Skip to footer Williamson's Heating and Cooling Menu EDUCATION MARCH 13, 2019 BY COOLTUCSON American Standard Rebates Only available from American Standard “Customer Care Dealers”. Special American Standard rebates on qualifying systems. Up to $1575.00 in rebates and TEP incentives per system for qualifying American Standard Systems. Call us at (520) 886-3229 to learn more! Filed Under: AC/Cooling, Heating MARCH 6, 2019 BY COOLTUCSON Seasonal Tips There are quite a few things that can be done to help mitigate the cost of home heating and cooling: Have your A/C and Heating system’s serviced in the spring and in the fall to be ready for the upcoming season Make sure that you seal off leaks around doors and windows Make sure that any cracks and gaps in the brick work mortar on the home’s exterior are repaired properly You can shut off a room that is not being used and close the register You can seal your ducts and registers (tip: don’t use “duct” tape) Adjust the temperature on your water heater down depending on the season Install a low flow showerhead Increase your attic insulation and insulate the floor joists Change your furnace and or A/C air filter monthly to help maintaining optimum performance. A healthy HVAC system means fewer break downs and low electric bills. These tips should help better control the indoor temperature, as well as decrease the natural gas and electric usage required to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. That being said, there are two things that we recommend EVERYONE do immediately before anything else. Those are: Buy a programmable digital thermostat. Program it effectively Programmable Digital Thermostats are the Best way to Cut your Heating Bills It’s been estimated that for each degree you lower your thermostat, you can expect to save 3% on your heating costs. I’ve calculated that installing and programming a digital programmable thermostat has saved about 20% on heating costs. According to Energy Star, installing an Energy Star programmable digital thermostat can cut your heating and cooling costs by $180 per year. If you purchase a $80 device (which is about the current average cost), that will earn you a return on investment of 300% in just the first year and nothing but sweet, pure savings after that. Filed Under: Tips & recommendations FEBRUARY 6, 2019 BY COOLTUCSON Basic Troubleshooting Heating and cooling not working properly? Don’t panic! There are several things that you can check on your own before picking up the phone to call a professional. First things to check! Is it getting power? Check your fuses or circuit breakers to make sure they don’t need to be reset Remember, if your home’s power is out or disconnected, your system may not work Is the thermostat set correctly? Make sure your thermostat has power Check that your thermostat is set to a cooling or heating mode and not set to “off” Make sure the thermostat is set to the right setting and temperature Check below for the best match for the symptoms you are experiencing to find a potential solutions. No Cooling / Insufficient Cooling – Air Conditioning Check the doors and windows in your home. Close any open doors or windows as cool air may be escaping through them. Check to see if your thermostat is on, and what temperature it’s set at. If your thermostat is turned off or set incorrectly, turn it on and/or reset thermostat. Check your home’s circuits and fuse box. If you have an open circuit breaker or burned-out fuse, switch on the circuit or replace the fuse. No Cooling / Insufficient Cooling – Evaporative Cooler Do you have a new or newly remodeled home? Was any work done on your fuel or electricity lines recently? Check to see if your gas or electricity has been turned off. If this is the case, having it turned back on may solve the problem. Check to see if your thermostat is on, and what temperature it’s set at. If your thermostat is turned off or set incorrectly, turn on and/or reset thermostat. Check your home’s circuits and fuse box. If you have an open circuit breaker or burned-out fuse, switch on the circuit or replace the fuse. Remove any snow drifts resting against your outdoor unit. No Heat / Insufficient Heat Do you have a new or newly remodeled home? Was any work done on your fuel or electricity lines recently? Check to see if your gas or electricity has been turned off. If this is the case, having it turned back on may solve the problem. Check to see if your thermostat is on, and what temperature it’s set at. If your thermostat is turned off or set incorrectly, turn on and/or reset thermostat. Check your home’s circuits and fuse box. If you have an open circuit breaker or burned-out fuse, switch on the circuit or replace the fuse. Remove any snow drifts resting against your outdoor unit. No Airflow Check around your outdoor unit. If there are any leaves, hedges or property walls butting up against it, your system may have frozen up due to a dirty coil. Make sure your outdoor unit has 1′ of clearance all around it. Check the filters in each of your system components (where applicable). If any of your filters are dirty, consult your manual to clean or replace it. Or call your dealer to do this for you. Check to see if there is any air coming through your vent. Your indoor blower may not be operating. If this is the case, you should contact your dealer. Stale and/or Stuffy Air If you have a whole-home air cleaner or air exchanger, make sure it is switched on and its filter is clean. For even more tips on improving your indoor air quality, click here. Too Dry or Too Much Moisture in the Air Check to make sure your humidifier is switched on. Many times, homeowners turn off the humidifier at the end of the previous heating season and forget to turn it back on when needed. Make sure your humidifier’s damper or water valve is open. If it’s closed, consult your manual to open or unclog. Check your humidifier setting and adjust the indoor relative humidity settings to bring greater comfort to your home. Noisy Air Vents A high pitched sound often, although not always, indicates a lack of return air. Make sure your return and supply vents are open and free of any blockages including furniture. Other noises (e.g., rattling, humming, thumping or scraping sounds) could be a sign of undersized or flimsy duct work, clogged filter or wear and tear on your system’s internal components. If you hear an unusual sound, call your local dealer for service. Is it Fixed? If not, call us for assistance at (520) 886-3229. Filed Under: Troubleshooting & Reference FEBRUARY 6, 2019 BY COOLTUCSON HVAC Glossary AFUE – Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency is a measure of your furnace’s heating efficiency. The higher the AFUE percentage, the more efficient the furnace. The minimum percentage established by the DOE for furnaces is 78. Airflow – The distribution or movement of air. Air Handler/Coil Blower - The indoor part of an air conditioner or heat pump that moves cooled or heated air throughout the ductwork of your home. An air handler is usually a furnace or a blower coil. Btu - A British thermal unit is a unit of heat energy. One Btu is the amount of heat required to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. The higher the Btu rating, the greater the heating capacity of the system. Btuh - British thermal units per hour. CAE - The Combined Annual Efficiency is a measure of the amount of heat produced for every dollar of fuel consumed for both home and water heating. Central Air Conditioning System - System in which air is treated at a central location and distributed to and from rooms by one or more fans and a series of ducts. Compressor - The part of the outdoor air conditioner or heat pump that compresses and pumps refrigerant to meet household cooling requirements. Condenser Coil - The outdoor portion of an air conditioner or heat pump that either releases or collects heat, depending on the time of the year. dB - A decibel is a unit used to measure the relative intensity of sound. DOE - The Department of Energy is a federal agency responsible for setting industry efficiency standards and monitoring the consumption of energy sources. Ductwork - The method by which air is channeled from the furnace or the blower coil throughout your home. Electronic Air Cleaner - An electronic device that filters out large particles and bioaerosols in indoor air. ENERGY STAR® - A label attached to HVAC systems that meet or exceed the EPA guidelines for energy efficiency. EPA - The Environmental Protection Agency develops and enforces federal environmental regulations. The EPA oversees the nationwide Energy Star® program. Evaporator Coil - The part of the air conditioner or heat pump that is located inside the air handler. Its primary function is to absorb the heat from the air in your house. Heat Exchanger - Located in the furnace, the heat exchanger transfers heat to the surrounding air, which is then pumped throughout the home. Heat Pump - A heat pump is an HVAC unit that heats or cools by moving heat. During the winter, a heat pump draws heat from outdoor air and circulates it through your home’s air ducts. In the summer, it reverses the process and removes heat from your house and releases it outdoors. Horizontal Flow - A type of furnace, installed on its side, which draws in air from one side, heats it and sends the warm air out the other side. Ideal for attic and crawl space installations. HSPF - The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor is the heating efficiency rating for heat pumps. The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump. There is no legislated minimum HSPF rating. Humidifier - An indoor air quality device that introduces moisture to heated air as it passes from the furnace into the ductwork for distribution throughout the home. Humidistat - An automatic device used to maintain humidity at a fixed or adjustable set point. HVAC - Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. ISO 9000 - A family of international standards for quality management and assurance. MERV Rating - The MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating of a filter describes the size of the holes in the filter that allow air to pass through. The higher the MERV rating, the smaller the holes in the filter, the higher the efficiency. Micron - A unit of measure equal to one millionth of a meter, or one thousandth of a millimeter. Particles - Any substances measuring less than 100 microns in diameter. The EPA has found that small particles (less than 2.5 microns) are responsible for the health effects of greatest concern. Programmable Thermostat - A thermostat with the ability to record different temperature/time settings for your heating and/or cooling equipment. R410A Refrigerant - A chlorine-free refrigerant that meets the EPA’s newest, most stringent environmental guidelines. Refrigerant - A chemical that produces a cooling effect while expanding or vaporizing. Most residential air conditioning units contain the standard R-22 refrigerant, or Freon. Refrigerant Lines - Two copper lines that connect the outdoor air conditioner or heat pump to the indoor evaporator coil. Rough-In - Stage in the HVAC installation process when ductwork and any other HVAC items that go behind the finished walls or above the finished ceiling are installed. Scroll Compressor - A specially designed compressor that works in a circular motion, as opposed to up-and-down piston action. SEER - The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is an energy efficiency rating for air conditioners. The higher the SEER, the better the energy performance, the more you save. The DOE’s established minimum SEER rating for cooling is 13.00. SONE – Rating A Sone is an internationally recognized unit of loudness. Sones are a linear measure like inches. Doubling the sone value is equivalent to doubling the loudness. To get a sense of what one sone represents, one Sone is equivalent to the sound of a quiet refrigerator in a quiet kitchen. Split System - A combination of outdoor heat pump or air conditioner with indoor components, such as a furnace or blower coil. Split systems should be matched for optimal efficiency. Thermidistat - Monitors temperature and humidity and adjusts heating or cooling system to maintain desired levels. Thermostat - Usually found on an inside wall, this device operates as a control to regulate your heating and cooling equipment, allowing you to adjust your home comfort at the touch of a switch. Ton - Unit of measurement for determining cooling capacity. One ton equals 12,000 Btuh. Trim - Stage in the HVAC installation process when mechanical equipment, registers, fans, thermostats, etc. are installed Two-Stage Operation - Provides two levels of heat output for greater temperature control. Underground - Stage in the HVAC installation process when refrigerant line tubing chases are run and when underground ductwork or cook-top vents are installed. Upflow - A type of furnace that draws cool air from the bottom and blows the warm air out the top into the ductwork. Designed for basement or closet installations. Variable Speed Motor - Automatically adjusts the control of heat airflow for ultimate comfort. Zoning - A method of partitioning a home into independently controlled comfort zones for enhanced comfort and efficiency. Filed Under: Troubleshooting & Reference FEBRUARY 6, 2019 BY COOLTUCSON Energy Savings Home Heating Cut annual heating bills by as much as 10 percent per year by turning your thermostat back 10 percent to 15 percent for eight hours per day. Kitchens are particularly vulnerable to excessive warming, especially from the extra heat generated by cooking. Adjust the kitchen vents, if you have them, until the room is comfortable. Try adjusting upstairs vents in a two-story home to counter the effect of warm air rising from the first floor. Install a programmable thermostat and set it to accurately follow your schedule. For details, follow theseProper Use Guidelines. Home Cooling During the summer, adjust the temperature 1°-2° per week to a higher setting, allowing your body to adjust to the new temperature. Raising the temperature just a couple of degrees can cut your cooling costs by as much as five percent. Start by setting your air conditioner thermostat to 78°F or higher – health permitting – when you’re at home. Install a programmable thermostat and set it to accurately follow your schedule. Proper Use Guidelines for Programmable Thermostats Through proper use of a programmable thermostat (using the four pre-programmed settings) you can save about $180* every year in energy costs. Rules of Thumb for Proper Use: Keep the temperature set at its energy savings set-points for long periods of time (at least eight hours), for example, during the day, when no one is at home, and through the night, after bedtime. All thermostats let you temporarily make an area warmer or cooler, without erasing the pre-set programming. This override is cancelled automatically at the next program period. You use more energy (and end up paying more on energy bills) if you consistently “hold” or over-ride the pre-programmed settings. Units typically have two types of hold features: (a) hold/permanent/vacation; (b) temporary. Avoid using the hold/permanent/vacation feature to manage day to day temperature settings. “Hold” or “vacation” features are best when you’re planning to be away for an extended period. Set this feature at a constant, efficient temperature (i.e. several degrees warmer temperature in summer, several degrees cooler during winter), when going away for the weekend or on vacation. You’ll waste energy and money if you leave the “hold” feature at the comfort setting while you’re away. Cranking your unit up to 90 degrees or down to 40 degrees, for example, will not heat or cool your house any faster. Most thermostats begin to heat or cool at a set time, to reach setpoint temperatures sometime thereafter. Units with adaptive (smart/intelligent) recovery features are an exception to this rule — Adaptive recovery units are constantly calculating the amount of time required to heat or cool the house, so that it reaches that temperature when the homeowner programmed it. By “examining” the performance of the past few days the thermostat can keep track of the seasons. In this way, your house is always at the comfort levels when occupied, but saving the most energy when unoccupied. Many homes use just one thermostat to control the whole house. If your home has multiple heating or cooling zones, you’ll need a programmed setback thermostat for each zone to maximize comfort, convenience and energy savings throughout the house. If your programmable thermostat runs on batteries, don’t forget to change the batteries each year. Some units will indicate when batteries must be changed. Filed Under: Tips & recommendations FEBRUARY 6, 2019 BY COOLTUCSON Heating Here is how heating works… Keeping your home in the right temperature is an important issue, particularly when involving Seniors, Babies and Illness. The importance of a well installed, reliable and regularly serviced central heating system should never be underestimated or overlooked. Our heating system experts have specific training in all aspects of energy efficiency, installation, maintenance and upgrading of central heating systems and can also carry out repairs to any systems. When the time comes we can advise you on suitable, cost-effective and efficient replacement systems for your property or business premises. Heating 101 A Residential Furnace keeps your home warm during the cold months, and can be an integral part of a central air conditioning and/or indoor air quality system. The basic components of a furnace system are: A burner, through which gas (natural or propane) or oil is delivered and burned. A heat exchanger, where the heat produced from the burning gas is transferred to the air distribution system. Ductwork to transfer the heated air throughout the home. A flue or vent pipe, to exhaust byproducts of combustion (such as water vapor and carbon dioxide) to the outside. The efficiency of a furnace is rated using a percent of AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). A gas furnace uses natural gas, although some models can be converted to utilize propane. An oil furnace uses heating oil. An electricity source is required to run the control systems, blower and some accessories. Filed Under: Heating GO TO PAGE 1 GO TO PAGE 2 GO TO NEXT PAGE » Footer ABOUT US We have been proudly serving Tucson and surrounding areas since 1991! Click here to learn more about us. We are Licensed, Bonded and Insured License Number: ROC 171621 K-39 520-886-3229 LOCATIONS Tucson: (520) 886-3229 Oro Valley / Marana / Saddle Brooke: (520) 790-4787 Vail / Rita Ranch / Green Valley: (520) 571-6007 Mailing Address Williamson’s Heating & Cooling 2110 South Alvernon Way Tucson, AZ 85711 COPYRIGHT © 2021 WILLIAMSON'S HEATING AND COOLING · LOG IN