Remember to Winterize Your Home to Conserve Energy and Keep Warm

Not looking forward to your winter heating bills? Winterize your home for savings, staying warm and comfy through the cold weather season. With a little fall foresight, a bit of work, and a small investment in preventative maintenance, you can create a more hospitable home environment while dramatically reducing your winter energy costs.

How to Winterize Your Home & Save on Heating

• Change furnace filters regularly.
  Furnace filters don’t last forever. In fact, they should be changed every few months, at a minimum, and more often if you have pets, children, or your home is undergoing renovations. Dirty filters force your heater to work harder to distribute conditioned air throughout your home, restricting airflow, affecting the efficiency of your furnace, and driving up electricity costs. Fortunately, home air filters are inexpensive and easy to change.
• Seal leaks.
  The number of air leaks in the average home is roughly the equivalent of leaving a window open. A bit of caulk, spray foam, weather stripping, or even a rolled-up towel at the base of exterior doors can make a significant difference in the amount of time you’ll have to run your home heating system to stay comfortable when temperatures drop. Check for leaks, gaps, cracks, and holes surrounding doors and windows, electrical outlets, piping, and venting to prevent seepage, and you’ll save on heating and air costs all year long.
• Add storm doors and windows for extra protection.
  Storm doors and windows, designed to keep outside air out, also keep conditioned air inside your home, adding an extra layer of protection against air and thermal transfer through doors and windows. Many of today’s modern options are quite beautiful, adding to the curb appeal and value of your home.
• Adjust your thermostat settings.
  When you leave – don’t pay to heat an empty house. Lower the temperature to 55, saving energy while preventing frozen pipe snafus. This is easily accomplished with a programmable thermostat. Today’s smart learning thermostats do most of the work for you, adjusting settings to your schedule and preferences so your home is always comfortable. Models like the popular Nest learning thermostat cost little more than conventional thermostats, offering substantial savings up to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling costs annually, quickly paying for themselves.
• Take a close look at your water heater.
  Change the default setting on your water heater to 120 degrees and you’ll see a significant reduction in your monthly energy bill. Insulate water heaters in unconditioned spaces for additional savings.
• Give your heating system a little TLC.
  Prevent unexpected breakdowns in winter weather extremes with fall furnace maintenance. A well-tuned system can save you up to 5% on heating, lengthening the lifespan of your system, and bringing hidden problems to light before they require emergency repair.

Don’t let winter weather put a freeze on your finances. Prep your home for the cold weather season with the help of H & H Heating & Air Conditioning. Contact us to schedule pre-season preventative heating system maintenance today.

 

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/remember-to-winterize-your-home-to-conserve-energy-and-keep-warm/

This Winter Save Energy With these Easy HVAC Tips

Are you looking for ways to reduce your electricity bill this winter? All those extra energy dollars could go a long way to cushioning your holiday spending and reducing repair worries. Make the most of your money, ensuring a safe, comfortable winter with these tips for improving the efficiency of your HVAC system.

Get On Board With Fall Preventative Maintenance

Annual heating and air conditioning system maintenance improves the performance of your system, saving you up to 5% on energy costs. It can also uncover hidden problems with your HVAC, allowing you to address them before they snowball into larger repair bills or the need for emergency maintenance during weather extremes.

Let Go Of Your Ancient System

Systems over 10 years old are massive energy drains. While you might pale at the thought of replacing your decrepit unit, however, you may be surprised to find out you can recoup your money quite quickly in energy savings. Today’s high-efficiency Energy Star heating and cooling systems can reduce your energy costs up to 40% while providing a much more reliably comfortable home.

Upgrade To A Programmable Thermostat

Adjust your thermostat settings by the season. That 78-degree summer setting could cost you a pretty penny in the winter. For every degree your change your thermostat setting, you could save up to 3%. Nest learning thermostats precisely control your indoor air temperature, monitoring when you and your family are away from home. They are an easy way to avoid spending money to heat your home when it’s empty while ensuring you return to comfort.

Keep Those Filters Clean

Dirty filters force your system to work harder to move air. Regularly replacing home air filters every 1-3 months is a cheap and easy way to give your system a performance boost.

Assess The Condition Of Registers & Vents

Clean dirt and debris off registers and vents to facilitate the smooth flow of clean air. Clear away drapes, rugs, and furniture, keeping all free of obstructions.

Eliminate Drafts

Check every room of your home for air leaks. Block cracks under doorways, install weather stripping around doorways and windows, and caulk or spray foam around plumbing, vents, and outlets to reduce air infiltration/exfiltration.

Add A Little Insulation

Improving the insulation in your home is one of the easiest ways to lighten the load your heating and air conditioning system carries, reducing air infiltration and heat transfer.

Take control of your energy expenses, committing to the long-term performance of your HVAC system and home with a proactive maintenance plan. Contact H & H Heating & Air Conditioning to learn about the benefits of our affordable Comfort Club Memberships today.

 

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/this-winter-save-energy-with-these-easy-hvac-tips/

Thinking of Replacing your AC next Summer? Fall is Actually the Best Time!

With fall on its way, holiday shopping is likely at the forefront of your mind. In addition to your Black Friday purchases this year, we suggested adding a new air conditioning system to your list. If your air conditioner struggled through the summer, leaving you sticky and uncomfortable, or you’re tired of the frequent maintenance and repairs your older system requires, fall is the ideal time to make an upgrade. With warm weather winding down and several more months before its return, why consider a new system now?

You Can Take Your Time Shopping

In the fall, when sweltering weather isn’t right around the corner, you can take all the time you need shopping for a new system, considering different brands such as Amana, Rheem, Lennox, and Bryant air conditioners. You may also wish to consider a different system style, such as ductless mini-split systems. Today, there are many more options for climate control than there used to be, offering more flexibility of use and long-term energy savings opportunities. Be careful when searching online, as the glut of information out there can be overwhelming. Instead, book a consultation with your local heating and air conditioning experts, who can help you reduce research to find the right air conditioner and accessories to meet your needs.

You’ll Get A Better Deal Off-Season

Lower demand for air conditioning systems in the fall means a greater selection and lower prices. Talk to your local heating and air conditioning contractor, who has a direct line of contact with air conditioning system suppliers. They can quickly help you find the best deals from the industry’s leading manufacturers. You can often get a significant fall discount from manufacturers stocking systems that didn’t sell over the summer that they need to move to make room for new models come spring.

You’ll Suffer Less Construction Delays & Costs

With the moderate climate this time of the year, it is also an excellent opportunity to get your new quiet air conditioner installed, before inclement weather puts a damper on any needed remodeling/construction. Replacing your system in the fall before freezing weather sets in, and before next summer, when living without an air conditioner could leave you sweating it out until a replacement can be scheduled during “busy season,” is ideal timing. If you wait until weather is warm again, you’ll be in line with everyone else who suddenly realized they’d better hurry up and schedule an installation to ensure a cool, comfortable home this summer, and you’ll pay much more.

Shopping for great deals this holiday season? Investing in a new air conditioner in the fall offers tremendous opportunities. Contact H & H Heating & Cooling today to learn more about available deals on a new system and energy efficiency upgrade incentives today.

 

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/thinking-of-replacing-your-ac-next-summer-fall-is-actually-the-best-time/

7 Signs Your Air Conditioner needs Repair

The weather is warming up… And you’re not 100% sure, you think your air conditioning system may not be performing quite the same as it did last year. Is it time for a maintenance call to an HVAC company? Or are you overlooking something simple that may be leading to its performance decline?

7 Warning Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs Repair:

1. Air is not blowing cold.
   If air being circulated through your vents isn’t as cold as it used to be – your system is working overtime to keep temperatures comfortable. This could result from an array of possible causes, including leaking/low refrigerant, condenser issues, and duct leakage.
2. Air flow is poor.
   Your fan, which is responsible for pushing all that lovely, cool air through the ductwork, can succumb to a number of issues that can dramatically reduce airflow, ranging from dirty air filter, bad blower motor or faulty fan control board.
3. Moisture/water accumulation in strange places.
   Your system is designed to remain dry at all times, otherwise mold and mildew in your system and home could result. If you notice a leak, the system may be suffering a blocked or broken condensate drain, and fast attention is in your best interest.
4. Bizarre sounds.
   All systems are designed to run quietly. Louder than normal operation – especially metallic screeching, grinding or banging noises – indicate something wrong inside the unit (broken components, loose belts, debris). When strange sounds occur, you may need to get it checked by an air conditioning company so call the repairman ASAP to avoid significant system damage.
5. Funky smells.
   Funky smells can arise from an array of issues, ranging from pest infiltration to burned-out wire insulation and mold growth within. Tend to these quickly to protect your family’s health.
6. Thermostat issues.
   Sometimes your system is not the problem – it’s your thermostat. Some signs might be obvious (a setting of 75 and a home temperature that’s off by 10s of degrees), while others won’t be (varied temperature zones throughout the home). Luckily your knowledgeable area HVAC technician can rule this out in a jiff.
7. High cooling bills.
   Your air conditioner is the largest consumer of energy in the home. If it was operating fine last season, but this year’s energy bills have spiked, that’s a good indication you need your system looked over.

This Commonly Neglected Homeowner Maintenance Can Cause Many Problems
Short cycling, poor airflow, odors, freezing up, uneven cooling, and higher than normal utility bills can also be attributable to simple maintenance that takes the average homeowner less than 5 minutes to tend to: Air filter replacement. Unless otherwise indicated by your heating and cooling professional, this should be performed at a minimum of every 3 months – and far more often if you have children and pets. Don’t neglect this before reaching out to the repairman – it can also help you avoid getting a red face when he pulls that nasty old filter out of the system.

Don’t let your summer air conditioner repair needs snowball into costly emergency repair. Contact H&H Heating and Air Conditioning and schedule an air conditioner service and performance check today.

This blog was originally posted at https://www.delcohvac.com/7-signs-your-air-conditioner-needs-repair/.

Best Air Conditioning Services in the Main Line Area. Our Customers Love Us!

Summer’s coming, and the temperature’s rising – putting added stress on your air conditioner. Luckily, H&H Heating & Air Conditioning has you covered, with the best air conditioning services in the Main Line and surrounding areas.

Trusted Air Conditioner Maintenance & Repair

Fostering our reputation since 1985, our trustworthy and affordable services always come backed by a no-obligation quote prior to services, with no surprises at billing and a full understanding of what you’re receiving in advance for your Villanova area home air conditioning services. Our mobile ‘warehouses on wheels’ will arrive directly at your door with the parts needed to get your system back up and running fast. And you can rest assured our services and equipment are both backed by the best guarantees in the business.

Emergency Service at No Extra Cost
At H&H, we realize those inconvenient and unexpected Malvern air conditioner breakdowns won’t always conveniently occur during ‘normal’ business hours. That’s why our trusted services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – free of overtime or after-hours charges.

Experience & Care Beyond Compare
Our professional trained, NATE certified and experienced techs respect your home and family, protecting your Wayne area property with drop cloths and shoe covers, and always cleaning up our mess – including repairing or replacing damaged items – before we leave.

A Range of Home Comfort Services

• New System Installation
  From the latest in ductless air conditioning systems for your Ardmore home, to high efficiency heat pumps, geothermal, furnaces, boilers, and even radiant heat flooring systems, we carry an array of efficient home comfort solutions, providing top-of-the-line equipment from some of the nation’s leading manufacturers that deliver some of the best performance and warranties in the business.
  System Repair
  No matter the age and style of your system, we have the knowledge, skills, and parts to get it back up and running, fast.
• Duct Cleaning
  Ensure air quality and protect your family from allergy and illness with routine duct inspection and necessary cleaning.
• High Efficiency Water Heater Installation
  Reduce your energy costs with the latest in greener, more efficient gas, oil, and electric water heating technology, including tankless, heat pump, and hybrid systems.
• Water Heater Maintenance
  Regular water heater maintenance is often neglected, but it ensures efficient performance and protects the lifespan of your water heater. When was the last time you had your water heater serviced?
• Wine Cellar Installation & Repair
  Protect and preserve your wine collection with the optimum in efficient temperature and humidity control. Multiple options available to fit your budget and design needs.

Now serving the entire Main Line area including Villanova, Malvern, Wayne, Ardmore, Berwyn, Haverford, Radnor, Narberth and surrounding towns, H&H Heating & Air Conditioning has all your summer cooling needs covered. Experience the difference our trusted A+ BBB rated services can make in the performance of your system. Contact us today.

This blog was originally posted at https://www.delcohvac.com/best-air-conditioning-services-main-line-area/.

Shopping for a new Air Conditioning System – What are my Options?

Purchasing a new or replacing an existing air conditioning system in your home?  H & H Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. offers award-winning installation and repair alongside an array of quality, efficient and technologically advanced air conditioning products from the industry’s leading manufacturers.

What air conditioning system type is best for my home?
Our air conditioners from brands like Bryant, Lennox, Mitsubishi, Rheem and Amana have a lot to offer. What’s the best brand for you? That will depend on your climate and home’s amenities…

• Central Air Conditioners
  For homes with existing ductwork and a furnace, boiler, fireplace, or other heat source, standalone central air conditioning systems offer cost effective cooling comfort, installing virtually invisibly without distracting from your home’s décor. Split systems are the most common type of central A/C, circulating refrigerant between an indoor unit (housing the coil) and an outdoor unit (housing the condenser and compressor), then distributing conditioned air via a mechanical blower through ductwork and into your home. Newer models offer vastly improved efficiency over those just several years old, however proper sizing and ductwork installation by an A/C company you can trust is integral to efficient operation.
• Heat pumps
  A sub-type of central HVAC systems, in moderate climates, heat pump systems offer multi-functional heating and cooling. Typically used for cooling about 7 months per year, these systems operate by transferring warm air to where it is needed – or in the case of the summer months, not needed – by exchanging heat to move warm air outside in the summer, and inside in the winter.
• Ductless
  Ductless systems (also called mini-splits) from brands like Mitsubishi, consist of an outdoor component that sits next to your home, and an indoor component that mounts on the wall. If you live in a hot region and need to cool a large area inside your home, a ductless system may be a good fit for you. These systems are also a great option for older homes without existing ducts, as instead of ductwork, they use tubing to connect parts (electrical, drainage) and circulate refrigerant, only requiring about a 3 inch hole for tubing hidden behind each indoor unit. They are among the most efficient cooling options available today as no cooling is lost to leaky ductwork in unconditioned space. Multiple, programmable cooling units can cool up to 8 rooms (4 units) per system, offering efficient, zoned temperature control.
• Geothermal system
  Operating much like standard air conditioners, geothermal systems tap into thermal energy in the earth, taking advantage of more constant temperatures to keep your home comfortable. Highly efficient, these systems move air out of (or into) your home, transferring heat via polyethylene pipes filled with water. Bentonite grout surrounding these underground pipes maximizes thermal conductivity. Pumps in your home circulate the water through the pipes in the thermal unit, transferring or absorbing heat from the refrigerant in the system depending on the season, then distributing it with the help of a compressor and ductwork to meet your comfort needs.

Feeling the heat? Cool off with an expertly designed system from the professionals at H & H Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Contact us today.

How does a Central Air Conditioning System Work?

Among the most coveted and used modern day inventions, air conditioning has come a long way since its inception, with advancements by scientists and inventors carrying it along from blowing air across compressor-generated ice blocks to cool rooms, to the Energy Star rated central air conditioning systems available at your local air conditioning company today. What did the great minds of our time turn today’s air conditioning systems into?

A modern marvel
Cooling you off in summer’s most unforgiving temperatures, 80% of home owners now rely on air conditioning – mostly central. This feat of engineering offers comfort essential to quality of life. But not many understand its function.

The “split” system
Split systems, the most commonly used central hvac units such as systems by Bryant, operate much like your refrigerator. Rather than an insulated icebox, however, your home’s walls contain cooled air. How is this air cooled? Science and mechanics.

The cooling concept
Utilizing principles of physics, air conditioners take advantage of a process called “phase conversion,” in which when liquids are converted to gas, they absorb heat. Using special chemical compounds – refrigerants capable of changing at relatively low temperatures – central air conditioners complete the conversion process over and over in a closed system – your A/C’s serpentine coils – funneling warm interior air over them to condition it to a cooler temperature, then distributing it via ductwork.

Phase conversion in action
To complete phase conversion – and deliver cool, conditioned air through your home, the cooperative effort of a gaggle of components is necessary.

• The indoor cabinet
  Fans blow air across your indoor unit’s evaporator coil, transferring heat to the outside air by carrying it to the outside cabinet via refrigerant in the coils.
• The outdoor cabinet
  Once heat energy is carried to the outside unit’s condenser coil by the refrigerant, the refrigerant is pumped back into the compressor, thus beginning the cycle again. What happened to the heat? It was moved outside when the cooled air was blown in, as was any moisture via condensation (hence the name “condenser” coils).
• Other major components your central air conditioning system relies on include…
  • The blower (fans)
    Which distribute air over the coils to improve heat dissipation and distribute them to the rooms being cooled.
  • The expansion valve
    For controlling refrigerant flow.
  • The thermostat
    Which regulates operation by monitoring air temperature.
  • The filter
    To removes airborne particles that can reduce air movement and clog system components.
  • Drains and moisture collection pans
    For reducing humidity in indoor air and the moisture that is a natural by-product of temperature reduction.

Looking for a new air conditioning system for your home? From central air conditioners to the latest ductless A/C technology, H&H Heating and Air Conditioning Company has you covered, with quality products and installation services you can trust. Contact us today.