One day you are trying to cool your home down. The next day you are trying to warm it up. Be sure to read A FABLE after the TIP.

TIP: With the recent heavy and wet snow storm that downed trees and limbs, it might be a good idea to take a look at your condenser or heat pump. Winds may have blown tree limbs or debris into the unit which could prevent the fan from operating properly. If this is what you find, turn the unit off and carefully remove the twigs, branches or debris that are easily accessible without taking things apart. Doing this will help preserve the operation of your unit.

A FABLE, by George Autry

It was one of those days when God was creating the Earth. He was working on Texas as darkness fell at the end of the day, and had to quit.

He gave the Great Plains of West Texas a smoothing stroke and said to Himself, “In the morning, I’ll come back and make it pretty like the rest of the world, with lakes and streams and mountains and trees.”

But next morning when He returned, it had hardened like concrete overnight. As He thought about having to tear it all out and make it over, He had a happy thought. “I know what I’ll do,” He said, “I’ll just make some people who like it this way.”

And that is how it came about that the people who live in the Panhandle like it this way.

Until Next Time,

Amarillo Air Lady

AmarilloAirLady@amaonline.com

806-376-4253

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A radiant system heats your floor in one of two ways:

• Hydronic: A network of plastic tubing embedded in the concrete slab circulates hot water. Heat from water inside the tubes warms the slab, which retains heat energy effectively and releases it slowly over time.
• Electric: Mats that integrate electrical resistance wiring—imagine very large heating pads—are attached to the underside of the subfloor. Heat is conducted upwards and radiated by ceramic tile or other heat-conductive flooring.

What Are the Advantages?

• Hot air from a forced-air furnace swiftly rises and accumulates at the ceiling. A radiant floor warms people where they are—closer to the floor, not up at the ceiling. This permits lower thermostat settings, with no compromise in comfort.
• Radiant heat doesn’t move air. There’s no blast of forced air entering the room to stir up dust, allergens and other particulates. Indoor air quality benefits and the system is totally silent.
• A radiant floor heats every square inch of the room from the floor up. Forced air heating warms whatever’s in the path of airflow from the supply vents. Cold spots result and certain parts of a room may always feel chilly.

Potential Caveats?

Installing a hydronic radiant floor is a labor-intensive process that may require substantial dismantling work. A hydronic system is a better candidate for installation in the course of a major remodel of the entire house, when other construction is underway. For less complex retrofits or when cost is a factor, electric mats are more economical.

Ask the heating experts at Amarillo Air Conditioning for more about the advantages of radiant flooring.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Amarillo, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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Locate Air Leaks

You can hire a professional energy auditor with the right equipment and expertise to find and fix air leaks in your home. Or, you can try to tackle the job yourself with a lit incense stick, caulk, weatherstripping and insulation.

Some of most notorious sites for leaking air are along baseboards, around windows and doors, through electric switches and openings in exterior walls, and at the juncture of ceilings and walls. Hold the lit incense stick in front of these places to see if the smoke wavers.

Since warm air rises, you may also be losing heat through recessed lighting into the attic and through the attic hatch cover.

Air leaks often originate from the exterior of the home, where two different building materials, such as as masonry and siding, meet. Also check openings for cables, pipes or wires and examine fireplace dampers for damage.

If your ductwork is accessible, check it for leaks or loose segments.

It’s difficult to test insulation, so you may need to hire a professional to perform a thermographic test and assess your insulation’s R-value.

Preventing Heat Loss

For doors, windows, baseboards, attic hatches and exterior openings around pipes, cables and wires, apply weatherstripping or caulking. Install foam gaskets under electric plates and flame-retardant canisters over recessed lights in the attic. Caulk any gaps between siding and masonry. Fix damaged ducts and insulate them, if possible.

For more on preventing heat loss, contact Amarillo Air Conditioning. We’ve served Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle for nearly 60 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Amarillo, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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High-Efficiency Components

Select furnaces reach exceptional efficiency ratings as indicated by their Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) number. The following components and systems play a vital role in high AFUE ratings and greater home comfort.

• Variable-speed blowers adjust airflow automatically to maintain optimal home comfort.
• Modulating gas valves also use variable-speed technology to precisely adjust heat output based on real time heat demand.
• Sealed combustion and venting eliminate the chance for furnace-induced backdrafting.
• Zoning systems direct heated airflow to the zone you specify or program using a network of thermostats and duct dampers.
• Whole-home air cleaners, such as HEPA filtration, protect furnace components from damage caused by dirt, debris and microorganisms.

Installation Considerations

Whether you choose a furnace with an 80 or 97 AFUE rating, the value of your HVAC investment is contingent upon a quality installation. One of the first steps your HVAC technician performs is a load calculation of your home. The load calculation is needed to size your new system correctly.

If you’re considering a higher-efficiency heating system, it may need a new venting installation that can accommodate acidic condensate produced by dual heat exchangers. Additionally, your ductwork should be evaluated for size and design. It may be necessary to modify or repair existing ducts or install new ducts.

Working With Your Contractor

The HVAC contractor with whom you choose to do business can make or break your heating system investment. Choose an experienced company that follows HVAC industry best practices for home efficiency upgrades, furnace sizing and installation. Moreover, your contractor should conduct a return on investment and lifetime cost analysis so you can easily compare the payback of standard and high-efficiency furnaces.

If you need assistance with a new furnace installation, please contact the experts at Amarillo Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Amarillo, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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Here are a few home maintenance tips you can use:

• Give your gutters a good cleaning – Clogged gutters can eventually lead to trapped water, ice dams and even damage to the actual gutter. Clear out all leaves, twigs and debris and make sure the gutter system is undamaged and intact.
• Check for signs of roof damage – Missing shingles and asphalt grit in your gutters can spell trouble for your roof. Carefully climb up top and give your roof a good once-over. In some cases, you may need to have your roof replaced by an experienced contractor.
• Find and fix those air leaks – Cracks between window frames, door frames, siding and trim can easily cause your home to lose precious heat, leading to higher energy costs. By sealing your home with weatherstripping and caulk, you can save a significant percentage on your home’s heating costs.
• Have your fireplace and/or chimney cleaned – Have a professional technician clear your chimney or fireplace of creosote deposits, soot and other dangerous obstructions. You’ll also want to check the firebox for any bricks and mortar that have gone missing over time.
• Prevent water leaks with proper drainage – To prevent basement leaks, make sure all downspouts and other water streams lead to areas sloped away from your home. A typical slope should have approximately six inches over 10 feet.
• Fix those faucet leaks – A leaky faucet can add up to a major headache, especially as a good freeze can easily damage plumbing. Leaky faucets can and should be replaced, but in the meantime, turn off those shutoff valves if you happen to see a leak.

For more maintenance tips, contact the professionals at Amarillo Air Conditioning, proudly serving the Texas Panhandle region.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Amarillo, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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Getting the Most from Your Thermostat

Change your thermostat’s batteries at least once a year. Weak batteries can cause malfunctions that prevent the device from maintaining your desired temperatures.

If you leave home for two or more days, use the “hold” or “vacation” setting to set a single, energy-saving temperature temporarily. With the “override” option, you can select different settings to get you through a brief cold snap. Avoid using this option regularly, though, because overuse will negate the benefits of setting energy-saving temperatures.

Efficiency and Comfort All Day

Every degree you set your thermostat below 68 degrees for 8 hours a day can lower your heating bills. While you’re at work or in bed are ideal times to set lower, energy-saving temperatures.

The typical programmable thermostat lets you choose four different time periods per day. On weekdays, your four time periods might look something like this:

• Morning – Select 68 degrees or another comfortable temperature for the time you get up and get ready for your day.
• Daytime – If you’re out of the house all day, save energy by reducing the temperature by 10 to 15 degrees for this period.
• Evening – Choose a temperature that will be comfortable for when you arrive home and enjoy your evening. If you get home around 6 p.m., you might choose 68 degrees for the period between 6 p.m. and bedtime.
• Overnight – Because you’ll be snuggled up warmly in bed during this time period, you can reduce your thermostat temperature to save energy with no loss of comfort.

If your thermostat lets you choose different temperature schedules on weekend days, you can save by selecting lower thermostat temperatures for the times when you’re out running errands or visiting friends.

For more tips on using your programmable thermostat for energy savings, get in touch with us at Amarillo Air Conditioning anywhere in the Amarillo area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Amarillo, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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Upgrade Your Air Filter

Air filters have MERV (Measuring Efficiency Reporting Value) ratings that correspond to their effectiveness in capturing particles. The ratings range from one to 16. Higher MERV ratings indicate increased ability at capturing small particles. To remove more allergy triggers, you should upgrade to a better filter with a rating of at least 11.

Seal Air Leaks

Air leaks cause indoor air quality problems and energy wastage. Leaks occur through cracks, holes, gaps, joints and penetrations for lighting, wiring, plumbing and ductwork. Air sealing your home effectively reduces air leaks and increases your home’s comfort. You can use caulk, weatherstripping or expanding foam to air seal your home.

Improve Ventilation

Cooking, cleaning and taking showers generates moisture. If not removed, excess moisture will spur the growth of mold, mildew and other allergens. You should keep humidity at healthy levels in areas that are prone to excessive moisture such as bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens. This can be achieved by installing exhaust fans in the moisture-prone rooms.

Pre-Season Maintenance

Contaminants can accumulate inside your HVAC system over time, and the system may then spread them to all areas of your home. Cracks in the heat exchanger of your gas furnace can release carbon monoxide into your indoor air. You can avoid these and other problems by scheduling HVAC maintenance in the spring and fall. During maintenance, a contractor will inspect your HVAC equipment, clean it and carry out the necessary repairs and replacements.

Improving indoor air quality should be your first line of defense against allergies. For more information, contact us at Amarillo Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving the Amarillo area for more than 50 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Amarillo, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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Why Be Concerned about Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly poisonous gas produced as a byproduct of combustion. When something burns, it will give off carbon monoxide. In the context of residential comfort, this is particularly applicable to the fuel used in your heating system, usually natural gas or propane. The most dangerous thing about carbon monoxide is that it cannot be detected by human senses. It is odorless, tasteless and colorless. An individual could be exposed to harmful, even fatal, amounts of carbon monoxide without even knowing the gas is present.

Carbon Monoxide Detector Maintenance

When you contact your local HVAC professional for fall preventive maintenance on your heating system, also take the time to check your carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly.

• Check batteries: You should put new batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors every fall, even if the batteries in them are still functional. A battery failure over the winter could put you and your family at unnecessary risk.
• Test detectors: Use the test button on the detectors to make sure they work properly. Testing is usually very simple: with a working battery in the system, press the test button on the outside of the detector case. The detector’s loud alarm should sound within a few seconds. Replace any detectors that fail the test.
• Add more, if needed: There should be at least one carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home. Ideally, there should be one on each end of each floor and one mounted above the door of each bedroom.

Amarillo Air Conditioning offers full-service HVAC sales, maintenance and repair for customers in Amarillo, the Texas Panhandle and neighboring communities. Contact us today for more information on carbon monoxide detectors and how to make the best and most efficient use of these vital safety devices.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Amarillo, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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• Seal air leaks: When warm air leaks out of your home, you’ve not only wasted conditioned air you’ve already paid for, you have to pay again to heat more air to make up for the loss. Check for leaks around the most likely locations, including around door and window frames, at areas where pipes or wires come through the wall and spots where the house frame contacts the foundation and attic floor. Most leaks can be sealed with caulk.
• Call for HVAC maintenance: Seasonal maintenance on your heating system will ensure it works properly and at its highest level of efficiency during the winter. Call your HVAC professional for a preventive maintenance appointment in the fall before he or she gets too busy with winter emergencies.
• Turn down the heat: Reducing the temperature settings at your thermostat to 68 degrees will save significant amounts of money and energy. Each degree you can lower the temperature will save an additional percentage of energy usage.
• Wear warmer clothes and use extra blankets: When at home, wear warmer clothes that will help make up for any reductions in heating. Put additional blankets on your bed to keep warm at night, especially if you use a programmable thermostat to substantially lower heating overnight.
• Use a programmable thermostat: Install a programmable thermostat to give yourself greater control over your heating system. For example, they can be programmed to reduce heating at night and then automatically increase heating in the morning to have the house warm when you and your family get up for the day.

Customers in Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle can count on Amarillo Air Conditioning for professional HVAC services, including maintenance and repair. Contact us today for more information on boosting energy efficiency in your home during the fall and winter months.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Amarillo, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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