How Do Programmable Thermostats Work In Bay Area Homes?

Who wouldn't like to save money while sleeping or away from home? You could save a considerable amount of energy without sacrificing comfort simply by using a programmable thermostat.

Take advantage of this guide to be able to program energy-saving configurations matched to your schedule, and for your specific cooling and heating systems.

Programmable thermostat functions

Programmable thermostats present an array of features that will make programming temperature changes a breeze. Large touch screen displays help to make navigation uncomplicated and intuitive. Program and store as many as 6 temperature changes on a daily basis. For quick temperature changes, manually bypass the programmed setting by selecting "Hold" without changing the rest of the daily or weekly programs.

Choosing the proper thermostat

It's important to match compatible programmable thermostats with HVAC systems. For example, if you have a heat pump, you'll have to have a two-stage programmable thermostat. Or else, when room temperature drops more than a few degrees below a standard thermostat's set point, the heat pump's back-up electric resistance heating powers on, and energy savings go out your window. A 2-stage thermostat stops backup heat from turning on.

Boilers and under floor heating systems have a slow reaction time. You'll need a thermostat that monitors heating performance, and automatically changes the start up time to meet the heating requirements to your scheduled program. For those who have electric baseboard heating, you'll require a line-voltage thermostat able to contrl 120-volt or 240-volt circuits. Your HVAC specialist will help you select the right thermostat for your home heating system.

Just how much energy am I going to save?

Government figures reveal that cooling and heating costs can be decreased by about 1 % for each and every degree the thermostat is lowered (heating months) or raised (cooling months) for an 8-hour time period. To illustrate, if you set back (heating months) the thermostat eight degrees during sleeping hours, and kept that very same setting during your workday (total 16+ hours), you'd save roughly 16 percent, and maybe more, heating costs in that 24-hour period.

For additional information about programmable thermostats, email or call Sandium Heating & Air San Jose and the whole metro south SF Bay Area.

Is a Home Heater Replacement In Your Future? The Right Size Matters

When it is time to replace your home's central heat, you should make sure the new unit is the right size for your household. Putting in a correctly sized heater results in an efficient operation over the heating season. If an undersized system is installed, your house can never heat properly, and an oversized furnace will operate for only short durations without achieving optimum efficiency.

There are a few different ways to assist you in sizing your home heater replacement:

Run the numbers - The size of heater you'll need is determined by the area where you live, your average power use, and also the size of your house. Every one of these variables may be used to calculate the appropriate furnace size. Most furnace manufacturers supply similar data for you to compare your requirements to various sizes.

Check your current heater's size - Evaluate the heater currently set up in your home. Figure out if it's been meeting your heating demands or if you may require some other size.

  

Compare your house to others - Ask nearby neighbors with similar houses about the dimensions of their central heater. If their units are effectively heating their homes that could be a great place to begin when sizing a heater replacement.

  

Contact an expert - Requesting an on-site visit from a qualified HVAC tech will help you to figire out what size of furnace you'll need. An experienced technician from Sandium Heatnig & Air can visit your home, examine your current furnace, determine the necessary dimensions of a replacement unit, as well as make suggestions for system installation.

If you are considering a replacement furnace/heater contact the experts at Sandium Heating & Air. We have been dedicated to serving the HVAC needs of the south San Francisco Bay Area for over a decade and would be privileged to help you out to resolve all of your HVAC needs.

Geothermal 101

All energy comes from the sun. The sun has provided a lot of BTUs for a lot of years and the earth has absorbed and stored that energy. A closed-loop geothermal system simply removes those BTUs from the ground in the winter and gives them back in the summer.

At depths of five feet or more, the earth temperature remains close to 57 degrees, as evidenced by a cave's temperature. This temperature varies only slightly across the US.

There are 2 ways to install a geothermal unit. If digging a trench is difficult or if space is limited, geothermal contractors drill holes into the ground vertically to install small-diameter polyethylene pipe. If digging a horizontal trench is feasible, the pipe is installed in a horizontal trench.

A very small pump then circulates water from the earth to the geothermal unit and back to the ground in the closed-loop pipe. As it circulates 57-degree water in the winter, the geothermal unit, using the compressor to remove heat from the water, provides 105-degree air into the house. As the water goes back to the ground loop, it immediately starts absorbing BTUs from the earth.

In the summer, a reversing valve simply reverses the process and the compressor pumps BTUs into the ground loop.

Geothermal gives good hot air in the winter and really cold air in the summer and uses less energy than any other central heating and cooling system. So don't be a tightwad. Buy the best there is - you, your family, and your house deserve it.

For more info on geothermal units and if they would work for you please contact Sandium Heating and Air Conditioning. 

Indicators that your HVAC system needs to be replaced

Manufacturers of HVAC devices and even the U.S. Department of Energy advise that it is best to automatically replace your HVAC equipment by the end of its estimated service life, typically estimated at approximately ten to fifteen years for air conditioning systems and fifteen to twenty years for a heater or boiler. Still the majority don't heed this basic advice, and given the expense of replacing these units, who could blame them? While age is a legitimate point with regards to replacement, there are several telltale signs that a unit is just too far gone, along with more general signs that may signify that replacement is wise, if not immediately necessary.

Furnace

The heart for any gas furnace is the heat exchanger. It exchanges the heat from the gas burners to the air that moves through the system. If a heat exchanger forms cracks or holes, replacing the appliance is imminent. Heat exchangers can fracture if they get too hot and expand past their design limits. This can actually be brought on, over time, by filthy furnace filters, but it's quite often merely a condition of old age. Heat exchangers can be susceptible to rust if there is substantial moisture in the area or the furnace is linked to a central AC and the interior exchanger on the air conditioner has a problem with its condensate pan or drain, causing water to drip on the furnace exchanger.

Signs and symptoms that can signify a bad heat exchanger include exhaust odor in your home and soot around your heater vents in the home or surrounding the furnace itself. If you notice water beneath your furnace and/or deterioration inside the unit, have the heat exchanger checked for holes. A breach in the heat exchanger enables exhaust gases to mix with the system's circulated air and may generate dangerous amounts of deadly carbon monoxide inside your home. If your CO2 alarm sounds off during the heating season, get the furnace checked right away.

Boiler

Just like furnaces, gas boilers also have heat exchangers which are vital to their performance and all around health. And if one goes south, then it's time for a new unit. In boilers, the exchanger is actually a holding chamber for water, so the telltale indication of a crack is water on the ground underneath the boiler. Boilers can even be damaged by water outside the unit, for example by frequent or extended flooding. If your boiler has lots of rust at the base, have it examined by a boiler technician.

AC Systems

Central air conditioning systems usually don't last as long as furnaces, and also their exterior parts often require more maintenance, partly because they're subjected to the elements and climate extremes. Consequently, one indicator that it's time for you to replace your AC is a high frequency of servicing. If you have to get the unit serviced or repaired a few times within a season, you should ponder whether there are systemic issues at play. A malfunctioning part or poor system installation may cause a variety of collateral damage to an air conditioning system. Fixing the cause won't reverse the damages already done to other parts. As an example, a burned out compressor is often a result of acid circulating within the system. You can replace the compressor, but if there are leaks in the system or if the acid isn't entirely eliminated, your situation can occur again.

Other indications of very worn out AC equipment are unusually high noise and decreased efficiency. Failing systems usually make some horrendous sounds, and while this may be due to a number of problems, not all of which support replacement, there is a good possibility that the issue is serious and really should be looked into. Also, if you notice noticeable reduction in efficiency, especially if you've followed a maintenance schedule, your AC could be on its way out.

Consider the Operating Cost

Because your HVAC system is the greatest energy user in your house, the expense to operate the system is a vital factor in determining when to get a new one. To give an example, think about a broken furnace that's about 7 or 8 years of age, approximately half of its estimated service life. If fixing the unit costs about half the price of a brand new unit, should you fix or replace? If you have someone fix it, you'll still have a furnace that operates pretty much at the same efficiency for the next 7 or 8 years, at the end of which you'll purchase a new unit regardless. If you upgrade now, you will have a more energy-efficient unit which will save money on energy bills over the same 7 or 8 years, meaning you will likely spend less in the end.

Be Safe When Running Your Gas Furnace

Even though the South SF Bay Area is recognized for its warmer climates the farther south you go, the winters do get very chilly, especially throughout the nights. This means that you will end up running your gas furnace throughout the winter season. Ensure that you abide by these safety tips when operating your gas furnace.

Carbon monoxide (CO) sensors - Your furnace generates a small amount of CO, which happens to be an odorless, tasteless and a gas without color, as a byproduct of its combustion process. However, if it creates too much due to a leak or inefficient operation, it could be deadly. CO detectors will alarm your household when the amount of CO in your house is too high. Make certain you don't set up a CO detector too close to your heater, as the small, safe amount of CO it typically produces might trigger the alarm.

You want to keep area clear - Don't crowd the area around your furnace with furnishings or cardboard boxes. And definitely don't have anything combustible close by. For people with children, make sure that they don't play around this area too.

Replace the filter - A clean filter permits air to circulate more effortlessly from the furnace to the rest of your house. A grimy filter will result in the furnace working inefficiently, resulting in more wear and tear.

Examine for gas leaks - If you find any gas leaks around the furnace, which you should certainly smell, call your gas company right away. They will dispatch a tech to correct the problem.

The gas meter - Never cover up your gas meter. It must be easy to get at in case you have to turn the gas off quickly in the event of an emergency.

Inspection - Have your gas heater professionally inspected prior to the peak heating season arrives. A licensed contractor will make sure it runs as efficiently and safely as possible including checking for damage.

To learn more about safely running your gas furnace, or to schedule an inspection of your furnace, email or call Sandium Heating & Air. We service the South Bay Area with the best support available.

Some Clear-cut Tips To Hiring An HVAC Company

Searching for somebody who can deliver HVAC repair, upkeep or installation solutions in the South Bay Area of California? Right here is definitely an straightforward guide to hiring the right HVAC contractor to meet your requirements.

Ask around. Almost each homeowner will need to employ an HVAC contractor sooner or later, countless of the neighbors, co-workers, loved ones or close friends will be capable to give you suggestions based on their experiences. They might advise that you make use of the identical contractor they did - or recommend that you simply not use them.

Look for testimonials or testimonials. Any fantastic HVAC contractor who has been in enterprise for awhile should have loads of satisfied clients. On line critique web pages such as Angie’s List deliver unbiased feedback from folks who have employed the business previously.

Be sure that they're NATE-certified. NATE certification ensures that their technicians are totally educated, seasoned HVAC specialists.

Ask for proof of insurance, and make certain they may be licensed. Any expert company should really be licensed and insured.

See if they do an in-home evaluation. An HVAC contractor must verify  the situation in  person, instead of over the phone. That way, they can be certain with the scope on the job and make an precise diagnosis or estimate.

Give them the information. Tell them what you understand about your equipment’s history, or any comfort problems. That way, they can be certain to fix those troubles.

Ensure they do not use shortcuts or one-size-fits-all options. The size and form of an HVAC system isn't determined by simple rules of thumb, or by assuming that it should be exactly the same because the old system. Instead, the contractor need to do the work needed to perform a load calculation and pick out the ideal remedy, in lieu of one particular which is just “close sufficient.”

Of course, for those who reside within the South SF Bay Region, you may simply call Sandium Heating & Air, an award-winning HVAC contractor with more than 10 years’ experience keeping the Bay Location comfortable. Contact us for all your HVAC service and installation desires.

Improve Furnace Performance By Using An Adjustable Rate Blower

Ramp up furnace efficiency within your South Bay location household by upgrading to a variable speed blower. With chilly winters (but not freezing cold), a variable speed blower optimizes dwelling comfort and power efficiency with slow, even heating.

Variable speed vs. single speed

The blower would be the furnace component that blows air by means of your home’s ductwork to your living space. For decades, there have been only inefficient single speed blowers accessible for homeowners. With a single speed blower, air all of a sudden blasts from the air-supply registers when the furnace powers on. It remains in one speed (higher) for the complete heating cycle. This can be neither efficient nor comfy.

A variable speed blower adjusts the quantity of air flow to precisely match the heating needs of the residence at any provided moment. It begins in low speed, and slowly increases speed till heating needs are met. 

A variable speed blower provides these advantages:

Quieter operation: Have you ever had to turn up the Tv volume when the furnace powers on as a result of the noise from registers? A variable speed motor produces substantially significantly less noise than a single speed blower.

Even heating: Slower air flow translates into extra even heating throughout your home.

Intelligent technology: Variable speed blowers adjust their speed to account for air flow restriction in ducts, filter resistance plus the location on the furnace.

Enhanced indoor air high-quality: By circulating air a lot more gradually for longer time periods, more of your indoor air is cycled by way of the air filter, which increases indoor air quality (if you adjust or clean your filter as suggested).

Furnace and power efficiency: Variable speed blowers run in reduced speed up to 90 percent of the time for moderate climates like property owners in Southern California appreciate. Variable speed motors use up to 600 % much less electricity than single speed blowers.

Zoning systems: In case you have a zoning system within your household, you will get even greater efficiency and comfort by upgrading to a variable speed blower.

For extra details about furnace efficiency, get in touch with Sandium Heating and Air. currently. We present service and installation for home owners in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernadino Counties.

Electric Air Cleaning - If You Demand Break From Seasonal Allergies

Any person experiencing seasonal allergies knows that retreating indoors does not always bring relief. In some instances, indoor air might be much more polluted than outside air. A reliable way to keep your indoor air clean and a source of allergy relief is by utilizing an electronic air cleaning system.

Electronic air cleaning systems, when combined with germicidal ultraviolet (UV) lights, are potent weapons against indoor air contaminants along with the substances that result in allergies flaring up and leading to discomfort. The air cleaners take away particulates including dust, dirt, pollen and fibers and the UV light kills organic matter and potentially dangerous microorganisms for example viruses, bacteria and mold spores.

The two most typical types of electronic air cleaners are electrostatic precipitators and ion generators. They may be installed inside the ductwork near the main HVAC unit within your home. There, all of the air that heats or cools your property also travels by way of the air cleaner.

Electrostatic precipitators use a high-voltage electrical source to charge particles in the air as they may be drawn via an ionization location. These charged particles are then attracted to flat metal collecting plates with an opposite charge, exactly where they accumulate.

Ion generators send charged ions into the airflow within your HVAC system. These ions attach to and charge particulate matter in the air. These charged particles are attracted to surfaces in your household which include walls, furniture or drapes. The particles also can attach to each other and settle onto the floor, tables, counters or other surfaces.

UV light is usually a really effective disinfectant that removes biological contaminants in the air by causing irreparable damage to an organism’s DNA, rendering it unable to reproduce. In addition to electronic air cleaning units, UV lights are placed inside the airflow of the forced-air HVAC systems, where they destroy microorganisms traveling within that airflow.

Sandium Heating & Air has provided design, installation, repair and maintenance to customers within the greater South San Francisco Bay location for far more than 10 years. Contact us today for far more information on electronic air cleaners and UV lights and how they can keep your indoor air clear of the particles that aggravate seasonal allergies.