Is it really HVAC?

HVAC stands for Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Any system that works to improve interior comfort can be considered HVAC. But if you want your Denver heating and air conditioning to work, it is best to consult a Colorado certified HVAC specialist. You can dramatically effect your energy bills by making sure your HVAC is up to par. Denver HVAC companies really make their money on big boxes, and medium and large office buildings where proper heating and air conditioning result in big savings on overhead.

The three functions of a Denver HVAC: heating, cooling and ventilation, became needs in the industrial revolution when people were crowded into factories and office buildings. Originally, these comforts were provided by a hodgepodge of fans, boilers and fireplaces. A proper Colorado HVAC provides comfort as well as clean air. Most Denver heating and cooling systems do not run under the strains of a full blown office space system, but a certified HVAC professional can still provide savings. For larger buildings, architects and engineers specifically design the heating and air conditioning systems to match the building and the HVAC to our Colorado weather. For it to be considered HVAC, it must be a truly unified system.

Heating is essential in Denver winters. Central heating consists of some sort of heating element like a boiler or furnace, a transport system to pull the heat into the room, and a thermostat to monitor temperature.

Unfortunately, air quality is going down, so in Denver ventilation systems are a must. Some construction or industrial sites need special ventilation to keep harmful fumes from workers. But even the average office worker wants clean air to be able to work properly.

Cooling is done by air conditioning except in very dry climates. Some homes in Denver use evaporative coolers, which cool through the natural power of water evaporation, and add moisture to the air.

Central air and heat pumps need a proper cooling charge. A certified Denver HVAC specialist should check your system for the proper charge. An incorrect amount of coolant will put a strain on your air conditioning or heat pump. Air flow out of the cooling system should also be optimized so it can go smoothly from your refrigerating element to the house.

Energy Star Qaulified HVAC

Heating and cooling account for more than half of the energy use in the average Denver home. You need heat to keep from freezing in Denver, and the piercing summer sun takes up money in cooling a Denver home. HVAC - Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning is just what it says: the way you keep your home warm or cool. In a green state like Colorado, everyone is trying to do their part to reduce energy use... and save money. In Denver heating is a matter of survival, while few can give up air conditioning now. One way to keep Denver air conditioning costs down is to make sure your Denver HVAC system meets federal Energy Star guidelines.

These tips will not only lower your heating bills and emissions, they will also make your HVAC system work more effectively - and keep you comfortable all year.

The easiest, and often overlooked step is to replace your Denver HVAC air filters. Check your air filter every month, because especially in times of heavy use, Denver heating and air conditioning needs to work at optimal condition. Change your filter at least every 3 months. A dirty filter wastes energy because the HVAC needs more power to move the same amount of air through the clogged filter. Clean filters prevent dust and malfunctions to your heating system caused by dust. A dirty HVAC system can fail, and you do not want your heating in Colorado to fail during January.

Tune up your system. If you have a Denver HVAC contractor that you trust, calling them for a little tune-up is preventative maintenance. Your Colorado heating and air conditioning specialist should also install a programmable thermostat. These smart thermostats save you money and time over the year by shutting off when you are not home. If you are away from home at regular times, a programmed thermostat can save hundreds a year. Having the perfect Denver heating source means nothing if your HVAC ducts are not properly sealed. The ducts transfer all that precious warm or cold air to your room. Improperly sealed and insulated ducts can cost your upwards of a 20% increase in energy bills. Any Denver HVAC company worth its salt will seal your ducts and inspect them for free. Focus on sealing ducts that run through un-insulated areas like the attic, garage or crawlspace. Duct sealant and metal foil tape actually works much better than duct tape. If you want your Denver heating and air conditioning system to leak like a siv, use duct tape.

Your actual equipment should be Energy Star qualified. An old HVAC system in Colorado is probably costing you money. A professional Denver HVAC contractor can evaluate your system and see if upgrading part of it will be cost effective. Replacing old equipment with Energy Star certified HVAC hardware can save around $200 a year. Some of the main problems old or improperly designed Denver HVAC systems have are Low airflow, Improper charge, and Duct leakage.

Properly sized equipment will keep your system running efficiently. Too large a system will result in frequent on-off cycling. In Denver heating and air conditioning should not be on simultaneously! Incorrect sizing will also stress that expensive equipment your HVAC contractor installed.

Is Do-It-Yourself HVAC a Good Idea Or Bad Idea?

Posted by: Denver HVAC

Is do-it-yourself HVAC a good idea? It is very important to understand that DIY HVAC is in some cases a great idea, but in most cases, these projects can be daunting and are not for everyone. Let's look at what is involved in a few of these projects and then decide if you are up to the task.

Air Conditioner or Heat Pump unit replacement: This usually involves removing the existing outdoor condenser or heat pump and replacing it with a new unit. That sounds easy, right? Well, it is, if you know what you are doing and have the proper tools to do it. To remove the existing unit, you, by law, must evacuate the existing refrigerant from the system. This requires two things that most of us do not have, an evacuation pump that removes and stores the refrigerant and a CFC Refrigerant Certification. Ouch!! Now what do you do?

Because of these restrictions and rightfully so, as the handling of refrigerant chemicals can be dangerous because of extreme temperatures and high pressures that can harm humans if subjected to either, and the ever present concern of releasing the CFC related chemicals into our atmosphere that are illegal to expel, it would appear that you are not going to be able to do this project yourself. But all is not lost.

What you can do, is purchase your equipment from a reputable company that specializes in making HVAC equipment available to homeowners. This will be the most important step you will take. In many cases the money that you will save will be so dramatic that you will wonder why you have not done this before.

Next, you can prepare the site location for your new equipment. This may include grading an area outside of your home and installing a new pad, either prefab or poured concrete. You can also run and secure new refrigerant lines set between the outdoor unit and the indoor coil. Because you are not directly handling refrigerants, you are allowed and most likely capable of doing this portion of the job. Depending on building and electrical codes in your area, you may be able to run electrical connections and have those ready for professional connection or possibly make these connections yourself. You can purchase and install a new thermostat if needed as well. As you can see, there is plenty that you can do yourself that will save you money in the end.

When the time is right, hiring a local professional to complete the project is the best option and may be the only option. But remember that the money you have saved by purchasing your own equipment and the pre-work that you have done yourself will pay big dividends.

Here is an example of potential money saved by DIY:

Professional installation of a 3 ton Air conditioner, Line set and Thermostat.

Equipment - $2,100

Installation Supplies- $ 400

Thermostat - $ 100

Labor - $ 800

Total $3,400.

DIY Project

Equipment - $1,200

Install Supply - $ 300

Thermostat - $ 60

Labor - $ 400

Total $1,960.

Disclaimer: DIY is not for everyone and this article is not recommending that this practice is for everyone. If you are the type person that does not enjoy or get personal satisfaction from doing this type of project yourself, don't do it. If you do not have access to the proper tools or do not have the skills to do this level of work, don't do it. If you do not have the time to invest to make sure and do all the required steps correctly, don't do it. If your situation is that of an emergency, requiring immediate action in order to regain cooling or heating conditions for health purposes, don't do it. If your area has codes that do not allow for this type of project to be completed by yourself and requires license, don't do it. But, if you like the challenge, are mechanically inclined or handy, get personal satisfaction from doing a job yourself and like to take control of your hard earned money, you just might be a prime candidate for DO-IT-YOURSELF.

Jay Boyd owns his own heating and air conditioning store Home Air Direct where he helps the do-it-yourselfer save money. His blog site Ask Boyd contains numerous tips and stories involving the HVAC industry.

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