Three Reasons to be on a filter program:
- The filters help keep the HVAC clean so your system runs efficiently.
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Having filters changed on a consistent basis will help with the dust in your home as well as the air quality.
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But most importantly, you won't have to remember to go to the store and buy the filters and the correct size will be shipped to you.
How often do I really have to change my filter?
In the summer or winter, changing your filter once a month is a good idea – for your health and your HVAC system! Besides reducing allergens like pollen and dust in your home’s air, a clean filter keeps dust and dirt from building up in your HVAC system, a problem that can lead to early system failure.
A dirty filter also slows down air flow, so your air conditioner has to work harder to keep you cool. That means a high energy bill you’ll have to work harder to pay for.
One Hour Heating offers a special filter system called the MicroPower Guard which helps purify
the air in your home. The particles hit the polarized media technology which generates an active electromagnetic field to charge both the airborne particles and the fiber of the disposable carbon-filled media pad. The polarized particles stick to the media and each other. This creates a virtual force field within the ductwork, capturing 97% of the most dangerous-to-breathe airborne particles.
Not only does it catch the particles, the carbon-filled media pad helps absorb odors and gases for better air quality in your home.
This MicroPower Guard system fits easily into your existing 1” furnace filter area. The carbon-filled media pad should be replaced every 3 to 4 months for peak operating efficiency. The replacement media pads are available in 3 or 4 packs.
If you would like more information, please visit our website.
If you have an air conditioner or heat pump that is 6 years old, most likely you have a system that requires R-22 refrigerant. This R-22 refrigerant has increased in price over 200% since last fall and the United States is required to phase R-22 out by year 2020. This is a worldwide phase out of ozone-depleting CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). Releases of R-22 such as those from leaks, contribute to ozone depletion that also contribute to global warming; therefore, the United States is transitioning away from R-22.
The reason for this cost increase was after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered that manufactures cut production of R-22 material. In 2010 the United States was required to reduce its consumption by 65%. In 2015, the United States is required to reduce its consumption by 90%. And by 2020, reduce consumption by nearly 100%. Since the United States is phasing it out, the demand is getting higher for R-22; consequently, the price keeps increasing.
Most air conditioners and heat pumps built in the last 2-5 years use a different refrigerant called R-410A which is better for the environment. There are an estimated 75 percent of existing home air conditioners or heat pumps that continue to rely on R-22 according to industry sources.
If your system is in need of repair and is leaking refrigerant, you can still purchase R-22, but you may want to look into a newer energy-efficient system to not only save money on repair costs, but also on utility costs.
We would be happy to come out and assess your system. Give us a call or click here to fill out a form online to schedule an assessment.
(http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/22phaseout.html)
A heat pump is a machine or device that transfers thermal energy from one location called the "source," which is at a lower temperature, to another location called the "sink" or heat sink which is at a higher temperature.1 In the winter, a heat pump removes available heat from the air outside your home (yes, there is heat in cold outdoor air) and moves it indoors, providing an even, comfortable temperature level throughout your home. There are seldom any warm or cold spots such as those that exist when a gas furnace alone is used. In the summer, it removes heat from inside your home and replaces it with cool air.
Heat pumps seem like they are running all the time because it actually is heating/cooling your home 85% of the time and only using your other heat source (furnace) a small amount of the time. The heat pump is considered the work horse or the heart of your system. Once the temperature outside goes below 35 degrees, then your gas or electric furnace will activate the burners or heat strips to heat your home. When your system is installed or when you get it serviced, the technician can set the lock-out temperature. The lock-out temperature of 35 degrees is industry standard for the Puget Sound area. So when the outside air hits that 35 degree temperature the heat pump communicates with the thermostat and kicks on the backup heat (furnace).
The heat pump is your first source of heat and your electric or gas furnace is your second source of heat. Heat pumps that have a Heat Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) 7.7 to 9.0 rating (what the heat pump is rated for in the heating season) will save you money on your utility bills and be energy efficient. So if you have a heat pump as your first source of heat with electric furnace as your backup heat source system, you would typically pay approx. $480 annually2. Versus an electric furnace as your only heat source, you would typically pay $1,266 annually2. So you can see that a heat pump/electric furnace combination could save up to $786 annually2. That’s quite a savings.
The other nice feature for us Washingtonians, is that we get the added bonus of air conditioning during our short hot summer months.
For more information on rebates in Olympia, Thurston County and Tacoma, Pierce County, click here.
1 Wikipedia Definition, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_pump
2 Tacoma Power Home Heating Cost Comparison, http://www.mytpu.org/files/library/heat-pump-cost.pdf