New Technologies – HVAC and Energy Efficiency Products
Air conditioning and heat
pump manufacturers continually engineer new and innovative technologies to improve today’s HVAC
equipment. Efficient Home Solutions partners with
leaders in the HVAC Industry like Rheem, Amana, Carrier,
and Payne so we can provide the latest in High
Efficiency Air-Conditioning and Heating products.
Go Green – Replace Your Air Conditioner
There has never been a better time to replace your air conditioning unit. With the available Tax Incentives ending this year on December 31st
2010 and the Environmental regulations that go into effect next year that impact the chemicals used in air conditioning. Help the environment by replacing your air conditioner early and help pay for it with the Tax
Credit.
Air filtration – UV Light Treatment
If you suffer from asthma or allergies, have a smoker in the home or have a mold
problem, you may want to consider having ultra violet
light treatment equipment installed in your heat pump or air conditioning system.
Air filtration – Mechanical Air Filters
If you suffer from asthma or allergies, have a smoker in the home or have a mold
problem, you may also want to consider mechanical air filters.
Air filtration – EFFICIENT
HOME SOLUTIONS Clean Air Solutions
Efficient Home Solutions
offers a new patented air cleaning technology called
Clean Effects.
High Efficiency Systems
There are new technologies to improve efficiencies. Two of technologies that help keep energy bills down are the two-stage compressors and variable-speed motors.
Humidifiers for Central Air Systems
Air in your home that is too
dry can be uncomfortable to breathe, can cause static
build-up, dry itchy skin, parched throat, and can damage wood products like flooring, pianos, picture frames, and cabinetry.
90% furnace
Providing energy-efficiency,
these units operate at over 90% efficiency, which means that 90% of the fuel you pay for is actually converted into heat for your home.
Variable Air Flow
Variable air volume (VAV) is a technique for controlling the capacity of a heating, ventilating, and/or air-conditioning (HVAC) system.
Ultra Quiet Systems
Most heating and cooling systems manufactured today are quieter than those produced in past years. But there are still significant
differences in sound ratings among these products.
Extended Warranties
An extended warranty,
sometimes called a service agreement, a service
contract, or a maintenance agreement, is a prolonged
warranty offered to consumers.
Thermostats
There are five basic types of automatic and programmable thermostats.
1. Electromechanical
2. Digital
3. Hybrid
4. Occupancy
5. Light Sensing
By turning your thermostat
back 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours, you can save 5% to
15% a year on your heating bill – a savings of as much
as 1% for each degree if the setback period is eight
hours long.
Ductless Systems (garages)
Unlike conventional air
conditioning systems that use a system of ducts to
deliver conditioned air throughout your home, ductless systems use a wall or ceiling-mounted blower to deliver cool air to a room.
Small Duct, High-Velocity
Air Conditioning Systems
Small duct, high velocity
(SDHV) air conditioning systems are similar to
conventional split system air conditioners that consist of an outdoor condensing unit and an indoor coil unit.
These Systems help satisfy the needs for older homes.
Air Filtration – UV Light Treatment
For years, UV light treatment equipment has been used, and is sometimes mandatory, in
health care facilities, commercial buildings, hotels, schools, daycare centers, and food processing plants.
Today it is becoming even more common in the home to sterilize and neutralize airborne bacteria, molds, dust mites and odors.
While independent research has not been done on the technology’s effectiveness to reduce airborne bacteria and allergens in the home, a
2003 study published in The Lancet medical journal found ultraviolet light purifiers used in three office buildings reduced overall worker sickness by about 20 percent, including a 40 percent drop in breathing problems. The ultraviolet lamps were aimed at the cooling coils and drip pans in the ventilation systems of the buildings. The lights were turned on for four weeks; then turned off for 12 weeks. The cycle was
repeated three times for almost a year. The use of the lights resulted in a 99-percent reduction of the
concentration of germs on irradiated surfaces within the ventilation systems.
How It Works
Installed in the main supply or return duct of an
air-source heat pump or air conditioning system, UV
lights disinfect the air stream as it passes through the HVAC system. The lights usually operate continuously 24 hours a day, but only require between 15 Watts to 85
Watts depending on the system.
UV lights do not typically
disinfect the air flowing through your ducts in just one pass, but your home’s air re-circulates more than 50 times a day during normal operation of a heat pump or air conditioning system, and with every pass more and more contaminants are destroyed.
Source: Air Conditioning &
Refrigeration Institute
Mechanical
Air Filters
Mechanical air filters (also
called Media Air Filters) use filter media to remove
particles from the air stream in HVAC systems. Filter media, at the microscopic level, consists of an interlocking network of fibers that appear quite porous. This porosity is necessary to allow air to pass through the unit with minimal pressure drop. The interlocking fibers of the material form a web that captures particles in the air stream. Mechanical air filters are typically found next to your furnace in your home.
Source: Air Conditioning &
Refrigeration Institute
Air
filtration – Clean Air Solutions
EFFICIENT HOME SOLUTIONS installs Clean Air Solutions that utilizes patented, breakthrough air cleaning technology to remove up to an astounding 99.98% of airborne allergens from the air
that passes through the filter, making it 8 times more effective than even the best HEPA room filters and up to 100 times more effective than a standard 1″ filter. The Clean Air Solutions product has been performance-tested by LMS Technologies and Environmental Health and
Engineering, Inc. (EH&E), and the results verified by
professors from the Harvard School of Public Health.
LMS Technologies is a
technology consulting company that specializes in air flow measurement, filtration testing and particle analysis. Environmental Health & Engineering is an environmental consulting and engineering services
company that is dedicated to ensuring safe and productive environments, and is co-founded by Dr. John D. Spengler, PhD of the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard.
And new research conducted by
the Harvard School of Public Health, in collaboration with scientists at Environmental Health and Engineering Inc., (EH&E) shows that an Efficient Home Solutions
installed Clean Effects product removes more than 99 percent of the common flu, or influenza A virus, from the filtered air.
Source: Air Conditioning &
Refrigeration Institute
High
Efficiency Systems
High Efficiency -Two-stage compressor
Two-stage cooling means the air conditioner, furnace
and/or heat pump has a compressor with two levels of operation: high for hot summer days and low for milder days. Since the low setting is adequate to meet
household-cooling demands 80 percent of the time, a two-stage unit runs for longer periods and produces more even Temperatures and Humidity levels.
Longer cooling cycles also
translate to quieter, more efficient operation and
enhanced humidity control. Compared to a single-stage
unit, a two-stage air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump can remove twice as much moisture from the air. This is important because when moisture levels are high,
there’s a higher potential for mold and other pollutant problems.
High Efficiency – Variable speed motors
The indoor air handler (fan and motor) provides the energy to move air through the ductwork of a central air conditioning, furnace and/or heat pump system to the rooms of your house. Most homes today have a standard central cooling and heating system which has a fan and motor that runs at one speed, which means the system is either on or off.
A variable speed motor (VSM) uses control technology, meaning the VSM automatically
changes speed based on your home’s current heating and cooling needs. It slowly increases up to maximum speed instead of coming on at full capacity all at once. This eliminates the sudden blast of hot air in the summer and cold air in the winter you feel with a one-speed system and results in the system running at a lower speed most of the time. This eliminates noisy start up, while reducing wear and tear on the fan and motor, resulting in a substantial reduction in operating costs due to major energy efficiency improvements and increases the reliability and life of the system.
Source: Air Conditioning &
Refrigeration Institute
Humidifiers for Central Air Systems
In the winter, it is especially important to add moisture to the air, since dry winter air can drive down the relative humidity level in your home to as low as 15 percent, which is drier than the air in most deserts. A whole house humidifier works with your central heating and cooling system to help keep the humidity in your home at the proper level. It even saves money on winter heating bills because properly humidified air feels warmer, allowing homeowners to turn their thermostats down a few degrees.
Be sure to keep fireplace dampers closed when not in use. They provide an excellent escape route for heat, as well as humidity.
Source: Air Conditioning &
Refrigeration Institute
Variable Air Flow
The simplest VAV system
incorporates one supply duct that, when in cooling mode, distributes approximately 55 degree F supply air. Because the supply air temperature, in this simplest of VAV systems, is constant, the air flow rate must vary to meet the rising and falling heat gains or losses within the thermal zone served.
The air flow rate control is
provided via two techniques; for single zone systems the blower’s flow rate is varied. For a single VAV air handler that serves multiple thermal zones, the flow rate to each zone must be varied as well.
A VAV terminal unit [1], often called a VAV box, is the zone-level flow control device. It is basically a quality, calibrated air damper with an automatic actuator. The VAV terminal unit is connected to either a local or a central control system.
Source: Wikipedia
Ultra Quiet Systems
Consumers can look for
sound-dampening features such as insulated compressor compartments, discharge mufflers and innovative fan designs that work to soften the sound of a hard-working, high-efficiency compressor. Top-panel orifices, compressor wrappers and indoor blowers are all designed
to further promote smooth, quiet airflow.
Source: Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute
Extended Warranties
The extended warranty may be offered by the Sales Associate, the retailer or the manufacturer. These warranties extend the period of the manufacturer’s standard warranty and are not “double coverage”.
A service plan is a separate
policy from the manufacturer’s warranty. While the typical service plan does require preventative and routine maintenance to be taken in accordance with the manufacturer’s warranty, it does not actually require a product to fail or malfunction under the same conditions. Service plans are also active from the date of purchase, unlike extended warranties, which become active when the manufacturer’s warranty expires, meaning products can be purchased with service plans that end before or at the same time as the manufacturer’s warranty.
The key distinction is that a
warranty strictly covers defects in workmanship and materials, while service plans cover product failure in general with a list of exclusions.
Most Manufacturer’s today
offer a 10 year parts warranty and Efficient Home Solutions offers a 10 year labor warranty to work in conjunction with the Manufacturer’s warranty so there will be no out of pocket expense for the next 10 years.
Source: Wikipedia
Thermostats
Electromechanical (EM) thermostats, usually the easiest devices to operate, typically have manual controls such as movable tabs to set a rotary timer and sliding levers for night and day temperature settings. These thermostats work with most conventional heating and cooling systems, except heat pumps. EM controls have limited flexibility and can store only the same settings for each day, although at least one manufacturer has a model with separate settings for each day of the week. EM thermostats are best suited for people with regular schedules.
Digital thermostats are identified by their LED or LCD digital readout and data entry pads or buttons. They offer the widest range of features and flexibility, and digital thermostats can be used with most heating and cooling systems. They provide precise temperature control, and they permit custom scheduling. Programming some models can be fairly complicated; make sure you are comfortable with the functions and operation of the thermostat you choose. Remember– you won’t save energy if you don’t set the controls or you set them incorrectly.
Hybrid systems combine the technology of digital controls with manual slides and knobs to simplify use
and maintain flexibility. Hybrid models are available for most systems, including heat pumps.
Occupancy thermostats maintain the setback temperature until someone presses a button to call for heating or cooling. They do not rely on the time of day. The ensuing preset “comfort period” lasts from 30 minutes to 12 hours, depending on how you’ve set the thermostat. Then, the temperature returns to the setback level. These units offer the ultimate in simplicity, but lack flexibility. Occupancy thermostats are best suited for spaces that remain unoccupied for long periods of time.
Light Sensing heat thermostats rely on the lighting level preset by the owner to activate heating systems. When lighting is reduced, a photocell inside the thermostat senses unoccupied conditions and allows space temperatures to fall 10 below the occupied temperature setting. When lighting levels increase to normal, temperatures automatically adjust to comfort conditions. These units do not require batteries or programming and reset themselves after power failures. Light sensing thermostats are designed primarily for stores and offices where occupancy determines lighting requirements, and therefore heating requirements.
Source: Federal Citizen Information Center
Ductless
Systems (garages)
Ductless systems are easy and quick to install. They can be operational within hours. All a contractor needs to do is set up the outdoor condenser coil and compressor, drill a small hole for the copper tubing, hang the indoor fan coil units, connect the tubing and electrical power lines, install the wall controller, and the job is done. Manufacturers ensure that units are charged and tested at the factory so connections can be made quickly, and condensers are designed to be easily serviced.
System Controls
Wall-mounted thermostat or infrared remote control systems allow the user to select the required functions such as temperature and fan speed simply by pushing buttons. The user can even select a delayed start and stop time for unit operation, which makes it possible to have a unit switched on automatically before the homeowner arrives home from work.
Design
The indoor unit of a ductless system is lightweight and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit any design scheme. Outdoor units are designed to be efficient and durable, and they are smaller than conventional units, which makes them easier to disguise behind existing landscaping.
How it Works
To cool your home, refrigerant is pumped from the outdoor condenser coil and compressor through the copper tubing to the indoor unit or units. Inside, the refrigerant is drawn across the evaporator coil and humidity is removed and the air is cooled. A fan in the indoor unit then pushes the cooled air into the room. The amount of cold air entering the room can be controlled by a thermostat or it can be regulated by an infra-red remote controller, similar to a television remote controller.
Source: Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute
Small
Duct, High-Velocity Air Conditioning Systems
A unique feature of the SDHV systems is the air distribution system. The air distribution system, together with the blower-coil unit, is usually installed in attic spaces of older homes that were not designed for forced-air circulation heating or cooling. Thus, installation of a SDHV system helps satisfy the air conditioning needs for older homes,
replacing less-efficient window air conditioners. The outdoor condensing units used in SDHV systems are identical to those used in conventional split systems.
Another advantage of using of SDHV systems is the use of small, 2-inch insulated, flexible tubing to supply cooled air throughout your
home. The ductwork weaves in between spaces in the walls, ceilings, or floors similar to a central vacuuming system. In fact, high velocity systems use small supply vents with cover plates the size and shape of CD-ROMs (or smaller). This makes the system popular in older homes where conventional ductwork would require much more demolition to the existing space.
A SDHV heat pump system is comprised of a conventional outdoor heat pump unit and an indoor blower-coil unit and duct system similar to the system used for cooling, except that the blower-coil unit is equipped with a larger coil for refrigerant management and a back-up heat source, such as a resistance heating element or hot water coil, is added.
Source: Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute