Planned maintenance programs, or service contracts, give homeowners and businesses a convenient way to make sure their HVAC equipment is checked and tuned up on time. They let you avoid the usual rush for service at the beginning of every heating and cooling season. They relieve you of the need to remember to call your HVAC service provider for service, since your dealer will track service due dates for you and will contact you to schedule a maintenance appointment at your convenience.

Granted, service agreements are an additional expense beyond normal fuel and energy costs that must be accounted for in your heating and cooling budget. Remember, however, that neglected HVAC equipment will work harder to heat or cool your home and, because of that, is likely to break down when it’s most needed. Equipment that’s not serviced will lose years off its useful life and will wear out early, requiring expensive repairs and possibly complete system replacement. Service agreements can help you avoid these costly problems, and are a good investment because of the convenience, equipment reliability and peace of mind they offer.

At Detmer & Sons, Inc., our planned maintenance programs provide our residential and commercial customers additional benefits such as:

• A Value Rate on repairs, which is a 15 percent discount off our regular rates.
• Priority Preferred Service, which gives you a higher priority in our service queue over customers without a service agreement.
• Service and maintenance scheduling that fits your needs and timetable.

Detmer & Sons, Inc. has provided reliable heating and cooling services to Dayton and the surrounding area for more than three decades. Contact us today for more information on the planned maintenance service agreements we offer or to enroll in a plan that fits your needs.

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

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Scheduled Maintenance image via Shutterstock

• Fewer delays: You’ll have more flexibility and fewer delays in scheduling caused by the increased demands on your HVAC expert’s time. If your air conditioner does have a problem that needs to be addressed, you won’t have to wait very long to have the issue repaired.
• More time: If your technician isn’t pressed for time and restricted by an overfilled schedule, he may be able to spend more time and attention on your system. He won’t be under the stress of a busy inspection schedule and can concentrate more fully on your job.
• Fewer parts shortages: Your HVAC supplier is more likely to have all the parts and supplies needed to perform your maintenance check-up and make needed repairs. At the peak of cooling season, he may run out of parts and need to order more, which could cause delays.

During the preventive maintenance visit, your HVAC technician will:

• Fill refrigerant to manufacturer-specified levels and check for leaks
• Inspect and seal ducts to prevent air and energy loss
• Measure and adjust air flow through the evaporator coil
• Verify electrical control sequences and make needed adjustments
• Service and maintain electrical connections
• Lubricate fans, motors and moving parts
• Check belts for tightness and overall condition
• Check and calibrate thermostat

Remember, there are also some maintenance tasks you can perform yourself, such as changing the air conditioner filter regularly, clearing away vegetation near the outside unit, and giving the unit a general overall cleaning. By doing these things yourself, you will free up more time for your HVAC service provider to focus on issues that require his technical expertise and professional experience.

Detmer & Sons Heating, Inc. has provided trustworthy cooling and heating services to the Dayton area for more than three decades. Contact us today for more information on preventive service for your air conditioner and to schedule A/C maintenance before the cooling season gets into full swing.

Our goal is to help educate our customers 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.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Sizing
Detmer & Sons, Inc. can make sure you get an air conditioner or heat pump that is the correct size for your home. If your system is too small, it won’t be able to cool properly and will work harder than necessary. A system that’s too big will cycle on and off too frequently, wasting energy, putting strain on system components, and not evenly cooling your home. We can perform a load calculation that will take into consideration all the characteristics of your home and show exactly how much cooling is needed to keep your living spaces comfortable.

Efficiency
We can evaluate your unique needs and suggest a high-efficiency cooling system that will work best in your home. These systems can save you significant amounts of money on your monthly energy bills. For example, we recommend Energy Star-certified models with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 7.7 or higher.

Installation
At Detmer & Sons, Inc., we know how to safely install cooling systems so that they work properly, make the best use of their features, and function safely at all times.

Maintenance
We can provide the regular preventive maintenance that will extend the useful life of your cooling system and keep it working at its optimal level for years. As our technicians become more and more familiar with your cooling system, they can make recommendations based on your specific needs. We know what to look for to keep your cooling system working and prevent small issues from becoming bigger problems later.

For more than 30 years, Detmer & Sons, Inc. has provided trustworthy heating and cooling services to Dayton and the surrounding area. Contact us today for reliable expert consultation when you are comparing air conditioners. We can offer technical advice on a new air conditioning system, provide an estimate, or 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 air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Upgrade image via Shutterstock

The U.S. government has determined that R22 Freon, sometimes known as HCFC-22 Freon, is harmful to the environment because it contributions to ozone depletion. The Clean Air Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, requires that R22 Freon must be eliminated by the year 2020. At this time, it will no longer be manufactured and can no longer be used as a refrigerant in air conditioning systems. R22 Freon must be replaced by the safer R410A Freon, which will become the standard refrigerant in air conditioning systems.

As a homeowner with a functioning air conditioning system, this regulatory requirement leaves you facing two expensive prospects. First, the cost of R22 Freon has begun to rise and is expected to continue increasing as the 2020 deadline approaches. By the time the cut-off date arrives, R22 Freon will likely be extraordinarily expensive.

Second, most existing air conditioners cannot use R410A Freon. This means that the majority of air conditioners in use in 2012 — as many as 80 percent of them — will need to be completely replaced. This leaves most American homeowners with the choice of spending thousands of dollars for new equipment or being left without a home cooling system entirely.

Now may be a good time to replace your existing air conditioner with a high-efficiency model that uses R410A Freon. High-efficiency air conditioners can be an expensive investment, but keep in mind that they offer monthly savings on cooling expenses that can be large enough to almost pay for the new system by the 2020 deadline.

Detmer & Sons, Inc. has been providing quality heating and cooling services to Dayton and the surrounding area for more than 30 years. We can help you decide if you should continue to use R22 freon or update to a new system.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about R22 freon and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Here are some of the more useful features of today’s high-tech programmable thermostats.

• Touch-screen operation: Touch-screens offer a set of streamlined and simple controls that you can operate with the light touch of a finger. You get quicker access to system settings through multiple information and control screens accessed through a tabbed interface.
• At-a-glance information: Newer thermostat screens present home-comfort details on an easy-to-read display. They include information such as current temperature, indoor humidity level, system heating or cooling status, date and time, and more.
• Alerts: Modern programmable thermostats provide a variety of alerts that keep you informed on the condition of your HVAC system. These alerts include notices to change filters or schedule service appointments.
• Backlit display: Lights up the screen so you can see it in low light or with no lights at all.
• Remote programming: A remote control unit lets you change temperature settings or program your thermostat from your bed, chair or other location. Some units can be programmed via phone or through an online interface. If you have more than one programmable thermostat, they can often communicate with each other to keep temperatures consistent and comfortable throughout your house.
• Simplified programming: Programmable thermostats come equipped with pre-programmed set points you can use to control when your HVAC system runs and how much heating or cooling it provides. These settings can easily be modified or canceled through the touch-screen.
• Control of other devices: Some programmable thermostat models can also operate other home-comfort equipment, such as whole-house humidity control systems.

For three decades, Detmer & Sons, Inc. has provided reliable heating and cooling services to the Dayton area. Contact us today for more information on programmable thermostats, to check out our stock of available units, or to schedule a professional installation.

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.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Thermostat image via Shutterstock

How Do They Work?

A programmable thermostat allows you to set temperatures in advance based on your daily and weekly schedule. Most households don’t need their HVAC system on around the clock; with a programmable thermostat, you can set your heating system to automatically turn off when you leave the house, and come back on before you return – and the same when you go to bed. This can potentially save you as much as 33 percent on heating bills and up to 20 percent on cooling.

When you shop for a programmable thermostat, consider whether you’d like one you can program on a one-week schedule; one schedule for the work week and a separate one for the weekend; one schedule for the work week, then separate schedules for Saturday and Sunday; or a different schedule every day.

Pick the Right One for Your HVAC System 
Before you shop for a programmable thermostat, make sure you choose one that works with your HVAC system. Here are some of the variables that may come into play:

• Works with one-stage heating or cooling: For use with separate heating and air conditioning units.
• Works with two-stage/multi-stage heating or cooling: If your system has more than one speed.
• Works with direct line voltage: 110 or 240 direct current power source, found in some older systems to power the thermostat.
• Zoned HVAC : Zoned systems are becoming increasingly popular, utilizing multiple thermostats to independently control temperatures in different parts of your home.

Contact Us

For more information on choosing the right programmable thermostat for your Dayton area home, contact Detmer & Sons, Inc. today.

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.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

What Are UV lights?

UV light rays are invisible to the human eye, as they travel via short wavelengths in a form of radiation that’s not dissimilar to the rays given off by the sun or from tanning beds. But not all UV light is dangerous, and it can have a lot of productive uses, including destroying live pollutants via air purifiers installed in your home.

How Do They Work?

Ultraviolet lights work best when combined with high-efficiency air filters. While the UV lights will attack and neutralize living organisms in your air, high-efficiency filters are needed to remove non-living dirt and debris from your indoor air. This two-pronged strategy is the best way to provide clean and healthy air to your family.

UV light works by altering the molecular bonds in a microbe’s DNA. They are in turn broken up so that the cells are unable to reproduce, rendering them harmless. Household bacteria enter the area, known as the “kill zone,” and are quickly destroyed. The threat is removed and you have peace of mind that your home is safe.

Installing UV Lights

It’s relatively simple and inexpensive to install UV lights, and research by the federal EPA has proven that  they can greatly reduce molds, bacteria and other viruses when effectively installed in your home.

For more information on achieving better air quality in your Dayton area home, contact Detmer & Sons, Inc.

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

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

All furnaces are required by law to be tested and a determination made as to their efficiency. AFUE, or annual fuel utilization efficiency, ratings compare the fuel that goes into operating a furnace and the amount of heat your furnace is capable of producing from that fuel. When you begin looking to upgrade or select a new furnace, this is the most critical number to understand.

Modern high-efficiency furnaces rate at 90-97 percent AFUE. This means the heating system has a sealed combustion chamber with a heat exchanger for capturing additional flue heat for re-circulating back into the system before exhausting. These are your most efficient but also higher-priced systems. Mid-efficiency furnaces have 80-89 percent AFUE ratings. They are not as robust but are quite acceptable with their compact size and lighter weight. Older furnaces carry as low as 68-72 percent AFUE ratings. These are the least efficient and no longer meet the minimum allowed AFUE ratings in the United States.

Furnaces that are all-electric have 100 percent AFUE ratings because they have no flue requirement and therefore no heat loss. The high costs of electricity in most parts of the country make choosing an all-electric furnace cost-prohibitive for many homeowners.

If the AFUE information is not readily noticeable on your existing furnace for upgrading, or the new furnace system you are considering, hold off until that information is made available. For help with your furnace upgrade, including which modern features will most enhance furnace efficiency, please contact us at Detmer and Sons, Inc.

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

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

If this is your situation, you should consider an annual HVAC maintenance plan. The professionals at Detmer and Sons, Inc. have busy lives, too, and we know how easy it is to put off scheduling an appointment until you have a problem. Our solution is to offer a yearly maintenance plan where we contact you to set up a maintenance appointment twice a year. We service your air conditioner in the spring and your heating system in the fall, ensuring that both are in proper working order when you need them.

We will inspect your HVAC unit to make sure all parts are clean, properly connected, and working as expected. For the air conditioner, we will check refrigerant levels and adjust them as needed. For the heating system, we will check your heat exchanger, and if appropriate check your gas connections to make sure there are no cracks or leaks that could cause a health or fire hazard. We also offer priority preferred service and a 15 percent repair discount as a thanks for choosing Detmer and Sons.

When you keep up with HVAC maintenance, you see several long-term benefits. Just like any machinery, HVAC systems benefit from being properly lubricated, cleaned, and having drains and filters unclogged. When everything is in proper working order, the life of the machine is extended, protecting your investment and reducing the chance that you will have to pay for costly repairs. Perhaps most importantly, you will have the peace of mind that your HVAC system will work when you need it the most.

For expert advice on all HVAC issues in the Dayton area, contact Detmer and Sons, Inc.

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

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Air Loss

One of the biggest challenges facing homeowners is trying to seal all the leaks, cracks and holes in their home. Even the smallest crack will let conditioned air escape from your home, which will lead directly to high energy costs. When heated or cooled air is escaping, your system has to work harder to make up for it. To minimize air loss, install inexpensive insulation around windows and exterior doors, and place a door jam at the bottom. Use caulking to seal any cracks or holes around rim joints in your basement and chimney or in plumbing stacks in your attic.

Duct Leaks

The ductwork connected to your HVAC system is essential for distributing conditioned air throughout your home. If the ducts become damaged, air will leak through the holes or cracks instead of warming or cooling your home. Fortunately, a professional HVAC technician can seal the ducts and reduce high energy costs.

Thermostat

Improper thermostat settings may be increasing your energy use and packing extra dollars on your utility bills. Try lowering the thermostat at night when under the covers and during the day when the house is empty.

Annual Maintenance

The best way to keep your HVAC system functioning properly and running at its highest efficiency is with annual maintenance by a local company that you trust. During the routine servicing, the technician will examine your system for problems – including those that cause high energy costs – and inform you of possible solutions.

For more solutions to high energy costs, contact the experts at Detmer & Sons, Inc. Since 1978, we have provided Dayton area homeowners with quality service from a family-owned business.

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

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!