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Save Energy: 3 Ways to Tell If Your Furnace Is Energy Efficient

June 30, 2023 by hls_admin

Heating your home doesn’t come at a cheap price. If you fail to be careful, you might have to pay a hefty amount as an energy bill. Making sure that your furnace or heater is energy efficient is one of the best ways to lower energy bills. If the heater is not energy efficient, you are basically burning cash to stay warm.

But it is not easy to know when your heating system is working the best. To make sure that your furnace or heater is energy-efficient, you can follow these tips.

1. Check the Heater’s Age

A great way to evaluate your heater is to check its age. A home heater’s life expectancy is 15-20 years when properly cared for. But an old heating system can achieve only about 56-70% energy efficiency. But a new heating system is capable of going beyond that. In fact, it can also reach 98.5% energy efficiency.

The energy efficiency of any heating system drops due to wear and tear. A furnace or heater’s energy efficiency drops by 5% every day, based on how well it is maintained. So, the older the system gets, the less efficient it is going to become.

Thus, if the system is older than 15 years, there is a chance that it won’t be as efficient as before and you might have to replace the heating system.

So, make sure that you check the heater’s age. If saving money on the utility bill is important to you, think of getting a new heating system.

With energy costs soaring, we are ready to help you save money.

2. Know the AFUE Rating

The AFUE or annual fuel utilization efficiency is the ideal way to decide the efficiency of the heater. The AFUE is a percentage measuring the efficiency of the heater in converting fuel to energy. So, the higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the system is.

For example, if the AFUE rating is 98%, it means 98% of the fuel is being used to heat your home and just 2% energy is being lost. Nevertheless, an older heating system might have an AFUE rating as low as 56%. Thus, it means 44% of the energy that is being generated from the fuel is being wasted.

To check the AFUE rating of your heater, you can take a look at the user manual present on the sticker present inside the heater cabinet. In case you fail to locate the rating through these options, you can get in touch with the manufacturer or search the model number on the internet.

If the heater has to be highly efficient, the AFUE rating needs to be 90% or higher. But if a heater has an 80% rating, then it is sufficiently efficient. It is pretty common in temperate climates. You need to make sure that your new heater’s AFUE rating is at least 78%.

3. Check the Energy Bills

Energy bills might fluctuate from one month to the other but that is common. The reasons behind this are living conditions, changing seasons, or an increase in energy cost.

But if you compare the amount of energy being used every month, you can compare if the heater is becoming less efficient. In case the energy bill is a little higher than the previous years, it is a sign that the heater is losing efficiency.

Keep a check on the energy bills. However, you shouldn’t forget that other factors might influence the energy bills. For instance, lack of maintenance and changing climate patterns play a significant role in influencing energy bills. So, track these shifts as it will help you make some smarter choices when it comes to heating your abode.

Ready to save money on energy? We have the best HVAC team in Mid-Michigan ready to help.

Tips to Improve Your Furnace’s Efficiency

If you think there has been a drop in the heating system’s efficiency, you can follow a few tips to increase its efficiency.

Change the Air Filter: HVAC systems depend on an air filter for keeping dirt, dust, and debris out of the system. As the air filters are capturing the dirt, they tend to get clogged, particularly during heavy usage. So, you should change the air filter at least every three months. This way you can ensure that the dirty air filters are not slowing down the heating system.
Scheduled Maintenance: To ensure that your heating system is efficient, schedule regular maintenance. Other than replacing the air filters, you should check if the ceiling, floor vents, or walls are unobstructed and open. It is crucial to ascertain that no items are blocking the air vent.
Adjust the Thermostat: The thermostat can make the heating system efficient. Just turning the thermostat back to 10 degrees when you are away from home or during the night, you can save 10% on the utility bill. It might be challenging to remember to adjust the thermostat but when you do, you can save a lot on your energy bills.

Replacing an Outdated Heater

In case the heating system is over 10 years old and it is making you pay massive utility bills. And, none of the above tips might help and so, you might have to replace it. A new heating system that meets national standards for energy efficiency will help in saving energy for years to come.

Other than saving on the energy cost, a new heating system will warm the home better. Hence, you will feel more comfortable. Due to wear and tear, an old heating system can break down more quickly. Sure, you can repair it but it is wiser to replace the system and save on the repair cost.

Conclusion

The three ways we have listed will help you determine if the heater or furnace you are using is still energy-efficient. You will just have to check its age, energy bills, and AFUE rating. In case you find that the heating system is energy efficient, you don’t have to worry about replacing it. But if it is old enough, it is better to replace it.

Sean O’Bryan

Davison, Michigan estate planning attorney Sean Paul O’Bryan has been helping families for 30 years work through the complicated issues of trusts, wills, estate taxes, elder law, and probate avoidance. He is a noted author and speaker on a variety of estate topics. Sean is married and has 2 children, and lives on an active farm in Lapeer, Michigan with several horses, sheep, goats & chickens

http://www.obryanlaw.com

Tips to Prepare Your HVAC Unit for a Snow Storm

June 30, 2023 by hls_admin

When you’re preparing your burrow for the winter, put your HVAC unit on the top of that checklist. You’ll want to make sure it can weather the snow storms.

Your Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system needs regular checkups to keep it functional all through.

When winter comes knocking, and snow is piling up, you can never afford to have a dysfunctional HVAC unit. And that’s why you need to ensure yours is in good working condition to keep you safe from cold temperatures.

If your HVAC unit is dysfunctional or has broken down completely, winter is not the time to ignore the calls of working on it. You should call a technician to fix it for you.

The benefits of doing so are immense. You get to enjoy the warmth and comfort of your home in one of the most demanding seasons of the year.

But how do you get all these in place? Here are some of the best tips to follow when preparing your HVAC unit for a snowstorm.

Arrange for an Inspection

It might be that you cannot perfectly estimate whether your dysfunctional HVAC unit will make it through the entire winter period. Therefore, you will need to seek help from professionals who will have a look at it and give reliable feedback.

The inspection will help to determine whether your unit needs some slight repair or whether you should replace it with a new one altogether.

An inspection also helps you detect any impending electrical fault associated with the unit and save you from any electrical danger.

While an inspection is essential all year round, doing it just before winter assures you of uninterrupted warmth.

Clear the Area Around the HVAC Unit

All you need from your HVAC system during winter is nothing but a warm flow of air. And a maximum supply of it. Any obstacle that hinders the maximum flow of air into your room is something you should put out of the way early enough.

Some obstacles are costly and would block the flow of air and lead to your heating system spoiling. When this happens during winter, you can already imagine how devastating it could be for you.

When you leave objects closer to your unit during the snowstorm, the possibility of snow rising to the HVAC unit is higher. With the help of objects such as used furniture, snow will easily rise to block your unit, preventing it from functioning well.

For these reasons, you can’t afford to leave obstacles lying around next to your unit when winter approaches.

Have a Look at the Insulation

Improper insulation of your HVAC will mean that you will be contending poor heating in the snowy weather. Poor installation means that your unit will have to consume more energy to heat your home.

With proper insulation, your unit can achieve greater energy efficiency, which helps you save on your energy bills.

Your house will also be able to retain much of the heat from your HVAC system when you insulate it properly. If you fail to seal windows, doors, and other house openings, some drafts of cold air may get in to neutralize the effect of the warmth.

With cold air coming in, the HVAC unit will have to exert more, leading to dysfunction. The best solution to this is a regular inspection of your home insulation.

Ensure your windows, doors, and other openings are perfectly sealed anytime you are using the unit.

Inspect Your Filters and Replace them

Air filters are very important components of the HVAC system. They are responsible for processing and filtering the air before it spreads into your house. Air filters are prone to regular clogs and would therefore demand that you inspect them regularly for cleaning or, if possible, replace them.

A clogged filter will impact negatively on the performance of your unit. It leads to an increase in energy consumption and a slower heating process, which affects you negatively from both fronts.

Clear Your HVAC’s Heat Pumps

What would winter be like with an HVAC unit that has a dysfunctional heat pump? When the heat pump isn’t working well, your unit won’t transfer heat effectively, and it will be a total waste for the entire season.

Heat pumps facilitate effective heat transfer where the furnace picks the warm heat and blow it right into your house’s interior.

During winter, you ought to be checking the heat pump frequently as snow is more likely to gather inside the pump and clog it. This leads to your unit failing to transfer heat effectively hence poor heating of your house.

If you maintain regular cleaning, you will eject all the accumulating snow and other debris that may clog around the heat pump.

Get a New HVAC Unit

Purchasing a new unit may not be your run-to option every winter. But when there is no more hope of reviving the one you have, it may be the only viable option remaining.

It is better you have the assurance of warmth at your home rather than play a gamble with your nearly-dying HVAC unit. You should be thinking of getting a replacement, especially if the one you have is approaching its life expectancy or has hit double digits in age.

Consider Buying a Generator

Your HVAC system may not be the only cause of disappointment in the cold seasons of winter. While you might have done everything to ensure your units work perfectly, the frustration may come from another source-the power source.

And so to be safe in all quarters, you need to have a backup generator just in case power decides to misbehave in the cold nights of winter.

Your HVAC Unit Doesn’t Have to Fail During Winter

All these issues that deter your HVAC unit from working perfectly are common to all units and should not give you a difficult time-solving. With reputable technicians who can help fix the heating system when it breaks down, you should not have a reason to worry.

Davidson Heating & Cooling, we have trained and certified professionals that are ready to see your heating system working. We can clean up, tune-up, repair, and install HVAC systems in Michigan. Give us a call and request a service.

Sean O’Bryan

http://www.obryanlaw.com

What is the Perfect Sleep Temperature?

June 30, 2023 by hls_admin

Can’t sleep? Do you know the optimal room temperature to get the perfect sleep?

The arguments certainly go back hundreds of years between couples. Most men seem to want the bedroom to stay colder at night. In contrast, women seek a warmer place. So who is right when it comes to finding the best night’s sleep?

Before we answer that, understand that getting a good night’s sleep is essential for many things ranging from your ability to have a productive day at work, pay attention during a conversation, and live an overall healthy and satisfying life. During the summer, it can be even more challenging to find and maintain a comfortable sleeping temperature. People spend thousands of dollars on new mattresses and various other things to achieve one night of good rest. Some even resort to prescription medications. (see 9 million Americans take prescription sleep aids).

The correct answer for many might be as easy as finding the right room temperature. Davison Heating and Cooling is dedicated to helping you find that answer because we believe finding the best temperature possible can help you be well-rested and ready to take on the day.

Simply put, a bedroom that’s too hot or cold can be incredibly difficult to fall asleep in. Instead of finding that deep, beneficial sleep, you’re tossing and turning, throwing off or piling on blankets, and watching the hours tick by if your body finds the room you are sleeping in too hot or too cold. This is due to abnormal temperatures messing with our circadian rhythm, which is essentially an internal clock that controls various aspects of our lives, such as when we go to bed. Our brain associates a drop in temperatures with the setting sun and impending night and triggers the release of melatonin, a hormone that aids in sleep, as a response. When temperatures are too high, this can disrupt the release of melatonin and make it very difficult to sleep comfortably.

Setting your thermostat to a lower temperature at night can help you sleep.

Sleep researchers have done some extensive studies on the optimal sleep temperature and found that the best night’s sleep comes in a room that’s roughly in the 63-67 degrees Fahrenheit range, with a bit of wiggle room for people who prefer things on the warmer or colder side.

For infants and toddlers, it’s better to aim for a slightly higher 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit due to their smaller size, making it harder to regulate their internal temperature. Keeping the room at the right temperature is especially important for households with infants, as hot bedrooms have been linked to a higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Fortunately, we live in an era where most households have some degree of air conditioning, whether it’s a window unit or a central air system such as the ones we install. With proper maintenance and care, your AC can keep you at a perfect sleep temperature year-round, leaving you and your family well-rested and ready to take on the day.

So who has been right all of these years when it comes to the correct temperature? I guess that depends on the couple and what target temperature each feels is right for them. What do you keep your bedroom set at for the night?

If you need repairs or are thinking of upgrading your air conditioning unit, rest assured (ba dum tss) that the folks at Davison Heating and Cooling will be happy to help. Just give us a call. Even during the current supply shortages many companies are experiencing, and we have many air conditioning units in stock for installation in a matter of days. From Swartz Creek to Imlay City, and everywhere in between, Davison Heating & Cooling will get you in the Comfort Zone.

Sean O’Bryan

http://www.obryanlaw.com

Central Air or a Window Unit? The Buyers Guide to Cooler Air

June 30, 2023 by hls_admin

As temperatures continue to rise, you may find yourself in need of an air conditioning unit and debating between a window unit or central air. It’s an important thing to consider, and it can often be challenging for many homeowners to know at what point a window unit isn’t enough.

Is a Window Air Conditioner Enough?

Ah, the humble window unit; cheap, reliable, and an acceptable choice if you only need one or two smaller rooms cooled during the summer, such as in an apartment or smaller house. Window units are easy to install on your own and are more affordable than central air. Some newer models also offer a heating function. However, running a window unit is far less efficient – and often uses more energy, resulting in higher utility costs than an efficient central air system. Additionally, there comes the point where a window unit doesn’t provide enough comfort. Here in Michigan, we have been experiencing longer and hotter summers over the last decade, with most studies suggesting that this trend will continue. Homeowners in the states South of Michigan rely almost exclusively on a central air system. As warmer weather and longer summers move North, so does the demand for better indoor air quality and temperatures.

The Advantage of Central Air Conditioning

Central Air cools the whole house rather than just one room and keeps that temperature fairly consistent between rooms leaving your whole house at the exact temperature you like. An added bonus is that most AC units nowadays are automated, so you don’t have to worry about maintaining the perfect temperature or remembering to turn it off before you go to bed to save money on electricity.

Air Conditioning & Air Quality

Central air units are equipped with filters that remove allergens and other irritants from the air that could cause your allergies or asthma to flare up. This is a major plus during the early months of summer, where many are being bombarded by pollen, oak drip, and more. Being able to take refuge inside not only from the heat but from allergens will be a significant selling point to many people.

Financing Is Available

The primary reason most people hesitate when it comes to central air is the price tag, and rightfully so. Central air units are more expensive to purchase and have installed. However, if you want your whole house to be cooled and are thinking of installing multiple window units instead, this is short-sighted for many reasons. As stated, window units are inefficient and can use up to half the energy per month cooling just one room that a central AC uses to cool your whole house. Having multiple window units running all summer will result in an electricity bill that would quickly exceed whatever money you saved by not installing a central ac unit.

So if you live in a house that would require multiple window units to keep cool, a central air unit is most likely the best option.

Conclusion

The decision to purchase an air conditioner is a matter of scale. If you have a lot of space you need to be cooled, have to deal with high temperatures for a large portion of the year, or suffer from allergies, then a good central air unit is most likely your best choice. We recommend and install Bryant Air Conditioning Systems, one of the highest-rated on the market. Here at Davison Heating & Cooling, we keep several models in stock and ready for quick installation. In contrast, if you only need one or two rooms cooled, you might be able to manage just fine with a window unit. If you live in Swartz Creek or Imlay City – or anywhere in between, Davison Heating is your community’s trusted partner for over 3 decades.

Sean O’Bryan

http://www.obryanlaw.com

5 Signs it’s Time to Upgrade Your Home Heating Unit

June 30, 2023 by hls_admin

You could freeze to death. Not literally, but as winter approaches, you could be freezing if your home heating unit’s not in good shape.

Before the seasonable chill of the winter months hits, now’s as good a time as any to upgrade your home heating unit. For five signs that it’s time to upgrade your home heating unit, keep reading.

1. Loud Noises

Shaking, rattling, and rollin’ is for dancing to the blues, not for your home heating unit. If your unit’s squeaking, clanking, rumbling, or all of the above, replace that thing.

Weird or loud noises coming from your home heating unit are a sure sign that it needs to be replaced. Whether your blower is louder than before or your furnace groans, if it makes uncalled-for noises: upgrade it.

2. An Old Home Heating Unit

Just as bad as a noisy unit is an old one. As far as we know, there’s no such thing as ageism against home heating units, so don’t feel bad about discriminating against your old unit.

Heating units will typically last for about a decade. Older models become less efficient and costlier to repair. Save yourself those troubles by simply buying a new model.

Replacing a unit that’s more than 10 years old with an Energy Star model can save you 20 percent on energy bills.

A new furnace can save money and headaches.

3. The Energy Bills Are Too Darn High

Like with many things in life, if your home heating unit costs you too much, replace it. Show no mercy to units that drain your bank account (and don’t help the environment either).

If your energy bills rise for no apparent reason, blame your unit. Older, inefficient systems require more energy to do the same job. Sometimes you can fix the inefficiency, but at other times you’ll see that there’s no fix for the problem besides a total replacement.

4. Endless Repairs

As already mentioned, sometimes repairs really are the answer.

But in other cases, no amount of repairs can fix an irreparably broken unit. Like with other things in life, know when to give up on your home’s heating unit. Money spent on repairs would be much better spent on a highly functioning upgrade.

Or, to reduce the chance that repairs are futile, invest in routine maintenance throughout your unit’s lifetime. You’ll spend less money on that than on expensive, fruitless attempts to repair an irreparably broken unit.

5. Extended Running Time

If you notice your unit running for longer than usual, then it struggles to maintain your desired temperature. Such inefficiency is a part of a unit’s aging process.

If – after repairs – it still runs much longer than it used to, it’s on the rocks.

It may be time to upgrade your heating system and join the Comfort Zone.

Good Things Don’t Last

All good things must come to an end, as the saying goes. Even your home heating unit will one day take its final, hot breath. It will exhale hot air in a sputter, going gently into that good night.

Before that happens, give your unit a graceful ending by upgrading it to a new unit from Davison Heating & Cooling today.

Sean O’Bryan

http://www.obryanlaw.com

A Look Inside a Furnace

June 30, 2023 by hls_admin

Here in Michigan, most people use a central forced-air system to heat their homes. At the base of this system is the furnace. Most people know that their home furnace produces heat but know little else about the parts that make up what is often the largest appliance in your home. We want you to understand these features, particularly the 3 main components that make up a typical furnace.

“You need an understanding of the 3 main components of your home furnace. Knowing these basic terms can help you maintain the system you have and know what questions to ask if you even need help with your system.”

The furnace burner is what creates the heat

1. The Burner

The burner is what combusts (burns) fuel to create heat. That fuel in Michigan is most likely natural gas, propane (lp gas), or fuel oil. Most people install a furnace that handles the fuel source that is most readily available in their area.

Burners can be single-stage, two-stage, or multi-stage (modulating). This refers to the actual level of heat the furnace burner produces. Think of it like a bonfire you might have outside one cool fall night. A single-stage furnace only burns a set amount of fuel at one level.

In contrast, a two-stage furnace can burn at two levels, low and high, depending on the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature in your home to the desired level. Two-stage furnaces save money because they can burn less fuel. Thus, they are considered ‘more efficient.’

Multi-stage or modulating burners go one step further, allowing the furnace to adjust its fuel consumption to one of many levels. These have been a huge innovation in furnaces over the last decade, making them more efficient.

Air flows through the heat exchange and is warmed by the burner

2. Heat Exchangers

The heat exchanger in your furnace causes the heat produced by the burner to be transferred in a usable form to the air that the furnace will circulate throughout your house

Most conventional furnaces have a single heat exchange. The heat exchanger’s efficiency is rated based on the acronym AFUE, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A single heat exchanger in a furnace is typically rated as an 80% AFUE. In terms most people can understand, that means 80% of the fuel that is burned is converted to useable heat.

A more efficient furnace will often have a second heat exchanger, capturing the heat lost during the burning process. This additional heat exchange can raise the AFUE to over 90%.

The blower draws the air through a forced air system

3. Blowers

In a central air system, by far the most common in homes here in Michigan, the furnace draws cooler air, either from inside or outside your home, and runs it through the heat exchanger, which is heated by the burner. The resulting warm air is then pushed through a series of ducts and reaches each part of your house through a vent.

What causes the air to flow through this system is the furnace blower. Like the burner heat exchange, blowers come in a variety of different types.

Most common today are multi-speed blowers, which run at several set speeds. Like a household fan, your furnace’s blower might have a low, medium, and high setting. However, because these speeds are locked into a specific setting, your system’s overall efficiency cannot be optimized.

More recently, furnace manufacturers have developed variable-speed blowers that can adjust their speed over a continuous range to match system operating conditions. These speeds are adjusted based on the heating needs within your house.

Conclusion

So there you have it, a quick overview of the 3 main components of your home furnace. Understanding these basic terms can help you maintain the system you have and know what questions to ask if you even need help with your system.

Should you ever require a furnace repair or consider upgrading your house’s heating system to something more efficient, just give us a call at [hls_phone_number]. There is never any charge for a personalized evaluation.

Sean O’Bryan

http://www.obryanlaw.com

Save Energy: 3 Ways to Tell If Your Furnace Is Energy Efficient

1. Check the Heater’s Age

2. Know the AFUE Rating

3. Check the Energy Bills

Tips to Improve Your Furnace’s Efficiency

Replacing an Outdated Heater

Conclusion

Tips to Prepare Your HVAC Unit for a Snow Storm

Arrange for an Inspection

Clear the Area Around the HVAC Unit

Have a Look at the Insulation

Inspect Your Filters and Replace them

Clear Your HVAC’s Heat Pumps

Get a New HVAC Unit

Consider Buying a Generator

Your HVAC Unit Doesn’t Have to Fail During Winter

What is the Perfect Sleep Temperature?