One primary feature to look for are those that offer a choice in speed, as these greatly increase efficiency possibilities.

A system with a two-speed compressor gets better energy savings because it allows for a better response to weather conditions. This system will generally operate at a low speed during mild weather, and ramp up to high speed on the most extreme days. Better energy savings comes from decreased electricity consumption, and these systems will last longer because they don’t work as hard. A properly sized system will run in low speed around 75% of the time.

You can also select a model that allows the air handler’s motor to operate in either dual- or variable-speeds. In climates such as Texas’, variable-speed models are worth the investment because homeowners have to use their heat pumps for continuous cooling over a long summer season. They also allow ideal comfort, because fans can ramp up slowly, and you get a more even comfort level — without the noisy “whoosh” of systems with only one option for motor speed.

A system with a scroll compressor takes advantage of high-tech cooling. With one spiral coil that is motionless and one that circles the other, these coils are able to better compress refrigerant and maximize its use. These compressors also have a longer lifespan, while providing homeowners with up to a 15-degree increase in the heating mode, providing significant energy savings in both seasons.

While higher-efficiency systems generally cost more initially, their ability to provide optimal comfort and increased energy savings make them a wise investment.

For help exploring heat pump systems, contact the experts at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving San Antonio residents for more than 30 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Using a ventilator, however, can eliminate these problems and keep fresh air coming into your home. There are different types of ventilators available; you can use just one or a combination of these options.

Bathroom and Kitchen Fans - Removing excess humidity from bathrooms is important for protecting your walls, furniture, and fixtures.  It will also help improve your indoor air quality because excess humidity can increase the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria.  Kitchen fans also help remove unwanted odors.  These types of fans only provide spot ventilation and generally do not impact areas outside of the rooms they are in.

Energy Recovery Ventilator – These whole-house systems are designed to minimize energy loss in summer by exchanging heat between the cool air being exhausted and the warmer air being brought in.  There are two types of energy recovery ventilators: heat-recovery (HRV) and energy-recovery (ERV).  For the extreme summer temperatures in San Antonio, the ERV type is best because it also transfers water vapor, providing better indoor humidity control.

Whole-house ventilation systems often provide other features to improve your home comfort:

• Timers to control when to run the fan.
• Fan speed control so you can increase or decrease speed as needed.
• Indoor air quality sensors to detect carbon monoxide and other pollutants.
• Dehumidistats to help monitor and control indoor humidity.
• Air filters that remove unwanted particles from fresh air before it enters your home.

The type of whole-house ventilation system you choose will depend on your  ductwork and heating and cooling systems.  The professionals at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning can help you determine the ventilation systems that are best for your home comfort needs.  Contact us today to learn more about your ventilator options.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about saving money with programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

• Your home is too cold in winter or too hot in summer
• Your indoor air is too humid or too dry
• Your home is dusty, or you have respiratory problems
• Your utility bills seem too high

Your home’s HVAC system should provide adequate ventilation, comfortable indoor temperatures year round, and clean, healthy air for you and your family to breathe.  If it’s not, an energy evaluation can tell you why.

We use a Whole House Approach when performing our energy evaluations.  This is because your home is a complex system, made up of equipment and devices all designed to work together.   Your issues could be the result of faulty duct work, poor insulation, improperly sized equipment or a combination of these factors.  Our Comfort Advisor will go through the following steps and methods during the process:

1.  Consultation- It’s important to let us know about any problems you’re having.  You might have rooms that are too hot or cold, or you may be experiencing mold growth or high humidity.  This initial meeting will indicate what might be going on with your HVAC system.

2.  Equipment inspection- We look at your heating and cooling equipment for signs of age, improper installation or inadequate maintenance.  We evaluate your system’s efficiency and help you determine if it’s time for a replacement.  At this time, the air filtration capability of your system is checked to see how well your equipment can handle airborne contaminants.

3.  Insulation inspection- Energy Star estimates that homeowners can save up to 20% on their heating and cooling costs (or 10% on their total annual energy bill) by properly sealing and insulating their homes.   During an energy evaluation, insulation levels are checked and defects identified.

4.  Air leakage test- Department of Energy scientists invented a piece of equipment called a blower door that helps the analyst measure a home’s air tightness.   This blower sucks the air out of your home in order to determine the amount of air leakage in your home.  A house that is too tight will not have good ventilation, causing poor indoor air quality.  A home that leaks too much will reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system by making it work too hard to keep you comfortable.

5.  Heat gain/loss calculation- A load calculation will help you determine if you need to replace your existing system.  Your system may be the wrong size for your home (over half of all HVAC systems are!) and an improperly sized system may not only cause comfort issues, it may also be costing you money through higher energy bills.

6. Thermal Imaging – If you’re experiencing problems with hot spots in your home, thermal imaging devices can allow us to see inside your walls and locate areas in your walls or attic that aren’t properly insulated.

7. Flow Hoods – These measure the volume of air flow coming out of the A/C vents on your walls and ceilings. With that information we can determine if your ducts are properly configured to move air evenly throughout your home.

We feel that energy evaluations give you the information you need to improve the quality of your indoor air, reduce your energy bills and just feel better in your home.  Schedule your free home evaluation to learn more about how well your home’s HVAC system is performing for you.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy evaluations and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services San Antonio and the surrounding communities including Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. To learn more about our services, check out our website or see our current promotions.