Posted by Daniel Sinclair on Wed, Jun 16, 2010 @ 06:30 PM
If you live in Lubbock you know how hot it has been lately and I thought it would be appropriate to give you some tips to help stay cool.
1. Set the Fan setting on your thermostat to "On"
This is one of the easiest money saving tips that you can do. Many people do not realize that leaving your blower on will help your compressor not run as much. In the Fan "Auto" mode your fan shuts off when the thermostat reaches its set-point. When the ambient temperature is over 90 degrees the inside temperature will come up faster with the fan off. So, I recommend leaving the fan set to "On" during the summer months. FYI: It costs about the same to run a blower motor as it does to run a ceiling fan.
2. Make sure ceiling fans are turning "clockwise"
This is another easy tip that will not cost you very much to do. During the winter months I always recommend to turn your ceiling fan setting to "counter-clockwise": this helps to circulate all of the hot air off of the ceiling. The opposite is true for the summer months. If you follow tip #1 and run your ceiling fan(s) you are going to be circulating a lot of air in your home! This is good because it feels cooler to the skin and at the same time your air conditioning compressor is not running as much either.
3. Close your blinds or shutters
For me, this tip will be hard to follow because I like to let the sun light up my home rather than the artificial lights during the day. This is also a way to let the heat into your home. Believe it or not, closing the blinds or shutters on your windows can cool your house down about 5 degrees!
4. Hydrate yourself and your children
This is the most important tip! Staying hydrated when it is 90 degrees and above is very important. Please drink plenty of water and try to stay out of the sun for extended periods of time.
I know that most of these tips seem obvious but I thought it was appropriate with the extreme heat that we have been having. I hope that these air conditioning tips have helped and if you have any more that you would like to add or if I forgot some, please send me a comment.
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Posted by Daniel Sinclair on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 @ 06:30 PM
Having air conditioning repairs done to your system can be expensive. Most people do not think about the air conditioning system until they have a problem. If your system needs repairs I wanted to give you some symptoms to look for. I know that some of these tips seem obvious but our office gets a lot of calls that have these problems listed on the service tickets. My main goal with this article is to help you know what to look for when a problem occurs. Also, the sooner you recognize the problem, the sooner we can get a technician over to your home to repair it.
One of the major indicators that your air conditioning system might need to be repaired would obviously be that it is not cooling. But what you might not know are the small indicators that will let you know this. One sign that many people fail to notice is the thermostat. If your thermostat is not cooling down to the temperature you have set it at, turning the set point down is not going to fix this problem. Another symptom to look for would be the unit not turning on.
Another indicator that your system needs to be repaired would be loud noises. The compressor is the heart of an air conditioning system and when they do not have oil flowing through them it does not sound good. Metal is banging against metal! So when and if you hear the outside unit making a loud noise, you might want to schedule a repair with Sinclair.
The last symptom that a lot of people notice but do not understand is ice. We get a lot of calls like this. The customer notices ice on the unit and wants us to come out "Now" and fix it. The only problem with this is we will not be able to do any repairs until the ice is completely thawed. The best thing that a customer can do is turn the system setting to "Off." This will help ice on the unit thaw because the compressor is not running. Another important tip to remember is this is not a quick process, depending on how much ice is on the unit and the ambient temperature, it can take up to 4 hours on average.
The easiest way to avoid problems is to have a technician come out twice a year and look the system over to make sure it is in proper working order. If you follow these tips and check out our Comfort Customer Agreement you will be prepared when your air conditioning system breaks down. Did I miss anything?
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Posted by Daniel Sinclair on Wed, Apr 28, 2010 @ 10:00 AM
First we have to answer: What is a Heat pump?
For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house; during the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide up to 4 times the amount of energy they consume.
The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months. However, the efficiency of most air-source heat pumps as a heat source drops dramatically at low temperatures, generally making them unsuitable for cold climates, although there are systems that can overcome that problem.
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The short answer to the question above is "No". In cooling and heating mode the compressor is running most of the time. If you do the math with the cost of your gas bill and add it into your energy bill (for the winter months), it comes out about the same during the summer months. So you really didn't save any money.
The only way you can really save money with a heat pump system is to look into the new inverter compressor technology with Daikin or Mitsubishi. With this new technology you will save money on your energy bills and stay warm. The reason is simple: with an inverter compressor, the compressor stays running at a low constant amperage (even on start-up). With a conventional compressor, when it starts to run the amperage spikes and then goes down to a low amperage. When your compressor spikes, so does your energy meter!
In some instances, a heat pump system can save the owner money through lower energy costs, but conventional heat pumps are not the most efficient way to save money in Lubbock. With the new inverter compressor technology you will be able to save money and have great efficiency along with it. Ask me about how a new Mitsubishi or Daikin system can help you save money.
What is your opinion?
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Posted by Daniel Sinclair on Wed, Apr 07, 2010 @ 06:00 PM
Would you like to receive $20 off of your next service repair? You can by filling out the short form on the Coupon page! After the form is filled out and you have selected "Get Coupon", you will be redirected to a .pdf file that has the coupon on it. Print out the coupon and present it to the service technician on your next service repair. You can only use this one time for plumbing or an air conditioning repair, so make sure you use it wisely because this offer ends May 28, 2010. Read coupon for more details.
This discount is similar to what our Comfort Customers receive every time a repair is needed. I wrote about this in a recent article but again I would not be doing my job if I did not warn you before it gets too hot! Having a technician check your A/C system before it gets too hot can save you a lot of money. For example: If your air conditioner is running low on refrigerant, your compressor can lock-up. "What does that mean?" It means you could be getting a price for a new system or condensing unit and coil! You can prevent this by having your system looked at before the outside unit comes on. Our technician will see this problem and be able to fix it on-site. Plus, you get a discount on the repairs that were done to the system. This is just one example of the benefits of having a Comfort Customer Agreement. If you want more details on our Comfort Customer Agreements, please fill out a short form so you can be contacted.
Posted by Daniel Sinclair on Wed, Mar 24, 2010 @ 06:00 PM
I am sure that you have heard me write about this particular subject before but it is my job to look out for our customers. Before it gets too hot I want to remind you to get your air conditioning system checked out by our technicians. This will be an investment that can pay off in the long run and give you peace of mind when it gets over 100 degrees. If you have lived in Lubbock as long as I have, you know that reaching the 100 degree mark is a very real possibility.
"Why do you bring this up every year?"
When the temperature goes up and it will in West Texas, I want you to be comfortable. Our Comfort Customers can testify that they do not have to worry because they already know that their system is ready to go. 90 percent of our "No AC" calls during the summer months are customers that have not had their system checked and something has gone wrong that could have been prevented.
"What does the technician do?"
When I ran service full-time I did many service and checks. You would not believe the problems that can be prevented just by opening the unit. I am looking for pitted contactors, proper amp draw on the compressor, clean air filters, and many other things. The average check takes about an hour and can save you lots of money by having your system checked twice a year.
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Do you think having your system checked twice a year is important? If no, why not?
Posted by Daniel Sinclair on Wed, Mar 17, 2010 @ 06:00 PM
Do you have a room that is always too hot or cold? A Mr. Slim unit may be the perfect way to make rooms in your home or workplace as comfortable as possible. These pictures are from a recent install that was done by Sinclair. What to see more pictures from this install? Go to our Facebook page.
What does split-ductless mean?
Mr. Slim systems have 3 major components: an indoor unit, outdoor unit, and remote controller (No duct work). An installation is as simple as mounting the indoor and outdoor units, connecting refrigeration lines, and making a few electrical connections. That's it!
Why should I buy a Mr. Slim system?
Mitsubishi Electric is the industry leader in split-ductless air conditioning technology. They are also some of the quietest units in the industry, easy to use, and reliable. These units are the most effiecient units on the market today.
Where can I put the unit?
This unit is capable of mounting on a plaster wall, sheet rock wall(with studs), and brick facade, so there is no need to compromise the integrity of the home or office. If you have an older home and you have hot or cold spots, this system might be for you!
Federal Tax Credit and Manufacturer's Comfort Rebate:
For Mitsubishi Electric HVAC split heat-pump systems, this means 30 percent of the cost of heat pump installation including equipment, materials and labor. The tax credit was effective February 17, 2009 after President Obama signed the new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the Stimulus Bill).
To Qualify:
HVAC systems must be installed after February 17, 2009 through the end of 2010.
Split-system heat pumps chosen for installation must achieve the highest CEE Tier
Level of energy efficiency; specifications shown in the table below.
CEE Level: Tier 2
SEER: 15 or higher
EER: 12.5 or higher
HSPF: 8.5 or higher
Want more information? Fill out a short form to schedule an estimate or send me a question by commenting.
Posted by Daniel Sinclair on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 @ 06:15 PM
Sinclair Heating Cooling & Plumbing is excited to announce that we have a LonMark Certified Professional on staff (Me)! What that means to you is that I can help you save money. I can do this by controlling what your building HVAC system demands are along with other things like lighting. Having an intelligent control system based on LonMark certified devices is key in obtaining money saving strategies. Ask me how?
"What is LonMark?" LonMark is the company that has developed the international standards to make sure that devices will work together in an integrated control environment. Basically, if you already have a control system in your business or building that runs on BACnet, Modbus, LonMark, etc... LonMark has made it possible to tie-in to those applications. Or, I can help create a LonMark network from scratch for you and your building.
Facts straight from LonMark International:
-Having an intelligent control system following a LonMark specification has been shown to save upwards of 30% annually in energy costs over a non-integrated, non-intelligent control system. Wow!
-With continuous commissioning and implementation strategies, this number (30% savings) increases even more!
-LonMark systems allow for future expansion and adaptation without changing architectures, without being locked into a single provider, and allow for fair competitive bidding on the initial install and future projects.
This is a new venture for Sinclair HVAC & Plumbing and I am excited about these new opportunities. Would you like to save money with your commercial buildings high energy bills? Have questions? Need more information? Please send me a comment below.
Posted by Daniel Sinclair on Fri, Feb 05, 2010 @ 02:30 PM
When I ran service calls on a daily basis, I was asked a lot about programmable thermostats. The customer would ask me, "Do they really save money?" The answer to that question is, Yes!!! If you have ever left your house in a hurry and forgot to turn the light off, you probably forgot to adjust your thermostat. For example: If it is 100 degrees outside and you leave your thermostat set on 74 degrees, your air conditioning unit is going to run most of the day. You are spending money to cool your home at 74 degrees with no one there! With a programmable thermostat you can set it to 78 degrees when you leave for work and not have to worry about it running as much during the day (With no one at home). The key to saving money with your programmable thermostat is to stick to the schedule that you set. What I mean by that, is to create a schedule when you first get your thermostat and don't touch it for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks is up, you should be able to notice changes that you could make to the schedule, so that it fits your demands. A programmable thermostat is a big change from the old mercury turn-dial thermostats but let us help you and I promise it will save you money in the long run.
This is a great example and overview about a programmable thermostat from Energy Star:
Did you know that properly using a programmable thermostat in your home is one of the easiest ways you can save energy, money, and help fight global warming? A programmable thermostat helps make it easy for you to save by offering four pre-programmed settings to regulate your home's temperature in both summer and winter - when you are asleep or away.
- The pre-programmed settings that come with programmable thermostats are intended to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort. Depending on your family's schedule, you can see significant savings by sticking with those settings or adjust them as appropriate for your family.
- The key is to establish a program that automatically reduces heating and cooling in your home when you don't need as much. Use the programmable thermostat calculator to see what you can save with set-back temperatures that work for your family. The pre-programmed settings for a programmable thermostat are:
Programmable Thermostat Setpoint Times & Temperatures| Setting | Time | Setpoint Temperature (Heat) | Setpoint Temperature (Cool) |
|---|
| Wake | 6:00 a.m. | ≤ 70° F | ≥ 78° F |
|---|
| Day | 8:00 a.m. | Setback at least 8° F | Setup at least 7° F |
|---|
| Evening | 6:00 p.m. | ≤ 70° F | ≥ 78° F |
|---|
| Sleep | 10:00 p.m. | Setback at least 8° F | Setup at least 4° F |
|---|
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Posted by Daniel Sinclair on Wed, Jan 20, 2010 @ 05:30 PM
Why is it so important to keep my air filter(s) clean?
This is a common problem that most people do not know how to deal with and I am asked about frequently. Clean air filters are one of the most important and cost effective ways to keep your HVAC system working properly. Keeping the air filter(s) clean in you home has many benefits such as:
Clean indoor coil
Cleaner air to breathe
Less dust in the house (Great if you live in Lubbock!)
Heating and Cooling system works more efficiently
If you are diligent about changing the filter in your HVAC system then you will likely extend the life of your system.
What kind of filter should I buy?
There are several different types of filters that you can buy for your home: regular card-board media filters, pleated filters, and air purifying filters. The quality of an HVAC filter starts at the card-board media filter with the air purifying filter being the best. The cost for the different types of filters changes dramatically if you go from a media throw-away to a Bryant Perfect Air Purifier. (FYI: The Bryant PAP filter only has to be changed about once a year). The choice is up to you because it depends on how much money you want to spend. A good question to ask is, "how clean do I want the air I am breathing?"
How do I change my filter?
This depends on were your filter(s) are located. If your filter is not located at the furnace or air handler, then you may have filter grills. A filter grill would be located throughout your home on the ceiling or on the lower part of a wall. They work the same way as a filter located in your furnace, but the filter is inside of a filter grill instead of inside the unit. If you have a filter grill then you might need a ladder and a small screw driver. All you have to do is unlatch the two tabs that are holding the grill in place. TIP: Leave your HVAC fan running so the filter(s) don't fall out. Slowly lower the grill and remove the old filter. Add the new one and you are through. The video below goes into more detail...
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Posted by Daniel Sinclair on Thu, Dec 24, 2009 @ 04:34 PM
Merry Christmas! From all of us at Sinclair Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing, we want to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas. With all of the bad weather in Lubbock, we would like to encourage you to be careful out on the roads.
If you are kicking yourself because you didn't get your furnace or heating unit checked before it got too cold, it's not too late! Sinclair is still offering you a chance to have it serviced, and for a limited time we are offering our twice a year maintenance contract at a special price! So don't delay and sign up for our maintence contract or schedule a call today.
By the way, our website has a new page! Click on the News link on the menu bar and that will send you to a new area for the website. This page is still new but has several articles that will help you with trouble shooting problems for residential thermostats as well as information about tankless water heaters. Feel free to comment about these articles or rate them as good or bad. If you have some good ideas for articles or want to know more about plumbing, furnaces, Bryant's Perfect Air Purifier, etc..., please let us know and we will post helpful articles to help keep you informed about the latest in HVAC and Plumbing industry.
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