5 Things you need to know about Geo-Thermal Heating

Many homeowners heat their houses with traditional methods such as natural gas or electricity. An intriguing alternative, however, has begun to make inroads into the market. Called geothermal heating, this option makes use of the abundant supply of heat beneath the Earth’s surface. Here are 5 things you should know about this attractive fuel source for home heating installation.

1. How It Works 

Geothermal heating relies on a series of pipes, known as a loop system, that are placed under the soil. The pipes circulate water that is heated by the constant temperature of the Earth under the ground. This temperature beneath the soil is generally about 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit to a depth of 20 feet. The loop system is connected to a geothermal heat pump that is above ground. The heat pump uses the heated water to warm the air in your home.

2. Efficiency 

One of the main advantages of geothermal heat pumps and geothermal heating is that they are much more efficient than the alternatives in most cases. Most Geothermal systems have a high Coefficient or Performance (COP) ranging from 3.0 to 5.0.Here is a comparison between geothermal heating and some of its alternatives

·        Geothermal is about 48 percent more efficient than natural gas

·        It’s 75 percent less wasteful than oil heating

·        More efficient than electric heating as well

3. Cost 

Because geothermal heating is so efficient, it uses less energy to heat your home than almost any other fuel source. For each unit of electricity used, geothermal pumps can produce up to 5 units of heating or cooling in your house. This leads to lower monthly utility bills and significant energy and cost savings over time.

4. Loops 

You have several alternatives when it comes to choosing the type of loop system you want to install on your property. If you have a large lot, then a horizontal system is relatively easy to install and makes a good choice. If you have a smaller lot, or space is at a premium, then you can use a vertical loop system where the underground pipes are buried straight up and down. Installing a vertical system is a little more complicated and might require the use of well-drilling equipment.

Another possibility, if you have a lake or pond on your property, is to place the loop system in the pond or lake. This is a good choice as it does not involve extensive excavation.

5. Environment 

Yet another critical point to remember about geothermal heat pumps and loop systems is that they are environmentally friendly. Geothermal heating, unlike some other fuel sources, does not burn any fossil fuels or create any greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide. They also do not produce any carbon monoxide, an extremely dangerous gas.

Using geothermal heat pumps to heat your home clearly has a number of important benefits that make geothermal heat a compelling fuel source. This type of system could be the perfect way to save money on your energy bills and also help the environment. But the installation of Geo thermal Heating should only be handled by an HVAC company that has enormous experience in working safely and efficiently with these systems. If you would like to learn more about geothermal heating, contact the experts at H&H Heating and Air Conditioning.

Trane vs Carrier Home Heating Units: A comparison

When it comes to investing in your heating or air conditioning unit, exploring all the options available is a wise choice. However, with an influx of products and brands flooding the market, it becomes harder to make the right decision. So to help you in deciding which brand to trust with your HVAC needs, we take a look and compare two leading heating and air conditioning product providers, Trane and Carrier.

Product range 

Having operated in the HVAC industry for over a century, both Trane and Carrier have amassed an extensive range of products. Both companies offer air conditioners, home heating units, gas and oil furnaces as well as advanced technology such as geothermal heating. For many homeowners, understanding what products will suit their household can be a tough decision, this is where Trane can help. The company’s website provides a ‘What is right for my home?’ feature that allows you to make a more informed decision on what product to choose. A similar version of this function can also be found with Carrier where the ‘Product Finder’ feature can help guide your decision. As mentioned earlier, the market is continuously being inundated with newer technology. Here is where Carrier presents an advantage. The company offers a range of innovative and efficient heating and cooling systems such as the Infinity Heating and Cooling System as well as the Greenspeed^TM Intelligence.

Financing

Investing in your heating installation unit can be a costly affair but most air conditioning companies provide an excellent range of financing options to help you get the comfort you want within your budget. When purchasing a heating and air conditioning unit or mini split ac unit installation, you must consider the purchase price as well as your home’s location, construction as well as ductwork. At Trane, customers are provided with a range of financing options that give you benefits such as convenient monthly payments, competitive interest rates as well as no prepayment penalties. Additionally you can also search for bonus offers in your area which include furnace and air conditioner rebates. Alternatively, you can also get a range of flexible financing plans when purchasing a Carrier unit. Carrier also provides similar benefits such as competitive interest, monthly payments and additional rebates but with the convenient addition of an online bill paying option.

Efficiency

Efficiency is an area where both Trane and Carrier products appear on par with one another. It is a requirement by U.S. regulatory agencies such as the Department of Energy, that all new HVAC products carry a SEER rating of 13.0 or more. Both Trane and Carrier provide some of the most energy efficient products on the market that have a SEER rating of 20.0.

Warranties

Putting hundreds of dollars into your HVAC system can be daunting, but knowing that you have the security of warranties can help give you the peace of mind you need. Trane offers their customers Registered Limited Warranty if the customer registers their product within 60 days of purchase. If not registered, then the base limited warranty will apply instead. Contrastingly, Carrier proves to be the better choice here as you can extend the limited product warranty to an additional five years by registering within 90 days of purchase.

Choosing the unit that is right for you and your home can be a tough decision. So if you are located in the Garnet Valley or the Newtown Square Area and require further assistance on making the right choice, contact H&H Heating and Air Conditioning to get the expert advice.

Gas Hot Water Heater Troubleshooting Tips

A gas water heater provides plenty of hot water for your entire family’s daily needs, so you probably give it little thought—until it breaks down. Knowing a few troubleshooting tips may help save you money and aggravation, since a few problems are easily remedied with minimal skills. Gas water heater installation require safety precautions, though, so always turn to a professional for anything you do not feel comfortable tackling.

Safety First

Natural gas or LP Gas is dangerous in the hands of amateurs. If you have any hesitation about working on gas hot water heaters, contact a professional HVAC contractor immediately. If, of course, you smell the tracer chemical in gas (the rotten egg smell), turn the gas valve to OFF and immediately evacuate or air out your house. Contact your natural gas utility.

Before investigating your gas water heater, turn the gas pilot control valve to the setting marked pilot. This prevents the burner from igniting gas while you are poking around.

Pilot Light

Gas hot water heaters often use a pilot light, which can easily go out. This is the first item to check when you have no hot water. Modern water heaters provide safety features, such as a thermocouple, to prevent gas flowing when the pilot light is out. You access the pilot light by removing the metal cover at the bottom of most gas hot water heaters.

• If the pilot light is out, you should see instructions on the side of the heater to relight it safely.
• A pilot light may mean a defective thermocouple, which is beyond most homeowners’ abilities to replace.

No Pilot Light? No Worries!

More modern hot water heaters may forego the pilot light altogether, and provide you with a spark ignitor or glow plug. Here again, if you are uncomfortable following your owner’s manual for repairs, contact a reliable HVAC contractor such as H&H Heating & Air Conditioning. 

Thermostat

Check the heater’s thermostat—120 degrees is an energy-efficient minimum—and confirm the desired setting. To test, turn on a hot water tap in the house and let it run, checking to see if the water heater’s burner ignites in response to the call for more hot water. Adjust the thermostat up and down to see if a different setting triggers the ignition.

No Ignition?

If after checking the pilot light and thermostat, you still have no ignition, the thermostat could be defective. This is beyond your late-night tinkering abilities; call a professional serving your area. 

Not Enough Hot Water

Hot water heaters do not last forever, and changes to your family can increase demand for more water.

• A common problem is a small water heater ideal for two, but as your family expands, the water heater becomes too small.
• Another cause of inadequately heated hot water is a weak burner flame. The gas should be burning beautiful blue with just a feathering of yellow at the tip.

While some issues with gas boiler installation, replacement & service or hot water heaters are within most homeowners’ skill set, knowing when to call a professional could be the best skill of all. Contact H&H Heating & Air Conditioning today for hot water heater inspection and repair in Malvern, Chaddsford and surrounding areas.

Air Purification with UV Lights – How it works and Products that work

Homeowners invest a lot of time and effort into curating and cleaning the contents in and around their homes but how do we clean what we can’t see? The air around your home can often be polluted by the silent enemy. Air pollutants are incredibly common and can be classified into three categories. Allergens and particulates such as dirt, dust and pollen are the first of these offenders and can result in a runny nose, asthma flares, throat irritation and more. The second category is infectious agents such as germs, bacteria and viruses that can cause throat and ear infections amongst other sicknesses. Lastly, toxic compounds such as toxic gasses and odours can also diminish your air quality and result in headaches, lethargy and other such ailments. The above pollutants go a long way in contributing to poor HVAC efficiency and leave you with unhealthy indoor air quality.  

What are UV Light Air Purifiers?

Luckily for us, uv light air purification system are a great way of dealing with this issue. Such technology is effective in eliminating bacteria and other organisms from your home, making sure the air that you breathe is healthier for you and your loved ones. With dozens of air purification products lining up in the market, choosing the right one can be difficult. At H&H, we stock reputable and effective products to ensure our customers’ breathe high quality air. One product that will definitely get you the results you want is the OxyQuantum LED Air Purification Unit. This type of air purifier effectively rids your home of bacteria, germs and mould. Add to that, it’s easy to install and offers a range of extras such as an odour control device.

So why should you get a UV Light Air Purifier?

• Aside from efficiently reducing the germs, bacteria and toxic gases that occupy your home, this technology also thoroughly rids your home of odours, airborne toxic compounds and infectious agents.
• While some home appliances can disturb the peace and quiet of your household, the OxyQuantum LED is completely silent, making it the perfect fit for your home.
• Knowing the appliances we use are safe and reliable is extremely important. The OxyQuantum LED comes certified by the International Indoor Air Quality Association.
• It comes with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty on the power supply to give you added peace of mind.
• OxyQuantum LED comes certified by the International Indoor Air Quality Association.
• The twin UVC lamp is extended approximately 16 inches into your home’s ductwork, maximising its impact.
• Replacing or repairing your HVAC unit can be a costly and time consuming affair. Air purification ensures that your heating and air conditioning unit is working efficiently thereby adding years to its life.

So if you and your family are suffering from poor indoor air quality and would like to do something about it, contact H&H Heating and Air Conditioning. At H&H, we stock a wide range of products to help you overcome your HVAC issues.

Improve your Indoor Air Quality – Options available Today

With the winter now in full swing, we are now mostly confined to our homes with air-tight doors and windows and breathe in air that is circulated through our home’s HVAC system. Making sure that this air is clean and pure is essential as bad indoor air quality can dull your home’s atmosphere and is provocative for allergies and other health matters. Luckily, home air filters are a great approach for fixing this matter in no time. So if you find that your family is suffering from too many colds and allergies, or if your indoor air feels stuffy, you might need to take steps to clean out your home’s atmosphere. Here are the top options available to you.

Fantastic Filter:

The Fantastic Filter is a type of air purification focused on gradient layered technology that successfully removes a large part of air borne particles down to 1.8 microns. Made of Polyolefin, this filter is effective as it does not absorb moisture, allowing it to minimise the growth of pollutants such as bacteria, mould, mildew and fungi. This filter is also one of the only options available that successfully captures and eliminated cat dander, making it ideal for asthma and allergy sufferers. For many home owners, investing in HVAC regular maintenance can seem like a costly endeavour but with the Fantastic Filter, you can rest assured that you are dealing with one of the most affordable options on the market. If you choose this option, be sure to change the filters every three months.

Microguard Filter:

Looking for an electronic air cleaner that is cost effective and also easy to maintain? The Micro Power Guard Filter is just that. This form of air purification comes in standard sizes as well as handy custom sizes that perfectly fit in with the needs of your home. Additionally, the Micro Power Guard Filter filter allows you great power over large and submicronic particles and allergens that may be lingering around your home while still allowing unlimited air flow throughout your home.

PureSept Bypass HEPA Filter:

With its thermally insulated cabinet, the PureSept Bypass HEPA Filter is quiet and effective both. With an easy to maintain design and great access through the front door, this is one option that will perfectly fit into your home’s environment. Not to mention, this is yet another great way to curb allergies and asthma for your family due to its 99.7% efficiency at filtering polluting particles down to 0.3 microns per pass. If replacing filters every few months doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, the HEPA filter only needs to be changed every two years and the fan comes with a 7 year warranty as per the manufacturer.

Why install an air filter in your home?

Installing an air filter in your home can offer a host of benefits such as:

• Longevity of comfort system- Air filtration is a great way of improving the air flow of your heating and air conditioning unit. This results in decreased amounts of dust and pollutants clogging your unit, increasing its efficiency and consequently its longevity.
• Savings: A more efficient system is likely to use up lesser electricity to operate, making air filters great for savings.
• Improved health: With most of us spending almost 90% of our time indoors, air quality has a direct impact on our health and wellbeing. The cleaner air you breathe, the fewer allergies and illness you are likely to have.

At H&H Heating and Air Conditioning, we pride ourselves in providing customers with quality products. If you find yourself in need of air filters, we provide a great range from reputable brands such as Nature’s Home.