Homes constructed today use proven building science and more efficient materials that deliver better efficiency and comfort than homes constructed a few decades ago. A major element in home efficiency is the insulation. Make sure the HVAC contractor you're working with has knowledge of the latest insulation methods, and be wary of the following insulation myths.

Insulation Doesn't Need to Be Replaced If It Gets Wet

This statement simply isn't true. Homeowners in South Texas are quite familiar with the problems that moisture and water can cause. If fiberglass or cellulose insulation gets wet, the insulation should be replaced. Though fiberglass is manufactured from non-organic materials, mold development will likely occur if it gets wet.

Insulation Is Needed to Stop Air Infiltration

A 1997 study by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center for the Energy Star program found no substantial link between air infiltration and the type of insulation used. Good sealing materials are needed to stop air leaks around windows, doors, electrical outlets, the attic door and wall penetrations.

Too Much Insulation Doesn't Let a Home Breathe

Insulation is designed to stop the movement of heat caused by conduction, not heat movement by air leaks. Air sealing affects a home's tightness and air movement. Additionally, mechanical ventilation is the better method for circulating fresh air through the home, rather than allowing a leaky home to breathe. Seal your home and make sure you get plenty of daily fresh air ventilation.

R-Value Doesn't Matter in our Warmer Region

R-value matters, and it matters a lot. Homes in South Texas should have adequate attic insulation to R-49 and wall insulation between R-13 and R-19. Under-insulating your home leads to heat gain and loss from hot attics and sun-struck walls.

If you're upgrading your home's energy efficiency or designing a new home, make sure you have the facts and can dispell insulation myths. To learn more, please contact CCAC today. We serve residents of Corpus Christi and South Texas.

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

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The post Get the Facts About These Common Home Insulation Myths appeared first on CCAC Blog for Home Comfort Solutions.

Air balancing is a delicate act. When a house is in balance, the volume of conditioned air entering and leaving rooms is approximately equal, creating neutral air pressure that’s most effective and efficient for cooling and heating. However, your home may gradually go out of balance over time as changes occur in your HVAC system and ductwork or the overall air-tightness of your home. The imbalance becomes noticeable as rooms closest to the indoor air handler are cooler or warmer while others far away are always uncomfortable.

Positive pressure occurs when air volume entering the room through supply ducts is more than the amount drawn out through return ducts. The pressure imbalance forces cooled or heated air out through structural cracks and gaps, wasting energy.

When the room balance tips toward the negative, depressurization sucks hot or cold outdoor air into the house and makes your A/C or furnace work harder. It may also pull unhealthy, contaminated air from the attic or crawl space into living spaces.

Getting in Balance

Air balancing by a qualified HVAC technician uses specialized equipment to measure room airflow, static pressure inside the ducts and blower output. Achieving proper air balance may be as simple as replacing dirty air filters and adjusting supply registers in certain rooms. However, fine-tuning balancing dampers is usually a more comprehensive solution. These small doors, typically situated in the branch ducts leading to each room, can be opened or closed to increase or decrease the volume of conditioned air conveyed into the room. As the technician moves from room to room, measuring airflow and adjusting dampers, the overall system is brought back into balance, step by step.

Staying in Balance

Additional factors that cause chronic air imbalance need to be addressed, too. Duct leakage may make air volume impossible to regulate with dampers and duct sealing may be required. Other contributing issues include a worn blower that no longer delivers proper air volume.

For more information on professional air balancing to restore comfort and efficiency to your home, in Corpus Christi contact CCAC, Inc.

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

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Are you concerned that efficiency issues are to blame for your high energy bills? A home energy audit can give you in-depth insight into the efficiency of all its systems and components and show you where to make improvements to reduce your annual energy costs by as much as 30 percent.

The Energy Audit Process

While the exact routine can vary depending on who you hire, a professional energy audit should follow a multi-step investigative process that includes:

• Information gathering: The auditor will ask questions about your daily energy use habits, your home's usual occupancy and whether you have specific concerns. He'll also review the past year's utility bills to calculate a base consumption figure.
• Performing thorough interior and exterior inspections: Every component of your home is evaluated visually. The auditor examines the lighting, attic condition and insulation, electrical system, HVAC system and its ductwork, fireplace, windows, doors and exterior envelope to identify issues that are having a negative impact on energy efficiency.
• Specialized testing on specific components and systems: To locate air leaks and drafts, the auditor will use a blower door that employs a high-powered fan to depressurize your home. To identify areas with inadequate or missing insulation, he'll perform a thermographic inspection using still and infrared cameras. Other specialized tools and tests are used to check the functionality of the furnace, water heater and all your other combustion appliances.
• Identifying safety concerns: The audit goes beyond checking for efficiency issues, it also looks at safety features like smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and helps you pinpoint possible health risks like fuel leaks, lead-based paint, electrical hazards, excessive moisture and air quality problems.
• Providing a detailed report: Once all the needed data is in hand, it's analyzed and complied into a comprehensive report. You'll not only learn the details of any problems the auditor identifies, you'll get advice on how to correct specific energy waste issues to help you save money and increase your comfort.

To schedule a home energy audit and learn ways to save, contact the Coastal Bend comfort experts at CCAC today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas 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.

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In Corpus Christi, we're always looking for ways to lower our summertime utility bills. Even with newer, more efficient air conditioners, electricity bills are usually higher than we'd like in the cooling months. One way to make homes more energy efficient without spending a lot of money is to prevent heat gain, also known as solar gain. Here are some ways that heat gain affects your home and how to deal with it.

Sources of Heat Gain

Heat gain in the home occurs through four basic means. Conduction is heat moving through a solid object, such as a wall or ceiling; this accounts for 19 percent of all heat gain. Infiltration, which averages 13 percent of total heat gain, is when warm outside air or moisture filters through holes or gaps, say, around a door or window, and cooler, drier air filters out. Radiation, generating 48 percent of solar gain, is direct or indirect sunlight through a window, skylight or glass door. People, appliances and lighting in the home's interior generate 14 percent of heat gain.

Controlling Heat Gain

Windows are the foremost source of heat gain. Control it with plastic window film, or close shades and blinds in the heat of the day. Plant trees and shrubs to cover windows that get the most sun.

Heat conducted through walls and ceilings can be controlled by installing insulation with the correct R-value for our climate and painting exterior walls a light color.

Prevent infiltration of warm, moist air as well as the escape of conditioned air by caulking around windows, and penetrations from the outside such as pipes, wires and electrical boxes. Apply weatherstripping around doors and insert foam gaskets in exterior wall switches.

Cut down on interior heat gain by avoiding heat- and moisture-generating activities such as cooking and running the dishwasher and clothes dryer during the hottest part of the day.

For more on how to prevent heat gain, contact CCAC. We're your Corpus Christi experts in air conditioning, heating, insulation and indoor air quality.

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

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The post Here’s How You Can Prevent Heat Gain in Your Home appeared first on CCAC Blog for Home Comfort Solutions.

During periods of extreme heat and humidity in the Coastal Bend region, the increased load on your air conditioner can cause the system's circuit breakers to trip. Normally, an A/C tripping the circuit breaker is only a minor inconvenience, but if it happens often, there could be serious problems with the system itself or the circuit that powers it.

Air Filter or Condenser Is Dirty

A dirty air filter can reduce airflow in the system, making it work harder and drawing more electricity than normal. The reduced airflow can also cause the evaporator coil to freeze, leading to other system problems. Check the air filter monthly and change it as necessary.

Condenser coils that are clogged with leaves, twigs and other debris can reduce the airflow over the coils, preventing them from properly shedding heat from inside your home. This makes it harder for the A/C to cool your home, leading to increased electrical loads. Keep the area around the condenser clean and remove any debris from the coils periodically, rinsing the coils with a garden hose afterward.

Electrical Problems

Loose electrical connections, improperly sized wires and other problems in the electrical system can allow the breakers to trip easily, or cause the breakers to over heat and fail. If you suspect wiring problems, have the system inspected by a qualified electrician.

Other System Problems

If the condenser and air filter are relatively clean, the cause of the A/C tripping the circuit breaker may be more serious and will require an inspection by an HVAC professional. Sometimes the problem may be caused by a faulty start capacitor or system fan, which can be repaired quickly and easily. Other problems, such as refrigerant leaks, a damaged compressor or electrical shorts in system components may require extensive repairs. By calling in an HVAC professional immediately, you may reduce the chances of further system damage and higher repair costs.

To learn more about the causes of an A/C tripping the circuit breaker, contact our HVAC technicians at CCAC, Inc. We serve Corpus Christi and the rest of the Coastal Bend region.

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

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The post What’s Causing My A/C to Trip the Circuit Breaker? appeared first on CCAC Blog for Home Comfort Solutions.

The air ducts are the respiratory system of the home, conveying cooled and heated air to all the living spaces. The ducts typically don't get the attention the A/C or heat pump receive, but good duct design is essential for high indoor air quality inside your Corpus Christi home. 

Contaminants Lurking Behind the Scenes

Ducts don't typically have motorized or moving parts, but they do undergo substantial wear through the years by airflow static pressure. Sealing materials eventually fail and ducts develop leaks or separate at the seams. When leaks develop or ducts become damaged, air is sucked inside and circulated through the home. Since ducts are generally located in the attic, crawl space, walls or garage, the air sucked into the ducts and distributed into living spaces can be very unhealthy.

Backdrafting

Backdrafting is a dangerous situation where exhaust combustion gases are sucked back into the home due to air pressure changes. Leaky ducts can contribute to changes in air pressure. Leaks become a threat if they're located near combustion appliances, such as a gas furnace, clothes dryer and water heater.

Air Infiltration

Poor duct design, such as incorrectly sized ducts and inadequate return ducts, may cause unbalanced airflow and air pressure changes in your living spaces.

Unbalanced airflow creates positive and negative pressure on the supply side and return side ducts, respectively. When negative pressure occurs in the home, outside air is pulled through holes and cracks in the envelope. This exposes you and your family to contaminants that are lingering or growing inside walls, crawl spaces, the attached garage and the attic.

Humidity and Mold

Moisture from damp crawl spaces or overly humid attics is sucked into the ducts through leaks, contributing to higher indoor humidity. Excessive indoor humidity can lead to mold problems, health ailments, comfort issues and higher cooling bills.

Make sure your ducts are inspected this season and add duct inspection to your annual spring cleaning routine. To learn more about ducts and indoor air quality or to schedule HVAC services, please contact CCAC today.

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

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The post How Problematic Ducts and Poor Indoor Air Quality Go Hand in Hand appeared first on CCAC Blog for Home Comfort Solutions.

If you're shopping for a new central A/C for your Coastal Bend home, it's important to make sure you shop smart, making sure your new air conditioner has features that will save on energy bills, enhance comfort in your home and adequately remove moisture from the air. Any effective cooling system should both cool and dehumidify. Here are the most important features to look for in a central A/C.

Proper Size for Your Home

This is probably the most important factor since it has such a great effect on other factors. The problem with an undersized A/C is obvious; it doesn't have enough capacity to cool your home, especially during the continuous heat and humidity of the Texas Gulf Coast. However, an oversized A/C also is problematic. It quickly cools your home and then shuts off and continues to short cycle. This results in wasted energy, stress on A/C components, uneven cooling and inadequate air filtration and dehumidification.

Energy Efficient

There's a wide range of cooling efficiency levels in modern air conditioners, ranging from a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of 14 all the way into the mid-20s. The higher the number, the more cooling you'll get for less electricity. You'll pay more for high efficiency air conditioning, but you'll reap monthly dividends throughout the life of the system.

Dehumidification

Different air conditioners have different capabilities when it comes to moisture removal. Make sure you select one that effectively dehumidifies your home. This, to some extent, is related to proper sizing, as mentioned above but also efficiency.  Some high efficiency match-ups get a high SEER rating but get it because they remove less moisture from the air.  Don't assume all 16 SEER systems are the same when it comes to moisture removal.

Advanced Features

The most important modern features in central A/Cs are multi-stage or modulating compressors and variable-speed air handler motors. These features allow the A/C to adjust refrigerant flow and fan speed, respectively, to meet temperature needs in the home. They don't just run full blast during operation, as is the case with standard cooling systems.  But these systems need to be installed correctly and the ductwork is much more critical to making sure the system will operate properly.

To discuss the features to look for in a central A/C, contact us at CCAC. We proudly provide quality service to the Coastal Bend area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about central A/C and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Regular maintenance for the air conditioner in your Coastal Bend home extends its life span, prevents problems in the future and keeps it running efficiently. At least once a year, you should schedule an A/C maintenance appointment with your HVAC contractor, which should start with a general inspection of the system.

Inspection

During the inspection, your HVAC technician should check for loose or corroded electrical connections, evidence of refrigerant leaks, malfunctioning safety systems, clogged condensate drains and airflow problems. If necessary, the refrigerant levels should be checked and the air filter changed. Air ducts should be checked for obstructions, and both the return and supply airflow should be measured to make sure it's within the recommended tolerances. And the thermostat should be tested for proper operation.

Cleaning the Coils

Both the evaporator and condenser coils should be cleaned of all debris, such as household dust, pet hair, dirt, leaves or twigs, which could inhibit airflow over the coils and lead to poor performance and other system problems. A two-foot area around the outdoor condenser should also be cleared of debris, and the system fan should be cleaned and inspected for damage.

Cleaning the Blower Fan

All dust should be removed from the blower fan, motor, pulleys and surrounding cabinet. The motor bearings and pulleys should be lubricated, if possible, and the belt should be inspected and replaced if it's worn or damaged. If the belt is loose or misaligned, it should be adjusted. Finally, the seal between the air handler and the duct system should be checked for leaks.

Final Tests

After the routine A/C maintenance is complete, the system should be turned on for a while to check the airflow, cooling performance and to make sure that all parts of the system are functioning properly.

To learn more about proper A/C maintenance, or to schedule an appointment, contact our HVAC professionals at CCAC. We serve Corpus Christi and the entire Coastal Bend region.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/C maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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The post Learn What an HVAC Pro Should Check When Performing A/C Maintenance appeared first on CCAC Blog for Home Comfort Solutions.

Ductless A/C systems offer homeowners a practical approach to home cooling. Ductless units are often the cooling choice for retrofits, new additions and homes that don't have ductwork. To ensure your ductless system delivers peak cooling performance, work closely with your HVAC professional to install the indoor and outdoor parts in the ideal places.

Locations for the Outdoor Unit

The outdoor units of split ductless A/C systems contain the same basic components as their central central A/C system cousins. Though, ductless units and components are much smaller, which is a leading determinate for going ductless. In fact, the outdoor unit is small and light enough to be mounted to your home's exterior wall, which saves you the time and expense of pouring a concrete pad.

Also, consider the sun when deciding upon the best place to install the outdoor unit. It's better to shade the unit by installing it on the north side of the home, or with plants or an awning.

Since the conduit connecting the outdoor and indoor units may extend several dozen feet, you have many location options. Though, keep in mind that the closer the outdoor and indoor units are located to each other, the greater energy efficiency your ductless system provides.

Locations for the Indoor Unit

Unlike conventional A/C systems, ductless air handlers are contained within a small cabinet that may be mounted to a wall, the ceiling or the floor. Consider the following elements of efficiency, maintenance and comfort when deciding upon the ideal spot for the indoor unit:

• Clearance: Wall-mounted air handlers should be about six to seven feet above the floor.
• Airflow: Whether you choose a wall, ceiling cassette or floor installation, the unit should be centrally located in the zone to allow optimal airflow.
• Maintenance: Wall- and floor-mounted installations generally offer the easiest access for filter maintenance.

To learn more about the best places to install a ductless A/C in your Coastal Bend home, please contact us at CCAC today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ductless A/Cs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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If your air conditioner's evaporator coils are frozen, it won't be able to keep your home cool. Freezing occurs when the refrigerant falls below 32 degrees. You can find out if your air conditioner is frozen by checking to see if the air coming out of the registers is warm. If it is, then it's possible that you have a frozen evaporator coil.

Here are some of the factors that can cause evaporator coils to freeze along with tips for dealing with the problem.

• Dirty air filters: A dirty air filter reduces airflow, which can cause a frozen coil. One of the first things you should do if your A/C's evaporator coil is frozen is to check the air filter. If it's dirty, remove it and replace it with a new one. Prevent freezing by replacing the air filter at least once a month.
• Refrigerant leak: Leaks are the most common refrigerant problems. If you have a refrigerant leak, you'll need to call an HVAC technician to recharge the refrigerant, as well as find and repair the leak. Note that this job requires specialized tools and experience; you should not attempt it yourself.
• Pressure drop in the evaporator coil: A pressure drop will cause the temperature of the coils to fall below freezing, resulting in ice buildup as the condensation on the coils freezes. The frost on the coil will restrict airflow and speed up the freezing process. Eventually you'll have a block of ice that will compromise the airflow in your air conditioner. This is another instance where you'll have to call in an HVAC technician to diagnose and repair the issue.

As a homeowner, you can perform basic inspections and maintenance yourself, but you should call in the professionals if there are leaks or parts that need to be replaced. If you have a frozen evaporator coil, contact the pros at CCAC. We provide quality HVAC services to Coastal Bend residents.

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

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