But most people don’t give any thought to the temperature of the water as they wash clothes or take a shower, even though heating water can consume as much as 30 percent of their utility bills. So how’s this for a sure-fire path to energy savings? Lower your water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees and watch your energy bills cool way down.

This simple idea is often overlooked solely because most manufacturers set the thermostats of water heaters at 140 degrees. If you ever have gotten a painful blast of hot water in the shower, yours may be set at this high temperature, too.

You’ll quickly feel what a difference turning down the dial means to your energy bills. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that for every 10 degrees you reduce the temperature, you can save between 3 and 5 percent on your heating bill.

To start reaping the energy savings, you’ll have to find the thermostat dial on your gas unit, most often found near the bottom of the tank. If you have an electric water heater, play it safe by shutting off the electricity to the water heater first. Then open the screw-on plate, behind which you should find the thermostat. In either case, consult your owner’s manual.

And don’t forget about another way to achieve energy savings: Turn down the thermostat to the lowest setting or turn off the water heater entirely if you’re going to be away from home for a weekend or longer.

Many homeowners rarely if ever adjust their water heater and so feel a natural level of apprehension. If you’re one of them, don’t hesitate to call WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning. We can walk you through the process of adjusting your water heater so that you feel comfortable and confident making frequent adjustments yourself — just like a member of our royal family should. Serving the Greater Cleveland area, we’re always happy to help.

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

Your contractor should utilize Manual J load calculations to determine the latent heating, latent cooling, and sensible cooling loads of your home. These load calculations will reveal the specific amount of heat and moisture that needs to be removed from your home (during summer months), and the amount of heat required to warm your home (during winter months) for your optimum comfort levels.

To properly size your heating and cooling systems, your contractor will consider the following key items:

• Local climate
• Size/shape of your home
• Insulation
• Window locations and types
• Appliances within the home that produce heat
• Ages and preferences of household occupants

When you insist that your contractor take accurate measurements of your home and all factors involved in sizing your systems, you’ll end up with HVAC equipment that fits your needs like a glove — and benefit in the following ways:

• Improved system efficiency — Efficient heating and cooling equipment will lower your utility bills by only expending the exact energy that they require to run. When you have an HVAC system that is too large for your home, for instance, it will use up excess energy without making your house any more comfortable. A Manual J calculation will ensure that your system is right-sized and can operate efficiently
• Better comfort — HVAC equipment that is too large will be unable to adequately meet your heating, cooling, and dehumidification needs. An oversized heat pump or air conditioner will diminish air quality, as it will not run long enough to properly remove moisture. This can lead to problems with toxic mold and mildew. But a system sized to meet your home’s cooling load will specifically be able to better manage humidity.

For more advice on HVAC sizing and other home comfort related issues, contact the experts at WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning. We have proudly been serving the Cleveland and Akron areas since 2000.

Our goal at WeatherKing 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.

Using SEER and HSPF to choose a high-efficiency heat pump system to heat and cool your home is one great way to do exactly that. When comparing heat pumps, these two terms can help you determine which models are more energy efficient.

SEER and HSPF each rate different aspects of a heat pump’s performance. SEER, which stands for “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio,” deals with its energy efficiency as a cooling system. HSPF, which stands for “Heating Seasonal Performance Factor,” deals with the winter heating side of the equation.

SEER and HSPF both measure how many units of temperature change are produced inside your house for each unit of electric power used. Specifically, they each represent the number of BTUs per watt-hour.

• A BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is the basic unit used to measure heat. It can measure either the heat produced or the heat removed from a house.
• One watt-hour is equal to one watt of electric current flowing for one hour. 1,000 watt-hours equals one kilowatt-hour (kWh), which is the common unit reported on electric bills.

So if your heat pump has a SEER rating of 13, that means it can cool your home by 13 BTUs while adding only one watt-hour to your electric bill.

Though energy efficiency can vary depending on the outdoor temperature, both SEER and HSPF report the average efficiency over the entire year. That makes them accurate predictors of your overall energy savings. For instance, if you increase the HSPF rating by 10 percent, your winter heating bills will be reduced by about 10 percent. The same holds true for the effect of higher SEER ratings on your summer electric bills.

To learn more about SEER and HSPF, or to find out how heat pumps can save you energy and money, contact WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning. Serving Northeast Ohio, we’re always happy to help.

Our goal at WeatherKing 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.

WeatherKing services  the Northeast Ohio area, including Akron, Cleveland and Northfield.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Why are filters important?
The filter in your air conditioner removes dust and other particles from the air in your home. This process is beneficial in a number of ways. A quality filter can boost efficiency and help keep your air conditioner clean, which extends its life span and prevents costly problems and repairs in the future. It also improves your indoor air quality, which can reduce asthma and summertime allergy symptoms.

MERV ratings
Unfortunately, not all filters are created equal. The cheap, fiberglass filters used in many home-comfort systems simply don’t do a very good job when it comes to removing particles from the air. You can use a filter’s Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating to determine its efficiency.

Filters with a higher MERV rating can trap smaller particles. Generally speaking, a filter with a rating greater than 8 should be used only upon expert recommendation, as they restrict airflow. So before you upgrade your standard filter to a higher MERV-rated one, consult your local HVAC professionals.

Routine filter changes
It’s also important to remember that filters need to be changed when they get dirty. A clogged filter loses the ability to catch additional particles, and a clogged filter restricts airflow, which causes your A/C to work harder and consume more energy. Exactly how often filters need to be changed depends on a variety of factors, but in most homes they should be changed about once every three months. However, during the peak of the cooling season, monthly filter changes may be necessary.

To learn more about the importance of A/C filters in your home, contact WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving the Cleveland and Akron areas since 2000.

Our goal at WeatherKing 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.

WeatherKing services the Northeast Ohio area, including the areas surrounding Akron, Cleveland and Northfield.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Air conditioners naturally create condensation while they operate. That water can encourage mold to grow in your home and damage wood and plaster. Furthermore, if you have a central air system with an evaporator coil in the attic, it could cause your ceiling to collapse.

Fortunately, it is easy to see if you are in danger of water damage. Usually, the condensation made by the evaporator coil is sent to a drain line. If that line clogs, the water goes into a pan under the coil. The pan is connected to an emergency pipe that leads directly outside of your house. If both it and the emergency drain are blocked, water backs up, overflows the pan and could seep into ceilings or walls.

Other problems can lead to water damage, too. Evaporator coils work harder if they suffer low refrigerant pressure, are dirty or have burned contacts. They then release more water than the main and emergency drains can handle.

An annual inspection and servicing of your air conditioner by a trained technician is the best way to prevent water damage. While the technician is at your home, ask for an algaecide treatment, too. Often, algae can cause clogged drains, and this treatment can help to keep the drain lines clear.

There also are many things you can do yourself to prevent water damage, including:

• Change your air conditioner’s filter monthly or every two months.
• Make sure grass and other plants do not block the intake vent.
• If you see water coming from the emergency drain, shut off the air conditioner and call a technician.
• Install a safety float switch that will automatically shut off the air conditioner if water fills up the drain pan. The climbing temperatures in your house will then lead you to call for repairs.

For more advice about avoiding water damage from your air conditioner or to schedule a service call, please contact us at WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning. Serving Greater Cleveland, we’re always happy to help.

Your air conditioner consists of two main units: The air handler and the condenser.

• The air handler houses evaporator coils that cold refrigerant moves through to cool the air. A fan blows air over the evaporator coils, cools the air, removes moisture and sends conditioned air through the ducts to your rooms. After moving through the condenser, the air returns through ducts, passes through a filter, enters the air handler and is conditioned again.

• The condenser contains the compressor that changes refrigerant from a warm gas to cold liquid. The refrigerant gas flows through the condenser coils and fans transfer heat to the outdoors. The gas then enters the compressor and is condensed into a cold liquid. This liquid moves through the pipes to the air handler to condition the air.

This process runs smoothly until issues arise, either from dirt buildup or lack of maintenance. Being aware of how your unit works allows you to locate problems, do simple repairs or call an experienced technician to examine your equipment when needed.

Some situations that can arise include:

• Strange odors: Odors may signal mold or mildew in your system.
• Excess dust: Noticeable dust can suggest the filters are blocked or there is a leak in your ducts.
• Excess humidity: High levels of humidity in the air may indicate a drainage problem in your air handler.
• Temperature levels: Difficulty keeping a cool temperature shows your coils may be dirty and your air conditioner must run longer to maintain a cool temperature.

With general knowledge of your air conditioner, you can determine if you are capable of simple repairs or if it is necessary to contact a professional for serious problems.

If you live in the Cleveland or Akron area and have concerns about your air conditioner, contact the expert team at WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning. We are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to answer your questions or resolve you air conditioner problems.

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

Here are some tips on what you can do to reduce your energy bills, leaving you more money to enjoy on your vacation:

• Adjust the settings on your A/C.  Don’t pay for conditioned air when no one is home to enjoy it. Setting the temperature to 85 degrees while you are away will save you some energy dollars, while allowing the unit to turn on occasionally to help control humidity.
• Clean out the fridge. Use or toss any perishables prior to your departure. This not only prevents you coming home to spoiled food, but will allow you to turn the fridge up to a warmer setting in your absence.
• Unplug electronics and small appliances. Even when turned off, many common household items such as computers or coffee makers continue to use power; save some energy dollars by pulling the plug.
• Perform annual maintenance on your A/C.  A unit that is dirty or in need of repair is more inefficient and may break down while you’re gone. Call WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning before you leave to set up an appointment for maintenance.
• Use a timer for lights. Turn off all but a few select lights and run them on a timer. This will give the illusion that someone is home, without wasting energy.
• Turn down the water heater. This appliance works round the clock to ensure you have hot water on demand. Set the control to vacation mode or to the lowest setting to realize some savings.
• Close curtains or blinds. Uncovered windows can let in a great deal of heat during the day, causing the A/C to run unnecessarily.

For more hints on how to save energy dollars this summer, give us a call at WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning. We have been proudly serving the residents of the Cleveland and Akron areas since 2000, and treat all our customers like family.

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

What is a zoning system?

With a zoning system, your house is divided into separate zones based on factors such as usage, site orientation and architectural features (large windows, cathedral ceilings, etc.). Multiple thermostats are installed and used to control motorized dampers, giving each zone separate climate control. Family members will be more comfortable and your A/C will not run as much, which will show up as savings on your energy bills.

Why can’t my current system do the job?

Most homes have a single thermostat. It is usually located in a central location and it tries to control the temperature in every room. Unfortunately, it is impossible for one thermostat to sense the temperature in each and every room. As a result, rooms on the sunny side of the house are always warmer, while rooms on the shady side are cooler — and second floor rooms can be unbearably warm.

When the temperature fluctuates so drastically, the common reaction is to adjust the thermostat. Ironically, this usually makes the problem worse. It’s the equivalent of trying to control the lighting needs of the entire house with a single light switch — it just won’t work.

With a zoning system, the temperature is measured in several locations throughout the home and the system adjusts itself to achieve maximum comfort with uniform temperatures.

Increased comfort is only one benefit of a zoning system. When your HVAC system works more efficiently, you’ll notice the savings on your next utility bill. There are long-term benefits as well: Your equipment will not work as hard — meaning fewer repairs and fewer costly maintenance calls.

For more information about zoning systems, contact the professionals at WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning. Proudly serving homeowners in Cleveland and Akron, we’re always happy to help.

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

• Gather relevant information about your system along with a list of the problems you are experiencing.
• Ask for more references — from people you don’t know. Take a leap of faith and surprise the contractor by asking for the name of someone who encountered a problem and/or lodged a complaint. Finding out how the contractor acted and responded should provide you with some telling insights.
• Investigate license and insurance requirements. In Ohio, the state licensing board number is 614-644-3493.
• Compare special offers or rebates at Energy Star. Before you do so, make sure that you know the make and model number of your system.
• Refine your search to Energy Star-qualified products, or those that meet strict efficiency standards.
• Expect that a reputable HVAC contractor will assess your home’s heating and cooling load, size the system accordingly and inspect your duct system. He or she should identify air leaks and faulty insulation, and make repairs.
• Gather work proposals and warranties, being sure to itemize every aspect of the job. The proposal should include the scope of the work, any equipment to be installed, the duration of the project and its cost.
• Ensure that a work contract is signed, and in pen. This step may seem obvious, but some fly-by-night contractors have been known to renege on a contract simply because they did not sign it.
• Insist that your HVAC contractor has earned the North American Technician Excellence certification, the leading HVAC certification program in the country.
• Read and keep handy a copy of the EPA’s Guide to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling, a complete guide to system replacement, energy efficiency improvements and HVAC maintenance.

All of these steps ought to lead you straight to HVAC contractor WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning, where our satisfied “royal family” in Northeast Ohio continues to grow.

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

But if you can carve out some time over the weekend for a DIY energy evaluation, you’re bound to discover other “sore spots” that, once repaired, could add up to significant long-term savings.

How much you’ll save depends on what you find. But homeowners who perform a methodical, step-by-step energy evaluation and then make the appropriate improvements often end up saving up to 30 percent on their energy bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

But here’s the key: Approach your DIY energy evaluation as an opportunity. In other words, expect to find some deficiencies. In fact, you want to find them because it’s the only way you’ll be able to make some repairs, or hire a top-notch heating/air conditioning professional to make them for you.

Before you begin your energy audit, create a “still factor” by:

• Closing all the windows and exterior doors
• Turning off your gas-burning furnace and water heater
• Turning on your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans or using a large fan to draw air out of your home

Now begin your DIY energy evaluation by searching for leaks. Take a long-stemmed lighter and hold it up against the following spots in your home, because a flickering flame will verify that you’ve found a leak:

• Around baseboards
• At the juncture where walls meet ceilings
• Windows and storm windows
• Doors
• Wall or window-mounted air conditioners
• Electrical outlets
• Switch plates
• Fireplace damper
• Attic hatch

Continue your indoor home energy audit by:

• Checking the insulation levels in your attic
• Checking the filters in your furnace and air conditioner
• Inspecting your light bulbs to ensure they are energy efficient

Now go to the exterior of your home. Focus your attention on those areas where two different building materials converge:

• At corners
• Where the siding meets the chimney
• Where siding or brick touches the foundation

Once you’re finished with your DIY energy evaluation, remember to call WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning. We can’t make your home as airtight as a submarine, but we’ll try to come close. Serving Greater Cleveland, we’re always happy to help.

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