Douglas Cooling & Heating Blog : Archive for the ‘HVAC’ Category

Across the United States, homeowners are seeking ways to maximize efficiency with their heating and cooling systems. Your HVAC system is the biggest energy hog in your home, consuming up to half of your energy used every year. Central air and heat conservation can be achieved with a few simple changes in your home.

Upgrade Your Thermostat

Manual thermostats aren’t just outdated; they are a huge reason why your heating and cooling system wastes so much energy. Upgrading your thermostat to a programmable or smart thermostat drastically improves your HVAC’s energy consumption. Advanced thermostats allow you to set specific temperatures during the day while the house is empty. Depending on the season, you can adjust your thermostat up or down while you sleep, which cuts back your energy usage tremendously. Programmable thermostats allow you to program settings for when you are away, asleep, or on vacation. Upgrading your thermostat creates a more environmentally safe HVAC system in your home.

HVAC Maintenance

Another way to improve your central air and heat conservation at home is to schedule maintenance with an HVAC contractor near you. Regular HVAC maintenance ensures your system is performing at its optimum efficiency and inspects the unit for future problems. A trusted HVAC contractor near you is Douglas Cooling & Heating, offering affordable maintenance plans. Our preventative maintenance is performed by the best NATE-certified technicians in the industry.

Air Filter Replacement

A standard maintenance item is changing the air filter in your system. A dirty filter decreases airflow in your system, forcing your HVAC unit to work harder than necessary and waste more energy in the process. When a filter becomes clogged, dust and other particles build up inside your HVAC system, causing mechanical failures and decreased performance. A small thing like the air filter affects the lifespan of your unit, its energy consumption, and overall performance. Clogged air filters are the leading cause of heating and cooling failures.

Seal Your Ducts

Another way to create an environmentally safe HVAC system is to have your ducts sealed by a professional. You can lose up to 30% in energy through cracks and holes in your ductwork. An HVAC contractor near you can inspect your ducts, vents, and registers for any leaks. Improving your central air and heat conservation, sealing those leaks will improve your airflow and prevent wasted energy.

Invest in a New HVAC System

If you are in the market for the best way to control your home’s energy use, considering installing a new heating and cooling system. As HVAC systems age, they lose efficiency and cost you more money on your energy bill and repairs. Just make sure, whatever system you choose, it’s correctly sized for your home. When a system is too small, it repeatedly cycles on and off, causing increased energy consumption.

New systems are far more efficient than older units but to really “go green” with a new system, install an ENERGY STAR certified heating and cooling unit. An ENERGY STAR system can save you up to 50% on your energy consumption. You may even qualify for a tax credit depending on where you live. Regardless of the system you install, make sure it has a high SEER rating, EER rating, and HSPF rating for the best energy efficiency.

Create an environmentally safe HVAC system in your home with maintenance and a programmable thermostat. For the best central air and heat conservation methods, contact Douglas Cooling & Heating! We know how to lower your energy usage and save you money in the long run.

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A thermostat is the command center for your heating and cooling system. It helps your system control the temperature, humidity, and energy usage in your home. Investing in a thermostat for your HVAC system can be overwhelming. There are several kinds available and different features for each kind. Depending on your system’s needs, you want to make sure you install the best thermostat for your HVAC system.

What System Do You Have?

Before you invest in a thermostat, you need to consider what type of heating and cooling system you have. Not all thermostats are compatible with every HVAC system, which can cost you money in the future on your energy bills and HVAC repairs. The best thermostat for your HVAC system depends on if you have a:

• Single-Stage: This type of system is traditional gas heat and electric air conditioning systems. Single-stage means your furnace has only one level of heat. This is the most common system in residential homes.
• Multi-Stage: Multi-stage systems mean you have more than the average one level of heating or cooling. The multi-stage system has the ability to operate at different levels to heat your home efficiently, and provides more evenly dispersed heat throughout your home.
• Heat Pump: This system is a single system that controls both your heating and cooling in your home. Traditionally a heat pump is used as the emergency heat source if you have a multi-stage system. It produces heat faster than any other system and is popular in the Northeast.
• Multi-Stage Heat Pump: Similar to a multi-stage system, but it uses a heat pump as the heat source. Your heat pump is able to operate at two performance levels to heat or cool your home most efficiently depending on conditions.

Thermostat Types:

There are three common types of thermostats that work with heating and cooling systems: smart thermostats, programmable thermostats, and manual thermostats. Below are the different types and an overview of their characteristics:

• Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat offers easy programming with three different setting options. Most homeowners have switched to programmable thermostats because of its convenient programming, user-friendly interface, and it offers energy efficiency with their HVAC system.

• Smart Thermostat: A smart thermostat learns temperature preferences of a household and makes automatic temperature adjustments for comfort and efficiency.
• Mechanical/Manual Thermostat: Users must manually set and adjust manual thermostats to change temperatures in the home.

Programmable Thermostat Options:

One of the best thermostats for HVAC systems is a programmable thermostat. It offers energy efficiency, and easy management of your heating and cooling needs based on a set program.

• 7-Day:

You can set unique settings for each day, up to 7 days. This setting offers ultimate flexibility with up to four periods per day for every day of the week. If you have a busy schedule, this setting is perfect for you and your family.

• 5-1-1 Day:

This setting allows you to program one setting through the week and then two different settings for Saturday and Sunday. You can program up to four periods per programmable session with this type of programmable thermostat.

• 5-2 Day:

This version allows programming up to four sessions with separate settings for the weekends and weekdays.

Choose the best thermostat for HVAC system efficiency, controlled humidity, and even temperatures in your home! Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating and learn more about the benefits of installing a programmable thermostat.  

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Have you discovered an HVAC water leak? Is there a musty odor coming from your utility room or has your energy bill spiked? Most people don’t associate condensation with winter weather, but several components in your heating equipment rely heavily on a condensate drain line. If the line or pan gets too full, clogged, or frozen, your home heating system can shut down. For help with your condensate drain, contact Douglas Cooling & Heating. As a trusted Birmingham HVAC repair company near you, we offer NATE-certified technicians who repair your system’s condensate line in no time!

What Does an HVAC Condensate Drain Pan Do?

In your heating and cooling system, the temperature and humidity from outside have to be adjusted before it can be cycled throughout your home. Whether you are heating or cooling, your HVAC system generates condensation. The condensation needs to drain. The condensation moves through the condensate drain line to the condensate drain pan. The pan then feeds the excess water outside.

Spot HVAC Condensate Drain Pan Problems

If you don’t know your furnace has a condensate drain line and pan, you may not realize problems can form inside your HVAC system and home.  If you have problems with your HVAC condensate drain pan, you might notice some of these symptoms:

Water damage

When the condensate pan malfunctions, this allows the collected condensate to overflow or leak out of the pan, spilling onto the surfaces below. This causes water damage to the surrounding areas. You may notice:

• Water on the floor around your HVAC equipment
• Water stains on nearby walls
• Water stains on ceilings (if the HVAC system is installed in your attic)

Smells inside your home

Condensate pan problems allow excess moisture to stay inside your home. As it stagnates in the drain pan, odors are common. These odors travel into your home as air circulates through the heating and cooling system. If you notice an increase of musty or moldy odors, this points to a condensate drain problem. 

Any HVAC water leak has the potential to result in mold growth, which is sometimes noticeable by its smell. These odors are often heavier in the specific area affected by the HVAC water leak.

Excess condensation indoors

With more moisture in your indoor air, you are likely to notice more condensation on surfaces. In the winter, this is particularly noticeable on window panes. When humid indoor air hits these cold glass panes, condensation forms.

Higher energy bills

Without a proper exit for excess moisture, it stays in the system and in your air. Your HVAC equipment must work harder to condition air with higher moisture content and your whole home dehumidifier’s burden is increased, too. This issue is a cause of higher energy bills, as your system expends more energy to do its job.

Poor indoor air quality

Does it feel muggier in your home? Do family members experience increased allergy and asthma symptoms? With more humidity remaining in your home due to an HVAC water leak, you experience a decrease in the quality of your indoor air. This causes discomfort in many ways, from making your body feel too warm to increasing the amount of allergens in your air which causes more frequent symptoms.

Mold growth inside your home 

Mold growth is a clear indicator of a moisture problem, which could be the result of an HVAC water leak. Mold grows on walls, ceilings, and other structural elements or even items inside the home that come into contact with water. Mold grows due to an HVAC water leak in a few ways:

• By increasing the moisture content of the air, without proper ventilation mold is able to grow anywhere with moisture buildup.
• Mold may grow around the immediate area affected by an HVAC water leak.

Causes of HVAC Water Leaks

Three of the main reasons you have problems with your HVAC condensate drain pan:

Condensate pan is misaligned

If the condensate pan isn’t perfectly lined up at the right angle, you may experience an HVAC water leak inside your home. Align the pan to stop the leak before it turns into an even bigger problem.

Condensate drain is clogged

Condensate drains that are clogged cause water to leak from the tray. Condensate drain pipes can become clogged with debris over time and cause condensate drain pans to overflow. If this happens, two things can occur. One, an HVAC water leak can occur inside your home and two, mold and mildew can begin to grow indoors. The drain can also become frozen in the winter, causing water to back up into your home.

Condensate tray is damaged

If the condensate tray is torn or cracked by wear-and-tear, water can leak out of the pan. An HVAC contractor must replace a damaged condensation tray to fix the problem completely.

Call an HVAC Company Near You for Help with an HVAC Water Leak

If you have noticed water pooling around your heating and cooling system, it’s time to call a professional for help. Aligning the condensate drain pan can be tricky if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. An HVAC contractor can realign the pan and inspect the rest of the condensate drain line.

Douglas Cooling & Heating’ technicians will inspect the line to check for freezing and will replace the pan if it’s damaged. With a preventive HVAC maintenance plan, the condensate drain and pan are checked at least twice a year. Catch problems with your condensate drain pan before they escalate, invest in a maintenance plan from Douglas Cooling & Heating. We can keep your system running longer while reducing your energy bills and improving your indoor air quality.

If you have an HVAC water leak in your home, contact a trusted HVAC company near you for help! Douglas Cooling & Heating provides service, maintenance, and installation of heating and cooling systems in and around the Birmingham area. Contact us today to get your HVAC system looked at.

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Before you invest in a new furnace, you need to consider how large of a furnace you need for the size of your home or business. Furnace installation of a new unit has to be sized correctly for several reasons.  Other HVAC contractors offer free estimates on their systems, but with Douglas Cooling & Heating, we want go the extra mile to ensure a properly sized new furnace. We go the extra mile by coming to your home and performing load measurements to make sure you get the correctly-sized furnace you deserve!

Benefits of Proper Sizing

Furnace installation on a correctly sized system offers several benefits. You will experience consistent operation during the coldest days of the year. The furnace will work quietly without you even knowing it’s running. Controlled and even temperatures are achieved easily with a correctly sized furnace. You will save money annually on your energy bill and repairs when you have a furnace installed that meets the size and demands of your home. A furnace that fits the needs and space of your home or office will last longer, too. A furnace’s life expectancy is between 15 to 20 years, but a properly sized unit that is maintained twice a year may offer a longer life.

How to Know Your Unit is Sized Correctly

• Sound: A correctly sized unit will be almost silent when running. If you hear air moving throughout the ductwork or hear the system constantly kicking on and off, the system probably hasn’t been installed correctly or is sized wrong. At the time of your consultation with a professional at Douglas Cooling & Heating, we take into account your existing ductwork. If your ductwork is too small for the new furnace, the air pushed through the ducts is highly pressured, resulting in loud noises. Small ducts can’t adequately move heated air to all the areas of your home or business.  A professional will know if the unit is sized properly by the sounds the furnace makes during operation.
• Cold spots: A furnace installed to fit the needs of your home or business will provide exceptional heat to every area, without leaving random cold spots in its wake. If you install a furnace that is too small for the space, it won’t be able to keep up with the demands of your home or business. You will experience areas where the heat is too low compared to other areas. Investing in a programmable thermostat will help you track the temperature in your home, especially with a zoned system. But with a furnace that is too small, it will constantly run to achieve the ideal temperature in your home or office. Keep in mind, a furnace continually running also breaks down more often, and you will pay more for repairs over time.
• Less efficiency: Whether the unit is too big or too small, both cost you more energy in the long run. Furnaces that are too small and operate constantly use more energy to heat your home. An oversized furnace can heat your home rapidly, but it cycles on and off repeatedly. Continuous cycling causes your furnace to expend more energy than it needs to keep every room warm. The more energy spent to hear your home increases your monthly energy bill. An improperly sized gas furnace can raise your energy bill and also increase your fuel bill every month.

Call a Trusted HVAC Contractor

So you are ready to invest in a new furnace but aren’t sure what size furnace you need? By calling an HVAC specialist, you can have peace of mind that you are getting the correct furnace installed in your home. The NATE-certified experts at Douglas Cooling & Heating will point you in the right direction for your new furnace installation. We perform load calculations to ensure your new unit is the right size for your home.

Get the most out of your new furnace with Douglas Cooling & Heating’ NATE-certified HVAC contractors! We offer affordable products with experienced furnace installation for any home or building. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation!

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Furnaces are used to working hard for long amounts of time, but even they need a break every once in a while. The perfect way to keep your old furnace healthy and performing at its most efficient is to have regularly scheduled maintenance to prepare for the cold weather. At Douglas Cooling & Heating, we understand how vital your furnace’s performance is to you and your family. Whether it’s furnace repair for a breakdown or a complete furnace replacement, our NATE-certified technicians are ready to tackle any furnace need.

Benefits of Preventative Maintenance:

A furnace is only as good at the attention and service it receives. A broken furnace could have been prevented if it was properly maintained over the years. Yes, age does play a factor when it comes to a broken furnace, and maintenance extends the life of your furnace. The average furnace lasts around 15 years, but with regularly scheduled maintenance, you may be able to extend the life of your old furnace to 20 years.  Aside from prolonged lifespan for your furnace, maintenance offers other benefits:

• Increased efficiency: Preventative maintenance on a furnace keeps your system clean. When dirt, debris, and other contaminants come into contact with your furnace, the unit will become clogged. By keeping a system clean, your furnace can function at its peak efficiency without wasting valuable energy.  

• Improved safety: A furnace that isn’t maintained correctly poses severe safety issues for your home and family. Maintenance on your furnace checks to make sure all the components are functioning properly, especially for gas-powered furnaces. A pilot light that isn’t bright blue could mean carbon monoxide is leaking into your home.

• Fewer repairs: With old furnaces, repairs are inevitable, but with preventative maintenance, you can reduce the number of repairs that occur every year. The more your furnace breaks down, the costlier furnace repairs become. Keeping your system functioning without constant malfunctions saves you money in the long run.

What to Expect During Maintenance:

The best thing you can do for your furnace is to schedule preventative maintenance at least twice a year. The benefits outweigh the cost of repeated repairs and replacing your current furnace.  During a typical maintenance call on your furnace, your technician will:

• Check the control on your system for proper function and safety
• Lubricate all moving components in your system
• Tighten any electrical connections
• Check your thermostat settings
• Inspect the condensate drain
• Check and change the air filter
• Check all gas (or oil) connections
• Check the heat exchanger, gas pressure, and burner combustion

Time for a Furnace Replacement?

If your furnace is old and experiencing constant breakdowns even with preventative maintenance, it’s a definite sign you need a new unit. A furnace replacement is an expensive investment, and more modern furnaces offer significant savings for your home and wallet. Newer models provide increased efficiency, and some meet ENERGY STAR requirements. Make sure before you purchase a new furnace you are buying from a trusted, reliable company. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers quality products with experienced NATE-certified technicians knowledgeable about any installation.

Prevent expensive furnace repairs or an unexpected broken furnace this winter by investing in a preventative maintenance plan. We offer affordable maintenance agreements to keep your furnace healthy and efficient. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating today for more information!

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Keeping everyone in your home comfy and warm can be difficult for your heating and air system. Your HVAC system sends equal amounts of heating and cooling to every area in your home, or at least tries to. Unfortunately, not every room in your house has the same climate requirements. To keep each room precisely the temperature you want it and at specific times, a zoning system helps greatly! The benefits to your home, your savings, and your HVAC system’s efficiency are outstanding with an HVAC installation of whole home zoning.

How It Works

An HVAC system without zoning is similar to turning every light on in your home and leaving them on 24/7 even when no one is in all of the rooms. Whole home zoning allows your heating and air system to condition specific rooms and quickly control the temperature setting in each of these places.  Zoning systems work to control airflow in your home through dampers that control the airflow to zones.

Programmable thermostats are used to control the climate in each region. The thermostat gives a cue to your heating and air system, opens the dampers to a specific zone, and your HVAC system releases the appropriate temperatures to that region. The other zones remain unaffected by the airflow since the dampers remain closed according to the thermostat instructions.

Zoning System Strategies

There are many different scenarios for when a home would benefit from whole home zoning. If you notice temperature swings in different rooms of your home and can’t figure out how to keep one room warmer than another, zoning systems might be the answer to your problem. If you fall into any of these home situations, zoning is a viable option for your heating and cooling needs:

• If you have a home with large windows or even a sunroom, zoning will allow you to keep even temperatures despite solar heat gain.
• Apartments or bonus rooms above a garage are hard to heat or cool, but zoning makes temperature control possible in these areas.
• Basements or attics with a finished living space are a perfect option for whole home zoning.
• Homes with high, cathedral ceilings are great options for zoning systems since heat rises and stays at the top during the winter.
• Multi-story homes are difficult to cool and heat because the upstairs stays warmer when heat rises, but with zoning, you can supply even temperatures to all levels of your home.

Benefits of Zoning

With a proper HVAC installation of a whole home zoning system, you can rake in the savings on your energy bill and remain comfy in any room in your house. Dampers controlled by different thermostats in each zone supply climate control that saves you money since you aren’t wasting energy to heat or cool rooms that aren’t in use. Zoning also helps your HVAC system to stay healthy and operate longer than a system without whole home zoning. The wear and tear on your heating and air unit lessen and requires less repair work in the future. When a system is used less often, it saves you money without constant breakdowns from overuse.  

Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating for HVAC installation of additional programmable thermostats to boost your savings even more. Programmable thermostats allow you to maintain your ideal temperatures in each zone by implementing a schedule. You can vary the temperature depending on the time of day, if you are home, or when you are sleeping.

It’s time to get the most out of your heating and cooling system. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for HVAC installation of a whole home zoning system and new programmable thermostats. With our help, you can achieve the climate control you always dreamed of!

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It’s recommended to research your options before buying a new heating and cooling system. No one wants to buy the wrong kind of equipment for their home or have it incorrectly sized. The search for a new system can be overwhelming but with help from a reliable, trusted heating and cooling company, you can buy what you need with ease. You want to look for specific qualities when shopping around for an HVAC contractor near you.   

Reputation

One thing to consider when hiring an HVAC contractor nearby is their reputation. Reviews from other customers show a company’s commitment to customer service. Satisfied customers are quick to acknowledge when they’ve received prompt, affordable, and quality service.

You can also check out the Better Business Bureau website. The BBB rates businesses on a scale, A+ to F, which is easy for homeowners to understand. If the HVAC contractor has poor reviews and a low BBB rating, they don’t have a strong reputation in the community, among customers.  

Certified

Certified HVAC contractors are efficient, professional, and knowledgeable. You want to hire an HVAC contractor near you with the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification. If a technician isn’t certified, you won’t know what type of knowledge they have or the kind of work they produce.

Estimates

Before giving you an estimate, a contractor should come out and survey your home. They will check for leaks in your current ductwork and measure your house for a new unit. If the contractor gives an estimate before inspecting your home, you might get the wrong type of system for your home, or it might not be adequately sized to fit the needs of your house. A trusted heating and cooling company will check your home out first and then offer a reliable estimate on a new unit and installation.  

Knowledgeable

A contractor from a trusted heating and cooling company should be knowledgeable about the latest advancements in the HVAC industry. They should know the proper installation methods for each system before committing to a job. You should also hire an HVAC contractor near you that knows how to size new equipment for your home correctly. You may have a current system that isn’t the right size so the contractor should measure your home regardless of the size of unit you already have.  

Heating and cooling technology continues to change from year to year, and a reliable HVAC contractor near you won’t discourage you from buying a higher efficiency system. If a contractor deters you from buying a more efficient system, the technician may not be knowledgeable regarding how to install it. They also may not be able to give you information on how a higher efficient model operates or how much money you will save. An experienced contractor won’t hesitate to perform HVAC repairs on advanced heating and cooling equipment or install these systems.

Hire an HVAC contractor near you that is reliable, certified, and employed with a trusted heating and cooling company. Douglas Cooling & Heating hires only the best NATE-certified contractors. Call us today for new installations, HVAC repairs, and preventive maintenance.

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Winter’s in full swing, and you might have noticed some issues with your HVAC system malfunctioning or not working at all. Poorly maintained heating and cooling systems suffer tremendously when colder temperatures hit.

A product of severe weather is a frozen HVAC system in your home. More specifically, you could have frozen HVAC coils that need to be defrosted and cleaned off. Here are some preventive measures you can take to keep your HVAC system from freezing over.

Dirty Air Filter

A dirty air filter is the number one cause of a frozen HVAC system. The air filter is responsible for cleaning the air circulated into your home. It becomes clogged with dirt, pollen, debris, and other allergens over time. When the filter becomes clogged, airflow is restricted, causing frozen HVAC coils in your unit.

To prevent frozen HVAC coils, you should change your filter often. Typically, you should change your filter once every 3 to 6 months (depending on your filter) but how often is really needed depends on a variety of factors, such as:

• What type of filter do you have?
• Are children or pets in your home?
• Is your home in the city or country?
• What season is it?
• Is your system running often?

If you aren’t 100% sure when to change your filter, check it monthly to keep an eye on how dirty it gets. During regular HVAC maintenance, our professionals will inspect your filter and replace it before it leads to major problems, like a frozen HVAC system.

Airflow Inspection

Airflow issues can be a significant reason for why your heating and cooling system isn’t functioning correctly. Blocked vent returns and registers prevent adequate airflow, causing your system to work harder with no way to release the cooled or heated air. If your vents and registers are clear from any obstructions, your problem may be poor duct design during installation. The ductwork could also be incorrectly sized.  

If you have a frozen HVAC system due to inadequate airflow, call Douglas Cooling & Heating for HVAC maintenance. Our trained professionals will inspect your ductwork and offer solutions if the design is faulty. If there is a clog, we will clear out any obstructions blocking proper airflow to your home.

Dirty Evaporator Coil

The condensate lines drain excess moisture from your HVAC system during the hotter months. The water can become stuck in the line if there is a clog and then when colder temperatures set it, the excess water freezes. With frozen water in your lines, you could be left with frozen HVAC coils as well. Evaporator coils become clogged with dust, hair, grime, and other contaminants over the course of a season. Dirty coils can easily become frozen if there is moisture trapped inside all of the materials clogging it. Frozen coils restrict airflow and cause your system to malfunction or not work at all.

The best prevention for frozen HVAC coils is to have your coils cleaned by a professional. Douglas Cooling & Heating checks the evaporator coils and the rest of your unit’s lines during scheduled HVAC maintenance. You save money and can prevent a frozen HVAC system in the future when the problem is caught early.

The leading cause for a frozen HVAC system is restricted airflow in your unit. Keep your airflow clear with help from Douglas Cooling & Heating. Schedule HVAC maintenance before the cold sets in and freezes your unit up.  

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A household’s carbon footprint is becoming a growing concern among American homeowners. The electric and fuel-consuming appliances and systems in your home all have an environmental impact.

Central heating and cooling systems contribute to a home’s carbon footprint – as they operate, they consume fossil fuels and emit carbon into the atmosphere. New HVAC system technology reduces energy consumption to lessen your environmental impact. Douglas Cooling & Heating has excellent central heating and cooling options to shrink your carbon footprint.

Reducing Your HVAC Environmental Impact

Replace your old HVAC system with a more efficient model. New central heating and cooling options lower residential power and fuel consumption. Between 1990 and 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency recorded an increase in carbon emissions by 28% because of lighting, appliances, and central heating and cooling systems. Due to this increase, the HVAC industry has developed energy saving options for your home.

• • HVAC Zoning: Zoning allows you to control the temperature in specific rooms and cut your energy expense. Zoning systems utilize a control panel operating several different thermostats and dampers. The thermostats control the dampers in your ductwork to distribute hot or cold air to your rooms. The dampers stay closed unless a thermostat opens them, conserving energy by not heating and cooling all areas of the home.
  • High-Efficiency HVAC Systems: New technology allows furnaces and air conditioners to operate more efficiently in your home. High-efficient systems have ratings that show their energy efficiency. The seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating shows the unit’s cooling output versus the amount of electricity consumed. The heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) rating measures how efficient your heat pump operates. The ratio measures the heating or cooling generated by electricity consumed. The annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) measures the heating efficiency of furnaces. The higher these ratings are, the more efficient your system is.
  • Programmable and Smart Thermostats: Programmable and smart thermostats save you close to 10% on your annual energy bill. Higher energy savings mean less energy spent and lower carbon emissions. You can set the thermostat on a schedule to eliminate the need to run your HVAC system when you aren’t home or set the thermostat to a lower setting while you sleep. Smart thermostats go an extra step by learning your preferred settings for effortless comfort control and allowing you to control your home’s temperature with your phone or other Wifi connected device.
  • Geothermal Heat Pumps: Geothermal heat pumps use lines in the ground to harness natural energy to heat and cool your home. They are similar to forced-air systems, except they are more efficient as they use the Earth’s constant temperature as an energy source versus gas or electricity. The EPA has determined that geothermal heat pumps offer the best efficiency and produce the lowest carbon dioxide emissions compared to other HVAC systems.  

Reducing Your HVAC Environmental Impact Now

Installing a new, efficient central heating and cooling system can be expensive if it’s not in your budget. There are a few ways to improve your current system’s energy efficiency that are inexpensive:

• Install a MERV filter in your HVAC system with a rating between 8 and 12. The higher the MERV rating on the filter, the more efficient your filter is trapping pollutants and airborne particles. Clean filters allow your system to continue performing efficiently and reduces the chance of a breakdown.
• Adjust your thermostat settings to reduce energy usage. Raise or lower (depending on the season) your thermostat settings as much as you can without sacrificing comfort. Adjusting your thermostat setting this way allows your system to work less, saving energy.
• Schedule preventive maintenance with Douglas Cooling & Heating at least twice a year. We inspect your central heating and cooling system to make sure nothing is preventing your system from operating at its best. A clean and cared for HVAC system will reward you with energy savings throughout the year.

Reduce your HVAC environmental impact on the ozone and call Douglas Cooling & Heating! We offer the most efficient HVAC systems on the market, and our NATE-certified technicians have the knowledge and experience to reduce your energy usage.

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After a flood, there can be damage to multiple areas of your home and property. Wrecked siding, soaked drywall, and carpets coated in mud are just a few catastrophes that come with a flood. What isn’t always visible is the devastation that can happen to your HVAC system after a flood. An HVAC inspection is the best way to determine the amount of damage to your unit and if an HVAC repair is necessary.

Starting Your HVAC After a Flood

Things aren’t always what they seem when it comes to your heating and cooling system. After a flood, your outdoor and indoor unit may look completely normal. However, there could be serious problems and safety concerns that you can’t see visibly. Call an experienced professional from Douglas Cooling & Heating to perform an HVAC inspection before you start your heating and air unit. Below are a few HVAC areas that can be affected by a flood:

• Flooded Outdoor Equipment: The electronic wiring for heat pump systems and split air conditioners travel between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. They also contain condenser coils and piping for the refrigerant that runs from outside to inside.
• • • If the unit is running during a flood, the electrical components may be damaged. You may experience malfunctions from fuses, wiring, and circuits that have shorted due to contact with water. Hold off on doing anything if there are shorts in your outdoor unit. Call an expert HVAC technician to inspect your flooded HVAC system to prevent electrocution or complete breakdown of your unit.
    • Flood water damages the condenser coil. Dirt, grime, and other debris can cling to the coil and reduce its efficiency. An inefficient, dirty condenser coil leads to premature failure of your entire system. An HVAC inspection can determine how damaged your condenser coil is and if an HVAC repair is needed to boost efficiency.
    • The refrigerant lines of a split system can break after flooding because the indoor or outdoor unit may be moved. Both components will require significant HVAC repair to fix the line or, worst-case scenario, a full replacement.

• Flooded Indoor Equipment: A flooded HVAC system inside is extremely dangerous. The valves and controls on a natural gas furnace are vulnerable to water damage. The damage is hard to detect, especially when the outside of the unit is dry. Corrosion from water damage builds inside the valves, controls, and electrical components of the indoor system. Without an HVAC inspection, the damage will result in immediate problems with operation and reliability in the long run.
• Damaged Ductwork: Forced-air heating and cooling systems rely on proper airflow through ductwork. You should not salvage damaged ductwork. Flood water carries all sorts of bacteria and other contaminants that are a health risk to your family. A Douglas Cooling & Heating professional should inspect your ductwork and determine what contaminated ductwork should be replaced. During an HVAC repair on your ductwork, Douglas Cooling & Heating’ technicians will properly seal all your ductwork joints and improve insulation.  

HVAC Repair or Replacement

Your HVAC system can handle many of nature’s elements, but flooding isn’t one of them. Consider replacing your heating and air unit when too much damage is present. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating if you are in doubt about fixing your unit or replacing it. Our experienced and knowledgeable technicians can determine if your system is beyond repair after an HVAC inspection.

Don’t risk your safety or the performance of your heating and cooling system after a flood. Call Douglas Cooling & Heating for help with your flooded HVAC system. We will perform a thorough HVAC inspection and suggest the best options for HVAC repairs or a full replacement of your home’s unit.

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