HVAC Mechanical Contractors Livonia
What is a dual-fuel fuel system?
Dual-fuel systems combine a heat pumps, an indoor coil, a furnace, and heat pumps to heat your home. The heat pump does the majority of the work while the furnace serves as an additional source of heat. If the temperature drops below a specific point, the heat pumps will stop working and the furnace will take control. This is an efficient system that can help you save energy. Consult with us to determine if a dual fuel system is right for you.
What temperature should I set for my thermostat?
The rule of thumb when it comes to energy efficiency is: in summer, the higher the temperature, while in winter the lower the temperature. But, air conditioners and furnaces are designed to keep your home comfortable. The balance must be found between comfort and efficiency. Your thermostat should be kept at around 78°C in summer and 68°F in winter for energy efficiency and lower utility bills. Other than your personal preferences, the efficiency of your home's insulation, ducts and air filters, as well as whether ceiling fans are installed, blocked vents, and other factors, can have an impact on the ideal temperature in your home.
HVAC Mechanical Contractors LivoniaIs R-22 refrigerant being discontinued?
Yes. R-22 is now not permitted in new equipment. This is due to environmental regulations. R-22 can still be used in residential air conditioners. R-22 is slowly being phased off. R-22 production will decrease by 99.5% starting January 1, 2020. It will become more difficult and expensive to obtain. If your system is using R-22 refrigerant you might want to switch to a better system.
What do I do if my systems doesn't work in certain rooms or spaces?
Temperature variations between rooms are normal, especially if only one thermostat is used. This could be due to poor design of ducts or air filter issues. Book a consultation to find out the cause and propose solutions.
What is Emergency Heat?
Simply put, Heat Pumps located in northern climates (below35 degrees) will require supplemental heating. It's usually an indoor unit that is heated by electric resistance heating. It could be an all-electric Heat Pump or a hot water back-up system. Supplemental heat can also be called second-stage heating or back-up heating. The Heat Pump is the only stage. When you can use your emergency heat (second stage) without your heat pump (1st-stage heat), it is called emergency heat. While different thermostats have different ways to determine when the second stage heat will come on to help the heat pump (or vice versa), it happens automatically. These two stages will work together in colder months and you don't need to change your thermostat to Emergency Heat. Now we understand that Emergency Heat is simply when you use your supplemental heating by itself.
When should I use Emergency Heat?
It's only used in an emergency situation, as its name suggests. It is used when first-stage heating is not working properly (the Heat Pump). It is used when your Heat Pump is not heating properly. If you notice that your house is cold, and the heat pump isn’t heating properly, and you go outside to see that a tree has fallen on your heat pump, then it might be time to switch over to Emergency Heat. The Heat Pump became a blocky block of ice because it was malfunctioning as shown in the image below. The Heat Pump is now incapable of producing heat. You can simply set the thermostat to Emergency Heat and contact service. In winter, it is a good idea to regularly inspect your outdoor heat pumps. Look out for signs of excessive ice and snow build-up around your heat pump. The heat pump had to be replaced because the unit shown in this photo actually froze so severely. This problem could have been caught earlier and repaired instead of replacing the heat pump.
What does Emergency Heat do?
The red indicator will light up when Emergency Heat is turned on. The red indicator light will continue to turn on until the Emergency Heat is turned off. This only lets you know that you're in emergency mode. No signal will be sent out to the outdoor Heat Pump when you call for heat. Only the indoor unit, as well as the backup heat, will be able to run. All-electric systems will only provide enough heat to keep you going for as long as the Heat Pump can't be repaired. You should have plenty of heat from your gas/oil/hot water system.