Seal ducts: The ductwork of your heating system handles all of the air produced to warm your house. Air and energy leaks in the duct network can account for major reductions in furnace efficiency as well as significant increases in your heating bills. Make sure your ductwork is properly sealed to prevent these leaks.

You can check and seal your ductwork yourself, or hire a professional service expert to do it. Make sure that all sections of the ductwork fit together tightly, leaving no gaps, holes or openings. Pay particular attention to elbows and branches. Seal connections between ductwork sections with the specialized sealant mastic or with metal tape. Avoid using traditional duct tape; despite its name, it doesn’t work well on ducts since it can dry out and fall away.

Use dampers: Most heating systems contain dampers that allow you to balance the amount of heat coming into your home. You can usually find them in the floor registers or in the warm-air supply ducts. Try closing the dampers in the warmest rooms in your house to see how that affects furnace efficiency and overall heating effectiveness.

Add more cold-air returns: Air-return ducts direct air back to furnace to be heated and circulated again. Many homes do not have enough of these ducts to provide adequate return airflow. To improve system airflow and efficiency, install more return ducts in living areas, bedrooms and large common areas.

Reduce thermostat settings: Simply turning down your thermostat will save energy and improve furnace efficiency. Using programmable thermostats will give you even greater control over temperature settings and when and at what level your furnace operates.

Putnam Mechanical provides a full range of HVAC and refrigeration services to customers in Mooresville and throughout the Carolinas. Contact us today for more information on keeping our furnace operating efficiently and effectively.

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

Putnam Mechanical serves Mooresville, NC and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

When temperatures fall near 20 degrees, water pipes can freeze and burst, causing major water damage in your home. The best option is to prevent frozen pipes in the first place.

• Insulate: Cover pipes with pre-made insulation designed to fit around plumbing. If you can’t find this type of insulation, wrap your pipes with blanket-style fiberglass insulation. Add heat tapes, lengths of electrical wire containing heating elements that warm pipes.
• Open faucets: When temperatures fall into the danger zone, turn on your faucets and let a thin stream of cold water run continuously.
• Open cabinets: Open cabinet doors beneath your sinks in the bathroom and kitchen, or open other doors that will let a greater amount of your home’s heat reach the pipes.
• Stop the cold: Seal and insulate areas around pipes to prevent excess cold air from reaching them. Seal holes in walls and around foundations with silicone caulking or weatherstripping.

If you think your pipes have frozen, call a plumber immediately. Check throughout your home for water leaks or possible burst pipes. If a pipe breaks, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve. Don’t shut off faucets; leave them open so that you know when water is flowing again and to relieve pressure in the line. If you want to try unblocking your pipes yourself, use a hand-held hair dryer and gradually heat up the pipe from the faucet end to where you think the blockage exists. Do not use flame to thaw pipes as this will create a fire hazard.

Putnam Mechanical provides a full range of HVAC and refrigeration services to customers in Mooresville and throughout the Carolinas. Contact us today for more information on preventing frozen pipes and for the supplies and equipment to keep your plumbing safe all winter long.

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

Putnam Mechanical serves Mooresville, NC and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Design

Your heating or cooling system’s ductwork must be able to supply sufficient amounts of conditioned air throughout your home. It must be carefully designed to do this efficiently while minimizing possible areas of energy loss. Both supply and return ductwork must fit within the space available. The number of connections and “Y” branches must be kept to a minimum. Ducts must be designed and installed so that there is little possibility of damage, disconnection of sections, kinking or other malfunctions. It’s easiest to address ductwork design during new construction, but even ductwork in older homes can be redesigned and rearranged to improve efficiency.

Sizing

Ductwork must be correctly sized to be efficient. It must be big enough to carry plenty of conditioned air to the farthest vents in the network, but cannot so small that it restricts the system’s necessary airflow.

Sealing

Ductwork must be well sealed to prevent air leaks and energy loss where segments connect. Each section should fit tightly together with adjoining sections, particularly elbows and branches. Connections should be sealed with mastic or metal tape. Avoid using common duct tape since it can dry out and fail over time.

Insulation

To cut energy loss even further, ducts should also be thoroughly insulated. This will prevent additional energy loss through the thin metal of the ductwork itself. Rigid fiber board insulation or blanket-style wrapped insulation are commonly used for this purpose.

Contact us at Putnam Mechanical today for expert information on ductwork sealing, insulation, and design and for additional information on reducing energy loss throughout the entire duct system.

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

Putnam Mechanical serves Mooresville, NC and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Be Aware

• Keep a working AM/FM radio available for local news, information and emergency broadcasts.
• Keep a NOAA weather radio that broadcasts only information on weather emergencies and local conditions.
• Stock a generous supply of fresh batteries for each radio.
• If possible, also have a hand-cranked radio available if batteries are best used elsewhere.

Be Warm

• Keep out the cold by dressing in layers. Wear a hat, knit cap or other head covering to help maintain body heat.
• Put additional blankets, comforters or sleeping bags on your bed at night or for warming yourself up during the day.
• Use space heaters with safety features that shut them off if tipped over or moved.
• Keep several sets of dry winter clothing available, including extra coats, wool or fleece sweaters, wool insulated underwear, and wool socks, hats, scarves, and gloves.
• Maintain wet-weather gear and clothing, such as raincoats, ponchos, gloves, boots and hats in case you have to be outside in the weather.

Be Safe

• Assemble an emergency kit containing common tools, extra blankets, a fire extinguisher, copies of important documents, and survival gear.
• Keep several working flashlights and plenty of batteries.
• Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit where you can find it quickly and easily, even if under stress from the weather or injuries.
• Maintain at least a three-day emergency supply of non-perishable food and fresh drinking water.
• Do not use fuel-powered heaters or generators indoors. They produce dangerous exhaust fumes and carbon monoxide.
• Be careful outdoors. Avoid downed power lines, hanging tree limbs, and other dangers.

Contact us at Putnam Mechanical today for more information on how to prepare for power outages and how to stay safe without power and heat.

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

Putnam Mechanical serves Mooresville, NC and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

In a dual-fuel system, the heat pump provides cooling during the summer and heating when temperatures start to drop but remain above freezing. As temperatures fall below about 32 degrees, the heat pump loses efficiency as a heat source. The furnace part of the system then kicks in to provide more economical heating.

This double level of operation means the system always uses the more effective of the two fuel sources, conserving energy and saving you money. It also means the workload between the heat pump and furnace will be more balanced, reducing the overall level of wear on either component.

To get the best benefit out of your dual-fuel system, you must keep the furnace maintained and ready for when the weather gets colder. You will also have to manage the two sources of fuel to make sure both components of the system are fully functional. Cost savings can easily make up for inconveniences in maintaining the system.

In general, dual-fuel systems are more expensive than traditional heating and cooling sources. If your existing furnace is compatible, a heat pump add-on can cost $5,000 or more. A complete dual-fuel system can cost twice that or more. Remember, however, that dual-fuel systems can reduce home heating and cooling expenses by as much as 30 percent over traditional furnaces and air conditioners. The immediate cost savings on home heating and cooling can let you recoup the initial investment in a relatively short time.

Putnam Mechanical provides a full range of HVAC and refrigeration services to customers in Mooresville and throughout the Carolinas. Contact us today for more information on dual-fuel systems and how they can keep your North Carolina home comfortable for less.

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

Putnam Mechanical serves Mooresville, NC and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

You can also tell a great deal about your contractor’s dedication to HVAC excellence by his participation in professional industry groups. NATE (North American Technician Excellence) is a highly respected organization for technicians, service personnel, and repairmen in all areas of the HVAC industry. Membership in NATE indicates your contractor is dedicated to outstanding professional service in heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration.

NATE was founded in 1997 and today is a leading nonprofit training and certification organization for HVAC technicians. It is recognized throughout the entire HVAC industry as a reliable and accepted source of training, technical certification and continuing education for experienced HVAC technicians.

A NATE-certified repairman or contractor has proven he possesses the technical knowledge and experience to do your HVAC job correctly. NATE-certified professionals have passed rigorous industry-specific tests that demonstrate in-depth industry knowledge and technical ability. A NATE-certified repairman is thoroughly trained in installation and service in areas such as air conditioning, heat pumps, gas and oil furnaces, air distribution and HVAC efficiency.

Many industry groups, business and unions in the United States recognize and accept NATE certification. NATE partners include some of the HVAC industry’s biggest associations, including the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Customer surveys and statistics reveal that NATE-certified technicians have nearly 13 percent fewer callbacks than non-NATE technicians. More than 30 percent of customers surveyed said they were extremely satisfied with a a system installed by a NATE-certified repairman.

Putnam Mechanical provides a full range of HVAC and refrigeration services to customers in Mooresville and throughout the Carolinas. We are proud members of NATE, and our NATE-certified technicians can find the solutions to your most complex HVAC problems. Contact us today.

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

Putnam Mechanical serves Mooresville, NC and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Here are some baseline percentage estimates of the amount of energy used by the average household. Also included are some suggestions for reducing the amount you spend on these areas every month.

Electronics: Electronics, including televisions, computers, and DVD players, together use only 4 percent of monthly energy totals. Turn off and unplug these devices when you’re not using them. Use your computer’s energy-saving sleep or hibernation modes.

Refrigerators: Refrigeration of food and perishables eats up 6 percent of an average utility bill. Install a model with a freezer on top rather than a side-by-side model. Avoid the use of icemakers. Minimize opening of refrigerator and freezer doors.

Lighting: Keeping our homes well lighted consumes 7 percent of our monthly bill. Use compact fluorescent bulbs rather than standard incandescent bulbs. This simple switch can save more than two-thirds on lighting costs.

Washers and dryers: Clothing maintenance uses 10 percent of total energy expenses. Wash clothes in cold water instead of hot. Use a front-loading washer if possible. Front-loaders can cut water consumption by 25 percent.

Hot water: Household hot water use accounts for a surprising 11 percent of monthly utility expenses. Set hot-water temperature to 120 degrees. Insulate your water heater’s storage tank. Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.

Heating and cooling: Home comfort, by far, accounts for the largest percentage of most household utility expenditures, at 45 percent. Make sure the system’s ductwork is well sealed and insulated. Insulate your home well and install energy-saving window treatments, weatherstripping, door and window seals and other blocks against energy leaks. Use a programmable thermostat. Change the unit’s air filter monthly.

Putnam Mechanical provides a full range of HVAC and refrigeration services to customers in Mooresville and throughout the Carolinas. Contact us today for more information for suggestions on how to trim your energy bills.

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

Putnam Mechanical serves Mooresville, NC and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Money Savings image via Shutterstock 

Tools

A successful furnace install requires a diverse set of expensive tools, gauges and measuring devices. These include the standard range of hand and power tools, plus specialized devices such as cutting and welding tools, vacuum pumps and containers of nitrogen and other necessary chemicals. You may also need pipe cutters, pipe threaders and dies, and specialized vises.

Technique

Installing a furnace requires skill in techniques borrowed from several different trades, including plumbing and sheet-metal work. You may have to know how to cut and thread steel pipe, how to attach different types of fittings and how to cut and connect copper tubing. You will have to know how to measure, cut and shape sheet metal so that ductwork and ventilation systems are properly connected.

Access

In many cases, you may not be permitted to purchase a furnace system unless you can prove you are a licensed and certified HVAC contractor. This is because many manufacturers and retailers want to be sure equipment is installed by trained experts who are much less likely to make mistakes.

Safety

There are also critical safety issues involved in installing a furnace. A fuel-burning heating system generates dangerous gases as a byproduct of combustion, including carbon monoxide. These gases must be vented outdoors and away from your house. An error in this part of the installation could result in a death from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Putnam Mechanical provides a full range of HVAC and refrigeration services to customers in Mooresville and throughout the Carolinas. Contact us today for more information on furnace installation and for expert assistance with installing your furnace.

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

Putnam Mechanical serves Mooresville, NC and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Not all furnace filters are alike. Some types are much better at keeping your air clean. A high-MERV filter will remove most of the particulates and contaminants from your inside air, leaving you with fresher, cleaner air that improves indoor comfort and benefits your family’s respiratory health.

MERV stands for minimum efficiency reporting value, and is a standard HVAC industry rating of filter efficiency. MERV filter ratings express how effectively filters capture airborne particles from 0.3 to 10 microns in size.

Filters are assigned MERV ratings from 1 to 16. Higher MERV numbers mean the filter is capable of trapping smaller particles and removing them from your indoor air. A filter with a high MERV of 16, for example, stops very small particles such as bacteria, smoke and powders. In contrast, a MERV 1 filter traps only larger items such as dust mites, fabric fibers, and pollen. Low-cost furnace filters generally have MERV ratings of 1 to 4, which means their effectiveness is limited.

Filters are available that provide even better levels of filtration than standard high-MERV types. HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters are extremely effective at removing pollutants and cleaning your indoor air. HEPA filters function at a MERV level of 17 to 20. These types of filters are commonly used where air quality is very important and contaminants must be kept to an absolute minimum, such as hospitals and clean rooms housing sensitive equipment or processes.

Putnam Mechanical provides a full range of HVAC and refrigeration services to customers in Mooresville and throughout the Carolinas. Contact us today for information on furnace filter MERV ratings and for help finding the right filter 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 MERV filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Putnam Mechanical serves Mooresville, NC and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Air Filter image via Shutterstock

Another aggravation caused by dry air is increased static electricity and its annoying shocks. Static electricity causes that startling little zap you feel after walking across a carpet and touching a metal doorknob or a light switch. You can even transmit this shock to other people. Static electricity causes clothing to cling together and makes your hair stick up and refuse to stay in place. Static electricity is also dangerous to your expensive electronic equipment such as computers, stereos and video equipment.

You can reduce the effects of dry air and eliminate the many irritations of static electricity by installing a whole-home humidification system. These devices help control the overall level of moisture in your indoor air and the relative humidity in your home. With a relative humidity level of 35 percent or higher, you’ll do away with the painful little shocks and threats to electronics that static electricity causes.

Whole-home humidifiers are usually installed inside your existing forced air heating or cooling system. They are placed directly into the flow of air that leaves the unit and travels outward into your house. The humidifier increases overall moisture and humidity levels by adding tiny amounts of water vapor to the air flowing through the system. The humidified air is then returned to your house, where it increases relative humidity. An added benefit of whole-home humidifiers is that they have sensors that continually monitor and adjust the humidity level in your home.

Putnam Mechanical provides a full range of HVAC and refrigeration services to customers in Mooresville and throughout the Carolinas. Contact us today for information on the benefits of whole-home humidification and how it can reduce static electricity throughout your home.

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

Putnam Mechanical serves Mooresville, NC and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!