Conventional
Conventional units heat water continually and store it in a tank until it’s used. They commonly have a capacity of 20 to 80 gallons. Hot water flows out from the top of the tank and is replaced by cold water that flows in at the bottom of the tank. These are the most common types of water heaters, but they can be wasteful because of standby heat loss when the water in the tank cools before it gets used. A lot of the time you’re basically heating water that has to be reheated before it gets used.

Tankless
Tankless water heaters, sometimes called demand or instantaneous water heaters, do not store water. Instead, they use a gas burner or an electric heating element to heat water as it’s needed. Tankless water heaters are more expensive but make up for the initial investment in increased efficiency and lower operating cost.

Heat pump
Like a heat pump that warms or cools your home, a heat pump water heater moves heat from one place to another to keep water hot. The most common of these units pull heat out of the air around them, increase the temperature, and move the heat into a tank where it warms up waiting water.

Solar
Solar water heaters use energy from the sun to heat water for household use. A series of solar collectors absorbs energy from sunshine. In a two-tank system, this energy is used to preheat water before it flows into a conventional water heater. In a one-tank system, the energy fully heats the water in a single tank.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. has been providing quality heating and cooling services to the Greater Cincinnati area since 1979. We specialize in high-efficiency heating and cooling, geothermal units and solar-heating systems. Contact us today for more information on water heater upgrades and for details on our full line of water heaters.

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

Comfort Solutions, Inc. services the Lebanon, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Upgrade image via Shutterstock

There are two types of solar heating: active and passive. Active solar heating uses a series of solar collectors and storage devices to capture, hold and distribute heat energy. These systems can be very effective, but they require a considerable initial investment to get them set up and operating properly. They need regular maintenance, which can also be costly.

Passive solar heating, on the other hand, is obtained from the design of the building. It relies on architectural features of the structure to absorb, retain and disperse heat. These features, known as the building’s thermal mass, include masonry, windows and other structural elements.

In passive solar heating, the building is deliberately designed to capture as much solar energy as possible, and then to release that energy as heat slowly throughout the day. For example, large south-facing windows would allow as much sunshine into the building as possible. This sunshine is allowed to fall on heat-absorbing materials such as bricks or stones, which soak up solar power. These warmed bricks and stones then gradually release the energy they have absorbed, providing heat even after the sun has gone down.

Passive solar heating works best in new construction where the building design can be adjusted to fit the location’s solar characteristics.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. has been providing reliable heating and cooling services to Southwest Ohio for more than 32 years. We serve customers in the greater Cincinnati area, including Butler, Warren and Hamilton counties. We specialize in high-efficiency heating and cooling, geothermal units, and solar-heating systems. Contact us today for more information on solar benefits for Southwest Ohio homeowners and for assistance with making the best use of solar energy in your home.

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

Comfort Solutions, Inc. services the Lebanon, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Look for high efficiency and AFUE ratings
Boilers are assigned an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating, a percentage that represents the amount of energy in the fuel that is converted to usable heat. Higher AFUE numbers mean higher efficiency levels.

A high-efficiency boiler can provide the comfort you need with less waste of fuel and at a lower cost. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that replacing an average AFUE 80 boiler with a high-efficiency AFUE 95 model can save you about 15 percent on your annual fuel costs.

Perform a load calculation
The term “load” means the overall heating requirements of your home. Before buying a new boiler, have your HVAC contractor perform a load calculation on your house to determine how much heating you need. The calculation accounts for factors such as local climate; size, shape, and directional orientation of your house; amount and effectiveness of insulation; air leaks; types and locations of windows; homeowner comfort preferences; condition of seals and joints; and presence of lights and major appliances that produce heat.

Make sure your contractor uses industry-standard techniques such as those described in the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manual J, “Residential Load Calculation.”

Correctly size the unit
A replacement boiler must be sized correctly to meet the load. In other words, it can’t be too big or too small, but must be powerful enough provide the amount of heat required in your home. Your HVAC professional can help you find a boiler tha’s correctly sized for your heating needs.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. has been providing reliable heating and cooling services to Southwest Ohio since 1979. We serve customers in the greater Cincinnati area, including Butler, Warren and Hamilton counties. Contact us today for more information on upgrading boiler systems, to get an estimate on a new boiler, or to schedule an installation.

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

Comfort Solutions, Inc. services the Lebanon, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Upgrade image via Shutterstock

The basic operation of conventional and geothermal heat pumps is similar. They do not generate heat by burning a combustible fuel; instead, they move heat around. Both use water or a compressed, high-pressure liquid coolant to capture heat and either move it indoors in the winter or transfer it outside in the summer. The major difference is that conventional heat pumps gather and release heat through the air outside. Geothermal heat pumps, on the other hand, exchange heat via liquid flowing through pipes buried at a temperate depth in the ground.

Geothermal heating is based on the fact that at several feet below the ground, temperatures are always around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, give or take five to 10 degrees. This is true even during extremely hot or cold days. A geothermal heat pump reliably and efficiently exchanges heat using a source with a consistent temperature. Because of this, geothermal heat pumps use less electricity while providing heating and cooling, leading to considerable savings on seasonal utility bills.

Geothermal heat pumps do not require fans to circulate air through compressor coils, so they run quietly. With no outdoor unit, you don’t have to worry about cleaning it every year, or face the dilemma of where to place an ungainly appliance in your yard. They can be as much as 50 percent more efficient than even high-AFUE gas furnaces. And, since their emissions are low and they waste less energy than other heating systems, they are a better choice for the environment.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. has been providing reliable heating and cooling services to Southwest Ohio since 1979. We serve customers in the greater Cincinnati area, including Butler, Warren and Hamilton counties. We specialize in high-efficiency heating and cooling, geothermal units, and solar heating systems. Contact us today for more information on geothermal heating & cooling in Greater Cincinnati, to get an estimate on a new system, or to schedule an installation.

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

Comfort Solutions, Inc. services the Lebanon, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

• Clean or change the filters in your furnace or heat pump. Clean filters let your heating system generate more heat using less fuel, which saves on utility costs. Dirty filters, on the other hand, reduce efficiency and lead to expensive breakdowns. Changing filters at least once a month is the easiest and least expensive way to improve furnace efficiency.
• Run your furnace at 68 degrees. Within a range of 60 to 70 degrees, every degree you reduce home temperature settings saves about 5 percent on heating bills.
• Seal air and energy leaks in your home and in your HVAC system. Don’t waste money heating air that simply blows away on the wind. Check for gaps and openings around doors and windows and in attics, basements, walls and ductwork systems. Add insulation where needed; seal gaps with caulking or weatherstripping.
• Open up your curtains and let in sunshine, a free natural source of heating. Close the curtains at night to help hold heat inside your home.
• Reduce hot water use. Lower the temperature settings on your hot water heater. A 120-degree setting provides water hot enough for most household needs. Use cold-water settings when doing laundry, if possible. Install low-flow shower heads and faucets. Take shorter showers whenever you can.
• Shut off or unplug lights, computers, televisions, appliances and other power-consuming devices when not in use. Use Energy Star-certified equipment and appliances where possible.
• Make sure the fireplace damper is closed when the fireplace is not in use. A substantial amount of energy can be lost through open chimneys.

Comfort Solutions, Inc., has been providing reliable heating and cooling services to Southwest Ohio since 1979. We serve customers in the greater Cincinnati area, including Butler, Warren and Hamilton counties. Contact us today for more energy-saving tips and for the supplies and equipment to seal your home up tight.

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

Comfort Solutions, Inc. services the Lebanon, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Save Energy image via Shutterstock 

Moldy or rotted attic rafters or floor joists – Rafters and joists are important components of the structural framework of your home, and if they are showing signs of mold or rot, that is a serious problem that needs to be corrected as soon as possible. Mold and rot are signs of a serious moisture problem in your attic.

Wet or damp insulation – The insulation in your attic and elsewhere should be sufficiently protected from getting wet. If the insulation in your attic is wet or damp, you may have a leak in your roof or elsewhere. Wet or damp insulation functions poorly and could cause more problems with mold or rot.

Improper venting of moist indoor air – Moist interior air generated by your appliances or in high-humidity rooms such as kitchens or bathrooms should be vented outdoors, not into your attic. If you vent these items there, it will increase the humidity in your attic, which will in turn cause or aggravate moisture-related problems.

Little or no attic ventilation – Your attic should be adequately ventilated to cut down on excessive moisture accumulation and to help with the indoor air quality of your home.

Comfort Solutions, Inc., has been providing reliable heating and cooling services to Southwest Ohio since 1979. We serve customers in the greater Cincinnati area, including Butler, Warren and Hamilton counties. Contact us today for expert help with sealing your home’s air leaks and for assistance with problems that require professional service.

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

Comfort Solutions, Inc. services the Lebanon, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

By adding adequate amounts of water heater insulation, you can reduce heat loss by 25 to 45 percent, resulting in savings of 4 to 9 percent on your water-heating expenses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Most HVAC supply stores or hardware stores should have insulating jackets or blankets that are designed to fit your water heater. These jackets often cost less than $20, and if you have an electric water heater, you can usually install them yourself. Follow insulation directions carefully. Insulating a gas or oil water heater is more complicated and should be done by an HVAC expert.

Putting a piece of rigid insulation under the tank will prevent additional heat loss into the floor.

When choosing the insulation to use, look for material with a high R-value. This numerical rating is a measurement of the insulation’s effectiveness. Use insulation with an R-value of R-8 or above.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. has been providing reliable heating and cooling services to Southwest Ohio since 1979. We serve customers in the greater Cincinnati area, including nearby counties. Contact us today for more information on water heater insulation and for the right supplies and equipment to get the job done.

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

Comfort Solutions, Inc. services the Lebanon, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Insulation image via Shutterstock

Programmable thermostats have energy-saving set-points. These are pre-programmed temperature levels that take best advantage of your HVAC system’s ability to run at varied levels. Using these set-points, you will see reduced fuel usage and more savings on your utility bills. Keep the thermostat set at those levels for several hours at a time – at least eight hours, if possible. Set-points are commonly used to operate your heating or cooling system at a reduced level when no one is home for an extended period, such as when you and your family are away at work and school during the day. They are also often used at night after you and your family have gone to bed. Using set-points gives you good comfort levels while also saving energy.

Set-points are also useful if you’re planning to be away from home for several days. While you’re gone, use the programmable thermostat’s “vacation” feature. This allows you to set your home’s temperature several degrees warmer in summer or cooler in winter during the time you’re away. This provides enough heating or cooling to prevent damage from temperature extremes while saving energy and money by not running your temperature control system at normal levels when you’re not at home to enjoy them.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. has been providing reliable heating and cooling services to Southwest Ohio since 1979. We serve customers in the greater Cincinnati area, including Butler, Warren and Hamilton counties. Contact us today for answers to your questions about programmable thermostat settings and how to use them to increase savings on your energy bills.

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.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. services the Lebanon, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Here are six tips you can use to keep your heating system functioning efficiently, smoothly and reliably all winter long.

1. Schedule regular preventive maintenance by an HVAC professional at least annually. The technician will inspect and test the entire system while looking for small problems that can be fixed now to prevent breakdowns later.
2. Change filters often. Clean air filters keep your heating system running well. Dirty filters restrict air flow within the system and can cause a complete breakdown. Change filters at least once a month during the winter.
3. Seal ductwork leaks. Significant amount of air and energy can be lost from the ductwork. Sections should fit together tightly and should be sealed with metal tape or mastic. Well-sealed ductwork also reduces the possibility of deadly carbon monoxide leaks.
4. Insulate ductwork. Heat energy can be lost through the thin metal of the ductwork itself, so it is important to insulate ducts, especially those in unheated areas of your home such as crawl spaces or attics.
5. Install a high-efficiency furnace or heat pump with a high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. This number indicates how much energy in the fuel is turned into usable heat. Look for units with an AFUE of 90 or higher.
6. Use a variable-speed motor for the system’s blower. These motors are quieter, use less electricity, and run only at the speed needed for heating control, making them much more efficient than single-speed motors.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. has been providing reliable heating and cooling services to Southwest Ohio since 1979. We serve customers in the greater Cincinnati area, including Butler, Warren and Hamilton counties. Contact us todayfor information on home heating systems, for a quote, or to schedule an installation.

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

Comfort Solutions, Inc. services the Lebanon, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Increasing efficiency image via Shutterstock

Older HVAC motors usually use permanent split capacitor, or PSC, motors. They are not as expensive as other types of motors, but they use more energy. PSC motors operate at only one high speed, turning off and on as temperatures fluctuate in your house. These on-and-off cycles can waste a considerable amount of energy.

Modern furnaces often contain a type of efficient furnace motor that improves the efficiency and function of the entire system and results in improved home comfort. ECM, or electronically commutated motors, operate at variable speeds in order to meet temperature settings while keeping up a near-constant air flow. This is usually a relatively low speed. Since they operate only at the level needed for meeting heating demand, they are more efficient than PSC motors.

ECMs use up to 60 percent less electricity and do not waste as much energy during high-demand cycles. With their near continuous operation, they provide getter air filtration and humidity control.

Variable-speed blower motors perform more consistently, operating at different speeds as needed. When they start, they run at about 2/3 speed, beginning the heating cycle and reducing indoor humidity. If heating is still needed after about 10 minutes, they increase to full speed. This allows variable-speed motors to run more often at lower levels, improving efficiency and reducing wear on the motor and fan.

When possible, replace PSC motors with ECM models. Upgrading an older motor with an ECM type can result in savings of up to 20 percent on energy costs.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. has been providing reliable heating and cooling services to Southwest Ohio since 1979. We serve customers in the greater Cincinnati area, including Butler, Warren and Hamilton counties. Contact us todayfor more information on efficient furnace motors, how to upgrade to one, and whether an ECM-equipped HVAC system is right for 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 furnace upgrading and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. services the Lebanon, Ohio and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!