Your high-efficiency furnace will perform best if you’ve taken these steps:

1. Load calculations. Make sure your HVAC contractor performs a Manual J load calculation to accurately size your high-efficiency furnace. An under- or oversized furnace will be an energy drain, rather than saver, and can compromise interior comfort and indoor air quality.
2. Inspect the ducts. As long as your contractor is doing the inspections necessary for the load calculations, have him inspect your duct design. If your ducts are poorly designed, are leaky, or suffer from airflow obstructions, those issues need to be addressed before your new furnace is installed. If a duct redesign is recommended, know that your investment will be returned via energy savings in a matter of years.
3. Seal your home’s envelope. Air leaks are a major reason that a home is losing energy. During the winter months, this means the warm conditioned air from your home will escape to the outside. Your furnace will have to run for longer intervals to maintain your desired thermostat setting, which wastes energy and creates more wear and tear on its mechanical parts.
4. Upgrade your insulation. Insulation forms a barrier that resists heat transfer. During the winter months, its helps to keep your warm air indoors where it belongs. Inspect the insulation in your attic and crawlspace. Upgrade your insulation if necessary. There shouldn’t be any gaps. In the attic, the insulation should come to about one inch below the attic floor joists.

Contact Detmer and Sons to optimize the energy efficiency of your Dayton area home before having your new high-efficiency furnace installed. We’ll be happy to do both jobs for you.

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

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• You’ve seen an increasing number of heating system repair invoices in recent years.

• Your utility bills are getting larger every winter, but you haven’t added any new energy draws in your home.

• You’re beginning to notice excess humidity issues in your bathrooms and kitchen.

• The furnace blower cycles on a lot, but it doesn’t seem to heat your home effectively. Some rooms are too warm, but others feel downright chilly.

• Your heating system is getting noisier. You’re hearing a humming sound when the cycle starts, and clangs and rattles while the blower fan is running.

• You’re always cleaning, but you can’t seem to stay ahead of the dust in your home in the winter. You’re also vacuuming up rust particles and debris from around your heating registers.

• During a routine filter check, you noticed that cracks are developing on some of the furnace components, and you also saw signs of corrosion on and around the unit.

• Your furnace looks old and worn out.

While all eight of the above signs point toward replacement, the age of your unit is often the biggest indicator that a failure could happen in the near future. A furnace that’s been heating your home for more than 15 years may be approaching the end of its useful life. If you’re not sure of its exact age, look for a date in the owner’s manual or on the data plate on the front or side of the unit. Alternately, write down the model and serial numbers and give the manufacturer a call.

For expert advice on whether a furnace replacement is the right decision, contact us at Detmer and Sons, Inc. We’ve served the HVAC needs of the Miami Valley for three generations.

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

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• While CO itself is odorless, excess CO production can accompany other problems in furnace combustion. If you can smell gas, a formaldehyde-like odor or other burning smells, have your furnace inspected immediately.
• Rusting, water streaking or soot around your furnace often points to damage which can signal a CO leak. Especially check in the case of loose or missing panels, connections or masonry.
• Excessive condensation on the inside of furnace windows may mean that exhaust gases aren’t being properly vented, escaping inside your house instead.
• A loud banging when the furnace ignites could mean improper alignment of furnace components, or it could point to a small explosion inside the furnace as collected gases light up. This can develop into a costly repair order, and should be inspected as soon as possible.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can manifest with flu-like symptoms, including headaches, nausea and dizziness. If you experience these symptom and have any reason to suspect that you may have a carbon monoxide issue in your home, you should exit to clean air immediately and call emergency services. If you smell gas, you should leave the premises immediately and call the gas utility from a safe distance. Do not re-enter your home until given the all-clear.

Carbon monoxide kills hundreds of Americans every year, but with proper preventative maintenance and regularly tested CO detectors, you can keep your home and family safe. To learn more, contact us at Detmer and Sons, Inc. We’re proud to serve homeowners in the Dayton and Springfield areas.

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

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Contractors use computer software called Manuals J, S and D when sizing a new furnace and ensuring compatible ductwork. The most important calculation, Manual J, considers these factors in order to determine your home’s heating load:

• Cubic footage you need to heat;
• Insulation levels throughout the structure;
• Number of windows, their energy efficiency and orientation to the sun;
• Rate of air infiltration and the direction your home faces;
• Floorplan design;
• Number of home occupants and ages;
• Preferred indoor temperatures;
• Appliances you use that create heat; and
• Landscaping factors.

The contractor will use Manual S to analyze the suitability of different furnaces for your home. The last step is the ductwork analysis with Manual D that gives the contractor information about the capacity and configuration of the ductwork so it will work with your new furnace.

It’s important to go through these analyses because a system that’s too small won’t be able to heat your home comfortably when it’s especially cold, and one that’s too large will run in short cycles. Short cycling drives up energy costs, increases wear on the system, and won’t keep you as comfortable. It runs in brief cycles that won’t heat your home evenly. The air in rooms farther from the blower won’t have time to pass through the system long enough to be thoroughly heated.

A furnace is a long-term investment. Taking the time to go through each step of the sizing process assures your comfort and satisfaction. To learn more about a furnace replacement, please contact us at Detmer and Sons. We’ve provided outstanding HVAC services for Dayton area homeowners since 1978.

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

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Buy a Better Furnace Filter

A furnace filter with a MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) of 13 or more will filter out over 90 percent of all pollutants from your air in a single pass. This is your best defense against airborne dust, though at this elevated MERV rating (the rating tops out at 16 for residential filters), your HVAC system likely will need to be modified to accommodate the more efficient and larger filter. Air filters with a lower value will remove some particles, but not as efficiently. Still, for most homes’ air-quality requirements, a mid-range MERV filter is recommended, to avoid restricting airflow. As the air passes through the filter repeatedly, most of the dust will be removed.

Turn the Furnace Fan on When Vacuuming

Vacuuming your floor kicks dust up into the air. Turning your HVAC system on in “fan on” mode will pull this dirty air into the air returns and through the furnace filter instead of allowing it to linger in the air for hours.

Don’t Dry Dust

When you’re dusting, use a dusting spray. These sprays electrostatically charge or moisten the dust to make is easier to pick up. This will prevent dust from being pushed around and getting back in the air.

Get a Good Vacuum

Buy a vacuum with a HEPA filter that has both hard floor and carpet modes. The filter will prevent dust from being expelled from the machine while it’s in use, and being able to turn the carpet agitator off will stop dust from being pushed away from the machine when it’s on a hard surface.

Take Your Rugs Outside to Clean

Rugs collect copious amounts of dust and dirt. Taking them outside and beating them with a stick will remove dust particles from the house where vacuuming could agitate them.

Clean Your Pillow Cases and Sheets

Your pillow covers and sheets are full of dead skin cells and other dust. Every time you turn over, these particles are launched into the air. Wash them once a week. If they are dry-clean-only, take them out with the rugs and shake them off.

For more indoor-air quality improvements to your Dayton area home, please contact us at Detmer and Sons.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio 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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• Heating: Keeping your heat turned up is pointless while you’re away, even if you have pets in the house. Ask your veterinarian, if necessary, to determine a good heat setting for your animals. If should be several degrees lower than your home comfort temperature. Whether you have pets or not, you should program your thermostat at a significantly lower temperature before leaving, as every degree you turn your heat down saves 2-3 percent on your energy bill.
• If you haven’t already done so this fall, schedule a fall tuneup on your furnace or heating system before you leave for your winter trip. This will give you peace of mind knowing your equipment is operating safely and efficiently.
• Lights: Use timers on a few internal lights to give the appearance of being home. Unplug any other lamps you will not be needing, because they are still using energy when plugged in, even if otherwise turned off. Exterior motion sensor lights are especially effective at keeping would-be burglars at bay.
• Electronics/Appliances: As with unused lamps, electronics and appliances that remain plugged in when not in use are working as “energy vampires” that will only increase your electric bill. Walk around your home and unplug everything that won’t require use while you’re on vacation – toasters, gaming and entertainment systems, electric razors, coffeemakers, cell phone chargers and digital clocks. However, you may consider leaving a radio plugged in, timed to go off at certain times.
• Driveway: Make it look like someone is there by asking a trusted neighbor to park in your driveway while you enjoy your winter getaway. You may also want to ask this person to handle your mail so it doesn’t pile up. If not, put a temporary hold on mail and newspapers until you get back.

These are just some of the things you can do to maintain a safe and sound home. For more home tips, please contact us at Detmer and Sons, Inc. We have been serving the Dayton and Springfield area since 1978.

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

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Sizing is Key

• For your condensing gas furnace to be effective and efficient, it needs to be sized properly for your space.
• Review with your contractor the proper sizing, which will prevent short firing cycles and temperature swings.

Outside Air Should Be Used for Combustion

• Household products can contaminate the air indoors, which can be damaging if fed into the furnace.
• Your contractor should install the furnace in a location where indoor air won’t be fed into the condensing gas furnace.

Proper Venting and Drainage Is a Must

• Your condensing gas furnace installation should be properly vented to exhaust outdoors. Venting mistakes can allow dangerous carbon monoxide to enter your living areas.
• The exhaust pipe should slope down toward the outside of your home, and be adequately supported to facilitate proper drainage.
• Check that your contractor is running exhaust and intake pipes next to each other, which will allow both to receive equal wind pressure.
• A condensate pump should be involved if drainage by gravity isn’t an option.

Improve Your Chimney

• Your old furnace may have been vented through your chimney, but that won’t be necessary with a condensing gas furnace installation. If your water heater is still vented through the chimney, improvements may be necessary to protect its integrity.
• The gases from your water heater may not contain the right amount of heat to help them rise all the way up and out your chimney, and condensate can build up inside. Prevent damage to the chimney by installing a flexible aluminum liner that downsizes the chimney channel.

For questions about condensing gas furnace installation for your home, please contact us at Detmer and Sons. We’ve served the Dayton area for more than 10 years.

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

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Heat pumps aren’t as common in areas that frequently experience sub-freezing temperatures. Heat pumps don’t directly generate heat but rather extract it from the outside air and bring it inside. This makes them much more energy efficient than other heating systems, but also means they can’t provide enough heat when temperatures drop below freezing. The good news is that manufacturers are designing and producing state-of-the-art heat pumps that can provide comfortable heating down to near zero, though they’re still not that common.

To compensate for their limitations at colder temperatures, heat pumps typically included feature backup electric heating elements. This is fine for mild climates where they will rarely get used, but electric heating elements aren’t an economical way to heat a home for extended periods. Dual-fuel heating solves this problem because it forgoes the backup electric heating element and allows a gas furnace to provide the backup heating instead.

Heat pumps also provide cooling in the same manner as an air conditioner in the summer, so the best time to consider purchasing dual-fuel heating would actually be when it’s about time to replace your old air conditioner. Dual-fuel systems do cost a bit more than a regular air conditioners, but heat pumps can provide heat at up to three times the efficiency of even the most efficient furnace, so dual-fuel systems can provide significant savings on energy bills. Exactly how much you’ll save depends on a variety of factors, such as local electrical and gas rates, so you may want to consult an HVAC professional for an estimate. Additionally, they can check your furnace for compatibility since not all older furnaces work with dual-fuel heating systems.

If you want help determining how much savings a dual-fuel system could provide for your home, please contact us at Detmer and Sons, Inc. We’ve provided service to the Dayton and Springfield areas since 1978.

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

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Although the underground network of piping, known as a loop system, plays a major role, equally important to any geothermal installation is the indoor component – the heat pump. Let’s learn more about this key aspect of a geothermal installation.

• How does it work? A geothermal heat pump removes heat from a water/anti-freeze mixture, which itself has extracted heat energy from the ground or water through which the loop system runs. Inside, a heat pump unit extracts that heat to warm your home. For cooling, the process is reversed, with heat energy from the home rejected back into the earth.

• Why does it work better than a regular air-source heat pump, A/C or furnace? In a conventional heat pump or A/C, part or all of the system is located outside. All of the mechanical parts of a geothermal heat pump are located inside your home. The protected location results in a 20-25 year lifespan, far longer than the average HVAC system. Since a geothermal system exchanges heat from ground or water that doesn’t reach the extreme temperatures that you find in the outside air, this essential heat-exchange process is much more efficient and less expensive to operate. The technology does not use natural gas, and requires only a small amount of electricity.

• Will the operation disturb my family? A conventional heat pump or A/C has an outside unit that can be quite loud. A geothermal heat pump has no such outside unit, and the inside heat pump system is designed to operate quietly.

• How should I maintain my geothermal installation? The best way to take care of your geothermal heat pump is to establish a regular maintenance schedule with a knowledgable contractor. Your heat pump can fall victim to dirt and debris over time, as well as mechanical breakdowns.

Would you like a better understanding of your geothermal heating system as we head into the winter months? Please contact Detmer and Sons, Inc. Let us help you keep your family warm and safe this season. We’ve been proudly serving Dayton area residents since 1979.

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

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Equipment Terminology

• Matched system. Products certified to perform as promised if used together per specifications.
• Zone system. Divides home based on variable heating requirements, and allows independent temperature control.
• Downflow furnace. Expels warm air at the bottom, draws return air from the top. Upflow furnaces do the opposite.
• Horizontal furnace. Sideways unit that expels warm air and draws in return air from opposite sides.
• Natural-draft furnace. Uses pressurized flue gasses to force air through vents.
• Heat pump. HVAC system that uses the heat-exchange properties of refrigerant to provide efficient heating and cooling in a home.
• Single package system. Encases year-round heating and cooling system in one outdoor unit.
• Heat exchanger. Transfers heat between media.
• Air diffuser. Directs airflow in beneficial patterns.
• Air handler. Circulates air through ductwork.
• Blower. Mechanical fan that moves airflow through the system.
• Ducts. Network of (usually) metal tubes and channels that carry heated and cooled air and removes exhaust (return) air to specific spaces.
• Damper. Movable valve or plate within ductwork that regulates airflow in zoned heating.
• Register. Grille/damper assembly that covers opening ends of ducts.
• Emergency, auxiliary or supplementary heat. Backup heat within a heat pump system.

Energy Terminology

• BTU (British Thermal Unit). Measures energy necessary to heat a pound of water one degree.
• Heating capacity. Furnace’s ability to heat a specific space, measured in BTUs.
• Efficiency. Rates fuel-efficiency and comfort equipment similar to vehicular miles-per-gallon classifications.
• AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). Measures average, season-long heat delivered vs. fuel input. Higher ratings (in percentages) indicate greater efficiency.
• HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). Heat pump’s aggregate output in BTUs divided by electrical input’s watt-hours during normal usage period.
• AHRI (American Heating and Refrigeration Institute). Trade association overseeing industry standards. Rates and certifies equipment.
• Load calculation. Used by professional HVAC contractors to calculate how much heating or cooling is required to make your home comfortable. Used in sizing HVAC systems.
• Balance point. The point at which your heat pump can no longer keep up with the outside temperatures.

For any questions about furnace glossary terms, or to speak with a Comfort Advisor, please contact us at Detmer and Sons. We have been proudly serving the Miami Valley for three generations.

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

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