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Many homeowners wait until an AC unit fails beyond repair. While A-1 Mechanical provides excellent air conditioning installation services even in emergencies, knowing the warning signs of a faltering air conditioning system is important to save money. If you notice cooling costs are rising, performance is wavering or you experience frequent breakdowns then you should begin to consider new air conditioners.
Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs Replaced
As summer heat rises, older units can often show indications of failure. Beyond monitoring energy use be alert to these top signs your air conditioner is going to break:
Uneven temperatures throughout the home
Shutting down before the desired temperature is achieved as known as short cycling
Refrigerant leaks, frozen lines and odd noises from outdoor unit
Odd smells from vents when the air conditioner is running
Ductless mini split heat pumps are a great way to heat your home efficiently. They consist of an outdoor compressor/condenser unit and several indoor air handling units connected to the outdoor unit. The air is heated by the compressor and returned to the air handling unit to disperse into rooms.
Each room or area can contain an indoor air handling unit, which can be controlled separately from the others using a remote control. This makes it an ideal solution for homes with multiple rooms that may not need to be heated, allowing you to control where your heated air is being sent.
Not only is this system efficient, but it’s also convenient and easy to use. So if you’re looking for an excellent way to heat your home, consider a ductless mini split heat pump over a traditional heating system.
As the weather gets colder, you may wonder what the best settings are for your home thermostat. After all, you want to stay comfortable without wasting energy on your heating system. A programmable thermostat is a fantastic way to bring convenience to your home’s heating system, however, they are not necessary.
Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect balance this winter. Of course, these are just general guidelines – you may need to adjust the settings based on your specific needs.
A programmable thermostat is a thermostat that can be set to automatically adjust your home’s heating and cooling systems according to a schedule. For example, during the winter, you could set a programmable thermostat to maintain your temperature at 70 degrees during the day and 65 degrees at night. This would allow you to save energy and money by only heating or cooling your home when needed.
Benefits of Installing a Programmable Thermostat
While almost every home already has a thermostat installed, switching to a programmable thermostat comes with various benefits. From improved comfort to lower utility bills, homeowners all over the country are upgrading to programmable thermostats.
A sudden rise in your monthly energy costs can be caused by a number of reasons. The most common causes that lead to unexpectedly high heating bills are:
Colder outdoor temperatures than what’s typical for the area
Lack of heating system maintenance
Air leaks in the home
Poor insulation
Dirty furnace filters
Top Ways to Lower Heating Bills
These energy-saving strategies help homeowners improve home energy efficiency to lower heating bills.
Schedule a Preventative Maintenance Tune-Up
Ideally, before the busy heating season arrives, schedule a preventive maintenance tune-up for your Lansing or Grand Rapids heating system in the fall. Gas furnaces, electric furnaces, heat pumps – no matter your heating system type, a maintenance tune-up helps the system function more efficiently throughout the season.
Seal Ducts
The average Lansing and Grand Rapids area home loses 20 to 30 percent of its heated air through duct leaks. Damage, gaps, loose fittings, and disconnected sections allow heated air to escape before it reaches your rooms while letting chilly air into the ducts.
Because of this loss, the heating system compensates by expending more energy to replace the heat lost. This extra heat production uses 20 to 30 percent more energy. Duct repair eliminates these costly leaks to lower your heating and cooling costs significantly.
Seal Air Leaks
An issue that homeowners often overlook is the amount of air they lose through air leaks. Heated air is also able to escape through other areas of the home, such as:
Windows and doors that don’t shut tightly
Gaps and cracks around window frames and door jambs
Vent, piping, or wiring holes through exterior walls
Uninsulated or under-insulated attics, basements, and crawl spaces
To reduce heat loss, air leak sealing is a must. Add weatherstripping to all exterior doorways. Seal windows and door frames both indoors and out. Seal around the exterior wall penetrations outdoors as well as on the interior of the wall. This will help your home to keep in its heated air and help keep your monthly energy bill down.
Improve Insulation
Heating and cooling your home can be a significant expense, particularly if your home is not well insulated. Many homeowners are surprised to learn that their homes are not as energy efficient as they could be. Older homes are especially prone to this problem, as they were often built before modern insulation standards were put in place.
As a result, upgrading your insulation can be a great way to improve your home’s energy efficiency, and lower your monthly electric bills and heating costs. In addition, proper insulation can help to reduce noise levels and create a more comfortable living environment.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
We’ve met many homeowners who bought a smart thermostat at a big box store and found it doesn’t work well with their existing system. For example, do you have a single-speed or variable-speed system? It makes a difference in which smart thermostat is best for your home and we can help you find the right one. The addition of a programmable thermostat can help bring your costs lower than the typical electric bill.
Curious about modern thermostats? Call us, and we’ll send a Comfort Consultant to your home. They will evaluate your current HVAC system, ask you about your energy goals, and recommend a thermostat.
Change Your Furnace Filter
Dirty furnace filters block the flow of air through your heating system. This forces the blower motor to expend more energy to pull air through the system and push heated air into your living areas.
Avoid this problem when you regularly replace your furnace filter. How often depends on the type of filter, heating usage, and other factors specific to your home. Most people get by with furnace filter changes every two to three months.
Upgrade Your Heating Unit
If you’re among the millions of Americans who’ve been hit hard by high heating bills this winter, you may be looking for ways to lower your costs. One option you may want to consider is installing a new furnace or heat pump. Though the initial investment may be higher than simply continuing to use your current system, new furnaces and heat pumps are much more energy efficient.
This means that they’ll use less fuel to produce the same amount of heat, resulting in lower monthly bills. Additionally, newer models are often able to better maintain a consistent temperature, which can also help to reduce costs.
Put an End to Expensive Heating Bills
If you’re wondering why is my heating bill so high, you’re not alone. Many homeowners struggle with high energy bills in the winter. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help lower your costs and make your home more comfortable.
Get in Contact with A-1 Mechanical Today
Contact us today for assistance making energy-saving improvements to your home. We’ll work with you to create a plan that fits your needs and helps you save money on your heating bill this winter.
As their name suggests – ductless heating and cooling systems do not require ductwork to move air throughout your home. Instead of ductwork, mini-split systems use indoor air handling units. These devices are installed on the walls of rooms, allowing each room to be controlled separately from one another.
Any room with an air handler on the wall can create its own temperature “zone”; each “zone” is fully capable of its own temperature control. When paired with a heat pump,homeowners can heat and cool any room in their home separately from the rest. One ductless unit can accommodate several indoor units.
How Much Does a Ductless System Cost?
The total cost of a ductless HVAC unit can vary widely, and several factors need to be considered. Through our research, the cost can range anywhere from under $3,000 to over $8,000 per ductless system.
While that is a rather extensive range of prices, many variables can affect the price. Here are a few factors that need to be considered when determining the cost of a ductless heating and cooling system.
Manufacturer
Much like any other household appliance you buy, the brand of the unit itself will be a significant factor in the overall price. As a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, we are proud to offer a full line of Carrier heat pumps and ductless systems, which are considered some of the most reputable HVAC products on the market.
Total Space
One of the most significant factors that can raise or lower the cost of a ductless system installed in your home is how much area you need to be covered and the square footage of your home. Installing a unit in just one room will be a vastly different cost than outfitting an entire house for heating and cooling. If you plan on using your ductless system for both heating and cooling, you will need an outdoor compressor/condenser in addition to the indoor unit in the rooms you want to be covered. This will add to the overall cost as well.
Energy Efficiency of the Unit
Many homeowners are switching to a ductless system for their energy-saving abilities. This does come with a cost. The higher the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio), the more efficient the unit will be and the more expensive it will be.
Additional Fees
You also need to keep in mind any additional work the installation company may have to do. If you have an old HVAC system installed, it will take time and resources to have it completely removed from your home. While this typically will not be a significant charge, it can still affect the overall price and should be considered.
Benefits of a Ductless System
After seeing the various things that can affect the cost of a ductless mini-split system, you are probably wondering if you should make the switch. Ductless systems have a ton of benefits that homeowners love.
Some benefits of a ductless system include:
Lower monthly energy bills from increased efficiency
More eco-friendly
Heating and cooling in one system (when installed with a heat pump)
Easy and fast installation, when you work with the right team
Improved indoor air quality
Contact A-1 Mechanical Today to Learn More!
If you are ready to make the switch and upgrade your home’s heating and cooling with a ductless system, ensure you are working with a team you can trust! We provide quality repair and installation services for all indoor and outdoor units.
At A-1 Mechanical, we pride ourselves on our high level of service and customer service. As the area’s leading authority on ductless systems, there is no better company to work with. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact us today!
The first thing to consider is exactly how old your home is. If your home was built before the 1950s, there is a good chance it does not have the ductwork needed for today’s HVAC systems. This eliminates traditional central air conditioning and heating systems as a viable method for your home’s heating and cooling needs unless you want to spend thousands of extra dollars on having a new duct system installed.
We are well aware of the difficulties of living in an old house and have come up with the best solutions to optimize an older home’s heating and air conditioning system.
Ductless System
A solution we often recommend for homeowners in older homes is a ductless system, also called a mini-split system. As the name suggests, these HVAC systems do not use any ductwork at all! Ductless systems use individual air handler units in each room; this allows for complete control over the temperature in separate spaces or “zones.”
Since there is no need for ductwork, homeowners of older houses absolutely love the convenience of ductless HVAC systems. When paired with a heat pump, they can also be used for both your home’s heating and cooling while helping to cut back on your monthly electric bills.
Ductless mini-split systems are versatile and can be operated on a by-room basis. This is because each “zone” has its own thermostat that can be controlled independently of the others. If you do not want a particular room to have heating or cooling, but the rest of the house should, you can simply adjust the temperature in that room. This also makes them energy efficient and one of our favorite modern HVAC options.
High-Velocity HVAC System
In today’s homes, ductwork is usually in areas of the house that we cannot see. Meaning, that if your home was not built with the intention of having central heating and cooling, then you probably do not have the space necessary to make ducts work.
Fortunately, high-velocity systems operate differently, using dedicated units connected to “mini-ducts.” Unfortunately, high-velocity systems also typically come with a price tag that is higher than ductless systems.
High-velocity HVAC systems are similar to traditional HVAC systems in that they provide heating or cooling using a heat pump or compressor and then distribute the air into a home’s living areas. The most significant difference is how the air is distributed in a high-velocity system.
Instead of traditional ductwork, high-velocity HVAC systems use much smaller tubes and vents, which are about 5 inches in diameter and much smaller than vents that are about 6 inches tall and 12 inches wide.
Using the smaller tubes and vents allows them to need less space in the home to be effective, making them a perfect choice for an older home that cannot support modern-day HVAC systems. Homeowners also love that the smaller size allows them to be better hidden in the home, adding to the home’s overall aesthetic appeal.
Why Trust A-1 Mechanical?
When dealing with something as important as your home’s heating and cooling, you do not want to work with just any company you find on Facebook. A-1 Mechanical has been one of the most trusted HVAC companies in the area for years. We have built a solid reputation for high-quality work and fantastic customer service.
Older homes can be tricky to work on and, and when installation is performed incorrectly, it could result in irreversible damage, which is why it is crucial to work with an experienced company that has done it before. Our team is well-versed in HVAC solutions for older homes and would love to help walk you through the process and get you exactly what you need.
Contact Us Today
If you are ready to upgrade your home with a new HVAC system from the state’s premier HVAC company, do not hesitate to reach out!
We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and schedule an appointment!
In the modern internet era, there seems to be an endless amount of products to solve an endless amount of issues. This makes it almost impossible as a consumer to truly get exactly what you want. When it comes to things as important as your health, though, you do not want to go with second best.
Allergies and asthma affect millions of people every year, leading them to find some relief through medicine or an air purifying device. At A-1 Mechanical, we only work with the best brands of air purifiers available to ensure customers are receiving the very best.
Why Install an Indoor Air Purifier?
A home without an indoor air purifier is less comfortable and safe to be in, especially for those who are suffering from health issues like allergies or asthma. Indoor air purifiers work by capturing and killing contaminants such as pollen, bacteria and dust mites to remove from the air supply inside of your home for cleaner and healthier air.
Unlike portable air purifiers which service just one room or small area of the home, whole house air cleaners are installed directly to your HVAC system and begin working right away, making them efficient at getting your entire home’s air clean, as fast as possible.
Which Air Purifier Is Best for Allergies and Asthma?
Once you have decided that making the upgrade to an air purifier for your home is a worthwhile investment, it is decision time. Knowing which air purifier to go with can be a tough choice when you are not familiar with the systems. We recommend working with an experienced company to help you choose one.
At A-1 Mechanical, we have spent years serving the community and providing homeowners here with the highest standard of service and care. Through those years, we have garnered the experience needed to help homeowners make qualified decisions about what is best for them and their home. If you are looking for an air purifier to help combat the symptoms of allergies and asthma, then we recommend the INFINITY® AIR PURIFIER – DGAPA.
Why Choose the INFINITY® AIR PURIFIER – DGAPA?
The INFINITY® AIR PURIFIER – DGAPA helps to purify your air by capturing and killing air contaminants that are commonly found in homes. It helps prevent things like pollen, animal dander, and general bacteria from making their way back into the home’s air supply. It is able to block up to 95% of airborne particles, and has even been determined by independent testing to block the common cold surrogate.
Why Work With A-1 Mechanical?
If you are looking for the best air purifier on the market, then you need to work with the right team to back it up. Improper installation could lead to your air purifier underperforming and not working as optimally as it should.
Have complete trust in both your system and the team behind it with A-1 Mechanical. We have been committed to serving the Lansing and Grand Rapids communities for years and are eager to continue to do so.
If you are ready to take your home’s health and safety to the next level with the best air purifier for allergies and asthma, contact A-1 Mechanical. Schedule an appointment with us today to get started. We can improve your home’s indoor air quality for a healthier and happier home.
The extreme temperature changes in both the spring and fall time mean that for most Michigan homeowners, a working heat pump is more than just a comfort. It is a necessity. This is why we believe it is so important to never be in a position where your heat pump may be compromised. At A-1 Mechanical, we are eager to help homeowners understand how heat pumps work. We also strive to answer every day questions and understand the issues they can cause, like short cycling. However, we understand that you’re not an HVAC expert and may have questions yourself, such as: “Why does my heat pump cycle on and off?” We’ll explain.
What Is Heat Pump Short Cycling?
Simply put, when a heat pump short cycles it is able to turn on, but it does not complete its full cycle. This causes the heat pump to quickly shut down and turn back on again. This eventually can turn into a vicious cycle that leaves your heat pump in worse shape due to excessive wear and tear from turning off and on too frequently.
Reasons a Heat Pump Can Short Cycle
Like any machine in your home that receives daily use, there are a plethora of reasons why your heat pump is short cycling. A few of them include:
Faulty Electrical Components
Trouble with the electric control board that controls your home’s HVAC system is a common cause of heat pump short cycling. The electric control board not only is in sync with your home’s thermostat, but it is in complete charge of when your HVAC system turns on or off.
There could be a number of electrical connection issues or faulty components that are causing the short cycling issue. Regardless, get in contact with an experienced technician before tackling any of the electrical problems you may be having.
Any blown fuses or problems with your home’s breaker board could also affect your heat pump’s ability to perform.
Thermostat Issues
While we are all about smart home automation and upgrading your home into the 21st century, new home technology is not without its faults. A thermostat leaves plenty of room for error. So, if you begin to notice your heat pump short cycling, there is a chance your thermostat is not working as it should, causing the heat pump to turn on and off uncontrollably.
An easy way to check on the status of your thermostat is to check its batteries and connections. An issue with either of those things could lead to short cycling.
Low Refrigerant Levels
You may notice that your heat pump is not keeping your home as cool as you would like it. This could be due to a low level of refrigerant. This can add extra stress to your unit and not allow it to work as optimally as it should, leading to short cycling.
Clogged Air Filter
A dirty or clogged air filter can greatly impact the efficiency of your heat pump. When the level of dust and other contaminants is too high in a filter, your heat pump is unable to perform, which can lead to short cycling. Swapping out your air filters often can help prevent this and further issues with your machine.
What to Do when Your Heat Pump Short Cycles
Once you have come to the conclusion that what your heat pump is doing is in fact short cycling, you have a couple of options.
If the issue is easily recognizable, such as issues with the thermostat’s battery or connection, then you may be able to solve the problem yourself. However, we almost always recommend contacting a team of professionals that you can trust if your heat pump is short cycling. Your home is one of the most important things in life, so don’t trust just anyone with it.
Choose A-1 Mechanical for Any Heat Pump Problems
A-1 Mechanical has been serving the Lansing and Grand Rapids community with pride for years and are excited to continue to do so. With the industry standard for technology and the best team of technicians in the business, we are excited to have the opportunity to show you the difference of working with the best.
If you are experiencing any issues with your heat pump or HVAC system, don’t hesitate to give us a call or schedule an appointment. We are eager and ready to serve you and keep your home safe and comfortable!
For far too many homes, some areas of the house will be the perfect temperature, while other rooms suffer from hot and cold spots creating an uneven temperature throughout the room. This is a frustrating issue that can not only cause discomfort but also much higher heating and cooling bills.
In the latest blog post from A-1 Mechanical, we’ll discuss how an HVAC zone control system can fix these issues with dampers, as well as how they’re installed. For more helpful information about HVAC zone control dampers, reach out to A-1 Mechanical.
What Are HVAC Zone Control Dampers?
Zone control dampers allow heated or cooled air to spread amongst the rooms in your home, leading to more even and regulated temperatures. Zone dampers are plates that are used to redirect air to all areas of the home, ensuring that warm or cool air reaches the areas that it is supposed to.
In an HVAC system without zone dampers, air freely flows through your ductwork and out of the vents within your home. This can cause uneven distribution, as there is not any equipment in place that could otherwise ensure that all areas of the home receive the same access to the air from your heating and cooling system.
Why Should You Install HVAC Zone Control Dampers?
A zone control system offers significant energy savings, as your HVAC system won’t need to stay on as long in order to bring your home to the set temperature. As heated and cooled air is evenly distributed throughout the home, a zone control system makes it much easier for the house to reach your set temperature.
In addition to the energy savings, you’ll also find that a zone control system can affect the comfort of your home. For homes that struggle with hot and cold spots, dampers can provide a very effective solution. Zone control systems help to keep each room of the home at the same temperature.
Installing HVAC Zone Control Dampers
Installing zone control dampers is a job that is, ideally, left up to professional HVAC system technicians. There are many things to consider, such as the size of your ducts, the type of dampers that your ductwork requires, the location of the dampers, and more.
When you contact an experienced professional to install your zone control dampers, they’ll help answer any questions you might have. They’ll provide the best location for the dampers, as well as the best type of dampers, to provide the best results. Once you’ve had a zone control system installed into your HVAC system, you’ll notice an upgrade in energy efficiency. When you control airflow to all the rooms in your house, you’ll notice a decrease in heating and cooling costs because you won’t waste energy heating unoccupied rooms. Some zone control systems include their own thermostat, or all the dampers can be controlled with a central control panel.
There are a lot of different features and options available for zone control systems. If you’re interested in upgrading your HVAC equipment, talk to the professional technicians at A-1 Mechanical to learn more about For HVAC zone control damper installation in the Lansing and Grand Rapids, MI areas.
Contact A-1 Mechanical for HVAC Zone Control Dampers
Keeping all areas of your home the same temperature is key to a safe, happy, and healthy household. Installing HVAC zone control dampers can be exactly what your home needs to increase comfort and safety levels.
Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of dampers, or to schedule an appointment for installation services.
