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10 Ways to Save Energy in your Home (Part2)

October 25, 2012 By 1 Comment

As part of October’s Energy Awareness month, we are continuing to talk about how to save energy in your home.  In our previous post, we discussed the appliances you use day-to-day like your water heater, washer and dryer, and dishwasher.  This week, we are going to give you five more ways to be more aware of the energy you are using, and make your home more efficient, with a focus on your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

Saving Energy with your Home’s HVAC Systems

For the first 5 energy saving tips, go here.  

6.)  Central Air Conditioning
Have an annual tune-up on your air conditioner to check the thermostat, refrigerant, filters, and more. Use a 7-day programmable thermostat to control air usage for times when it is needed.

7.)  Use or Block the Sunprogrammable thermostat HVAC
Awnings, shutters or window film can reduce solar heat gain in your home in the summer. Open and close drapes as needed during any season to utilize the sun’s heat, or block cool drafts from leaky windows.

8.) Room Air Conditioning
If you have to use a room or window air conditioner, position revolving fans and ceiling fans to spread the cooled air. Keep heat emitting TV sets, lamps, or sunlight away from the air conditioner when possible.

9.)  Heating
Get a programmable thermostat and program it at 68 degrees or lower to match your comfort level and schedule. An annual tune-up on your furnace to check filters, ducts, and more can improve efficiency and reduce the chance of breakdowns. If you know that your furnace is nearing the end of it’s lifecycle, you may need to make the difficult decision of replacing or repairing the furnace.  Be aware that high efficiency furnaces will be required in Minnesota after May 1, 2013.

10.)  Minimize Drafts
Air leaks around your home can cause loss of heat. Use weather stripping and caulking to seal doors, windows, and other openings. Even outlets and switches on exterior walls can let your warm air escape.

Think about how much money you can save if you implement just a few of these energy saving changes.  Contact Chappell Central Inc. at 320-235-2151 if we can help you with any of your heating or cooling concerns.

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Chappell Central Visits Carrier Factories

March 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Our Residential Sales and Service Staff at Chappell Central is continually learning about the latest in HVAC equipment and service, and this winter has been no exception.

Paul Krueger, Special Projects, and Randy Sather, Residential Sales, recently completed a factory tour of the Carrier Manufacturing Plants in Memphis, Tennessee and Indianapolis, Indiana.  Paul said, “It was great to get a look at Carrier’s newest line of furnaces and air conditioners.” The Carrier Factory in Memphis is where they make all of Residential Air Conditioners and Heat Pump units. At their Indianapolis, Indiana, plant, Paul and Randy got a tour of their Engineering Department where they design all of the Carrier Furnaces.  They even got a chance to share their experience with the engineers at Carrier.  Randy commented, “We sat in a meeting with the Carrier engineers and were able to voice our concerns and ideas for the future needs of our  customers.”

Chappell Central at Carrier HVAC training

In addition to the Carrier factory tours and meetings, the Chappell Central staff has also taken extra efforts to learn other specific equipment.  Paul Krueger completed training for the Carrier Infinity Greenspeed Heat Pump this February.  Paul and some of our service techs, Dave Swanson and Mike Newberg, have also completed a Service and Installation Technician Training for Water Furnace Geothermal products.

Our staff goes the extra mile to provide our customers with the knowledgable heating and cooling equipment advice and HVAC service that they deserve.  Do you have a question about Carrier heating and cooling products, Water Furnace Geothermal products, or any HVAC equipment?  Please contact us, we are here to help.

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How to Read the Energy Guide Label on your Furnace

March 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When you are shopping for a furnace, heat pump, air conditioner or other appliance, always look for the bright yellow and black Energy Guide label. These labels help explain how energy efficient the furnace or air conditioner is, and how it compares to others. Being aware of energy efficiency will help you make a wise HVAC buying decision. A more energy efficient furnace will cost more upfront versus but will likely save you money in the long run.

Understanding the Energy Guide Label

Energy Guide label for furnace

On the upper left hand side, you will see a description of what the item is (i.e. Furnace- Natural Gas).

Often on the upper right hand side, you will see the manufacturer and model number (i.e. Carrier Corporation).

Inside the box, you will see a comparison of the energy efficiency range of the equipment you are looking at and similar models. The type of measurements will vary depending on what type of equipment you are looking at.

For instance, the Energy Guide label pictured here has the least efficient model is 78 AFUE, the most efficient is 96.6 AFUE, and this model ranks at 95 AFUE for direct vent up flow, with slightly lower UFAE’s for down flow and horizontal vent flow. The AFUE rating is the percentage of fuel that is turned into usable heat. So for instance, a 95 AFUE furnace just loses 5% of its energy as exhaust. Older furnaces can have an AFUE as low as the 68-72.

Measures of Efficiency for Heating & Cooling

  • UFAE- Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency is a measure of energy efficiency for furnaces and boilers that are fueled by natural gas.
  • SEER – Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is the seasonal measure of energy efficiency for air conditioners and heat pumps when cooling.
  • HSPF – Heating Seasonal Performance Factor is the seasonal measure of energy efficiency for heat pumps when heating.

The higher the UFAE, SEER, or HSPF rating, the more efficient the heating or cooling system.

If you have questions about choosing the right heating or cooling equipment for your home or have a commercial HVAC project, please contact Chappell Central at 320-235-2151.

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