Follow the recommendations in these articles because...
What's Good for Your Hvac System is Good
for Your Health and Your Wealth
Preventive Maintenance = $avings!

Take care of your HVAC system, and it will take care of you.
Preventive maintenance agreements (PMAs) are agreements between you and your Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) quality contractor for scheduled inspections and maintenance of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

PMAs are generally scheduled for the spring and fall to maintain peak efficiency, help keep utility bills lower, extend the life of your HVAC system, and avert failures. Sometimes PMAs are referred to as "planned maintenance agreements","start and checks", or "preventive service agreements". Most agreements offered by ACCA contractors cover an inspection of the entire HVAC system and routine maintenance (such as replacing or cleaning filters).

Energy Consumption

The HVAC system is most likely the single biggest use of energy in your home. In commercial applications where refrigeration is applied (combined with the HVAC systems), huge amounts of energy are used in the building. In fact, over a third of the energy used in the United States is used to heat and cool buildings.

According to the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), up to 50% more energy can be saved with proper installation, sizing, and maintenance of commercial central air conditioning and heat pumps. Although the CEE study did not measure residential systems, a compelling case can be made that proper maintenance can save homeowners up to 50% as well.

Out of Sight, NOT Out of Mind

The cliche "out of sight, out of mind" is often the reason for neglected maintenance on your HVAC system. HVAC systems are usually installed where they aren't seen, such as in a section of the basement, a closet, on rooftops, or in mechanical rooms, making them easy to ignore. The systems are simply taken for granted, until they fail. Decreased efficiency, utility overpayment, discomfort, loss of productivity, premature replacement, and higher repair costs are the result.
Getting your HVAC system checked twice annually is just as important as changing the oil in your car every 3,000 miles!

What should you expect your ACCA member service technician to do during a PMA visit?

    * Check system functions, safety controls, and adjust the operating sequence where appropriate.
    * Inspect electrical components and connections and repair/replace or tighten as required.
    * Ensure proper airflow and change dirty air filters.
    * Inspect pumps, lubricate and check flow rates where appropriate.
    * Clean and lubricate motors as required.
    * Examine belts, adjust and align as required.
    * Inspect, clean and balance blowers as required.

Spring Visit (preparation for summer season)

    * Clean inside coil, condensate pans, condensate traps, and condensate lines to prevent obstructions.
    * Clean outside coil and straighten fins for efficient operation.
    * Check refrigerant levels and if low, find the leak and fix it. (According to many equipment manufacturers, a 10% refrigerant loss will result in a 20% decrease in system efficiency!)

Fall Visit (preparation for winter season)

    * Clean the burner assembly.
    * Remove soot from fireside of burner.
    * Clean and check operation of humidifier.
    * Inspect the heat exchanger for cracks.
    * Adjust air-to-fuel ratio of burner and perform combustion analysis.

Note: For heat pump applications, winter season inspections repeat a number of the summer procedures plus several additional checks. Maintaining semi-annual PMAs for heat pumps is also important.

What's your bottom line?

Savings: PMAs typically more than pay for themselves through higher efficiency, lower utility bills, and contractor discounts. PMA customers typically receive a discount on all parts and services performed during the entire year.

Peace of Mind:
Predictive maintenance will mean fewer system failures and a longer life for your HVAC equipment.

Priority Service: Should a system failure occur during the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter, customers with PMAs generally receive priority service.

Continuity: Many ACCA contractors assign technicians to specific customers. That way, you get to see and know the same service technician, and he or she becomes more familiar with you and your equipment.
The Truth about Mold

There's Good Mold and There's Bad Mold
Molds are the "bleu" in bleu cheese and Roquefort. Molds improve our wine. They produce penicillin and antibiotics and are used widely in the food and beverage industry. Without mold and mold's decaying mechanism, the natural environment would be overwhelmed with large amounts of dead organic matter.

Despite many harmless and beneficial molds, some molds can be toxic and pose health threats to humans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cautions that all molds can cause health problems under the right conditions. The word "toxic" refers to mold that produces hazardous compounds, or mycotoxins.

Often included in the list of toxic molds is Stachybotrys Chartarum, a greenish-black mold, which can grow on high-cellulose, low-nitrogen materials such as fiberboard, drywall, paper, dust, and lint - all of which are found in homes - when these materials become wet.

There is evidence that mold exposure can cause the following symptoms:

    * Allergic reactions, including irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat.
    * Flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, dizziness, headaches, and diarrhea.
    * Worsening of asthma.

How to Minimize Mold Growth

Mold is a natural byproduct of the fungi family that thrives when organic substances and water combine under certain circumstances. Mold reproduces via spores that can remain dormant, yet viable, for years. They "come alive" again in the presence of moisture.

HVACR mechanical systems are not generators of mold; their metallic surfaces do not provide the organic matter mold needs to grow. However, systems that are not well maintained could support mold growth. It's important that your system:

    * Is designed and installed correctly.
    * Is properly and regularly maintained.
    * Controls the moisture in your building.
    * Uses good filtration methods to keep your air clean.

Preventing Mold

    * Consider augmenting your air conditioner with a dehumidifier. These systems pull the moisture from the building, thus minimizing growth.
    * Don't turn your air conditioner off for long periods of time during the summer. In humid climates, especially, moisture levels can become quite high in buildings, which can permit mold to gain a foothold.
    * Install insulation and vapor barriers to prevent condensation on cold objects such as water pipes, beams, and plumbing fixtures.
    * Keep sinks, showers, tubs and other wet areas free of standing water.
    * Demand architectural, design, and construction methods that prevent water from entering your home in the first place. Areas of concern include improperly pitched roofs, poorly designed balconies, windows, doors, improperly installed flashing, inadequate vapor barriers, and thin stucco.
    * Inspect the building exterior at least once a year and repair caulking, roof flashing, and all breaches in the building envelope.
    * Purchase a preventive maintenance agreement (PMA) from your ACCA member contractor. A technician will thoroughly inspect the HVAC system, including duct work and filters, twice a year and make any repairs or adjustments necessary. A PMA will save you money in the long run by reducing major repairs, extending the life of the equipment, helping to inhibit mold growth, and ensuring that the system is working at optimum efficiency. If you notice any water pooling or dust in between semi-annual PMA visits, call your professional ACCA member contractor at once.
    * Inform your HVAC contractor of your mold concerns and point out locations of suspicion or evidence of mold.
    * Educate your family or building occupants about mold, its dangers, and prevention.

If You Suspect Mold in Your Home or Building


The first step is to alert your HVAC contractor and the builder (if the building is relatively new) regarding your concerns. The contractor or builder will inspect for mold. If there is mold, the next step is to identify its type and establish whether it's toxic. If so, evacuation, abatement, and remediation may be necessary.

The identification of mold requires specialized testing and laboratory analysis. Partly because of media attention to mold issues, mold abatement has become a growth industry, often attracting less than reputable people who may cause more harm than good by not identifying toxic mold, improperly removing it, or charging you for work you don't need. Check with your state environmental protection or public health agency to find out if mold remediation contractors are required to be certified and licensed.

ACCA member contractors are concerned about the quality of the air you breathe, too, and many have added indoor air quality services to their offerings. If your HVAC contractor does not perform mold analysis, abatement, and remediation, he or she may be able to refer you to a reputable company that is a trained and certified in this kind of work.
Tips for Maximum Efficiency and Comfort

Are you getting the most for your comfort dollar? Or are you paying to heat and cool the neighborhood?

Whether your comfort system is old or new, in a new or old home, in an apartment or a single-family home, there are many little things you can do to optimize its efficiency and minimize your utility bills. They're definitely worth the small amount of time and expense they take, because in the long run, they'll save you money.

Outside

Whatever the season, you want to keep your comfortable air inside the house. That means caulking and weather stripping doors and windows, around chimneys and flues, and anywhere else inside air can escape. Be sure to check for cracked or broken shingles, crumbling grout, and worn or torn vapor barriers, too.

Inspect the exterior of your home once or twice a year. A good way to remember is to do it when you have your regular, professional HVAC check-up because heating and cooling will be on your mind anyway.

If you're building a new home or replacing windows, invest in vinyl- or wood-clad insulated (thermopane) windows and storm windows and doors. Then keep them closed whenever the heat or air conditioning is on!

Keep vegetation and debris well away from the outdoor unit of your system. They can block air flow, which forces the system to work harder to produce the same level of comfort. You'll spend more now and in a few years, when the equipment fails prematurely and you have to replace it.

However, use vegetation to keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter. For example, plant a row of trees on the side of your home the wind usually comes from. They'll act as wind blocks. Because deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter, they'll let in the sun's light and warmth in winter; in the summer, they provide cooling shade. Do, however, be careful about how close you plant anything to the house, and take into account that trees and shrubs grow. They can block light, and in some areas of the country become highways for such pests as carpenter ants. A local landscape architect, reputable garden center, or the state or county extension agency can help with plant selection and placement.

Inside

Set the thermostat at the highest comfortable level in the summer and the lowest comfortable level in the winter. A change in one degree changes energy consumption by about 4%. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers can make a huge difference in how the temperature feels.

Install a programmable thermostat. It will automatically adjust the temperature at night or when you're not going to be home for a long period of time.

Lights are a source of indoor heat, a problem in the summer. Wherever possible, replace incandescent bulbs and fixtures with compact fluorescents. They use a lot less energy, produce less heat, and last longer. Today's fluorescents aren't like those of only a few years ago - you can choose a warm, yellow light similar to incandescent light. You can use them in table lamps, ceiling fixtures (including ceiling fan fixtures), torchieres, and for indoor and outdoor lighting. Some can be used with dimmer switches, too. Avoid halogen lamps. The light is clear and bright, but they create a lot of heat.

In the summer, keep drapes and blinds closed on the sunny side of the house during the day. In the winter, open them to take advantage of solar heat but close them at night to help block cold air (even if you have insulated windows).

Insulate attics, crawl spaces, basements, and walls to the R value recommended for your area. Your HVAC contractor can tell you how much you need. Don't forget to insulate duct work in un-conditioned space.

Use a gas fireplace or put glass doors on a wood-burning fireplace. (Be sure to check with the manufacturer first - some small fireboxes with zero-clearance flues cannot be outfitted with glass doors.) Keep the damper closed whenever you're not using the fireplace.

In the summer, do household chores during the coolest part of the day if you can. Cooking, laundry, washing dishes, and heavier work such as vacuuming are examples. Check to see if your electric utility offers time-of-day pricing. That could save you even more money.

HVAC System

Check filters regularly and clean or replace them when needed. Your HVAC technician will tell you how often that's likely to be based on the manufacturer's recommendations and local air quality conditions.

Make sure room vents are working properly. Close them at least part-way in rooms you're not using. Never block them with furniture, pictures, or window coverings.
Consider a zoned system if your home has two or more stories or is very large. A programmable thermostat in each zone can save energy and money.

Then sit back, relax, and enjoy year-round comfort!
The NATE Patch
Look for the NATE Patch


Consumers demand technician excellence, and NATE-certified technicians deliver.

What is NATE?

NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence, and it's the only nationwide certification program accepted by the entire heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) industry - contractors, manufacturers, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), and technicians themselves.

Are all HVACR technicians certified by NATE?

NATE is a voluntary certification program designed to ensure that qualifying technicians have a core set of competencies and can be trusted by the consumers who hire them. NATE is the culmination of several years' worth of work by ACCA and other industry organizations to establish one single, nationwide certification.

Over the past few years, NATE has grown considerably. More than 20,000 technicians have been NATE-certified and the list continues to grow. With a strong endorsement from the leading manufacturers of HVACR equipment, NATE certification is the standard by which all technicians should be judged.

Don't you want third-party reassurance that the technician in your home is a capable, qualified individual?

Nearly 90 percent of consumers do. Ask your contractor if he or she employs NATE-certified technicians, and request that only NATE-certified technicians service your system. Some contractors choose to show off their NATE-certified status in ACCA's online Contractor Locator, and others do not. Be sure to ask.

Is the NATE certification really meaningful?

Yes! The NATE certification is rigorous and voluntary. There are other third-party certification programs out there, but they have suspiciously high "pass" rates. NATE has the lowest pass rate and is the only nationwide certification program endorsed by the HVACR industry across all levels. Technicians, contractors, manufacturers, utilities, educators, wholesalers, and leading industry trade associations support NATE, and industry organizations such as ACCA have helped develop the tests to ensure they maintain high professional standards.

In short ... ask for NATE-certified technicians. And look for the NATE patch!
© Air Conditioning Contractors of America Association, Inc., www.acca.org. Reprinted with permission.
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