Crawford Services HVAC Blog

Is Your Ductwork Designed For Optimal Efficiency?

Brad Crawford — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:00:03 +0000

According to federal government statistics, the average home’s ductwork loses about 20 percent heating and cooling energy to leaks, poor connections and damage. An additional amount of heating and cooling energy may be lost to conduction through thin duct walls in unconditioned areas. Worse up to 80% of the homes in North Texas area have undersized duct work leading to return air being starved back to the unit and lack of air flow through the supply vents. This puts undo stress on your HVAC system causing premature failure and .If you’re wondering how your duct system is doing, look for these clues of poor ductwork design:

Uneven temperatures from room to room.
Uneven air pressure at the air-supply registers.
Noises such as clattering, rattling, bangs and booms emanating from duct locations.
Uninsulated ducts, especially in unconditioned areas (attic, basement, crawlspace, garage).
Suspiciously high utility bills.

Optimize your ducts

Optimize your duct system, and maximize your heating and cooling savings. Energy-efficient ductwork design depends on these five elements:

Sizing: A room-by-room heat gain/loss assessment should be conducted by a heating and cooling pro. The size of your heating and cooling system is taken into account for duct sizing, as well. Ducts should taper as they extend from the main trunk to ensure air pressure on long duct runs.
Layout: Ductwork design should utilize the shortest distance from air handler to air-supply registers, avoiding unconditioned spaces when possible. Duct returns should be located on each living-space level of your home. The more duct returns, the better.
Sealing: Duct joints should be sealed air-tight with mastic or fiberglass mesh. Air-supply registers and duct returns should be tightly sealed, too. These connections like to wiggle loose over time. If your ducts rattle, that’s an indication of loose connections and wasted heating and cooling energy.
Insulation: It’s wise to insulate all ductwork. However, it’s particularly important to insulate ducts in unconditioned areas. This should be evaluated and performed by a heating and cooling pro.
Air circulation: Balanced air pressure and circulation is required for optimal equipment function. Avoid obstructions such as closed doors and blocked registers. Use jumper ducts and grille transfers as needed. Consider a duct cleaning if you see mold on your ducts or have insects and critters inside your ducts. Check air filters regularly.

A simple (and free) ductwork evaluation may result in substantial heating and cooling savings. Contact Crawford Services, Inc. Our experienced technicians provide exceptional service and installation to North Texas homeowners and businesses.

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

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Ductwork image via Shutterstock

Cooling Systems Are Go — But Has Your Filter Been Changed?

Brad Crawford — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:00:04 +0000

When it gets really hot in North Texas, you definitely want to be able to count on your cooling system to keep your home comfortable. This requires making sure that it’s operating as efficiently as possible. There are many things that play into having an efficient system, but a key factor is your system’s air filter. Keeping a clean and efficient filter in your cooling system positively impacts the system and your home in many ways.

Filter Properties

Filters come in various sizes and types. Some are made to be disposable, while others can be cleaned and reused. The air cleaning properties of a filter are defined by the MERV, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, which ranges from 1 to 16 for residential use, and evaluates a filter’s efficiency based on how small of particles it will filter out. The higher the number, the smaller (and more) particles will be stopped.

Effects of Bad Filters

If you have an old, dirty filter in your A/C system, it will interfere with airflow through the cooling system, greatly reducing efficiency. This, in turn, forces the system to work harder to get the home cool, which costs you money. A clogged filter will also allow dust and debris to build in your system, which can damage important parts, often requiring repairs as well as expensive duct cleaning.

When to Replace

It helps to have a regular schedule for changing your cooling system filter. If you have a maintenance agreement with a local professional who comes by regularly, he can change out the filter at that time. However, since it’s advisable to change the filter every two or three months, you should replace it yourself during periods of high use, such as in the middle of the summer.

A clogged filter in your cooling system is an easily fixed problem, and doing so can result in big savings and greater comfort inside your home. If you have any further questions, please contact Crawford Services, Inc. Our experienced professionals will be 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 filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Energy Savings 101 — It All Starts With A Smart Thermostat

Brad Crawford — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:00:42 +0000

The weather in Dallas has been beautiful this spring. The only negative is that these temperatures won’t be around much longer before the outside temperature hits the summer highs. You know what that meant for your energy bills last year. This year, be smart about your energy.

A few years back, programmable thermostats arrived to help homeowners program their home comfort system more efficiently. Those models are now being improved by smart technology that adds a number of features to help you with energy savings. A quality smart thermostat will offer most or all of these features:

Access When You’re Away – These new thermostats come with Internet connectivity and smartphone applications that allow you to monitor and control your system even when you’re not at home. Previous versions could be set to your typical schedule but how often do you make it home exactly on time?
System Health Monitoring – The Internet connection also allows them to check maintenance schedules for your equipment and test system efficiency. They then alert you when a service is needed so that your system can return to peak performance.
Humidity Control – Smart technology is used to test the moisture levels in your home and trigger humidity control when needed. This ensures your air will feel fresher so you can use your system less, increasing your energy savings even more.
Air Quality Assurance – Smart thermostats check for toxins and any pollutants in your air and use the ventilation system to exchange stale air for clean outside air. You will also receive a notification when pollutant levels are high.
Peak Rate Monitoring – One of the most useful features is the ability to check peak hour rates from your energy provider and help you update settings to use energy when it’s cheaper.

These are just a few of the features you should demand in a new thermostat. The key is that they provide quality information and make it easier for you to act upon and maximize your energy savings.

For more information about the best smart thermostat for your needs, contact Crawford Service Inc. For years we’ve been helping North Texas residents save money on their home comfort systems.

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

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Thermostat image via Shutterstock

Enhance Indoor Air Quality With UV Light Installation

Brad Crawford — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:58 +0000

North Texans know that the spring and summer can bring many unwanted allergies, illnesses, viruses and other health problems to residents. These health problems occur due to the rapidly warming temperatures and the increase of pollen in the air. With sudden spikes in temperature and particles in the air, health problems are sure to arise. One of the easiest ways to avoid seasonal allergies is to enhance indoor air quality. A UV light air purification system can play a key role in cleaning your indoor air.

UV, or ultraviolet, lights are an effective and inexpensive way to eliminate mold, bacteria, viruses, pollen spores, and other living organisms that your indoor air may be harboring. UV light filters work by shining a powerful UV light onto the particles as the air moves through your ductwork. The UV light breaks down the particles and kills them. When the particles die, they cannot reproduce.

UV lights are ideal for certain households, including:

Homes with a high risk for allergy attacks
Homes with members with weak immunity systems, such as babies and the elderly
Homes with individuals with breathing problems, such as asthma or COPD.

If anyone in your household has the above problems, a UV light system can make a big difference in the health of your home. However, even if you don’t suffer from the above problems, you can still benefit from the additional filtration that a UV filter can bring. However, be aware that UV lights don’t remove non-organic particles from your indoor air. For a comprehensive air-cleaning strategy, you’ll need UV lights working along with high-efficiency air filtration and possibly an electronic air cleaner.

If you would like to learn more about ways to enhance indoor air quality, contact us at Crawford Services, Inc. We supply North Texas homeowners with expert HVAC service and can help you find the right filtration system for your home.

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.

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Keep Humidity Within Reason With Whole House Dehumidification

Brad Crawford — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:00:02 +0000

The high heat and humidity of North Texas can be an oppressive combination, and can make even being at home uncomfortable. Although the humidity can make you and your family feel like you’re suffocating, your comfort is a small concern compared to the other harm high humidity can cause. It can create wet spots on your ceilings and walls, and can cause rotted wood and other structural damage to your home. It can also lead to allergies and asthma by causing mold, mildew, dust mite and bacteria growth.

By far your best option for dealing with high humidity is to remove excess moisture from the air with a whole house dehumidifier integrated into your HVAC system. Your air conditioner by itself may not sufficiently remove the moisture, and while portable dehumidifiers do remove the moisture, they are somewhat noisy, require frequent maintenance, and only dehumidify the air in the room where they’re located. To dehumidify your whole home with portables you would need a unit in every room. Whole house dehumidification quietly adjusts the humidity levels throughout your whole home with little effort on your part, and does so using less energy than the multiple portable units you would need to do the same.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency says that you should keep humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent. This will allow you to avoid over-cooling and keep your home at the appropriate temperature. It will also help prevent the conditions that cause structural damage to your home and the bacteria, dust mite, mildew and mold growth that could threaten your family’s health.

You do need some moisture in the air. If you were to keep the humidity level below 30 percent, you would create new problems due to the air being too dry, so try to stay within the EPA’s recommended range.

For more expert advice on whole house dehumidification, contact us at Crawford Services. We’ve been serving North Texas for more than 30 years.

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

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Humidification image via Shutterstock

The Benefits Of Annual HVAC Maintenance Agreements

Brad Crawford — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:30 +0000

Keeping your home’s cooling and heating system functioning properly, safely and efficiently will not only prolong the life of the system but will also save you money. Unfortunately, many homeowners overlook maintenance for their HVAC system and end up paying a hefty price when the equipment malfunctions, often at the worst possible time. Signing up for an annual HVAC maintenance agreement will take the guesswork out of when to have your unit serviced, since your contractor will remind you when your system is due for an inspection. A maintenance agreement also provides various benefits to save you time and money.

An annual HVAC maintenance agreement is necessary to keep your unit working at peak performance. Whether you have budget equipment or a state-of-the-art system, regular servicing is required to ensure the equipment is in proper working order. A properly operating system uses less energy and saves you on your heating and cooling bills.

In addition to saving money via lower energy bills, an annual HVAC maintenance agreement typically provides some sort of discount on repair parts for your unit. This is the HVAC company’s way of saying thank you for scheduling your preventive maintenance with them. Also, customers who have an annual HVAC maintenance agreement receive priority over customers who are not on the plan.

With an annual HVAC maintenance agreement, you sleep better at night knowing your unit and its components are in good working order running at the highest efficiency. If something does happen, your trusted HVAC company will be there as soon as possible to fix any problems with the system without breaking your budget.

For more information about an annual HVAC maintenance agreement and what plans are offered, contact the experts at Crawford Services, Inc. We provide reliable and skilled heating, cooling and plumbing services to North Texas homeowners.

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

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Attic Insulation Is A Cost Effective Means Of Reducing Energy Costs

Brad Crawford — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:00:41 +0000

When we talk about heating and cooling, attic insulation isn’t usually at the top of the list. It should be. If your attic isn’t properly insulated, it will result in higher utility bills. In the summer, a poorly insulated attic can quickly heat to temperatures above 150 degrees. This heat radiates through the attic floorboards into the main house. The result is your air conditioner running more often and for longer periods of time to keep your house at the desired temperature.

The summer isn’t the only time attic insulation will save you money. During the winter, heat will travel up into the attic area without a proper insulation barrier. This will force your heater to work harder to keep your home warm. Since heating and cooling can account for 50 to 70 percent of utility costs for a home, a properly insulated attic can reduce costs considerably.

Insulation comes in many forms; rolled batting, loose fill, reflective surfaces, spray foams and structural insulated panels (SIPs) are the most common in attics. The choice in insulation is usually dependent on your particular attic situation. Insulation type isn’t as important as its R-value, which measures how effectively the material prevents heat transfer. The higher the R-value of a particular insulation, the better it is at preventing heat transfer. The federal EPA recommends attic spaces be insulated to an R-value of 26 or higher.

Mixing insulation types is an acceptable, and sometimes advantageous, practice. But make sure not to lay a reflective surface, such as a foil-backed piece of insulated backing, against another type of insulation. Batting is usually placed between the joists but doesn’t stop heat transfer through the joists into the structure of the home below. Blowing in a layer of loose batting over a layer of batting can be effective because it covers the attic joists.

For more expert advice about attic insulation and other issues related to home comfort, please contact us at Crawford Services, Inc., serving Dallas and North Texas homeowners and businesses.

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

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Money Savings image via Shutterstock

When the Power Goes Out, A Standby Generator Keeps Your Home Operational

Brad Crawford — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:09 +0000

Have you ever suffered through an extended power outage in your home? If you have, you know what a hassle that can be, as well as the potential dangers that can arise from going without power for one or more days. Having a reliable standby generator at home will help you get through power outages, whether they’re weather-related or simply accidental. Unlike portable generators, the standby units kick on and off automatically, so your home is protected whether you’re home or not.

People who have big investments in their home, such as significant amounts of perishable food, sensitive electronics, security systems or electrically-powered medical devices, can rest assured with a standby generator in their yard. These systems are connected to your home’s propane or natural gas lines, as well as being connected to your home’s circuit breakers. When the power goes out, the generator immediately takes over and keeps your home functional.

The generators come in different sizes, measured by the kilowatts they produce, and choosing one depends on your budget and the number of circuits you want to keep powered. Smaller systems provide enough electricity for simple needs like lighting, running a refrigerator and small electronics. Some models rotate the power through the circuits, giving your refrigerator or freezer a chance to run and then switching to another power need in the home such as your air conditioner. Whole-house systems are the most expensive, but when you want everything to operate as if the power never stopped – including your heating or cooling system – they will provide you with peace of mind and interior comfort.

The standby generators do require some attention, even though they operate automatically. These systems work like vehicle engines, so they need to be run once a week and have periodic oil and filter changes. They do create noise, but manufacturers sound-insulate the cases, alleviating the worst of it.

Our North Texas climate can be unpredictable, as can the power supply. If you think a standby generator would make your life easier, please contact us at Crawford Services, Inc. We can give you more information about keeping your home running in the face of power outages. Our technicians are NATE-certified, the most accomplished practitioners in the HVAC industry.

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

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Preventative Maintenance image via Shutterstock

Annual HVAC Service Plans Benefit Homeowners Like You

Brad Crawford — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:00:25 +0000

Buying a furnace or air conditioner is a big investment you’ll want to protect. By adding an annual HVAC service plan, you ensure your equipments continues to run smoothly, which will provide you with both comfort and energy savings.

At Crawford Services Inc. we offer precison tune ups on cooling and heating systems in the Dallas area. Our HVAC annual service plan provides you with 2 quality precision tune ups to start teacxh season of the year (spring and fall) along with security that your systems will operate the way they were designed. Here are some of the benefits of our service plan:

For starters, routine maintenance is the best way to ensure your cooling and heating appliances are operating properly. Trained professionals can inspect both to ensure they are running well as well as do routine maintenance such as tune-ups. This in turn can help you stay cool during our long North Texas summers.
During visits, technicians can run diagnostics on both your heating and cooling systems. This is a great way for them to find any problems as well as find ways to make your equipment operate more efficiently. With summer coming up, this is an ideal service, as the more efficient your air conditioner is, the more money you can save in energy costs.
Another great aspect of our service plans is we stand behind our products and work. We proudly provide a guarantee of one year for our parts and labor. Additionally, we offer competitive pricing with all information made available upfront.
Lastly, routine maintenance includes cleaning your air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump, thereby making them run more efficiently.

For more expert advice about an annual HVAC service plan and other issues related to home comfort, please feel free to contact Crawford Services.

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

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

How Improving HVAC Efficiency Can Alleviate Springtime Allergies

Brad Crawford — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:00:07 +0000

As pollen counts rise, many Americans find themselves suffering from itchy eyes, sneezing, sinus headaches and other uncomfortable allergy symptoms. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to avoid outdoor allergy symptoms. However, taking the time to spring-clean your home’s cooling and heating system will improve indoor air quality, helping alleviate allergy symptoms. Springtime HVAC maintenance and improving HVAC efficiency can also help lower springtime energy bills.

Check Your Filters

One of the best things you can do to help clean and improve HVAC efficiency is to regularly clean your heating and cooling filters. The filters remove dirt and debris from air that’s moving through your cooling and heating system. When filters become clogged, your air conditioner or furnace has to work all the harder to provide comfortable temperatures in your home. This also results in materials being blown past your filters and distributed in your home’s air. Either clean your filters regularly with a wet, lint-free cloth, or replace your clogged filter as often as monthly during the high-use seasons. Read the labeling on your filter to make sure it’s the type that will remove allergens and mold from your air.

Cleaning the Ducts

A quick look inside of your heating and cooling vents may tell you whether your duct system needs to be cleaned. Dust and debris buildup inside the vents often indicates similar issues inside the ductwork. Remove vent grates and vacuum out any visible dirt and debris. Be sure to clean the visible ducts when the heat is off, to avoid burns. A full duct cleaning requires a professional cleaning team. Crawford Services offers duct cleaning with the award winning Rotobrush duct cleaning system. After your ducts are cleaned the results lead to improved air quality, helping reduce allergy-aggravating dust. You will also notice improved cooling and heating quality after a springtime duct cleaning.

HVAC Maintenance

In addition to cleaning your filters and ducts, hire HVAC professionals for a springtime check-up. Regular maintenance helps ensure your HVAC system runs properly and will identify any potential problems. In addition to checking over the HVAC equipment, your contractor should check the ducts for leaks.

For help with improving the air quality in your Dallas area home, or for a seasonal maintenance check, contact Crawford Services.

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

Crawford Services provides heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to all of North Texas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Allergens image via Shutterstock