HAPPY 2009!

Sinclair Air Systems wishes you and yours the best possible start to the new year with blessings and good memories to get you started. May 2009 be an excellent year for everyone.

Super Heros Fighting Cold Weather?

So do you remember the old school batman movies or TV shows that were really over acted? like considerably? With the villains that did the "villain" laugh...and the funky costumes and half done special effects? Well. Bryant, one of the leading companies in air conditioning and heating has a portion of their site that is dedicated to "Bryant-man" a super hero that "fights" when the weather is too warm or too cold. There are coloring pages, stories and mini-movies at: http://www.bryant.com/about/bryantman/microsite.html However, easily the best part is this short commercial/movie...?

Bring in the New Year with Some Tax Credits

Energystar provides links and forms to help homeowners recieve benefits from home improvements and installing energy efficient appliances during 2008. This was initially started in 2007, but certain items have been renewed in an effort to help continued efforts to help save energy. Certain states provide additional benefits, but most monetary incentives are provided by the Federal Government in the form of tax credits. Visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits for information about getting rebates for cars, solar systems, wind energy and even some home improvements.

Central Air Conditioners need to be 14 SEER and Furnaces need to be above 95 AFUE (for information about AFUE and other heating or cooling specific terms visit our website: http://www.sinclairair.com/GlossaryPage/Glossary.html#A ) For heating specific information, we also have a separate page on our site to explain all the terminology and options related to choosing a heating source for your home. ( http://www.sinclairair.com/GlossaryPage/HeatingTerms.html)

April is still a long way off, but many experts suggest that if you get organized now, you won't be "down to the wire" during the coming months. Reduce your stress and find necessary paperwork now. Also, if you are considering upgrades to your home or business, check out the rebates offered for energy efficiency. Save money and the environment.

Holiday Wishes!

Happy Holidays! We at Sinclair Air Systems wish you and yours a beautiful holiday season! May your days be filled with happiness and family and lots and lots of good food!

FURNACE information

...Maybe it's just me...actually I am sure it is. I consistently find myself learning more about furnaces than I ever wanted to know...furnaces and air handlers...and any other number of HVAC equiptmental things. Not that it's not interesting, but... The Department of Energy has a section dedicated to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and on their site, they have a number of useful resources. The one I am highlighting today is their section on the upkeep of furnaces and boilers. The original link is: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12530 however, I have also uploaded this onto the resources page on our website: http://www.sinclairair.com/ because I have already lost links on the eere page. Did you know that you can retrofit your existing furnace to 'get' more energy efficiency out of it? I know I usually suggest replacing the whole thing - and units are a lot more efficient now than they were even 5 years ago, but 'retrofitting' might be a great idea for those looking to trim their energy costs without the major payout of replacing the whole system.

"Retrofitting Your Furnace or Boiler Furnaces and boilers can be retrofitted to increase their efficiency. These upgrades improve the safety and efficiency of otherwise sound, older systems. The costs of retrofits should be carefully weighed against the cost of a new boiler or furnace, especially if replacement is likely within a few years or if you wish to switch to a different system for other reasons, such as adding air conditioning (see the section on selecting and replacing heating and cooling systems). If you choose to replace your gas heating system, you'll have the opportunity to install equipment that incorporates the most energy-efficient heating technologies available. Since retrofits are fuel-specific, see the following sections for retrofit information: Gas-Fired Furnaces and Boilers (includes units fired with natural gas and propane) Oil-Fired Furnaces and Boilers Other retrofitting options that can improve a system's energy efficiency include installing programmable thermostats, upgrading duct work in forced-air systems, and adding zone control for hot-water systems, an option discussed in the Heat Distribution Systems section."

They also offer other information about how to choose a new furnace, as well as a chart depicting the possible savings (so you don't have to take my word for it...) that you can check out on the same site. The Department of Energy also provides booklets explaining possible ways to save energy in other areas of the home as well.

Calculate the Costs of Your Furnace

Have you ever wondered (apart from all the different lines on your gas or electric bill) what exactly your furnace is costing you? Energystar.gov offers a way to calculate what your furnace is costing you, what it would cost to upgrade/upkeep and the percentages of possible savings. On this page, click on the "savings calculator" link (pictured in purple type). It is actually an excel spreadsheet that you download. In the spreadsheet are already set up formulas to help you calculate estimates of service prices and installation costs. (Please keep in mind that these are estimates, but still are a pretty good idea of what you can possibly save). I had a furnace and air conditioning system installed in my home this year, and these are my savings calculations: and this is my summary: So, according to the calculations, I will receive the initial costs of upgrading back within 4 years (because of the high savings), but it will save me $79 a month. If you ask me, it was worth it. Find out what you could be saving...

Happy Holidays!

At this most festive time of year, we at Sinclair wish you and yours a very happy holiday season and all the best wishes for the year to come. May you be blessed and surrounded by those you love.

Which Furnace is Right for My Home?

http://www.consumersearch.com/furnaces is a great site giving homeowners various ways to look into the qualities they will need in a furnace. The first "tab" (Top 4 Best Reviewed) provides the "best" rated furnace in 4 categories and then explains what each of the pros and cons are for each unit. This site might be helpful if you are looking to make an upgrade in your furnace. One the second tab (What to Look for) there is a list of questions that a homeowner should ask the contractor before settling on a furnace model. These include things like inquiring about the noise level or the running speed. They also recommend finding a trustworthy company to install the unit as illustrated in the quotation below.

"Experts stress the importance of taking your time to find a good HVAC professional. The best way to start is to ask friends and neighbors for references. Contractors should be licensed and have appropriate insurance, liability and workman's comp paperwork. You will need a permit before work is started, and you should ask your contractor to procure this for you so that the work can be checked by a local government inspector."

The third and final tab on this page (Full Report) gives an expanded version of the suggestions (where more questions may be answered) as well as the sources for the information. If you are looking to upgrade, check out this site.

Pros and Cons of Furnace Types

The site warmair.net breaks down the pros and cons of each type of fuel used to operate furnaces. The comparison between the types of fuel and the costs of a homeowner can be very helpful in deciding which type is right for you. If you are in an area where natural gas can be expensive, it is probably a better idea to go with a different type of fuel.

FUEL OIL

Pros:
• Non-explosive
• Less likely to produce carbon monoxide
• Independent suppliers
• No monthly service fees Cons:
• Must be stored on premises
• Anual burner maintenance recommended
• 85% maximum efficiency
• High temperature exhaust
• Potential ground/water contaminant

NATURAL GAS

Pros:
• Does not need to be stored on premises
• 95% maximum efficiency- This is HUGE! The more efficient, the MORE you will save (in energy & money)
• Low temperature exhaust
• Useful in other household applications (i.e. kitchen stove, clothes drier, etc.)
Cons:
• Potentially explosive
• Produces Carbon monoxide
• Monthly service fees, regardless of usage

ELECTRIC (RESISTIVE)

Pros:
• No combustion or chimney
• No duct or pipe distribution system needed
• Each room individuallycontrolled
• Least expensive design/installation
Cons:
• Inefficient use of electricity
• Larger electrical service required

There are still other options for heating, such as heat pumps (which are similar to air conditioners), geothermal heat pumps and still other ways of using alternate energy forms to heat your home. It is also important for the homeowner to do their part. Just like it is necessary to keep every nook and cranny sealed to keep a home cool, it is just as important to keeping the home warm. If you haven't sealed your doors and windows in a while - if it is going to continue being THIS wet - that might be an excellent idea.

the Holidays Have Come to Sinclair!

It's almost time for the Holidays to get started full swing, so we thought what better way to get into the spirit than to decorate! We added lights and garland to almost every surface...tastefully we hope. The Grinch sings and dances... This picture was taken from the outside yesterday on that rainy day.

My Furnace has More Speeds Than Yours...

So when buying a furnace, there are a couple different choices you will need to make. 1. Gas or Electric. (or occasionally other mediums depending on where you live, or the type of heating offered in your local area.) Some things to consider: A natural gas furnace is usually cheaper than an electric furnace (gas costs less to run) however, an electric furnace does not have a pilot light that can get 'blow' out. Furnaces operate on 'speeds.' Like bikes - (a very LOOSE analogy, please bear with me) If you have a 10 speed bike, it can go 10 speeds theoretically. So, likewise, if you have a single speed furnace - it operates at only one speed. That means that the energy (and fuel-gas) use is constant at one speed regardless of when you turned the furnace on. There are also 'dual stage' furnaces which operate on hmm... two speeds. These are recommended for people who live in parts of the country where it gets colder, or for homeowners who use their furnace often. The operation of a two speed furnace allows energy to be conserved as there are two operating speeds, let's compare them to full speed and half speed depending on the heating needs. Another type of furnace is 'variable speed' which means...the furnace operates on different speeds depending on heating needs (similar to dual speed). In Southern California, most people don't use their furnaces all that often, so a single stage furnace is usually beneficial for our customers as they don't have to pay for the upfront costs of a variable or dual furnace.

Maybe you should look into upgrading...

This year, along with all of the other economic peril to worry about, oil prices (used to heat the home in oil-based furnaces) are also expected to rise. Also, look at: http://greenecon.net/home-heating-concerns/energy_economics.html for more information about how these rising costs could affect you. Newer furnaces are more economical. The government has placed increased efficiency standards on most units and so they use less energy and fuel than in previous years. This can be especially helpful in saving money. Other options to ask about are geo-thermal heat models or the use of other fuels rather than gas or oil.

What do I set my thermostat to in Winter?

Well, rhetorical question: wonder no longer. Technically, you set your thermostat to where you are most comfortable. However, to best save energy (and money) Energy Star recommends at 70 or above (and 78 while you are away or asleep). Energy Star has a wealth of information on their website, but it can be a bit difficult to wade through all of it. Here are their suggestions for the use of your programmable thermostat. (See the original on their website: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=thermostats.pr_thermostats_guidelines)

Proper Use Guidelines for Programmable Thermostats

Through proper use of a programmable thermostat (using the 4 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.

1. 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.
2. Units typically have 2 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.
3. 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, including ENERGY STAR qualified units, begin to hear 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.
4. 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.

*The $180 savings assumes a typical, single-family home with a 10 hour daytime setback of 8° F in winter and setup of 7° F in summer, and an 8 hour nighttime setback of 8° F in winter and a setup of 4° F in summer.

It is very important to utilize your programmable thermostat if you have one. The heating unit works much harder trying to warm a freezing house than it does trying to bring the temperature up a few degrees. Plus, if your furnace is used constantly, it is less likely that it will be on for a prolonged period of time - which costs you more money. If you do not have a programmable thermostat, it might be in your interest to look into getting one. If thermostats are used properly, they can save both time and money - as well as keeping your home SUPER Comfortable!

Air Conditioning as Preservation

Climate control - as far as humidity, as well as temperature - is one of the main reasons for upgrading to a central air and heating system. A unit attached to a thermostat allows for a comfortable home, with a maintained constant temperature and humidity level. In the summer, it's the humidity that makes life unbearable, so being able to take the moisture out of the air is very helpful in an air conditioning system. Air units may also be used to maintain more specific temperatures and humidity levels for a variety of things. For example, light and moisture are the enemies of old paper products (books (first edition copies - Gutenberg Bible), manuscripts (Declaration of Independence), and photos (Spanish American War correspondent documentation photos)...etc.) So a library like the Huntington library close to us needs to work with their air and heating to provide the optimum temperature. At the Huntington, some collections are also kept in the dark. (More information than you ever wanted to know? probably...) So, how does this tie in with my blog post? Well, on the Carrier website, they have a list of places that required special heating or cooling needs - and I found it interesting the differences and spectrum between the examples. They range from cooling at the Alexandria Library in Egypt to National Geographic needing to encase the 'ice maiden.' The Carrier project showcase tells all about these and many other examples: http://www.corp.carrier.com/www/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=54c87afdef677010VgnVCM100000cb890b80RCRD Not that most of us will ever need that much cooling or heating capacity, but it is interesting to see how the technology is changing to meet new needs. Hopefully as research improves, some of these technologies will be applied to our houses too.

Explaining Electricity

Prepare: More than you ever wanted to know about electricity... The department of energy puts out these nifty little brochures that explain electricity or gas, or oil and other things. So, what better to learn about as it starts to get cold and the furnace kicks in...adding to that electricity bill than electricity pricing? Visit: http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/brochure/electricity/electricity.html to see the brochure on electricity. The brochure explains where electricity comes from, the percentages of the total of each source - coal, nuclear, gas etc. And then how much electricity the average home uses, broken down into the various appliances. If you are unsure about what the "grid" is, or how high of a percentage of electricity your refrigerator is eating up, this brochure is a good idea. It's an easy read, with lots of pictures. go forth, and inform...

Inspected?

If you aren't planning on having your heating and air conditioning equipment inspected this year, you might want to consider having a whole house inspection. These inspections aren't just for possible home buyers anymore. If you have lived in your house for awhile, it is a good idea to have your equipment checked out. That way you can avoid costly repairs of things you didn't even know were wrong. This video explains the benefits of having a home inspection as well as possible resources. It's better to be prepared than to be scrambling to fix something.