A few tips to help you save on cooling costs...

If you’ve lived in the River Valley any time at all, you know that the weather can change at a moment’s notice.  The first week of February I was running my air conditioner, yet two weeks later it was snowing outside.  It’s certainly true around here that if you don’t like the weather just wait a couple of days and it’ll change.

With the month of March usually comes some consistent daytime highs in the 60′s.  As you start to switch over to cooling, I thought I’d give a few tips on how to save some money on your cooling bills this summer.

#1 – Install a Programmable Thermostat

This one is easy, and many homeowners can tackle this task on their own.  (Here’s a tip within a tip: make sure you turn off power to the furnace before changing the thermostat.)  Program the thermostat for 5 degrees warmer for time periods you are away from home.  Experts say using a programmable thermostat can save you $150 per year on utility bills.  If you don’t like the idea of having to program a complex thermostat, check out the Nest thermostat.  It learns your daily habits and makes the adjustments for you.

#2 – Change your Air Filter

This is the best do-it-yourself thing you can do for your heating and cooling system.  A clean system runs more efficiently and breaks down less often.  I can’t tell you how many times we are called to a customer’s uncomfortable home to find that the only thing wrong is a clogged filter.

#3 – Consider a High Efficiency Air Conditioner

If you’re existing air conditioner is more than 15 years old, you should really start to think about investing in a new one.  After being missing in action for a year, the federal tax credits are back for certain air conditioners that meeting minimum efficiency requirements.  These systems remained popular even without the tax credits in 2012, so we believe they will be even more so in 2013 when customers realize that Uncle Sam will help pay a portion of the bill.

Bonus Tip

I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t mention having a tune-up done by a professional air conditioning technician.  A professional technician can clean your system, properly adjust your freon, flush the drain line, and check a number of other things that will save you money on both utility and repair bills.  Routine maintenance should be performed on all systems whether they are new or old.  In fact, the manufacturers tell us that they reserve the right to refuse warranty coverage if routine maintenance isn’t performed.  Your heating and cooling system is one of the most significant home investments you’ll make – make sure it lasts as long as possible by taking care of it on an annual basis.

Form 5695 is used for Residential Energy Tax Credits

You could have tax credits coming that you didn’t know about!!!

Some homeowners who invested in high efficiency heating and cooling equipment got a nice surprise when The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law on January 2nd of 2013.  Most of the discussion surrounding the bill focused on tax rates.  What got ignored by the main stream media is that the bill also extended the federal tax credits available to homeowners who invested in high efficiency heating and cooling equipment during 2012.

These are the same tax credits that we all thought were gone for good at the end of 2011.  In fact, in April of 2012 I hosted Paul Stalknecht, the President of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, for a short Q&A session.  During the meeting I asked him what he thought the chances of an extension of the tax credits were, and he flat out told us to forget about them.  He said nobody in Washington was talking about them, and they were gone for good.  Oops.

So here is a brief overview of the tax credits that those of us in the River Valley should know about.

• Dates – To receive the tax credit on your 2012 tax return, the qualifying products must have been purchased and placed in service in the 2012 calendar year.
• Tax Credit Amounts  – The amounts of the tax credits allowed to the homeowner are fixed amounts – $300, $150, or $50, depending on the product purchased.  In some cases, these amounts can be combined.
• Limitations – The cumulative limit of Section 25c tax credits that can be claimed from 2006 all the way thru 2013 is $500.  In other words, if you have already claimed some 25c tax credits prior to 2012, you can only claim additional credits if the cumulative amount does not exceed $500.
• Air conditioners & heat pumps that meet the efficiency requirements qualify for a $300 tax credit.
• Gas furnaces that are 95% + efficient qualify for a $150 tax credit.
• Indoor units that have an advanced main air circulating fan qualify for a $50 tax credit.

If you try to tackle the tax preparations on your own, you’re going to want to look for Form 5695.  You’ll need to use Part II of this form, and the items mentioned above are entered on line 24.

If you aren’t if the heating and cooling equipment installed qualifies for the tax credit, contact the contractor you purchased the equipment from.  They should be able to help you determine if it qualifies.  If it does, they should also provide you with a Manufacturer’s Certificate that you’ll want to keep with your tax records.

Atchley Air's Free Furnace Promotion is underway.

Dear Friend,
Yes, it’s true. As of January 14th you can save a boatload of money on a super high efficiency heating and cooling system.  Let me explain.

As you can probably imagine, the heating and cooling business is very seasonal. In our neck of the woods, from about the first of April thru the end of July the phone rings a lot and we’ve got more work than we can handle. The same goes for the first month of the winter. Unfortunately for us, by January and February our phone has stopped ringing. In fact, around here we call it the killer part of our season.

This leaves me in a bit of a predicament. I’ve got some great folks that are depending on me to find work for them so they can take care of their families. The last thing I want to do is tell them to stay at home.

SO WHAT CAN I DO UNTIL THE WEATHER TURNS?

I needed to do something that would allow me to fill the slow times for a couple of months. I did something that most of us guys aren’t very good at…I asked for help.

As we approached the end of 2012, I called my manufacturer to see if they could help me put a program together – a program that just might help us keep our folks busy for a couple months until the weather turns. I told them I wanted to offer a special deal to anyone who would replace their air conditioner during my slow season. The response I got from them was….lukewarm.

I can understand it. When the daily high temperature is somewhere just over freezing, there aren’t many people thinking about a new air conditioner. They told me they would love to help, but they just don’t see how I’m going to convince people to replace their a/c in the middle of the winter. I told them if the offer was strong enough that you would listen.

THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP YOU IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

Did you realize that about half of the average home’s energy use is from the furnace and air conditioner? If you’ve got an old heater or a/c, yours could be even higher than 50%! If you are even a little concerned with reducing your utility bills, you’ve got to keep reading.

Along with high utility bills, River Valley residents have also been dealing with some extreme weather, especially during summer months. Of course it’s been several months since we had any triple digit temperatures, but I’m sure you haven’t forgotten what those scorching afternoons felt like. There are thousands of air conditioners across the region that do a great job when it’s 95° outside, but just can’t keep up when it’s 110°. Every year we hear from homeowners who want a bigger air conditioner. Problem is that the bigger a/c is usually only needed for only a few weeks out of the year, and the rest of the time it’s too big.

WE HAVE A SOLUTION FOR YOU

So how can you get a bigger a/c for the triple digit days, without it being too big for the “normal” days? It’s called multi-stage conditioning, and it’s available in all of our Signature Supreme air conditioners, heat pumps, and gas furnaces. On normal days your heating and cooling system will operate in the first stage. When extreme temperatures hit, your multi-stage system shifts into high gear, providing the additional capacity you need to stay comfortable.

There’s another benefit to these multi-stage units…they are very efficient! Especially when running in the first stage. Not only does a multi-stage unit keep you more comfortable on the extreme days, they also save you money on your utility bills.

SO HOW CAN WE HELP EACH OTHER?

I need work during my slow times, and you need multi-stage equipment that will provide better comfort and lower utility bills. Normally this kind of equipment is…how do I say it…expensive.

Let me take you back to the conversation I was having with my manufacturer. I told them I wanted a great deal for my customers when they bought an air conditioner during our slow time. They said they could help a little, but the only items they could significantly discount were the multi-stage air conditioners and heat pumps. AND to get an even bigger discount, I’d have to buy the heater and indoor coil to go along with the multi-stage air conditioner.

The more I thought about, the more sense it made. Our happiest customers are those who replace the heater and the a/c at the same time. The heater and a/c can be perfectly matched. The system will use less electricity because the heaters have high efficiency fans in them. It takes less labor and materials when everything is done at the same time, meaning I can pass those savings along to you. In fact, when I looked at how much we could save you in manufacturer discounts and installation costs, I saw that…

I COULD CREATE A PACKAGE THAT GIVES YOU THE FURNACE FOR FREE!

So that’s it. It’s been a few years since we were able to make the free furnace offer, and we’re very excited to bring it back. Let me very quickly go over the details with you.

Our multi-stage air conditioners are available in the following sizes: 2 ton, 3 ton, 4 ton, and 5 ton. When you buy one of these units at our normal every day pricing, along with the matching indoor evaporator coil, we’ll give you one of our Signature Series XS80 furnaces for free. There are some labor and materials that are needed for the installation of the furnace, so we ask that you pay these costs (less than $500) along with the air conditioner and evaporator coil.

We anticipate a lot of people, just like you, jumping at the chance to reduce their utility bills and improve the comfort in their home with our special offer. Don’t miss out.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU WAIT UNTIL AFTER FEBRUARY 28, 2013?

All discounts from our manufacturer end on February 28, 2013. Additionally, our business will be picking up from folks who are starting to turn their a/c units on in the month of March, so I won’t be desperate to give away the farm just to find work to do. If you delay replacing your old a/c and furnace for too long, you will end up paying much more than if you act quickly.

The upside of waiting until March 1st to do anything is that you won’t feel guilty about getting such a great deal on a fantastic heating and cooling system. Ok, that probably isn’t a real upside, but that’s about as close as you’ll come to finding one.

HERE’S HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR “KILLER” SEASON

Just call 479-689-4176 to discuss the options that are available for you (at least until February 28, 2013).  If you decide that you would like the opportunity to take advantage of our reduced pricing, we will come out, measure your home, perform a whole house audit, and determine the proper size furnace and a/c for you and your family.

IT’S A NO-LOSE SITUATION

I’m betting that if I make you an offer that is “irresistible” (at least it should be if you’re a/c is over ten years old) and I cut our profit to the bone, we will accomplish three things:

1. You will beat the killer extreme weather we’ve been experiencing, and protect yourself against future rising energy costs.
2. It will cover my rent, utilities, insurance and taxes in the “Killer” months.
3. I can pay my professional staff of technicians to work instead of making them stay at home right after the holidays.

If I can accomplish these three objectives I can help you beat the weather and utility bills, I will minimize my losses, and the rest of the year can be a winner.

NO OBLIGATIONS

Even after we completely explain the installation there is absolutely no obligation. If you decide you don’t want to take advantage of the spectacular savings – that’s ok. We will even give you a surprise gift worth $142 if your a/c unit is over ten years old, just because you were kind enough to read this letter and give me a chance to solve my problem while helping you to beat the extreme weather and the high utility bills. I want you to think well of Atchley Air even if you don’t buy.

YOU CAN BUY WITH NO CASH

You don’t even have to pay me right away. In fact with your approved credit I can offer you a six month, no interest payment plan. And consider this, if you’ve got a nice tax refund coming, you may be able to pay for the new system without impacting your monthly budget. Actually, because of the reduced utility bills, you may just find you’ve got more spending money left at the end of the month! It’s like “having your cake and eating it too”.

THIS SPECIAL OFFER CAN’T LAST

Please call and reserve your appointment today. Here’s why. My “Killer” months end at the start of March, so this offer will end by then. Our business starts to pick up in March, and we’re in full swing by April. Additionally, it really took some arm twisting to get my manufacturer to agree to these discounts for as long as they did. The special discounts from my manufacturer end on February 28th.

LET’S REVIEW THIS OPPORTUNITY

1. Gas and electric rates are going to continue to rise. The best way to reduce the impact is by increasing the efficiency of your a/c and heater.
2. Summer weather appears to be getting warmer, and many existing a/c units aren’t big enough.
3. Multi-stage a/c units allow you to have additional cooling for the hottest of days, without being oversized the rest of the year.
4. There is no obligation if you call, and you get a $142 surprise gift if you’re a/c is over ten years old.
5. You can buy with no cash with your approved credit.
6. This offer cannot last long.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

If you want to talk more about your options, give us a call right now at 479-689-4176 and we can answer all of your questions or we can take a look at your home to assess how much it will save you to act now.

Buying a new heating and cooling system is a big decision to make, and we would be happy to discuss what your options are and what you can do. You’ve got lots of choices, and we’re here to help you through them.

Thank you for reading this rather long letter. I hope you will profit greatly because of it.

Warmly,

Michael Atchley

P.S. If your heating system is all electric, don’t worry. We will give you the same “Killer” special pricing for electric furnaces too … just be sure to mention when you call that it’s all electric.

P.P.S. Don’t forget, if your a/c is over ten years old a rewarding $142 surprise gift awaits you. And there is no obligation.

P.P.P.S. If you wait until after February 28, 2013, to call, the program will be over and you’ll miss out on the best chance for a high efficiency, multi-stage a/c and heating system.

Due to the significant discounts that are already involved, this offer can not be combined with any other offers or discounts.

EnergyGuide info on a High Efficiency Atchley Air Furnace

Over the past few years there has been a great deal of talk about the efficiency improvements in air conditioners, primarily because of significant tax credits that were offered by the government.  What didn’t get quite as much attention were the similar improvements made in home heating technology.

20 years ago, the most common home furnaces were approximately 60% efficient.  This means for every 100 ccf of natural gas that was purchased, 60 ccf of gas was actually used to heat the home, while the remaining 40 ccf of gas was wasted out the exhaust pipe.  In 1992, the minimum efficiency for the central furnace was increased to 78%, which brings us to today’s most common furnace which operates at an efficiency level of about 80%.

As you can imagine, since 1992 heating technology has continued to improve.  Today, homeowners have the option of investing in furnaces that reach efficiencies of 96%!  While there are a few more installation requirements with these super high efficiency furnaces, we are beginning to install more and more of them each and every year.

Check back in the coming weeks for more details on super high efficiency furnaces, as well as on rebates that are currently available.

Step #1 – Change your filter

The first step is actually something you should do every couple of months – clean or change your furnace filter.  A clean filter will improve air flow through your heating system and help to keep it clean.  A dirty filter can cut down airflow so much that your furnace will shut itself down on a high temperature limit switch.

Step #2 – Light the pilot (if necessary)

Pilot lights are becoming a thing of the past, but there are still a few out there.  If your heater uses a pilot light, you should really consider upgrading to a new furnace with electronic ignition.  The new furnaces are much more efficient and the warranty on your existing unit probably expired 15+ years ago.  All that said, if you still have a furnace that utilizes a pilot light for ignition, you need to ensure that it is lit.  If it isn’t, you’ll need to light it.  It’s a relatively simple process, but if you’ve never done it before you might want to do a search on YouTube and watch someone else do it first.

Step #3 – Turn the thermostat to the Heat mode

The filter has been changed, and the pilot has been lit, so now it’s time to turn the thermostat to the Heat position.  If the furnace doesn’t come on within a few minutes, turn the thermostat off for 10 minutes and then retry it.  If it still doesn’t come on, repeat this step one more time before calling a service professional.

When the furnace does finally light, it is not unusual to smell a mild burning odor.  This is typically caused from dust and debris that has accumulated in the furnace over the last several months and is burning off.

CAUTION:  There is a saying I’ve heard my kids use that is something like this:  ”Boom goes the dynamite!”.  You don’t want this from your furnace!  If the heater makes a booming noise, you need to call a service professional!  This is not normal and needs to be addressed before using the furnace again.

Step #4 – Schedule a tune-up

Hopefully your furnace is running and you’ve knocked the chill off the house.  Now it’s time to call to schedule your annual heater check-up.  Every manufacturer and industry organization recommends an annual check-up of your heater by a service professional.  This check-up will keep your system running more efficiently and effectively, and will reduce the risk of a safety hazard developing within your home.

Step #5 – Buy a low level carbon monoxide monitor

Carbon Monoxide is a byproduct of the heating process within the furnace.  When operating normally, less than 100 parts per million of CO is produced, and it is vented out of the furnace to the outside of the house.  When a malfunction within the heater occurs, CO levels can rise and can enter the living area of your house.  Buy a high quality low level CO Monitor to protect your family – it will cost you somewhere around $150, but the lives it protects are priceless!

The float switch (looks like an upside down "T") will shut the a/c down if the primary drain line clogs.

Where does the water come from?

The water from an A/C system actually comes from the air in your home.  As you A/C unit runs, it dehumidifies the air.  The dehumidification process basically means that moisture is being taken out of the air and turned into water.  If everything is working as it’s supposed to, this water then gets drained to the outside.

How does the A/C system make the water?

All air conditioning systems have an evaporator coil, more commonly called an A Coil.  This is basically a part made up of metal tubes that get very cold when the A/C unit is turned on.  As these tubes get cold and air is blown across them, moisture begins to condense just as it would on the outside of a cold can of soda.  Eventually enough moisture forms that it drains off into a pan underneath the A Coil.  This pan has a plastic drain coming off of it that takes the water outside your home.

So what causes the water leaks?

There are several things that can go wrong and cause the water to overflow into your home.  We’ll cover the 2 most common.

#1  Clogged Drain Line – The most common of these is the clogged drain line.  Over time, as water flows thru the drain, a substance that experts refer to as gunk (ok, I call it gunk – I’m not sure what the experts call it) begins to accumulate.  Eventually enough gunk builds up that it can completely clog the drain line.  If the drain is clogged the water has no place to go except over the side of the drain pan and into your house.

#2  Rusted or Cracked Drain Pan – Another slightly less common cause of water overflow is the rusted out or cracked drain pan.  The drain pans that initially catch the water are typically made of metal or plastic.  As you know, metal rusts and plastic gets brittle, especially when it is in a 140° attic for extended periods of time.  When a hole develops in the bottom of the pan, the water is going to go through that hole instead of down the drain like it’s supposed to.

What can you do to prevent an a/c water leak?

#1  Have annual maintenance performed on your cooling system, and make sure that the service provider flushes the drain line as a part of this maintenance.

#2  Invest in an overflow shut off device that is installed on the drain line.  These little gadgets will turn off your air conditioner if the drain line backs up.  Most of the time these will completely prevent any water from overflowing the pan.

#3  Invest in an audible alarm that can be placed underneath your A-Coil.  These are inexpensive, battery powered devices that will start to scream at you if they get wet – kinda like a cat, but you don’t have to buy food or kitty litter.

#4  I hesitate to put this one in here, but some people do this and have no problems with it.  If you’re a/c drain extends all the way outside, you can pour a cup of bleach down the drain every couple of months to prevent the buildup of gunk.  Be careful though.  We’ve seen cases where the drain didn’t extend all the way outside, but instead dumped the bleach onto the copper freon lines. The bleach can eat through the copper lines, resulting in even more problems.

When it comes to water leaks, the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly applies.  Take a little time to locate you’re a/c drain inside your home, as well as where it terminates outside the house (usually close to the outdoor a/c unit).  See if you can identify the overflow shut off device mentioned in #2 above.  It will have a wire coming off of it and going inside your blower.  If you’re not sure what you’ve got, take a couple of pictures of your drain setup and email them to us at info@atchleyair.com .  We’ll do our best to answer any questions you have.

Cooling costs are rising. Keep reading for some inexpensive ways to save!

Summer appears to have arrived early, and with it will be the increased electric bills.  Each year I get questions about quick and easy ways to save energy (and money) on cooling bills.  While the most significant savings go to those willing to invest in cutting edge technologies like solar and geothermal, most of us don’t have an extra $30,000 to spend in order to save a few hundred dollars per year.   Instead, I’m listing my top 3 energy savers under $100.

#1  Install a programmable thermostat

Programmable thermostats will save you money…if you use them properly.  The experts say that a programmable thermostat can save in excess of $150 per year.  The newer programmable thermostats are much easier to program than they used to be.  In fact, there are even “learning” thermostats available that monitor the times of day that you adjust the thermostat setting and will program themselves after the first week.

#2  Give your air conditioner a bath

Actually a full blown tune-up would be even better.  Most air conditioning companies have maintenance programs that provide a thorough cleaning and check-up of your air conditioning system.  A clean a/c is an efficient a/c.  It will also last longer with fewer break downs.  Research shows that the money spent on a/c maintenance is more than paid for by the reduced utility and repair bills.

#3  Change your air filter

It seems like this maintenance item gets forgotten more than anything else by most homeowners.  It’s simple and relatively inexpensive, and your a/c system will breathe much more easily (and use less electricity) if it has a fresh filter in it.    If you’re using a 1” standard filter, you should probably be changing it monthly during the summer.

BONUS TIP:  I said I’d give you my top 3, but I had to throw this bonus tip in.  It doesn’t make my top 3, because it can take a while to see results, but if you have enough patience the savings can be huge.  Plant a tree.  In fact, plant lots of trees.  When the temperature is pushing triple digits nobody likes to sit in the hot sun, and your house doesn’t either.  Giving your house some shade can significantly reduce the cooling load that your air conditioner has to overcome.

See the white stuff in the top portion of the unit? That's ice, and it's not supposed to be there.

A/C Frozen Up?

The most common problem during the cooling season is the frozen a/c.  You’ve probably seen it yourself.  The copper pipe at the outdoor unit has a thick coat of ice surrounding it.  You may have even found the indoor unit soaking wet because the evaporator coil has turned into a solid chunk of ice.

What causes an a/c to freeze up?

The most common cause is a system that is low on refrigerant, or Freon, but that’s not the only cause.  A system that is not moving enough air through the duct system can also freeze up.  Low airflow could be caused by an under-sized duct system, a dirty filter, or even a dirty indoor evaporator coil (often called an A-Coil).  A frozen system can also be caused by setting the thermostat too low at night.  What’s too low?  Every house is different, but we’ve seen units freeze up at night when they are set to 68 degrees.

What should you do if you’re a/c freezes?

#1  Turn the a/c off at the thermostat.

#2  Check your filter.  Is it wet?  This means the evaporator coil is frozen up, and the water that is melting off it is missing the drain pan.  You better get some towels to line the floor to keep the water from ruining floors or ceiling when the chunk of ice really starts to thaw.

#3  Is the filter filthy?  If not, you’ve probably got an issue that is going to require a trained professional.  I’ve heard Atchley Air is pretty good, so you might want to call them.  If the filter is filthy, throw it away and proceed to Step #4.

#4  Switch the Fan to the “On” position at the thermostat (leave the a/c turned to “Off”).  This will help move more air across the frozen coil so it will thaw faster.

#5  Now you can head to the hardware store to get another filter.  Don’t spend more than $10 on this one.  Until your system is thawed out, it needs as much air as possible so don’t buy the $25 allergy filter that is probably too restrictive anyway.

#6  When you get back home, visually inspect the outdoor copper lines and the indoor coil for ice.  It can take a couple of hours for all that ice to thaw, so you may need to give it a little more time.

#7  Put the new filter in, and turn the a/c back on.

#8  Keep a close eye on the system.  If ice reappears, turn the a/c off and call a professional.  If the system doesn’t start to cool the house down within a few hours, turn the a/c off and call a professional.

Could it be something else?

Other reasons for a frozen a/c could include a dirty indoor coil (that limits air flow), too low a temperature setting at your thermostat (remember, it’s an air conditioner, not a refrigerator), or an undersized duct system.  Most of these items will only be diagnosed after the dirty filter or low Freon charge are ruled out.  To be safe, Atchley Air recommends that you call a professional for an accurate diagnosis.

This green jug is getting expensive!

What’s going on with the price of R-22?!?

Many of you have heard that the price of R-22 has gone through the roof.  Unfortunately, the rumors of a price spike are true, and there aren’t a lot of definitive answers as to what the future holds for this common chemical used in air conditioning systems.

R-22 production limited over 20 years ago

In 1987 the Montreal Protocol was signed by President Ronald Reagan, charting the course for the phaseout of R-22 in the United States.  Ever since that point, the Environmental Protection Agency has determined the amount of R-22 that can be made or imported into the United States.  Up to this point, these amounts were set well in advance on a schedule that would result in a steady decline of new R-22 through the year 2020.  At that point no new R-22 could be made in or imported into the States; we will have to rely on recycled R-22.

Less R-22 available this year than expected

For the year 2012, we were led to believe that the EPA would allow approximately 80% of the previous year’s production.  However near the end of 2011, the EPA stated that they intended to delay the final ruling of allowed R-22 production until mid-2012.  Until that point, manufacturers are required to work under the assumption that they are only able to produce 55% of the 2011 amounts.  Instead of a 20% reduction, we’re now looking at a 45% reduction!

Market responds with jump in price

When this news hit, the price of R-22 quickly began to rise.  Locally, the wholesale cost rose more than 300%!  This has the potential to be a major shock for many homeowners who have grown accustomed to paying for “a shot of refrigerant” every summer.

Where do we go from here?

Good question, and I don’t have a good answer.  We don’t anticipate much change until the EPA finalizes its ruling sometime this summer.  Quite frankly, even if they do decide to allow more refrigerant to be made, at that point it will be too late for most homeowners.  Those whose system requires R-22 to be added will be faced with a choice of either digging a little deeper into their pockets or changing the equipment out with a system that uses the new environmentally friendly R-410a.

Step by step instructions if your system is low on R-22

1. Don’t let a contractor convince you to “gas & go”.  In other words, don’t add R-22 without having a leak search performed.
2. Locate the leak!  A good contractor will have an electronic leak detector that will allow them to locate the leak most of the time.
3. If possible, repair the leak.  Some leaks are on copper fittings or weld joints, and can be repaired.  If it’s repairable, pay the money to have it repaired so you don’t have to keep paying for Freon.
4. Replace the component.  If repair isn’t an option, replace the component that is leaking.  You may be better off replacing the component anyway, depending on how old the equipment is.

Geothermal Heat Pumps use piping buried underground or in ponds or lakes.

Geothermal heat pumps have gotten more attention over the last few years than any other single source of home heating and cooling. Why? Because they’re extremely efficient AND the federal government is willing to pay for 30% of the cost to install them in your home!

Geothermal heat pumps provide both heating and cooling to your home. What this means is that it is going to reduce your utility bills year round – not just during the winter or summer. Additionally, with an option called a “desuperheater”, a geothermal heat pump can provide free heat for your domestic water during parts of the year.

Air Source Heat Pumps Struggle in Extreme Weather

Traditional air-source heat pumps use the outside air as a source of energy. The unit that sets outside most homes has a bunch of copper coils running back and forth. These coils carry refrigerant and a fan is used to move air across the coils. The heat from the outside air is used to cool or heat the refrigerant. As you and I both know, the outside temperature in our neck of the woods can vary from 10 degrees in the winter, all the way up to 110 degrees in the summer. When it’s 10 degrees outside, there just isn’t much heat in the air that can be used to “heat” the refrigerant. When it’s 110 degrees in the summer, blowing hot air across the copper coils doesn’t do much to “cool” the refrigerant either. In short, air source heat pumps have a hard time keeping up in extreme weather.

A Hibernating Bear Knows where the Warmth Is

Just like the consistent temperatures of a caver (cool in the summer & warm in the winter), geothermal heat pumps work well because they use the ground as the source of energy rather than the outdoor air. In the Fort Smith area, the ground remains at a fairly constant temperature somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees – all year long.  A geothermal heat pump doesn’t have copper coils sitting outside your home with a fan blowing across them. Instead, a geo heat pump utilizes piping that is buried in the ground. By exchanging the heat in your home with the earth and its stable temperatures, a geothermal system results in big savings on your electricity bill in both the summer and winter.

Geothermal Can Pay for Itself Through Energy Savings

Even though the cost of a geothermal system can be several times that of a traditional air to air heat pump system, the additional costs can usually be recouped in 5 to 10 years. However, it may start paying for itself immediately. If the cost of your geothermal heat pump is rolled into the mortgage for new house construction, the extra $30 a month on your mortgage payment will be offset by the greater savings on your heating and cooling bills.

While most of the energy improvement tax credits expired at the end of 2012, geothermal tax credits of 30% are still in play. There hasn’t been a better time to invest in a geothermal system.