With today's high energy costs, it makes sense to reduce your energy usage as much as possible while you are away from your Middletown home. Whether you're just leaving for the weekend or taking a full vacation, these tips for conserving energy will help keep your utility costs reasonable.

Setting Your Air Conditioner

Your air conditioning system is one of the largest consumers of energy in your home. By raising the temperature 5 to 10 degrees while you are away, you can reduce your cooling costs during that time by up to 25 percent.

Setting the temperature too high, however, can have negative consequences. Wood and other materials in your home can expand if the temperature gets too high, possibly causing damage such as buckled flooring or misaligned doors. Shutting your air conditioner off completely could allow humidity to build inside your home, creating a musty odor, promoting mold growth and possibly causing damage to porous surfaces like drywall.

To be safe, keep your thermostat below 85 while you are away. If you have a programmable thermostat, you can set it to reduce the temperature before you come home so you can save money and still arrive to a comfortable house.

Other Tips for Conserving Energy

• Have your air conditioner serviced before you leave. Ask your HVAC contractor to inspect your system and perform any required maintenance. This will ensure there will be no problems while you are away and that your system is running as efficiently as possible. Be sure to install a new air filter before you leave, which will protect your system and increase its efficiency.
• Minimize heat gain while you're away to reduce the load on your air conditioner. Close the curtains or blinds on windows to block the summer sun, and shut off unnecessary lights and electronics.

For more tips on conserving energy, contact the HVAC experts at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning. We serve the Middletown area.

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

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Your air conditioner does the best it can to keep you comfortable in the hot Middletown summers, but it still depends on you for proper care. In addition to following the manufacturer's care instructions, there are also a few things to stop doing to your A/C.

Skipping Maintenance

At first glance, skipping annual professional A/C maintenance may seem like an easy way to save a little. In reality, going even one year without an A/C tune-up can cost you in the form of higher electric bills and reduced comfort. Debris buildup on the condenser impairs airflow, reducing your system's energy efficiency. A fine layer of dust on the evaporator coil reduces its ability to draw heat from the air, which also cuts your system's efficiency.

The Air Filter

There's another critical item among the things to stop doing to your A/C: neglecting your air filter. By restricting airflow, a dirty air filter can knock down your system's energy efficiency as much as 10 percent. Weak airflow also strains the fan motor and other components, which can wear them out early.

Once a month, pull out your filter and hold it up to the light. If you can't see light through it, it's due for replacement. One-inch fiberglass filters usually last a month, while pleated filters last somewhat longer and also improve your air quality more effectively.

Fussing With the Thermostat

Letting your air conditioner bear the whole burden of keeping your home cool is a sure way to waste energy and increase risk of breakdowns. Instead of just lowering your thermostat temperature whenever it gets hot, take steps to keep your home cool. Hang heavy drapes or reflective blinds and keep them closed to block excess heat. Apply caulk and weatherstripping to stop air leaks around your house and make sure your attic is sufficiently insulated. Aim to keep your thermostat at one consistent temperature and only raise and lower the temperature within a narrow range.

Need more guidance on things to stop doing to your A/C? Contact us at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning in the Middletown area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York 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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During the cooling months, your A/C system applies refrigeration principles, motorized parts, electrical components and plumbing functions to cool your home. A/C maintenance is vital to ensure these components work in sync for optimal functionality. Read on to learn the steps your HVAC contractor should take during your scheduled seasonal maintenance.

Safety and System Fail Tests

There's no doubt that low energy bills and enhanced home comfort are important to you, but HVAC safety is a top priority. Your HVAC contractor should inspect all electrical parts and wiring for wear and damage. A/C backup systems, such as the float switch, should be tested to ensure your A/C system doesn't spill water inside your home and shut down.

Operational Tests

From the thermostat and relays to refrigerant charge, blower motor and ductwork, each step and component of the cooling process is tested for correct function. Refrigerant must be within a few ounces of manufacturer recommendations for efficient cooling. The blower motor may need oiling or airflow calibrating. The air ducts should be checked for loose seams, leaks, damage and air pressure at the diffusers and return grilles.

System Cleaning

A/C systems need free airflow through the home, air ducts and blower, and across the evaporator coil and condenser coil. This calls for rigorous cleaning of system components.

The evaporator is a magnet for debris and mold development. When not thoroughly cleaned each year, these contaminants wash into the condensate drain system and impede heat extraction, which increases energy bills and degrades home comfort. A disinfecting foam cleaner can be used to clear away grime on indoor and outdoor components.

The condensate drain system should be chemically treated to prevent mold and algae development, which can clog the drain trap or line.

Clear Communication

Clear communication with your HVAC contractor is important so that you understand any recommended repairs or system improvements. All work should be in writing and clearly explained before and after service.

Get in touch with a qualified HVAC professional to schedule A/C maintenance for your Middletown home. For more information, please contact C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York 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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When the indoor air quality in your home is worse than the air outside, it may contribute to allergy problems, infections and illnesses such as asthma. Signs that the air inside your home is making you or your family members feel unwell include headaches, dry eyes, nausea, sneezing or nasal congestion. Fortunately, you can improve indoor air quality with routine home maintenance and other simple steps. Following are some ways to get started.

Throughout the Home

• Dust, vacuum and clean floors regularly.
• Control moisture levels and promptly fix leaks.
• Regularly vacuum or wash curtains.
• Promptly clean mold.
• Keep pets off furniture.
• Enforce a no-shoe policy inside the home.
• Test your home for radon and lead.
• Do not allow smoking inside the home.
• Avoid using items that contain volatile organic compound (VOCs), such as paint, cleaning supplies, carpeting and air fresheners.
• Ensure proper ventilation throughout the home, especially in rooms with fuel-burning appliances and while cleaning, painting or remodeling.
• Vent appliances outside and use vents in the kitchen, workshop and bathrooms.
• Change the HVAC filter regularly, per the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Remedy water damage as soon as it occurs.
• Use an air cleaning system for additional support.

Bedrooms

• Wash bedding in hot water weekly.
• Use covers that protect against dust mites over mattresses, box spring casings and pillows.
• Do not allow pets in bedrooms or on beds, if possible.

Kitchen

• Wash the dishes daily and keep the sink clean.
• Regularly throw out old food and the trash.
• Avoid leaving food out in the open.
• Promptly clean crumbs and spills.

Bathrooms

• Use mold-resistant paint or tile on bathroom walls instead of wallpaper.
• Use a towel to dry the tub or shower after each use.
• Replace moldy shower curtains, silicone sealants and bath mats.

Improve your family’s health by taking the steps to improve indoor air quality in your home. To learn how air purification systems, germicidal lights and home comfort systems can help with your air quality needs, contact C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve proudly served Middletown and the surrounding area since 1945.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York 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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When you're shopping for a new cooling or heating system for your home, wouldn't it be great if there was an easy way to separate quality products from the substandard? Actually, there is. The U.S. government has a program, Energy Star, that provides consumers with a straightforward way to choose HVAC equipment and other energy-using products that will save energy without sacrificing performance. The distinctive blue Energy Star logo can be found on a wide variety of quality products, ranging from computer monitors all the way up to whole-house central air conditioners.

The Energy Star has been a constant in the HVAC product market for more than three decades. It has helped consumers save more than $300 billion on energy bills, while cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by two billion metric tons.

Take a look at the following Energy Star benefits:

• Energy savings: A product or system must satisfy minimal energy-efficiency requirements in order to qualify for the Energy Star logo. For HVAC equipment, an Energy Star qualifying system will deliver 10-20 percent higher energy efficiency than a comparable product without the Energy Star designation.
• Quality: An Energy Star-qualifying system or product not only delivers energy savings, but also must pass minimal standards with regard to performance and features that consumers expect from that type of product.
• Environmental benefits: This advantage of Energy Star products is directly related to the energy-saving benefits. When an HVAC system uses less energy, as is the case with a central A/C sporting the Energy Star logo, it's better for the environment.
• Rebates and incentives: Some utilities and state governments offer rebates and other incentives when you buy certain Energy Star-certified systems or products. The Energy Star website details where and how to take advantage of these benefits.

To consider a full assortment of HVAC systems having the Energy Star logo, please contact us at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning. We service Middletown and the surrounding communities.

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

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With split-system air conditioning systems, it's not unusual for one component to fail before the other. Quite often (though not always), the first to go is the outside unit, the condenser/compressor, since it's exposed to the elements 24/7. When one half of the split system fails, a natural question is whether to replace only the failed component or to replace both the outdoor and indoor unit together. Following are some good reasons for replacing the indoor and outdoor A/C units at the same time.

They're Meant to Be Together

A split-system central A/C was designed and engineered to work as a cohesive system, with each component dependent on the other. It might be possible to match a new outside unit with your old inside evaporator/air handler, but there's no way it will work as effectively and efficiently as a matched set.

Don't Miss Out on Technological Advances

In the past decade, a number of advances have occurred in the air conditioning industry. If you keep your old inside unit, but match it with a new outside unit, you probably won't be able to take full advantage of those technological improvements, even if they're incorporated in the new component.

Save More on Energy

If you replace your central A/C with a system with a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), you'll save money on energy bills far into the future. If you match a new outside unit with your old indoor unit, it's unlikely you'll enjoy the rated efficiency of the new component. Your split system will be hamstrung by the older unit.

You'll Perpetuate the Odd Match

Once you start replacing inside and outside components on different schedules, it becomes all the harder to return to a situation where you're replacing the indoor and outdoor A/C units at the same time. On the other hand, if your outside unit fails, it probably won't be long before the inside unit goes, too. Just replace the whole system.

For help finding a new split-system A/C or heat pump for your Middletown area home, please contact us at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning.

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

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Your home's central air conditioning system isn't operating in a vacuum. It's combating a very real foe: heat gain. When heat finds its way into your home, or is generated inside the home, your A/C system has to work harder to create a comfortable home environment. That's why a key part of controlling air conditioning costs is to reduce heat gain. The more you know about what causes heat gain, the better equipped you will be to counter it.

Seal Air Leaks

During the summer, a lot of heat can enter the home through gaps and cracks in the outer envelope. This can occur in walls—especially at spots where wiring, pipes and vents penetrate—and where the foundation meets the drywall. Use caulk, spray foam or weatherstripping to seal air leaks. This also will reduce heat loss in the winter.

Manage Windows

Nearly 50 percent of the heat that's gained in an ordinary home comes through windows, either when the sun shines through windows on warm afternoons, through air leaks in the frames or when heat transfers through thin window panes. Close curtains, shades and blinds on sun-facing windows during the cooling season. Upgrade windows with Energy Star-qualified models, and employ effective window coverings and treatments. Tinted windows can make a lot of difference when it comes to reducing heat gain. Seal leaky window frames.

Upgrade Insulation

Insulation is an effective barrier against both losing heat in the winter and gaining it in the summer. Attic insulation plays a key role in keeping excessive heat buildup in the attic from transferring down into living spaces. Effective attic ventilation works hand in hand with insulation to keep attic conditions from having adverse effects elsewhere in the home.

Reduce Heat Gain Indoors

Minimize heat-generating activities indoors on hot days. BBQ outside or use the microwave instead of the oven and stove. Only use the dishwasher and clothes dryer during cooler times of day.

For more information about saving energy in your Middletown area home, please contact us at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York 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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If your central A/C has never tripped your home's circuit breaker, consider yourself lucky. Usually it's a one-time event that is quickly forgotten, if your A/C is tripping the circuit breaker more than once, it's time to be concerned. Luckily, some troubleshooting may be all that's necessary to figure out the problem. If that doesn't work, you can move on to step two: contacting a trusted professional.

Circuit or Wiring Issues

If the A/C is tripping the circuit breaker, your air condition may not be at fault. Faulty wiring or another electrical issue may be the problem. Common problems include loose wiring or a faulty breaker box. Call a professional electrician to look at your electrical system.

Problems With the A/C

If your central air conditioner is the culprit, it probably means it's pulling more amps than the household electrical system can handle. This often occurs when the A/C is working too hard. Possible causes include:

• A clogged A/C filter. This will force the equipment to work harder to blow air across the evaporator coil and through the ductwork. Inspect and change the filter regularly.
• When it's very hot outside, you still expect the A/C to cool the home to a very low temperature. If your air conditioning system is properly sized, it will struggle to satisfy a 65-degree temperature setting when it's 94 degrees outside. This can trip the circuit breaker.
• If the condensing coil is dirty, this also can force the cooling equipment to work harder than it's designed to operate. The vital heat exchange that's necessary for air conditioning can't occur efficiently if the coils are dirty. You may be able to clean the outside coil, though it's usually a better bet to hire a professional HVAC technician.
• The A/C may be drawing too much power as a result of a low refrigerant level or defective components such as the compressor, capacitor or fans.

For help addressing any A/C problems that arise this summer in your Middletown area home, please contact us at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York 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 home inspection that lenders require gives you information about the structural and mechanical integrity of the home you’re considering, as well as reveal any obvious problems. It’s a good idea to schedule an HVAC inspection as well, since you'll receive a more detailed and informed analysis of the home's heating and cooling system.

HVAC systems are complex, and expensive to replace or repair. The licensed home inspector the lender uses may overlook situations that could cost you money and comfort in the future. A trusted HVAC specialist will give you more reliable information about the condition of the equipment.

What to Expect

An HVAC technician will conduct an in-depth examination of the equipment that will include safety checks for fuel-burning heating systems. Furnaces, particularly those in older homes, may emit unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide from a cracked heat exchanger or corrosion found in the vent or chimney. A cracked heat exchanger or rust inside the blower compartment is expensive to fix and typically requires a complete system replacement. Newer homes are less likely to have this problem, although it can develop regardless of system age.

The technician will discover any problems associated with the ductwork, including leaks and mold growth. If the home has a central cooling system, the HVAC inspection will reveal the condition and cleanliness of its components. A clean and well-maintained cooling system will run more efficiently and dependably than one that’s been neglected.

Benefits of an HVAC Inspection

Using an HVAC professional to evaluate the condition of the system not only gives you accurate information, but it can also help you negotiate with the seller. If the system needs work or is at the end of its life, you can use that information as leverage. The HVAC expert will also be able to give you solid information about upgrading it in the future, particularly in an older home, where the ductwork or lack of it can pose challenges for new heating or cooling system installations.

For more information about an HVAC inspection, contact C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning. We've proudly served Middletown homeowners since 1945.

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

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Home energy ratings (HERs) have become a universal way of reporting how energy efficient homes are. The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) has established a way to assign a home a value based on an index of 100. Homes that score over 100 are less energy efficient, and any number at 100 reflects the energy efficiency of a home built in 2004 to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). A home with a score of 50 would be 50 percent more efficient than RESNET's baseline home.

While it's good to know in general how energy efficient your home is based on the IECC's 2004 baseline, you may need to have your home evaluated by a licensed Energy Rater under the following circumstances:

• If you're planning to sell your home
• Applying for an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM)
• Financing home improvements through a mortgage lender or the FHA to increase its energy efficiency
• Purchasing another home

Energy raters, licensed HVAC contractors and energy auditors evaluate energy efficiency by using specialized tools and equipment to consider the quality and effectiveness of:

• Insulation levels throughout the home, including the roof
• Air tightness
• Quality, number and placement of windows and exterior doors
• Energy efficiency of the HVAC system, including ductwork and the water heater

Auditors learn much about home energy ratings by using a blower door test that measures the degree of air infiltration, combined with thermographic devices that indicate where the insulation levels in homes are inadequate. Blower door tests consist of a large fan mounted inside a metal frame that uses air pressure gauges to measure how fast and far indoor air pressure falls as the fan runs.

A thermographic cameras show differences in temperature that indicate air leaks and inadequate insulation. Duct blasters are also used to find the degree of air leakage in the ductwork. Even in the most energy efficient home, leaking ducts can substantially increase energy consumption year-round.

If you’d like to learn more about home energy ratings and improving your home’s efficiency, contact C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning. We've provided HVAC services for Middletown homeowners since 1945.

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

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