Bradley Mechanical

The DIY Energy Audit: A Saturday Project With Long-Term Savings Potential

Brad Bradley — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:00:41 +0000

During a time when energy prices continue to skyrocket, it’s worthwhile to have an energy audit performed. This helps you determine where your home’s energy efficiency could improve to give you a better handle on energy savings. Here are four steps to completing your own do-it-yourself energy audit.

Locate air leaks on the interior

Feel around for drafts and leaks that could be making your home up to 30 percent less efficient. Seal leaks in any drafty areas you find. Common places for leaks include:

Electrical outlets
Window frames
Door jambs
Baseboards
Fireplace dampers
Attic hatches

Locate leaks on the exterior

Take a walk around the outside of your home, checking exterior corners and anywhere two building materials meet. Caulk any cracks or holes you find around piping, faucets and wiring as well.

Increase insulation

The most cost-effective location to improve insulation levels is in the attic. The entire floor should be evenly and completely covered with several inches of insulation. Make sure openings for wires, ductwork and other penetrations are sealed and insulated as well. Add insulation anywhere it is lacking. Then, add insulation to the back of the attic hatch and seal the edges so an airtight seal is accomplished between the attic and the living space when the hatch is closed.

Inspect heating and cooling equipment

The above steps of an energy audit help seal your home against the exterior, but you need to address your HVAC equipment as well to improve efficiency and ultimately drive costs down even further. Plan to have your equipment professionally inspected every year. Change the filter every month or two, especially when the equipment is in high use. Consider replacing aging equipment with newer, more efficient models that consume less energy to keep your home comfortable.

These steps make a do-it-yourself energy audit simple. Of course, you will get the most comprehensive information from a professionally-performed energy audit where high-tech equipment is used. To learn more about efficiently heating and cooling your home, please contact Bradley Mechanical in Richmond today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy audits and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Bradley Mechanical services Richmond, Chesterfield, Glenn Allen, Petersburg, Hopewell, Colonial Heights and surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Energy Efficiency image via Shutterstock

Sizing Your Replacement A/C: The ABC’s Of Manual J

Brad Bradley — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:44 +0000

If you have made the decision that this is the year you’re going to install a new air conditioner, you should be aware that having your system correctly sized is a must. You expect the best from your climate control upgrade, and to get the most out of it, you will need to have your home’s cooling needs calculated with Manual J. This tool was developed by experts in the HVAC industry to accurately determine the specific cooling needs of individual living spaces. The ways that proper sizing through Manual J can benefit you are as plain as ABC.

Air Quality

When your air conditioner is correctly sized, you will breathe easier as it effectively dehumidifies your house. A cooling system that is too large will not remove excess moisture from your home in the way that it should. Excess moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth in areas of your home that are not ventilated well, and it will reduce the quality of your air.

Budget

The cost of running a climate control system can be steep. These days, everybody wants to reduce their energy usage and lower their electric bills. When your air conditioner is sized to fit the specific needs of your home, it will run in a way that is efficient and economical.

Comfort

The most important function of your air conditioner is to keep you and your family comfortable through the summer. Having your home’s cooling needs calculated with Manual J will determine the specific and latent cooling loads of your house. These calculations will tell you how much heat and humidity your air conditioner will be required to remove from your living areas for maximum comfort.

Don’t underestimate the importance of having your new air conditioner correctly sized to your home’s specific requirements. Allowing the professionals to calculate your needs using Manual J will pay off.

For more expert advice on proper air conditioner sizing and other matters related to home comfort, contact us at Bradley Mechanical today! We have been serving Central Virginia since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about Manual J and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Tend To Your Heat Pump This Spring, While You’re Tidying The Yard

Brad Bradley — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:00:36 +0000

Spring is the time of year that we start spending more time outdoors here in central Virginia. We begin to take more notice of the lawn, flower beds, garden and other foliage. Spring is a great time of year to attend to your hard-working heat pump as well. Spending a few moments on upkeep will pay dividends in lower operating costs and a longer life for your home comfort system. Here are a few things you can do, after cutting power to the heat pump:

Use the concentrated spray handle on your garden hose to rinse off any hard water, sulfur or chlorine stains from the outer cabinet. These, along with rust, can build up on your heat pump’s metal skin during winter. Small areas of pooled liquid allowed to sit on the surface cause damage.
Direct automatic sprinklers away from the unit to help prevent water, chlorine or other chemical moisture from puddling on the unit.
Try using a metal-cleaning fluid and car wax on the casing to clean and give it some protection. The finish will look much better and last longer with care.
Wash fan blades and the coil inside the cabinet.
Cut back bushes, remove lawn cuttings and other foliage, clearing two feet around the unit to allow airflow and prevent the coil or fan blades from becoming clogged.
Avoid weather or rain-covers since their relatively tight fit can trap moisture, causing rust and deterioration.
Be careful when using weed trimmers and lawn mower. Avoid striking or damaging refrigerant piping or connecting wires.
Protect the unit from drifting snow and clear it away ASAP after storms.
Don’t use the heat pump as a table or stand for water hose or gardening equipment.
Don’t allow the kids to play near the unit. Remember it contains fan blades (moving parts) and electric wiring.
Remember to replace or clean your filter monthly, especially during seasons of heavy use.

Talk to the professionals at Bradley Mechanical if you have questions about using or cleaning your heat pump. Visit our website for details or just give us a call.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Preventative Maintenance image via Shutterstock

Freon Prices Are Going Up: Time To Retire That Aging A/C?

Brad Bradley — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:35 +0000

Announcement – it’s just become an excellent time for Richmond-area homeowners to purchase new, high-efficiency air conditioning systems. The reason is that most existing A/C systems in the country (about 80 percent) will need to be replaced in the next eight years to comply with new EPA clean-air regulations. Due to the Clean Air Act, the R22 Freon refrigerant which most existing A/Cs need in order to function will soon be phased out. In the meantime, homeowners will be paying as much as triple the previous price for the freon they need to maintain their existing cooling systems.

If your cooling equipment is 10 years old or more, then you’re certainly one of the 80 percent who use soon-to-be discontinued freon. If your A/C is 5-10 years old, you may be included in this unlucky group as well. Suppliers and importers of the crucial R22 Freon are already cutting production by 50 percent, so shortages will begin almost immediately. This may mean inconveniently long wait times to get needed R22 refrigerant and, of course, much higher prices.

If you must replace your cooling system in a just few years anyway, it may be wise to avoid paying the skyrocketing cost for R22 freon refrigerant altogether by upgrading your A/C now. Long term, you could save a significant amount of money because:

You’ll begin saving right away, not only on freon prices, but also on monthly utility bills. New systems are extremely efficient compared with existing central air conditioners due to ever-tighter industry standards for energy conservation.
System maintenance fees and repairs will cost less as well, since new systems requires less of those, especially in the first few years.
Beyond that, you’ll be upgrading your home comfort sooner as well, and you’ll enjoy maximum comfort several years earlier than if you wait years to upgrade.
Waiting to purchase a new system will mean paying higher prices for the A/C equipment itself.

Contact the experts at Bradley Mechanical with any questions about freon prices or upgrading your air conditioner. Visit our website for details or just give us a call.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about freon prices and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Solar Water Heating: Calculating How Much You’ll Save

Brad Bradley — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:12 +0000

If you’re weighing the costs and benefits of installing solar water heater, you may find that the long-term return on such an investment is well worth it. To help you get past the initial sticker shock, you need to do some calculations that help you see the true value of solar water heating as a sustainable and valuable addition to your home.

Not all savings were created equally, so the amount of money you can save may vary. However, according to the Energy Star, making this environmentally-friendly switch can potentially reduce your annual hot water costs by 50 percent. Depending on your lifestyle, where you live and the cost of fuels used for heating, you might even be able to save up to 80 percent compared to what you’re paying now.

When calculating your savings, consider the following:

How much hot water do you and/or family use on a daily basis? The savings can be greater for those that tend to use more.
Are sufficient solar resources are available? Living in Virginia, there are solar resources aplenty that can keep your solar water heating running consistently.
What type of fuel do you use for your back-up water heating system? According to Energy Star, an electric tank water heater back-up system can save you substantially more on your heating costs.

Now, it may take a few years to get a return on your investment, but there are many ongoing federal tax credits that help you reach that return more quickly. For more expert advice on solar water heating and the available cost savings, be sure to contact the professionals at Bradley Mechanical.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about solar water heating and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Customer Service image via Shutterstock

Why It Pays To Have A Zoning System, Whether You Want A Single Temperature Or Several

Brad Bradley — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:00:10 +0000

Keeping your home either warm in winter or cool in summer can be a challenge. This is especially the case if you live in a multistory home. You may often find that when you get the first floor just right, the second floor becomes too hot. Because heat naturally rises in your home, the warm air generated on the first floor will quickly seep to the second, while cool air generated on the second will quickly drop to the first. To confront this issue, many people are realizing the amazing benefits of switching their home to a zoning system.

How it works

A zoning system works by using zone thermostats placed in different parts of the house. These thermostats then instruct the HVAC system to direct air to those areas that need heating or cooling. The system automatically opens and closes dampers to make the sure the air does not go to areas that do not need it.

Uniform temperatures

Zoning allows the homeowner to ensure that temperatures throughout the house are uniform. This means that you do not have to turn the HVAC on full downstairs to either heat or cool the upstairs. This saves you the money. Zoning also adds to comfort, since having the ability to maintain a single temperature means that one part of the house does not have to be uncomfortably hot or cold.

Personalized temperatures

The other benefit of being able to use zones to independently control the temperatures in different parts of the house is that you will save money by allowing different family members to have the temperature they prefer. On the face of it, this might seem more costly, but since you avoid the constant up and down adjustments by the family, you actually save money with this approach.

Zoning systems have a many benefits for homeowners, and the cost of installing them is quickly repaid in savings. If you have any questions about zoning systems, please contact us at Bradley Mechanical.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about zoning systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

When Clean Air’s A Priority, Duct Cleaning Is A Necessity

Brad Bradley — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:00:03 +0000

If you have allergies, asthma or another chronic condition such as COPD, you know how vital it is to keep your home’s air as free from contaminants as possible. Duct cleaning should be included in any overall plan to improve air quality in a home. The ducts in a home serve as conduits for conditioned air that comes from your heating and cooling system. They’re also a place where minute particles of dust and other pollutants might accumulate. While the federal EPA doesn’t recommend regular duct cleaning, the agency does suggest it be done on an as-needed basis. This would be the case if certain conditions are in evidence such as mold growth on the ducts, insect or rodent infestation, or an accumulation of dust and debris that’s impeding air flow in your HVAC system.

All ducts eventually get some build-up of dust and other debris, and sometimes construction debris can get into the ducts as they’re being installed. Over time, the accumulation may partially impede air flow in the system. This affects the performance of your HVAC equipment. It may also lead to air-quality issues in your home. Cleaning accessible ducts is not a complicated process, though for a complete duct cleaning, which includes areas that you can’t access, it’s best to call a professional.

Remove the vents and wipe them with a clean, dry cloth.
Use a brush to pull the built-up dust out of the duct. Avoid pushing the debris deeper into the tunnel.
Inspect the duct for signs of mold buildup, such as a black or green growth
Vacuum the floor outside of the duct to remove any dust that has fallen out.

If you have allergies or a medical condition, wear a face mask when cleaning.

As mentioned, a comprehensive duct cleaning should be done by a professional. Ducts can run the length of your house, and debris will accumulate in the areas that a brush will not reach. You should get professional service if you see signs of mold or infestations such as mouse droppings.

Feel free to contact us with questions or concerns about your heating and cooling system. Bradley Mechanical serves Richmond and the surrounding Central Virginia area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about duct cleaning and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Duct image via Shutterstock

Foolproof Ways To Hold Down Your Water-Heating Costs

Brad Bradley — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:00:45 +0000

Saving hot water is an easy way to lower your energy bill. Water-heating costs come right after heating and cooling your home as the largest energy consumers in a typical household. You can reduce your costs by using less and by lowering the water temperature.

Using Less

Fix your hot water faucet leaks. Besides wasting energy to heat water, leaking faucets waste water and can sometimes leave behind hard-water deposits.
Change your shower heads to low-flow devices. If you don’t know how many gallons per minute your shower uses, place a bucket of water under the shower head and turn on the water to the strength of the stream you normally use. Count the seconds it takes to fill the bucket with one gallon. If it hits the gallon mark before 20 seconds are up, replace the shower head.
Check all your sink faucets for aerators. These slow the flow of water from them. If you need to purchase some, you’ll find them in most hardware and home improvement stores.
Wash only full loads in your dishwasher. Unlike a washer, most dishwashers use the same amount of hot water no matter how small the load is.
Use hot water for laundry sparingly. Most detergents can clean clothing using the cold water setting.

Lowering Water Temperature

Insulate your water heater tank to reduce water-heating costs. This is an inexpensive way to save on standby losses. Find the insulating blankets or jackets at home improvement stores or hardware stores. If you have a gas water heater, consult a technician before installing it or ask an expert to do the job for you.
Lower the temperature of the water heater’s thermostat to 120 degrees. Most homes don’t need water any hotter than that.
Refer to your owner’s manual to learn if your dishwasher has a heating element to boost the water temperature. If it doesn’t, replace the dishwasher with an Energy Star product when it starts to fail.

Bradley Mechanical has been serving Central Virginia for more than 30 years and can help you lower your water-heating costs through simple lifestyle changes and state-of-the art water heaters. Contact us if you’d like to learn more.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about water-heating costs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Did You Nurse Your Furnace Through The Heating Season? Why Now’s The Best Time To Buy

Brad Bradley — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:39 +0000

Replacing a furnace during the winter can be costly. This is when contractors are busiest. A business that must work overtime or hire extra technicians to install a unit during heating season will pass that cost on to you. Now that you have nursed your furnace through the final few weeks of winter and spring has arrived with a vengeance, you have the time to consider cost-saving options for a new system.

Shopping for a Furnace

During the spring, manufacturers often discount furnaces. This is similar to the reason that you can get deals on winter coats in the spring; the demand has passed, and manufacturers are already preparing for the next heating season. Since the cold weather is all but gone, you can take your time shopping for the right replacement unit. When considering your options, think ahead. The furnace you purchase now will be with you for many years. By buying off-season, you may be able to upgrade to a cost-efficient system. Consider how much savings you’ll get each heating season from your new furnace. Buying cheap is not always the best way to save money.

Renewable Solutions

The cost of fuel should be a consideration when you’re looking at replacement furnaces. Renewable heating systems use photovoltaic cells and even geothermal options for fuel. The initial cost may be more for a “green” furnace but the heating bill will be less and you likely will qualify for a federal tax credit.

Energy Efficiency Rating

Even you if go with a more traditional system, you still want to pick one with an Annual Fuel efficiency rating of 90 percent or higher. This indicates the furnace will use less fuel over the heating season and save you money. Purchasing an energy-efficient furnace will cost a little more upfront. Buying one during the warm weather months should bring that cost down.

Contact the professionals at Bradley Mechanical for help choosing a replacement furnace if you live in Central Virginia. Bradley Mechanical services Richmond, Chesterfield, Glenn Allen, Petersburg, Hopewell, Colonial Heights and the surrounding areas.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Heating Maintenance image via Shutterstock

Invest Your Tax Return In A Heat Pump, And You’ll Enjoy The Payoff For Years To Come

Brad Bradley — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:00:11 +0000

If you’re looking at replacing the HVAC system in your Richmond area home, a heat pump is an economical option to consider. Heat pumps offer much greater efficiency than furnaces for heating and rival air conditioners in energy efficiency. This will lead to long-term savings on your energy bill. If you have a substantial tax refund coming your way, this could be a wise long-term investment for your home.

The most common type of heat pumps – air-source models – work by transferring heat to and from the outdoor air. When the weather is warm, coils pull the heat from your home and release it into the outside atmosphere. When the weather is cool, heat in the air outside is transferred into your home. Other types of heat pumps, called ground-source or water-source, transfer the heat to and from the ground or a nearby water supply.

The main difference between a heat pump and a traditional furnace is that the latter uses fuel or electricity to generate heat, while heat pumps simply move the heat. While a heat pump loses its ability to efficiency extract warmth from the outdoor air when temperatures fall below freezing, most are equipped with backup heating that will kick on when necessary. In an area such as Central Virginia, where the winter temperatures often remain above freezing, a heat pump can operate efficiently nearly year-round.

When buying a heat pump, you should consider the efficiency ratings to ensure that you get the most cost-effective unit that will suit your needs. Heat pumps have different ratings for cooling and heating. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) measures efficiency when cooling, while the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) measures efficiency when heating. When combined, these two ratings give an accurate idea of the efficiency of a particular heat pump.

Look for a higher rating to achieve more savings. Energy Star certified units tend to have the highest level of efficiency, with up to an 8 percent increase in efficiency over a non-rated unit and as much as 20 percent over an older model.

For more expert advice on heat pumps and other HVAC issues in the Central Virginia area, contact Bradley Mechanical. We’re here to serve you.