If your home contains any fossil fuel appliance (oil, natural gas or propane), it is strongly recommended that a carbon monoxide detector be installed for your family’s safety.

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that is a by-product of carbon based fuel combustion. It is about the same weight as air, so it will evenly disperse in the occupied zone.

WikiHow has an article with more information and directions to install a carbon monoxide detector. Click here to read the article.  If you are ready for a new high-efficiency gas furnace or your ventilation needs replaced, call Garnett Refrigeration or click the Contact Us button to discuss your options.

With the windows closed most of the time either to keep the cool air in or the cold air out, the air in our homes can become more polluted than the outside air. That means we are living with indoor contaminants such as dust, bacteria, animal dander, and mold. Most of these are common allergens, and we trap them inside our home with us. That is why an air cleaner can be such an important accessory to your home comfort system.

The standard 1” return-air filter can take particles out of the air in your home, but it needs
changed often. If it isn’t changed, it can become clogged which reduces air flow and could collapse allowing the contaminants to re-enter your home. Adding an inline air cleaner can greatly reduce these contaminants without reducing airflow. There are options available with these systems. According to Trane, a respected manufacturer of heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, a 1” pleated filter is up to 6 times more effective than a standard throwaway filter, moving up to a 5” media filter increases the effectiveness up to 15 times.  And going to an electronic air cleaner (EAC) model with pre-filtration and an electronic cell increases your effectiveness up to 40 times from that of a 1” throw away filter. Electronic air cleaners can be up to 99% efficient at removing airborne particles.

How does a whole-home air cleaner like Trane CleanEffects work as part of my system?

Trane CleanEffects is designed to perfectly fit as a component of your total home comfort system. Unlike many air cleaners that are situated in a single room of the house, CleanEffects is installed and operated through the same duct work that your furnace or air conditioner might use. So even though it’s attractively designed, it operates out of sight of most living spaces to provide up to 99.98% cleaner air throughout your entire home.

So give Garnett Refrigeration a call for an assessment of your system to see if your home can benefit from the addition of an EAC. Let Garnett Refrigeration help you discover the better feeling of cleaner air.

Duct systems carry the conditioned air and distribute it throughout your home. Improperly sized or installed ductwork can cause discomfort through increased allergies, hot/cold spots and humidity control problems. Ducts that are too small can be noisy and create uncomfortable air movement. In the same way, ducts that are too large are not
going to condition the spaces evenly or sufficiently, because the air velocity will be too slow. If the duct is not sealed together it can pull in humidity and allergens and then distribute them throughout your home.

The answer is to have a qualified contractor repair, re-insulate or replace your ductwork. By taking these steps, you can save energy and improve the comfort level in your home. Give Garnett Refrigeration a call, or click the Contact Us button to see if there are more comfortable options for your home.

 To answer that question, there are a few questions to consider: How old is your current HVAC system? How long do you plan to live in your home? How likely is it that it will need repaired again? Can I save energy and lower my utility bills with a new system? Do I want to improve my indoor air quality: get rid of hot or cold spots?

The reality is that if your system is ten years old or more, there are much more efficient  systems available now. There is an excellent savings calculator on the Energy Star website   http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/bulk_purchasing/bpsavings_calc/Calc_CAC.xls
to calculate your potential savings.

As utility costs keep going up, the efficiency of your system becomes more of a factor. If you intend to stay in your home another ten years, then that is also a reason to consider  replacement. This time period will usually allow a return on your initial investment.

So, if the repair bills are continuing, and the comfort levels are dropping while the energy  bills are rising, now may be a good time to replace your system rather than repairing it again.

Here’s what the experts at YORK have to say:

You may wish to consider replacing your air conditioning or heating system if it is old,  inefficient or in need of repair. Today’s systems are as much as 60% more efficient than those systems manufactured as little as ten years ago. In addition, if not properly maintained, wear and tear on a system can reduce the actual or realized efficiency of the system. If you are concerned about utility bills or are faced with an expensive repair, you may want to consider replacing your system rather than enduring another costly season or paying to replace an expensive component. The utility cost savings of a new unit may provide an attractive return on your investment. If you plan on financing the purchase, the monthly savings on your utility bill should be considered when determining
the actual monthly cost of replacing a system. The offsetting savings may permit you to purchase a more efficient system.

Call one of our knowledgeable Garnett technicians to come and help you decide if you should kick that old system to the curb.

Take Control

Do I really need a programmable thermostat? The answer to that question is – it depends.  Do you want to lower your utility bills without changing your comfort level?

With a programmable thermostat, your system automatically adjusts to your pre-programmed indoor temperatures for an optimum comfort level when you are home or active. Then program it to an energy saving mode when you are not home or are asleep, and then return to the optimum level before you arrive home or wake up in the morning. According to Energy Star using a programmable thermostat to turn your thermostat back
just 5-8 degrees when you aren’t there, can save the average homeowner $180.00
a year on energy bills.

Using a programmable thermostat makes sense in convenience and in energy savings. So
give us a call to find out about adding a programmable thermostat to your home
comfort system.

The details for the updated “Virginia Super Efficient Home Appliance Rebate Program” (up to $1500) are now posted online at http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/ .

How to Apply For or Redeem a Super Efficient Home Appliance Rebate

1.) Click on this link to create an account or login to your account:

https://epm.virginiainteractive.org/eeappliancerebate/

2.) Purchase a Consortium for Energy Efficiency-rated High Efficiency, Tier 2 or Tier 3 qualified appliance from a Virginia retailer or vendor. The product specifications can be found here:

http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/HEMeasuresRequirements.shtml

3.) Ensure proper installation of your new appliance and the recycling or proper disposal of your old appliance.

4.) Login to the Super Efficient Home Appliance rebate system to redeem your rebate within 60 days of your reservation acceptance.  To redeem your rebate, return to the appliance rebate link above. Print out the 2-page redemption form during the redemption process and sign it.

5.) Mail your signed redemption form and all required documentation to DMME for processing**; the mailing address is listed on the form.

6.) Login to your account to track the progress of your claim and watch the mail for your rebate check!

** Once you have mailed your paperwork to DMME, please allow 8-12 weeks for processing.  You will receive an email once your paperwork has been approved that will tell you when you can expect to receive your rebate check.

Product Eligibility Requirements and Rebate Amounts

Did you know that humidified air is warmer and healthier than drier air? Dry air can lead to static electricity, damaged furniture, unhealthy house plants, dry skin, nose bleeds, and allergy attacks. Humidified air also feels warmer, so you can set your thermostat lower and save energy.

Adding a whole house humidifier is simple. It is installed into your air-supply system with a water supply piped directly to it. There isn’t anything to refill once or twice a day like a free-standing model. They also have easy-to-access controls similar to your thermostat, or automatic controls that adjust according to the temperature changes and humidity requirements. Humidifiers provide warmer, healthier air all winter long. Ask your Garnett service tech about adding a humidifier to your system.

Did you know that dirty air filters make your heating and cooling system work harder to keep you comfortable? Changing air filters is the easiest, most cost-effective energy saving maintenance task.

Air filters come in many different materials and sizes. There are washable filters that can be hosed off and replaced when dry. There are flat filters and pleated filters that come in differing levels of filtration, measured in microns. Ask your heating and cooling contractor what he recommends for your system.

Filters should be replaced monthly as outlined by the manufacturer. Whole home electronic air cleaners or media filters offer between three to six months interval of servicing. Household filters are usually found in one of two places – the return-air grille or the return-air duct at your air-handler.

Did you know that Garnett Refrigeration offers an Energy Savings Agreement that helps with preventive maintenance? Give us a call to find out how we can help keep your system running efficiently.

What does SEER / EER and HSPF mean? Why is it important?

When our sales techs write a proposal, they will usually tell you the SEER/EER and if it applies, the HSPF ratings of your equipment they proposed. SEER is Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. According to Wikipedia, “The SEER rating of a unit is the cooling output in Btu (British thermal units) during a typical cooling-season divided by the total electric energy input in watt-hours during the same period. The higher the unit’s SEER rating the more energy efficient it is.” The current minimum government SEER rating for new equipment is 13, and minimum Energy Star rating is 14 SEER, but current technology provides ratings at 20 SEER or higher.

While SEER is rated across an entire cooling season, EER is determined on the system’s energy efficiency at peak day operations. A minimum number of 11.5 for split systems and 11 for heat pumps is recommended. A peak cooling day here in Virginia is 90 degrees outside.

Heat pumps also have a Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF), again, the higher the rating, the more efficient. A factor of 8.2 or higher is considered high efficiency.

If your system is 10 years old, it may be rated at 10 SEER or lower and it may be time to consider replacing it instead of repairing it if it breaks. Moving to the minimum 13 SEER equipment should show a difference in operating cost. High electricity rates, long cooling seasons and long-term use of the system can offset the higher initial cost of a more efficient system. Call us to find out if your utility bill can benefit from a more efficient comfort system?

School has started for another year. The pools have closed and the boat is out of the water. It’s also time to think about a preventive maintenance program for your home heating system.

According to the government’s Energy Star program website, “As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling.” Keeping your heating and cooling systems running efficiently is one of the easiest ways to cut your energy bill. For residential customers an Energy Savings Agreement (ESA) includes twice a year check-ups, priority service if you have an emergency during the agreement period, and a discount on repairs. Commercial customers usually work directly with our technicians to create a preventive maintenance (PM) program tailored to their facility and service schedule.

Performance of regular ESA service can lead to:

• Lower monthly utility bills
• Longer equipment life
• Fewer emergency repairs
• Increased cooling and heating performance
• Protection of manufacturer’s warranty
• Improved indoor air quality

An Energy Savings Agreement (ESA) (preventive maintenance for commercial facilities) from Garnett Refrigeration is an energy investment. Click here for a brochure of the details on this program, and then give us a call to sign up and get started on your way to energy savings.