if so try flipping the breakers on the electrical panel that provide power to the heat pump off, and then flip them back on again. If this does not work then the problem is electrical and an electrician should be able to fix the problem.

You should also check the unit’s filters to make sure they’re not clogged and check the blower to make sure it’s working. If both are fine but the unit’s still not running, it’s time to call a professional to come take a look.

If you find that your heat pump is frozen or stuck, the issue could be traced to faulty defrost control or low levels of refrigerant. You should also check the condenser unit, which can sometimes freeze up due to air flow issues. Try turning the condenser off to ensure the return air vents are open, then check the filters to ensure they’re unclogged.

Remember that it is always better to ask a professional for help when you are dealing with HVAC equipment. We hope you find these tips helpful.

Single and two-stage furnaces: Two-stage furnaces

This post is the second of two posts comparing the differences between single and two-stage furnaces.

In our first post we took a look at the basic operation of single-stage furnaces. In our second post, we will look at the basic operation of two-stage furnaces.

Dave Parth, service manager at Answer Heating & Cooling said a two-stage furnace has two separate British Thermal Unit (BTU) input rates, unlike a single-stage furnace which features one.

“A two-stage furnace is designed to run at half of its BTU capacity,” he said. “When the second capacity is needed the furnace will operate at full BTU output.”

By running at half capacity, Parth said a two-stage furnace can save homeowners in energy costs.

“During the spring and fall is when homeowners see the biggest energy savings,” he said.

As Parth mentioned in our previous post, a single-stage furnace runs at full capacity every time it turns on. By not running at full capacity, Parth said homeowners of two-stage furnaces can feel a “significant” difference in their comfort level inside their home.

“The difference between single and two-stage furnaces can really be felt in a person’s comfort level,” he said. “Unlike a single-stage furnace, which blasts full hot air when the home gets cooler, a two-stage furnace keeps the homes heat level at a consistent temperature.”

Parth said that a two-stage furnace will run longer throughout the day, keeping the thermostat satisfied for the temperature it is set to.

“The thermostat will decide if the furnace needs to run at full capacity,” he said. “I have a two-stage furnace in my home and most of the time it is running at half capacity. It’s idling throughout the day.”

A typical two-stage furnace is above 95 percent efficient and can cost around $3,400. A variable speed, two-stage furnace can cost approximately $3,600.

Single and two-stage furnaces: Single-stage furnaces

This post is the first of two posts comparing the differences between single and two-stage furnaces.

There are a number of factors consumers can consider when searching for types of furnaces available these days. With so many choices it can be hard to choose what type of furnace is right for you. One of the common issues that buyers have is choosing between a single-stage and a two-stage furnace.

In this post we will focus on the single-stage furnace.

Dave Parth, service manager at Answer Heating & Cooling said a single-stage furnace operates a maximum capacity when it needs to distribute heat.

“When a (single-stage) furnace kicks on, it’s running at full fire,” he said. “The furnace will run at full output, heating the home until the thermostat is satisfied with the temperature inside the home.”

Parth said once the home is heated, a single-stage furnace will then turn off. He said the operation of the furnace can compare to driving a car.

“Imagine driving your car and rather than gradually pressing down on the (accelerator) you floor it, driving as fast as you can, until you reach a point where you need to stop,” he said. “Obviously, people don’t drive that way but that is how a single-stage system works.”

Parth said the heating cycle of a single-stage furnace will show large peaks and valleys across a plane. Rather than tight, small increases and decreases like that of a two-stage furnace.

“Instead of holding to a tight room temperature, a single-stage furnace will pump a lot of heat into a room and turn off for a longer period of time,” he said.

One of the questions that many customers may have when shopping for a new furnace is the efficiency of the system they are looking to buy. Parth said a single-stage furnace is likely to be a less efficient long term option. A typical single-stage furnace is 92 percent efficient and can cost between $2,800 and $3,200.

Check back next week to read about two-stage furnaces.

Is a programmable thermostat right for your home?

With so many options available on the market today, choosing a programmable thermostat could prove to be a difficult task if a customer is unsure of what they are looking for.

Programmable thermostats come with pre-programmed settings that can suit the lifestyle of many homeowners. According to Pat Flory, sales manager of Answer Heating & Cooling, programmable thermostats offer maintenance free energy savings.

“Having a programmable thermostat really is a hassle-free way to heat your home when you want to and cool it down when you are not there,” he said.

Flory said he uses a White-Rodgers programmable thermostat in his home.

“We have it set up for seven days a week,” he said. “It turns the heat up in the home at 5:30 a.m. and when the kids leave for school at 8 a.m. it turns the temperature back down, about five degrees. The temperature then rises again at 4:30 p.m. when everyone starts to get home and at 10:30 p.m. when we start going to bed it kicks the temperature back down.”

Flory said he keeps his thermostat settings the same Monday through Friday and uses different settings on Saturday and Sunday to better suit his family’s needs.

“This system is called a 5-1-1 day system because we have the same schedule five days a week and our Saturdays and Sundays are always different too,” he said. “Some people have different schedules seven days a week and have to have different settings every day. Homeowners can also keep their Saturday and Sunday settings the same. This is a 5-2 day system.”

Many programmable thermostats include other functions, beyond controlling a home’s temperature. Many thermostats have digital, backlit displays; touch pad screens, hold or vacation features, indicators of when it is time for your furnace filter to be changed and indicators when your heating or cooling system is having a failure.

Flory said that internet technology is also becoming a prominent feature in many programmable thermostats.

“Many people who have smart phones can change their thermostats right from their phones now,” he said. “These thermostats are going to be a central hub of home information.”

Flory said internet based thermostats are just starting to have a prominent place in the market.

“We are just scratching the service right now,” he said. “Internet based stats have been out for a few years and are continuing to get popular.”

Flory said those interested in upgrading their thermostat could receive rebates that are available.

“If someone is a customer and pays their electric bill through Consumers Energy, they are eligible for a $10 rebate toward a new thermostat with an Energy Star sticker.”

Flory said any equipment with an Energy Star Sticker means that a customer is getting the most efficient equipment they can find.

“Energy Star Stands for quality,” he said.

Answer Heating & Cooling announces employees of the year

Answer Heating & Cooling has announced that Dave Rowe, service technician, Dale Gavord, production department, Rick Ochoa, commercial sales, Scott Ratajczak, installation technician and Amanda Kobel, office assistant, have all been voted as Employees of the Year, for 2011, by their coworkers.

“Our employee of the year program was started to reinforce our belief in a team concept and to reward those employees who exceed expectations during the year,” said Jill Kipfmiller-Farminer, office manager.

Rowe has been an employee of Answer Heating & Cooling for 17 years. During his tenure, Rowe has continued to gain respect and support from his peers because of his excellent attitude and skill in his profession. Jerry Kipfmiller, owner of Answer Heating & Cooling said that Rowe is an asset to the organization.

“Dave is always doing everything in his power to make our customers happy,” Kipfmiller said. “We are very happy to have him as a member of our team.”

Gavord has been a member of Answer Heating & Cooling for six years and uses his skills to ensure that customers always get the best product they can, said Nick Dvorak, operations manager.

“Dale continues to show his dedication day-in and day-out,” Dvorak said. “I know that his co-workers and customers all appreciate everything that Dale does.”

In five years with Answer Heating & Cooling, Ochoa has continued to grow and earn the respect of his coworkers and customers. Service Manager Dave Parth said not only does Ochoa exceed expectations at the office, but in the community as well.

“Rick is active in the Freeland Business to Business Leads Group and has recently been chosen to be a board member for the Freeland Area Chamber of Commerce,” he said. “Not only are we glad to have a person of Rick’s character here, at Answer Heating & Cooling, we are also grateful to have him represent our community as well.”

Ratajczak has been with Answer Heating & Cooling for four years and has quickly become a customer favorite, said Kelly O’Keefe, operations manager.

“Scott constantly receives high marks and praise from our customers,” O’Keefe said. “Scott has proven that he will meet and exceed our customer’s expectations every time that he is called upon. I think that dedication and work ethic goes a long way with his peers.”

In her first year at Answer Heating & Cooling, Kobel has quickly gained respect amongst her coworkers for her hard work and dedication to do accomplish any task when she is asked to do so.

“Amanda came here to fill a role for us that we needed,” Jill Kipfmiller-Farminer said. “Not only can Amanda do everything we ask, she does it well and has earned respect from everyone here. We are fortunate to have someone like Amanda on our team.”   

Answer Heating & Cooling is located at 8490 Midland Road in Freeland. Opening in 1976, Answer Heating & Cooling has continued to grow and pride itself on exceeding customer’s expectations. Answer Heating and Cooling is a referral based company.

Tankless water heaters are good for the environment and your wallet

Many homeowners are looking at ways to save money and, at the same time, reduce their carbon footprint.

For many Americans, both of these issues are at the forefront of their decision making, when it comes to improving their home’s quality.

One option that has become increasingly popular is installation of tankless water heaters, when older tank water heaters wear out. A tankless water heater is a system that heats your home’s water as it is being used. A tank water heater holds water and keeps it warm until it’s needed, while a tankless water heater uses water on-demand. Meaning that when you turn your shower on the water will be hot as long as you use it.

When it comes to cutting cost, a tankless water heater can save home owners up to $100 or more per year in energy. According to Noritz, a leading tankless water heater company, a natural gas tankless hot water heater costs around $202 per year. While an electric tank heater can cost approximately $520 per year. A propane tankless water heater can cost $333 per year while a propane tank water heater can cost $580 per year. These savings in cost not only help with the budget but also are good for the planet as well.

Since a tankless water heater does not hold water, it also will not have corrosion issues like many tank heaters have. This extends the life of tankless water heaters.  

Tankless water heaters can be mounted inside or outside of the home. And since they are not nearly as big as tank heaters they can help save space where is may be needed. Noritz says that their tankless water heater weighs 47 pounds. A tank water heater can weigh around 500 pounds when full of water.

If you think a tankless water heater may be an option for you, contact your local dealer for more information.

What are MERV ratings?

One of the most important factors that home owners consider is the cleanliness of the air in their home.

By understanding what a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) is, people can take necessary measures to improve the air quality in their home by changing their air cleaner filter.

Before learning about how MERV ratings are calculated it is important to note that a MERV is a standard used to measure the overall efficiency of a furnace filter. The higher the MERV rating, the better it is for your home. A higher rating means that there are fewer contaminants in the air that are passing through your filter.

To calculate a MERV rating, testing particles of numerous sizes, from 1-12, are added to an area where they are tested further along the flow of the duct. A laser particle counter then samples the air before it enters the filter and again when the air exits the filter. The results of the two samples are then calculated to get the MERV rating.

Ratings can range from 1-20.According to the Air Purifier Guide online, a filter with a MERV rating of four can contain dust mites, sanding dust and spray paint dust, while a filter with a MERV rating of eight can block particles of pet dander and hair spray.

Air cleaner technology is becoming more effective for residential customers. Companies like Aprilaire have introduced new media performance kits for their air cleaners that remove more air contaminants, according to the service department at Answer Heating and Cooling. Aprilaire’s SpaceGuard 2200 and 2400 have a MERV rating of 13.

So if cleaner air is something you and your family are interested in, be sure to have your air cleaner’s MERV rating tested.

Signs your HVAC system needs upgrading

Do you know when it is time to change or upgrade your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system?

Many people often find themselves wondering when they should make upgrades with their HVAC systems and, unfortunately, some wait too long. There are a number of factors that you should consider when deciding to upgrade your equipment.

First, you should know the age of your equipment. Most new furnaces and air conditioners run more efficiently than older equipment. If you have a furnace or air conditioner that is 10-years-old or older, you should look at upgrading to a system that is Energy Star approved.

Energy Star is a joint program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Energy. The goal of the Energy Star Program is to help people save money while protecting the environment with energy efficient products and practices.

According to the Energy Star website, results from Energy Star approved products are showing progress. Americans saved enough energy in 2010 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 33 million cars, while saving nearly $18 billion on their utility bills.

If there are rooms in your home that are getting to be too warm or too cold your equipment may be showing signs of ageing. But before you jump into buying new equipment, you may want to have your duct work checked or ask a service tech what the issue could be. Making a few small changes may be better that replacing your entire furnace or air conditioning unit.

If you find that you are making frequent calls or your repair bills are becoming more frequent and more expensive, remember that HVAC systems can’t last forever. A good unit may be worth the money to fix, if you find your energy bills are raising as much as your repair bills, an upgrade may be your best option.

You may also want to ask your HVAC dealer about programmable thermostats. If you and your family are away from the home during the day or when you’re asleep, a programmable thermostat might be right for you. A qualified technician can upgrade your HVAC system to have a programmable thermostat.

There are many ways to know that it is time to upgrade your HVAC system. But if you are not sure the time is right, contact your local HVAC dealer for more information.

Benefits of natural gas furnaces outweigh those of fuel oil furnaces

Like many American industries, the HVAC industry can’t hide from emerging new technologies.

Over the years the HVAC dealers have had to adjust to a number of new and innovative ways to help heat and cool homes more efficiently.  As new technology is created, there is less room for older, less effective technologies.

One of those old technologies that continue to be phased out by HVAC dealers is the use of fuel oil furnaces, which run on petroleum-derived hydrocarbon fuel, like kerosene. Pat Flory, sales manager of Answer Heating and Cooling said there are not many good reasons for anyone to have a fuel oil furnace, if they have the means to upgrade.

 “We (at Answer Heating and Cooling) remove far more fuel oil furnaces than we install,” he said.

Flory said the main reason fuel oil furnaces are being phased out is because it costs much more to burn fuel oil, compared to natural gas, propane or geothermal technology.

“At well over $3 per gallon, for fuel oil, using a propane or natural gas furnace is going to save people a tremendous amount of money,” he said. “There are just many other, more efficient options available for people.”   

Fuel oil and natural gas furnaces operate similar to one another. Flory said the major difference between fuel oil and natural gas furnaces is that an electric current ignites the fuel oil furnace inside the systems combustion chamber, transferring heat into the heat exchanger, warming the home.

Flory added that fuel oil furnaces also require more, regular maintenance than other units.

“When a fuel oil furnace gets dirty it (develops) soot inside,” he said. “Obviously, if the machine is not clean and running at a maximum capacity it’s not running efficiently and maximizing the money that has been put into it. Although natural gas and propane furnaces also need regular maintenance, they don’t need nearly as much to run effectively.”’

For more information about Answer Heating and Cooling check out our website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Commercial businesses finding savings with regular maintenance

Businesses across Michigan are continuing to search for ways to be cost effective as the economy begins to slowly come around.

Thanks to state and federal rebates, as well as other rebate programs available from local utility suppliers for improvements to HVAC, many businesses have been able to save money on their heating and cooling needs.  According to Rick Ochoa, Commercial Maintenance Sales Representative for Answer Heating and Cooling, a thorough service plan from a dependable contractor will save business owners money long term.

“Heating and cooling can count for as much as 30 percent of a buildings annual energy usage,” he said. “Obviously, if businesses can cut down on that total it’s going to affect their bottom line.”

According to the Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s (ACCA) website. Regular maintenance checks every year will help maintain the performance of HVAC equipment and may even prevent system failures.

 Ochoa said many commercial customers of Answer Heating and Cooling understand the importance of regular service on equipment.

“It is important for businesses to maximize their energy dollars through preventive maintenance in order to maintain a productive environment” he said.

For those businesses looking to upgrade to new, more efficient equipment, ACCA also recommends that customers do their research before having anything installed.  ACCA sited a study by the Consortium of Energy Efficiency (CEE), stating that up to 50 percent more energy can be saved with proper installation, sizing, and maintenance of commercial central air conditioning and heat pumps.

Ochoa said that not only can upgrading equipment save businesses money, but new more efficient equipment is also better for the environment.

 “The environment is one of the main reasons that many rebate programs are in place,” he said.

Ochoa said rebates from Consumers Energy are still available for 2012.

“Consumers Energy has a new pool of money available in the form of rebates for improvements to business’s HVAC systems” he said. “There are incentives for gas and electric customers of Consumers Energy” he said.  “Rebates for gas systems include simply upgrading to programmable thermostats and having furnace tune-ups on equipment.”

Ochoa said that in the last three months, businesses on maintenance plans with Answer Heating and Cooling saved $7,246 with Consumers Energy Rebates.

Anyone interested in starting a commercial maintenance plan with Answer Heating and Cooling can contact Ochoa at ricko@answersos.com.