The scale ranges from 1 to 16, though most residential filters fall between 4 and 12. If a filter is higher up on the scale, it means that it can not only capture tinier particles, but more particles, improving your indoor air quality and protecting your furnace from buildup of grime.

Be sure to check the MERV filter ratings when you’re shopping for replacements. Here’s how MERV ratings break down:

• Filters rated from 1 to 4 are inexpensive and do the bare minimum to protect your furnace and family from contaminants. Products with very low MERV filter ratings can trap only large particles, such as carpet fibers and dust.
• Filters rated from 5 to 8 last longer and work better. They can remove some smaller contaminants, including mold spores.
• Filters rated from 9 to 12 can collect fine particles, including lead dust.
• Filters rated from 13 to 16 work very well to catch tiny and potentially harmful contaminants, including bacteria. That’s why they’re often used in hospitals to help prevent the spread of illness.

Which is best for your household? Consider your needs. Unless a family member suffers from allergies or another respiratory problem, a filter rated MERV 7 or 8 might be sufficient. These filters catch 80 percent to 95 percent of all particles 5 microns or larger, and that usually meets the needs of a typical household.

Each household is different, though, and it’s always a good idea to consult with a heating and cooling expert before deciding on a new filter. Contact us here at AC Pro or feel free to contact a contractor in the AC Pro network anytime. Serving Southern California and Nevada, we’re always happy to help.

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Static electricity is an electrical charge that builds up when objects rub together or move apart. In winter months, cold and dry air increases static electricity buildup. The real danger of a static electricity arc is that it can damage sensitive home computers and electronics.

There are many home products and techniques you can try to reduce static electricity in your home. Some people toss damp washcloths in the dryer during the final dry period or apply a shot of hair spray to clothes. Others touch their clothes with a wire hanger to reduce the charge.

But the best way to stop static is to install a whole-house humidifier as part of your home’s air and heating system. A whole-house humidifier adds a controlled amount of moisture to the air that’s warmed or cooled by your HVAC equipment and then distributed throughout your home.

Having a humidifier in your home also carries comfort, health and other advantages:

• Dry winter air affects your sinuses, leaves your skin flaky and itchy, and facilitates viral and bacterial infections. A whole-house humidifier alleviates those problems by improving your indoor air quality.
• Proper humidity can also make your home feel warmer at a lower temperature. That’s because dry air leaves less moisture on your skin; the evaporation leaves you feeling cooler.
• Overly dry air damages musical instruments, paintings, furnishings — even the structure of your home may suffer cracks if the air is dry enough. Humidifiers help protect your belongings.

Want more information on humidification in your home? Contact us here at AC Pro and we’ll connect you with a heating and air conditioning professional. Or find an AC Pro in Southern California and Nevada by using our Dealer Locator. Either way, rest assured that we want to help!

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Unfortunately, replacing the heat exchanger might be nearly as expensive as replacing the whole furnace. That’s why a red-tagged furnace leads some homeowners to invest in new systems rather than just replacing the cracked part. In other cases, it makes more sense to keep the furnace and replace only the heat exchanger.

Factors to consider when you’re deciding whether to replace the heat exchanger or the whole furnace:

• Age. If the furnace is less than 10 years old and this is its first serious problem, the red-tagged furnace could still have a lot of life in it. If the furnace is older and has had other issues, it could be time for a new unit. A new furnace will likely offer an energy-efficiency upgrade, helping to offset your costs in energy savings over time.
• Warranty. Many heat exchangers have warranties that last for the lifetime of the furnace, so you may be able to receive full coverage for a replacement. If the warranty covers 100 percent of the cost for parts, it might make sense to replace the heat exchanger.
• Labor costs. Keep in mind, however, that you will still need to pay for labor to have the heat exchanger installed. Since this involves disassembling the entire furnace, it could be costly. Get a few quotes for heat exchanger replacement and compare them with the price of a new furnace. If your exchanger is covered by warranty and the labor would cost less than 25 percent of a furnace replacement, replace the part. Otherwise, it’s probably time for a new furnace.
• Extent of the damage. If the furnace is beyond repair, it’s time for a new unit.

If you have a red-tagged furnace, contact an AC Pro contractor today. One of our certified experts can help you navigate your options.

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Here’s how heat pumps work to provide efficient, year-round home comfort:

Heart of the heat pump

The heart of the heat pump includes the compressor, two heat exchangers (indoor and outdoor units) and the reversing valve. The compressor pumps refrigerant through coils, circulating between the two heat exchangers. The direction that the refrigerant flows determines heating or cooling mode, which is controlled by the reversing valve.

Sum of the parts

With heat-pump operation in heating mode, the outdoor fan blows across the heat exchanger (condenser). Heat is extracted by the liquid refrigerant, which then circulates to the indoor heat exchanger (evaporator). Indoors, the refrigerant releases the heat, which is blown by the indoor fan into your home’s duct system and circulated to every part of your home for comfortable, even heating.

In cooling mode, the same process occurs, except in the opposite direction, thanks to the reversing valve. The indoor heat exchanger becomes the condenser, extracting heat from your home. The refrigerant is pumped outdoors, where it releases the heat into the outside air.

Put it all together for greater efficiency

During this process, the heat pump does not produce heat. Instead, it transports heat from one place to another. That’s what makes the heat pump extremely efficient.

Greater climate control

Heat pumps deliver superb comfort and are designed to run for very long periods of time. This provides even heating and cooling, and humidity control when needed, and it maximizes air filter efficiency, ensuring cleaner air for your family.

If you would like more information on one of the most efficient and comfortable heating and cooling systems for your home, contact a contractor in the AC Pro network. With service in Southern California and Nevada, we’ll connect you with an expert heating and air conditioning contractor in your area.

Our goal is to help inform 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.

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that you mount CO detectors in the hallway near the bedrooms in your home, where the alarm will wake family members if they are asleep. Just like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors are usually best installed on the ceiling instead of on a wall, where it’s less likely that people will come into contact with them and accidentally dislodge them.

Still, the recommended installation locations may vary by manufacturer, so be sure to read the detector’s manual before beginning the installation process.

If you’re installing one detector, give some thought to enhancing your home’s safety by installing several more. Specifically, position one CO detector on every floor of your home, in the basement and near or over an attached garage. This is the advice of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, which has lobbied homeowners about the virtues of carbon monoxide detectors since the 1990s. The association says that CO detectors should be located within 10 feet of each bedroom door so they can jar you awake if you are sleeping.

For obvious reasons, the detectors should not be installed directly above or beside fuel-burning appliances. Nor should they be placed within 15 feet of cooking or heating appliances (which can emit low levels of CO) or near very humid areas, such as bathrooms, the association says.

If you have questions about carbon monoxide detectors, call on the experts at AC Pro. We’re always happy to help.

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

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In addition to protecting your valuable investment, maintenance agreements provide the following benefits:

• Peace of mind: If your air conditioner has ever broken during a hot Nevada summer, you know how important it is to keep your equipment running smoothly, especially if your family has seniors or young children.
• Lengthen equipment life: Just like your car, the better you take care of your heating and cooling equipment, the longer it will last. Buying a new air conditioner or furnace is a major expense that can be delayed if you invest in a maintenance agreement now.
• Avoid unnecessary repairs: Prevention is one of the keys to keeping home comfort equipment operating smoothly. If you replace worn parts before they break, you can save a lot of money on parts and labor, not to mention the inconvenience of an air conditioner or furnace breakdown.
• Maintain your warranty: Many equipment warranties require regular service to remain valid. Investing in a maintenance agreement will ensure that you meet this requirement. The best part is, you won’t even have to call for an appointment; your heating and air conditioning contractor will call you when it’s time to schedule the next service appointment.

AC Pro knows how challenging it can be to find a qualified heating and air conditioning contractor that you can trust. That is why we’ve done all the research for you. When you hire an AC Pro contractor, rest assured that the provider is certified, insured and committed to providing quality service. If you’re interested in learning more about a maintenance agreement for your system, contact us at AC Pro.

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• Dry itchy skin, cracked lips, sore throat and dry sinuses
• Allergy flare-ups, sneezing, dry coughs and more
• Damage to possessions made of wood, such as guitars or other musical instruments
• Cracked wood floors, wall or ceiling moldings, shrinking and splitting of doors, window frames and even parts of the wooden structure of your home

If you’d like to avoid or eliminate these problems and improve your home’s indoor air quality, it’s time to consider a whole-house humidifier to maintain ideal relative humidity. A central humidifier incorporated into your home comfort system can automatically add moisture to the air as needed.

Ideal relative humidity

Relative humidity measures how much moisture is currently in the air as a percentage of the maximum amount that exists in saturated air. The warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold. Ideal humidity levels must take into account all these factors:

• Outdoor temperature fluctuations
• Variable indoor humidity: Some surfaces like walls or windows, which are usually colder than the indoor air and have higher humidity, may develop condensation leading to musty odors and mold growth.
• Human beings generally feel comfortable at a 45 to 55 percent humidity level.
• Home furnishings and woodwork stay in best condition at a slightly lower level.
• In well-insulated homes, humidity from cooking and showering may be enough to maintain proper humidity levels part of the time.

To balance the above concerns, set the humidistat (which controls the moisture level much like the thermostat controls temperature) according to the chart on the humidifier, based on outdoor temperature. Advanced units monitor outside temperature and adjust indoor humidity automatically.

Contact the AC Pros with your questions about humidity. We’ll connect you with a certified local contractor. Visit our website to learn more or just give us a call. Serving Southern California and Nevada, we’re always happy to help.

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One option is to retrofit your furnace. Retrofitting is a process that improves on a functioning older system by upgrading some parts. These upgrades make your existing furnace more fuel efficient and safe. You can add a programmable thermostat, improve ductwork, or make other modifications that ensure better furnace performance. The process of retrofitting your furnace varies depending on the type of fuel that it uses, so it is important to consult an air conditioning and heating specialist that knows these systems well.

Retrofitting can be cost effective if your furnace is newer or is in good working condition. However, if your system is on its last legs, it is typically easier and more affordable to simply replace the unit, your second option. The greatest benefit to new furnace installation is the assurance that comes with a current unit. Today, there are federal efficiency standards that older furnaces were not required to meet. With the combination of high-efficiency technology and effective sizing, a new furnace may be over 30 percent more energy efficient than your old one, saving you a great deal of money each winter.

Contact AC Pro today and let us find an air conditioning and heating specialist to improve the efficiency of your system. Serving Southern California and Nevada, we’re always happy to help.

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

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Try the following simple tips to boost your HVAC system efficiency — and increase home comfort — while bringing utility costs into line:

• Use a programmable thermostat. It’s an “automatic” energy and money saver, allowing you to pre-set temperatures according to your schedule. This way you’ll use less energy much of the time, when you’re not home and when sleeping. When you’re home and awake, you’ll enjoy the comfort of your preferred temperatures plus lower energy bills.
• Replace or clean your furnace/air conditioning filter monthly, especially during seasons of heavy use. Clogged air filters interfere with airflow through your home, reduce your indoor air quality and make your A/C or heating system work extra hard to keep you comfortable. That’s a big waste of energy and can damage your system over time. Changing the filter regularly protects equipment components from harm due to dirt buildup, which could cause the system to break down frequently and fail many years sooner than necessary.
• Schedule a professional system check-up each year. Neglecting the annual system inspection and check-up can be a safety issue, since systems may develop leaks or electrical problems that may go unnoticed. In addition, regular check-ups will keep your system in nearly-new condition and maintain its efficiency.
• Seal the duct system. Unseen duct leaks, especially those outside the conditioned living space, waste lots of energy. According to Energy Star, insulation and sealing of ductwork in your basement, attic and crawl spaces may increase the efficiency of your home comfort equipment up to 20 percent and beyond. Since you can’t easily access many of these areas, calling in a pro is a cost-effective solution.

For assistance in increasing your home comfort system efficiency and decreasing your energy bills, contact the AC Pros. Serving Southern California and Nevada, we’ll connect you with a certified professional in your area who can help. Visit our website to learn more or just give us a call.

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

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Others estimate you could save 30 percent on your energy costs with a well-insulated attic.

Both examples illustrate the same point — there’s a lot of energy going to waste! After all, you’ve just paid to heat or cool that air and it’s going right up into the attic and outside. To stop the expensive heat loss (and avoid heat gain in summer) caused by air leaks in your uninsulated and perhaps ill-fitting attic hatch:

• Affix weather stripping to the hatch panel itself or to the inside of the frame on the attic floor, where the panel sits.
• Add a latch bolt for the tightest seal.
• Cut rigid foam board insulation to a quarter-inch smaller than the hatch.
• Attach 3 to 4 inches of insulation to the attic side of the hatch panel using construction adhesive or screws.
• Use kraft paper from insulation batts to top off the foam board until you reach the recommended R-value.
• Add an insulated housing for pull-down stairs if you have them. You can purchase ready-made models with a zipper closure around the hatch panel for access.
• For a DIY version, use more foam board insulation and make a box with an open side, big enough to place over the access hatch on the inside of the attic and deep enough for your stairs to fold into, with a little extra room.
• Seal the housing edges to the attic floor with foam weather stripping to make them airtight.

Questions about sealing air leaks in the attic? Talk to the AC Pros. Serving Southern California and Nevada, we’re here to help by giving you access to guidance from our network of local certified contractors. You can also request and compare work quotes for any home comfort project. Visit our website to learn more or just give us a call.

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

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