The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you upgrade any air conditioner that’s over 10 years old. Technology has improved the way cooling systems work. The models available years ago do not come close to the efficiency that newer models offer. Selecting an A/C unit with a high efficiency rating can cut monthly costs by as much as 30 percent. If you look at what you currently pay to run the old system, you’ll see the long-term energy savings. The old system is costing more than it’s worth.

Upgrades That Save

Upgrade is a catchall term for improving what you have in place. For air conditioners, that can mean many things. You might throw out the energy-draining window unit in favor of a central air conditioning system. For heating the same area, window units cost more in energy over the years than installing a central system. Central air conditioners are quieter and more environmentally friendly as well.

If you already have central air in your home, think about a condenser/compressor upgrade. Installing a new high-efficiency condenser/compressor will improve performance, save upfront costs and still cut down on those monthly energy bills. It might not be necessary to replace the indoor air handler/evaporator.

Selecting a high-efficiency unit is easier now than it has ever been. Models come with ratings that tell you what to expect. All air conditioners must have a SEER (cooling efficiency) rating of at least 13, but the higher the number, the more long-term energy savings you’ll get. The numbers currently rise into the 20s and are expected to continue advancing as technology improves.

Contact us for help picking the right high-efficiency air conditioner for your home. J.D. Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning has been serving the Colorado Springs area for more than 15 years.

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

JD Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning services Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

The unit is more than 10 years old

Aging air conditioners are guaranteed to be less energy efficient than the models you can buy today. Plus, if your current air conditioner isn’t Energy Star-certified, it wasn’t particularly efficient to begin with. Affordable Energy Star-labeled equipment available today can save you 20 to 40 percent on cooling costs compared to your plus 10-year-old unit. In this way, the investment can pay for itself in energy savings after several seasons.

The equipment has required more frequent repairs lately

This is a sign that it’s time to stop throwing good money after bad. A new A/C is certainly an investment, but repairing your air conditioner when it’s at the end of its useful life is simply a waste of money. Besides, as your air conditioner ages, it becomes less and less efficient, which means you’re paying more to operate it as well.

You’re experiencing comfort problems

Overly hot or cold rooms could mean your equipment isn’t running properly anymore. Additionally, excess humidity in the air could mean it’s struggling to remove moisture from your home. Both of these problems may be remedied if you stop repairing your air conditioner when it’s beyond repair and choose a new high-efficiency model to take its place. The comfort improvements and energy savings are well worth it.

To explore a wide selection of high-efficiency air conditioners, please contact J.D. Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning in Colorado Springs today. We can also help you decide if replacing or repairing your air conditioner is best in your situation.

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

JD Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning services Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

But how efficient is your heat pump? The energy efficiency of a heat pump can be found by looking at two terms:

• Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF; and
• Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER.

HSPF is the rating system used during the winter heating season. It’s a ratio of the total heat put out by the system (measured in British Thermal Units) divided by the total amount of electricity put into the system (measured in watt-hours). A higher HSPF number means that the system is more efficient, because it’s providing more heat per watt-hour. HSPF is “seasonal,” which means that it’s computed based on the entire winter season. It therefore gives you a real-life average, taking into account the wide range of temperatures and weather conditions the system will face over time.

SEER is somewhat similar to HSPF, but is used to measure cooling efficiency instead of heating efficiency. It, too, is “seasonal,” and tells you the average energy efficiency over the course of an entire summer.

You can buy new heat pumps with HSPF ratings that range from 7.7 to 9.7, and with SEER ratings from 13 to 19.2, though with advances in technology, the higher numbers are increasing all the time. Any system with an HSPF rating of at least 8.2 and a SEER rating of at least 14.5 qualifies for Energy Star status, meaning that they are considered more energy-efficient than average. However, because they don’t burn energy to create heat – they merely transfer it from one place to another – even a relatively low-rated system is fairly efficient. For instance, an electric furnace with 100 percent efficiency would have an HSPF rating of about 3.4, which is less than half as economical as a basic heat pump.

To learn more about HSPF and SEER ratings, or for any other questions you may have about heating and cooling for your Colorado Springs area home, contact the local experts at J.D. Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning.

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

JD Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning services Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Your house will always consume some energy, unless you turn off the power completely. You probably won’t want to do that, though, since it would mean having to completely empty your fridge and freezer and disable your security system, among other things. Instead, try these simple suggestions for things you can do to save energy while you’re away:

Your air conditioner is one of the biggest users of electricity in your home. Since you won’t be home to feel the heat, you may as well turn it off. If you don’t want to come home to a raging inferno, it’s OK to leave it on, but set it several degrees higher than you would if you were at home – about 85 degrees. In our Rocky Mountain climate, with the relatively cool nights, you can probably just get away with shutting it down, however.

Another thing to remember is that most plugged-in appliances will draw small amounts of power even when turned off. It only takes a couple of minutes to unplug your computer, stereo and widescreen TV before heading out the door. Don’t forget that waterbed heater, too. This can add up to significant savings on your electric bill.

A final, but very important, way to save energy while you’re on vacation is to turn your water heater off at the breaker. Otherwise you’ll be paying for all the electricity it takes to keep that big tank of water hot.

Follow these tips, and you’ll be all set to enjoy your vacation, knowing you won’t have higher than necessary energy bills waiting for you at home.

Would you like to know more about how to save energy in your Colorado Springs area home? Contact us at J.D. Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning for more expert advice!

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

JD Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning services Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Here are some tips for programming your thermostat:

• Eight-Hour Blocks – There are two eight-hour blocks in the day when you should try to dial back the demand on your HVAC system. When you leave the house for work you should set back the temperature by 15 degrees and set the thermostat to return to the desired temperature about 15 minutes before you return home. The same thing goes for your sleeping hours but you can change the temperature by seven or eight degrees, instead of 15. You’ll save about 10 percent simply by programming your thermostat with these two blocks.
• The Two-Week Rule – No matter where you currently set your thermostat, try raising the temperature by two degrees and wait two weeks to give your body time to adjust. After two weeks, if you find that you are comfortable, do it again. Repeat the process until you find the temperature at which you are no longer comfortable.
• Don’t Use the “Hold” Feature – Constantly overriding the programmed settings defeats the purpose of what you’re trying to do. It’s also an inefficient way to operate your equipment.
• Adjust Your Vents – Consider the layout of the rooms in your home and open or close the room vents accordingly. For example, close vents in rooms that are not used often.
• Place Your Thermostat Correctly – Make sure the thermostat is not in direct sunlight or a room that gets more sun that the rest of the house. Also, avoid spots with a draft or doors that are frequently opened because you want the temperature reading to be accurate.

For professional advice on settings for your specific schedule and needs, contact J.D. Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning. With two decades of service to Colorado Springs and the surrounding area, we have the expertise to help you save.

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

JD Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning services Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

There are two main types of surge protection available:

• Service entrance surge protection is professionally installed, located where the electrical service enters the home or at the meter.
• Point-of-use surge protection can be purchased in retail stores and is used at the site of the appliance; it is plugged into the wall outlet. These resemble common power strips, and often serve the same purpose.

Power fluctuations can occur when lightning strikes or when the power flow from the utility company fluctuates. However, these are not the only reasons for electrical fluctuations. Household surges occur often, and can be caused merely by household appliances such as dishwashers, laundry appliances and even a hair dryer kicking on and causing a sudden surge of electricity.

How surge protection keeps your HVAC system safe:

• Power fluctuations add stress to heating and cooling equipment, and can lead to premature failure; power surges also can decrease the life of electronic devices.
• In the average home, power surges occur unexpectedly more than 300 times a year.
• Surge protection is cheap insurance.
• HVAC surge protection cuts power if the electrical current surges, eliminating costly damages.
• Damage to your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump is not a quick fix. You do not want to lose your necessary heating or cooling devices when the weather is extreme.
• Even if a power surge does not destroy your heating and cooling equipment, it can cause enough damage to warrant costly repairs now or later on.

Surge protection is important for the biggest physical investment inside your home, its heating and cooling system. For more information about keeping your HVAC system safe from unexpected power surges, contact J.D. Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning. We are available 24 hours a day, and with over 26 years of experience, we’re the company you can trust in the Colorado Springs area.

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

JD Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning services Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

1. Check your home for air leaks. The easiest and most effective way is to draw a simple floor plan of your home, close windows and exterior doors and turn off any gas- or fuel-burning appliances. Turn on the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans and light a stick of incense or a candle. Walk through each room slowly and note where the smoke or flame moves wavers than normally. Mark those locations on the floor plan and investigate each when you’re done. Air comes into your home through windows, doors, electrical outlets and switches placed on your home’s outside walls. Seal the problem spots with caulk, weather-stripping or expanding foam. You can get foam insulators for electrical switches and outlets in home improvement stores.
2. Visit your attic. You can reduce energy costs by adding more insulation. If you’re not sure if more would benefit your home, take a sample or a photo to a home improvement store near you. Ask the staff if yours is adequate. Insulation is an inexpensive way to reduce your energy consumption throughout the year.
3. Check your ducts for leaks. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that you can lose 30 percent of your conditioned air through leaks or duct problems. If your ducts are hard to access, contact an HVAC technician to test your leaks. They have special equipment and the expertise to identify and repair problem associated with ducts.

J.D. Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning has provided HVAC services to Colorado Springs and the surrounding area for more than 18 years. We can help you reduce energy costs by helping with duct repairs and HVAC maintenance. Contact us to learn how we can reduce energy costs for the upcoming cooling season.

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

JD Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning services Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

• Prevents premature aging of your house’s structural elements, plus hardwood floors and walls that can be damaged and cracked due to swings in humidity over time.
• Stops annoying static electricity and possible damage to your valuable electronic equipment.
• Improves the quality of indoor air and alleviates health concerns. May reduce the likelihood of respiratory infection and shorten the recovery period of common colds. Helps to prevent dry sinuses and throat with associated sneezing or coughing. Can protect respiratory systems from bacteria and viruses.
• Helps protect furniture, artwork and even musical instruments from suffering adverse effects due to overly dry air. Wooden parts may swell and shrink, affecting the tuning of instruments like guitars and pianos. Furniture joints may loosen, glue and adhesives may dry out, and wood may be damaged.
• Provides energy savings. With whole house humidification you will feel warmer, even if you lower your thermostat settings in wintertime. As the U.S. EPA points out, you’ll save money on heating energy bills for each degree you decrease the thermostat’s setting.
• Provides optimum comfort throughout the home.

For professional advice on whole house humidifiers, talk to the local experts at J.D. Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll help you choose a whole house humidification system that offers precise, automatic monitoring and control, proper capacity, excellent performance and minimum maintenance requirements. There are many different models and options to meet your family’s unique needs. Visit our website to learn more or just give us a call.

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

JD Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning services Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Humidifier image via Shutterstock

Today’s smart programmable thermostats offer a spectrum of features, from simple touchscreen programming to fully integrating all of your home-comfort systems, including heating, cooling, humidification and dehumidification. Some smart thermostats can even check online for the latest weather report – and adjust accordingly.

System compatibility

To simplify choosing the right programmable thermostat for your household, you’ll first need to identify the type of home-comfort systems you have. For instance, you may have a furnace for heating with a separate air conditioner, a zoning system, or perhaps you have a dual-fuel system with advanced features. You should take note of other systems such as whole-house humidifiers and dehumidifiers. Work with your heating and cooling professional to fully integrate all systems with a centralized control panel.

Schedule compatibility

Thermostats are available in three main programming options. If your household has regular activities beyond the typical workweek, the 7-day unit may be best. This unit offers programming for each day of the week. The other two options are the 5+2-day, and 5+1+1-day units. These provide one program for the workweek and one weekend program (with the 5+1+1-day unit providing separate weekend programming option). All units provide at least four daily event settings (temperature changes) to match your schedule, and to harness the greatest energy savings.

“Smart” features

The “smart” features differentiate today’s thermostats from past models. Smart thermostats are WiFi-linkable, allowing you to go online, or use a smartphone app to check, change or program settings. Receive alerts via online or smartphone, as well, such as out-of-range temperature variances, system malfunctions, and even when to change the HVAC filter. Intuitive touchscreen displays make programming simple and fast. Press the “hold” button for quick changes, and the thermostat resumes programmed temperature at the next scheduled event.

Take your home comfort and energy savings to the next level. Contact J.D. Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning for more information. We service the Colorado Springs area, providing personalized service for our customers for more than 18 years.

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.

JD Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning services Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

• Your HVAC contractor can probably get a better price on a new unit now that the heating season is over. Heating and cooling equipment wholesalers often offer overstock at post-season clearance prices. This is particularly true if a winter turns out to be shorter or milder than predicted the previous fall when the wholesaler was stocking up for the season. Also, spring is the season when furnace manufacturers actively market rebate programs. You may be able to negotiate better terms on a warranty or a maintenance service plan at this time of year.

• Cost of installation will be lower. Furnaces tend to fail during the height of the heating season. Your HVAC contractor has crews working overtime performing service and installations all winter. That adds up to significantly higher labor costs.

• Scheduling is more flexible during the off-season. The heating/cooling companies aren’t as busy and you’re not in a crisis situation. Installation can be arranged on a timetable that fits your schedule and causes minimum disruption to your household.

At J.D. Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning we’ve been keeping Colorado Springs area homeowners comfortable during all seasons for the last 18 years. Give us a call if you’re considering a furnace replacement.

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

JD Vigil Heating & Air Conditioning services Colorado Springs, Colorado. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!