Home zoning systems present numerous benefits. Being able to set different temperatures in different parts of your home is one of the biggest benefits.

Just as the name implies, a zoning system separates your home into different areas. A thermostat is installed in each area — or zone — so that conditioned air is delivered at just the right temperature.

This means that an elderly parent who may be living with you can have a bedroom with a temperature set at 76 degrees, while the family room and kitchen can have a temperature set at 68 degrees. Another example: In the winter, you can set the temperature in your hard-to-heat basement rec room much lower than the rest of the house, and in the summer, you can set it much higher, because that area is naturally cool. Rooms that get a lot of sunshine — and therefore thermal heat — can be set at a lower temperature both in the summer and in the winter. Likewise, you can turn down the thermostat in rooms you don’t use very much.

You get the idea: A zoning system offers you cooling and heating options that maybe you’ve never considered. At the same time, it offers you considerable savings potential, as your system is delivering exactly what you require and no more.

With its multiple thermostats, a zoning system is a natural fit for a home that can be divided into regions rather easily, such as:

• One with a basement, ground floor and second floor — and maybe even a finished attic
• A home with a large hard-to-heat room addition
• A home with lots of windows, such as a sunroom or enclosed porch

Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning has installed countless zoning systems for North Carolina homeowners, and we can do the same for you. Call us today and start reaping the benefits tomorrow.

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.

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• Prevent breakdowns
• Prolong the life of your equipment
• Keep your HVAC system running efficiently so that it uses less energy and costs you less to operate
• Ensure that your system’s warranty remains in force

When you have an HVAC maintenance agreement with Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning, one of our expert technicians will thoroughly inspect your system in the spring and in the fall. Specifically, we will:

• Check the controls of your HVAC system to ensure that they work properly
• Check the thermostat for proper calibration
• Tighten the electrical connections
• Lubricate all moving parts
• Clean dirt and grime from the system — one of the most common causes of HVAC- system problems
• Check the air filter and replace it, if necessary

The technician will inspect your air conditioning unit and:

• Clean the evaporator and condenser coil
• Check the refrigerant and recharge it if necessary
• Clean and adjust the blower components

The technician will inspect your furnace and:

• Set the service burners for proper ignition and combustion
• Test the condition and tension of the fan belt
• Check the chimney and flue
• Conduct a carbon monoxide safety test and check your CO detectors

Of course, a close-up inspection may reveal that additional work needs to be done. And that’s to be expected, especially because today’s HVAC systems are more complicated than they once were. But rest assured: a well cared-for system works better and lasts longer. Call Comfort Services today, and any repairs you need will probably be done in 24 hours. The best part? We back all minor repairs with a five-year warranty. That’s one warranty that’s like money in the bank. Serving the Raleigh area, we’re always happy to help.

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

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Why check your filter so often?

• When your filter’s so clogged that it can no longer trap pollutants, the dirt gets into your system and forces your air conditioner to work harder than it should. This spikes your electric bills. Conversely, making sure your filter’s clean can lower your energy consumption by 10 to 15 percent.
• When the filter’s clogged, the air in your home is dirtier than it should be. The contaminants exacerbate any breathing problems that your family members may have.
• Your air conditioner does another important job. It helps to remove humidity from your indoor air. When your A/C’s running inefficiently, it’s not removing sufficient moisture from the air.
• Most important, if your filter’s dirty, the evaporator coil in your air conditioner can become compromised, freeze up and stop working. Now you have an expensive repair on your hands.

As soon as you see that your filter’s clogged, change it. And when you’re at the store, take another look at your options. You might have been using a filter in the lower MERV range. These filters are inexpensive, and maybe you thought they served the purpose. But instead, consider buying a mid-range MERV filter. These filters, although a bit more expensive, are better for your HVAC system, and for your family’s health and comfort.

For more information about routine filter checks and other heating and cooling issues, contact Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning. We employ NATE-certified technicians and are recipients of the Angie’s List Super Service Award. Serving the Raleigh area, we’re happy to help you with all of your home-comfort needs.

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

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Plan for HVAC maintenance with an agreement that ties you to twice-a-year inspection of your HVAC system and its major components. These are the times when minor problems come to light, sparing you the trauma and expense of bigger, costlier problems later on.

Just as two fresh quarts of oil keep your car running smoothly, a maintenance agreement keeps all components of your HVAC system in top condition, and this is precisely why such agreements are also known as Energy Savings Agreements — an efficient HVAC system is absolutely an energy saver.

An HVAC maintenance agreement with Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. means that you will see one of our expert technicians twice a year, ideally in the spring and the fall. Specifically, your technician will:

• Check the system’s controls to ensure they function properly
• Check the thermostat for proper calibration
• Tighten the electrical connections
• Lubricate all moving parts
• Remove dust and dirt — buildup is the cause of many HVAC-system breakdowns
• Check the air filter and replace it, if necessary

The technician will inspect your air conditioning unit and:

• Clean the evaporator and condenser coils
• Check the refrigerant and recharge it, if necessary
• Adjust and clean the blower components

Then the technician will inspect your furnace and:

• Set the service burners for proper ignition and combustion
• Assess the condition and tension of the fan belt
• Check the flue and chimney
• Conduct a carbon monoxide safety test and check your home’s CO detectors

At Comfort Services, we do our best to respond to calls for service the very same day we receive them. Even better: We offer a five-year warranty on all minor repairs. Our energy savings agreements cover all brands. When it comes to your comfort, it all adds up — for peace of mind against an HVAC breakdown, contact Comfort Services.

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

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As you know, programmable thermostats should be set around the comings and goings of your family members so that you don’t waste money on cool and warm air when your home isn’t occupied. The longer the stretches of time, the better — the U.S. Department of Energy says that families who are gone for at least eight hours a day can reap the greatest savings from programmable thermostats. In fact, these families can reduce their heating and cooling bills by as much as 10 percent a year by adjusting their thermostats by just 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours.

Families have different temperature preferences. And the time settings you choose may differ, based on your family’s work and school schedule. But here is an example of a best practice for programming your thermostat for heat:

• 6 to 8 a.m.: 68 degrees
• 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: 58 degrees
• 6 to 11 p.m.: 68 degrees
• 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.: 58 degrees

For air conditioning, you might set your programmable thermostat this way:

• 6 to 8 a.m.: 74 degrees
• 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: 82 degrees
• 6 to 11 p.m.: 74 degrees
• 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.: 76 degrees

Be prepared to make some minor adjustments until you get your thermostat just right. And keep in mind that you can save 2 to 4 percent on your energy bills for every degree you adjust your thermostat.

Many programmable thermostats allow you to program different temperatures for each weekday, weekdays and weekends or weekdays and Saturday and Sunday. Many also come equipped with quick and easy override and vacation time features.

At Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., we’re big proponents of programmable thermostats. Call us today, and we’ll share other best practices so that you can begin reaping big energy savings tomorrow. Serving the Raleigh area, we’re always happy to help.

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

Thermostat image via Shutterstock

One of the most overlooked types of heating and cooling units is the air-source heat pump. Although a heat pump might appear to be a unit for colder weather, it’s actually a heat exchange unit that provides home comfort year round.

How a heat pump works

A heat pump has two sets of copper coils, one in the compressor outside the house and one inside the house. Aluminum fins to assist the heat transfer surround the coils.

• When the unit is in heating mode, the liquid refrigerant in the coils outside the home takes heat from the air and becomes a gas. The coils inside the home release the heat from the refrigerant, which then returns to liquid state.
• When cooling, a heat pump evaporates the refrigerant in the coils inside the home. As it evaporates, the refrigerant pulls warmth from the air and passes into the outdoor coil, where the heat is released.

Boosting your savings

Since a heat pump simply moves heat from one place to another, it can heat and cool a home for about one third the cost of a traditional furnace or air conditioner. To ensure maximum efficiency and savings, evaluate the Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF) and the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The most efficient heat pumps have an HSPF of 8 to 10 and a SEER rating of 14 to 18. Also make sure that the unit you choose bears an Energy Star label. The Energy Star is awarded to units with a SEER rating of 12 or greater and an HSPF of 7 or more.

Air-source heat pumps lose their efficiency at temperatures below 40 degrees. Most come equipped with small heating elements for very cold days. But if you’re very concerned about your comfort on extremely cold days, a dual-fuel system with a furnace backup is an option.

For more expert advice about heat pumps and other issues related to home comfort, contact us at Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning. Serving the Raleigh area, we’re always happy to help.

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.

Heat pump image via Shutterstock

HVAC contractors know the value of A/C service. It keeps an air conditioner operating efficiently, increases the life span of the system and decreases the likelihood of repairs. Further, manufacturers generally will not honor a warranty if the system isn’t regularly maintained, as they are keenly aware of the value of keeping an air conditioner in good working condition.

You see, just as with any other mechanical device, particularly those with moving parts, maintaining the equipment is part and parcel of owning it. Here’s just one example of what happens when an A/C goes unserviced:

Air conditioners are vulnerable to dirt buildup, particularly at the coils. The indoor coil, or the evaporator, and the outdoor coil, or the condenser, play a crucial role in the cooling process. If they become dirty — whether from dirt and debris in the outdoor or indoor air — the system will not be able to efficiently transfer heat, and it will consume more energy to cool your home.

Experts estimate that an air conditioner with dirty coils can consume more than 35 percent of the energy it would use if the coils were clean. In addition, its overall cooling capacity can decrease by 30 percent, creating a less comfortable home.

Eventually, dirty coils will cause your air conditioner to break down prematurely, because that dirt places undue pressure on, and creates high internal operating temperatures within, the compressor, requiring costly repairs.

Dust buildup on coils is just one result of neglect. That’s why regular A/C service is so important. It will ensure that your system operates efficiently, and it restores your A/C to near-factory condition. It will also help to lock in energy savings, home comfort and a lasting, durable system.

In the Triangle area, contact Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule A/C service, or ask about our high-value maintenance programs.

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

Maintenance image via Shutterstock

Installing an ultraviolet light system alongside your HVAC equipment will give you comprehensive protection against pollutants such as mold, bacteria and viruses. It’s the technology behind UV light systems that makes them particularly effective against these types of pollutants — and a better performer than other types of air cleaners.

The process

Here’s what happens when the air inside your home moves through the UV lights, once your HVAC equipment heats or cools the air:

• The UV light’s rays penetrate the cell of the pollutants that pass through them.
• Once a particular pollutant gets zapped by the rays, the rays change the molecular bonds within the DNA of each cell.
• The rays break open the DNA, and the cell can’t reproduce, so it’s no longer a hazard.

Disinfecting

It’s important to make one distinction regarding UV lights: UV lights disinfect the air, which is why they are often called germicidal lights. They won’t, however, sterilize the air — a process by which a device would destroy 100 percent of all pollutants.

When UV lights disinfect, they are able to decrease the number of pollutants in the air to levels that are no longer hazardous to one’s health.

Air filters

Also, UV lights are not a filter. They are used, rather, in combination with your HVAC system’s air filter to give indoor air quality a boost.

You see, the air filter is designed to trap particles, such as pet dander or dust — particles that UV rays can’t address. On the other hand, it’s impossible for standard air filters to capture bacteria, viruses and mold. So, working in combination, an effective air filter and UV light system will lead to better indoor air — and better health.

Need UV lights in your HVAC system to purify the air? Contact Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule an appointment with one of our indoor air-quality experts. Serving the Triangle area of North Carolina, we’re always happy to help.

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

UV light image via Shutterstock

Far from being something to dread and postpone, minor repairs on your HVAC system are a good thing, because they help ward off more serious problems. Just as with your vehicle, HVAC systems rarely “up and quit” without exhibiting smaller signs of trouble.

If you have to make a repair call to a heating and cooling contractor, do so knowing that the repair technicians at Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning in Raleigh should be able to service your equipment the same day. Plus, we cover all minor repairs with our five-year warranty.

In addition, homeowners who have enrolled in Comfort Services’ Energy Savings Agreement — a plan that covers regular preventive maintenance and provides other perks to participants — pay less for service and dispatch calls and receive a 10 percent discount on all repairs. Energy Savings Agreement members never pay overtime costs, either.

Wondering what to expect when you call for HVAC repairs? When your certified technician arrives at your home, he or she will:

• Inspect your HVAC system
• Diagnose the problem
• Tell you what repairs are needed
• Prepare an up-front repair quote for you to approve or decline

Sometimes the need for HVAC repairs comes to light during your system’s regular tune-ups, which Comfort Services offers as part of its Energy Savings Agreement. These tune-ups also are designed to:

• Ensure that your HVAC system provides the comfort and indoor air quality it was designed to provide
• Keep your energy bills in check
• Prolong the life span of your HVAC system
• Keep your system running safely

Whether your heating and cooling system needs a repair or a tune-up, the professionals at Comfort Services will be glad to help homeowners in Raleigh and the surrounding area. Contact us today.

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

Home repair image via Shutterstock

A comfort consultation performed by a heating and cooling contractor can help you identify the reasons for your home’s inconsistent comfort.

Your heating and cooling contractor can help you assess your home comfort system. When your consultant visits your home, he or she should:

• Measure your home’s dimensions and study its layout
• Photograph elements of your HVAC system
• Evaluate the duct system in the attic, basement or crawl space
• Talk with you and your family members about the conditions in your home and which improvements you believe should be made
• Analyze potential cost savings from newer, more efficient equipment
• Prepare a free, customized report about how your rooms could be made more comfortable
• Prepare a written estimate and recommendations
• Discuss costs and financing options

Your consultant should listen carefully and answer all of your questions. If you have obvious and easily addressed sources of significant energy loss, he or she may encourage you to take some steps to improve your home’s comfort level right away. Those steps might include:

• Sealing up the cracks and leaks around your windows and doors
• Beefing up your home’s insulation levels
• Regularly checking and replacing the filters in your air conditioner and furnace
• Installing a programmable thermostat so that you’re not paying for heating and cooling when no one is at home (or awake) to enjoy it
• Installing an attic fan to moderate the temperature in your home

Every home is different, and every comfort consultation renders different results. At Comfort Services Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re committed to helping Raleigh area homeowners find the energy-efficient and effective home comfort solutions that work best for them. Contact us today to get started.

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

Consultation image via Shutterstock