Posts Tagged ‘air conditioning’

Casteel is excited to announce a new Facebook lineup starting Monday, May 2, 2011.  We will have a new segment each day that we know you’ll like.  Make sure to join the Casteel Facebook page and be apart of this new exciting lineup.  Here’s what you can expect:

Monday – “Can Your Man?”

Every Monday we will have a different “Can Your Man?” segment where we pose the question: Can your man __________? For example, “Can your man remember your birthday?  We encourage you to tell us what your man can or can’t do.

Tuesday – “How Cute is This?”

Every Tuesday we will have a “How Cute is This?” segment where you are encouraged to leave comments and/or submit photos of cute things.  For example, with Mother’s Day being this month, we asked community members to tell us about their most memorable moment with their mom.

Wednesday – “What are you Having for Dinner Tonight?”

Every Wednesday we encourage you to submit recipes and tell us what you’re having for dinner that night.  Each week we will post a new healthy and delicious recipe that is easy to prepare for dinner.

Thursday – Trivia/Game Day

We will dedicate every Thursday to asking a trivia question where community members will be eligible to win a $10 gift card to Starbucks.  Trivia questions will cover anything from current events to entertainment.

Friday – My Crazy _________

Every Friday you are encouraged to share with other community members what drives you crazy.  Whether it’s a neighbor, a family member, an intersection, the way someone drives, the traffic, etc. we want you to tell us what drives you crazy.  This segment is an expanded sound off segment.

“90 Days of Summer” Segment

The “90 Days of Summer” segment starts the first day of summer, June 21, 2011. This is a contest where you can enter to win a grand prize after 90 days with a gift card being given away everyday of the 90 days.  This segment will include new summer recipes, summertime photos, etc.

Are you paying more than you should to heat and cool your home?  Surprisingly, many people are!  It’s easy to pay for an HVAC system that is too large or too small for your home, but you can save money by properly managing your home energy.  It’s important to find a system that best fits your home’s needs by doing some simple research before making your purchase.  Trane offers high-performing equipment that can help your home be more energy efficient year round.

Trane offers many high-performing and high-quality HVAC systems for homes, including high-efficiency products that can reduce your utility bills and energy costs.  These high-efficiency products can also benefit the environment.  According to Alliance to Save Energy, the average household this year will pay $2,300 this year on energy costs.  Some recommended Energy Star qualified systems to help with your energy management include the Trane XC95 and the Trane XL20i.  The Trane XC95 is one of the market’s most efficient gas furnaces and can save you up to 40 percent on home energy consumption.  The Trane XL20i is one of the highest energy efficient air conditioners on the market today and can save you up to 60 percent of your annual energy bill if it’s replacing a system 10 years or older.  Programmable thermostats, such as the Trane XL800, can also provide you annual savings with accurate temperature control.  Programmable thermostats often have an annual savings of around $100 and usually pay for themselves in two years or less. Performing preventative maintenance before the summer and winter will also help improve energy efficiency and save you money.

In addition, it’s important to make sure your HVAC system is properly installed so you’re getting the most efficiency from your system.  Energy efficiency can be impacted due to mismatched coils, improper air flow, and leaking ducts.  70 percent of HVAC systems don’t have the correct air flow and nearly 74 percent have an improper amount of refrigerant resulting in higher energy costs.  Trane products are designed to achieve maximum efficiency, reliability and comfort if properly installed.

For more information about Trane products, call Casteel Heating and Cooling at 770-565-5884 or visit us online!

When it’s time for your cooling and heating system to get it’s regular maintenance, do you know what services an HVAC technician should perform?  It’s important to perform the necessary maintenance on your cooling and heating system to ensure that your unit is working as effectively and efficiently as possible.  You should have an HVAC technician perform annual check-ups once in the spring and fall on your cooling and heating system to avoid any problems.  According to Kudzu.com, here’s a list of services that an HVAC contractor should perform:

• Check for the correct amount of refrigerant
• Test for refrigerant leaks using a leak detector
• Capture any refrigerant that must be evacuated from the system, instead of illegally releasing it to the atmosphere
• Check for and seal duct leakage in central systems
• Measure air flow through the evaporator coil
• Verify the correct electric control sequence and make sure that the heating system and cooling system cannot operate simultaneously
• Inspect electric terminals, clean and tighten connections, and apply a non-conductive coating if necessary
• Oil motors and check belts for tightness and wear
• Check the accuracy of the thermostat
• Lubricate all moving parts
• Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode)
• Check the controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly
• Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils
• Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels
• Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger

To schedule a service appointment, please call Casteel Heating and Cooling at 770-565-5884 or visit us online!

Many of you have probably heard of the term SEER before, but do you know what it means?  SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.  According to the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, SEER is a measurement of cooling efficiency.  It is the rating of efficiency a unit delivers, by determining the amount of energy needed to produce an overall British Thermal Unit (BTU) of cooling capacity over the course of a cooling season.  SEER ratings typically range from 13 to 23, with the highest numbers indicating the most efficient units that offer the most energy savings.  It’s important to know that the higher the SEER rating, the higher efficiency, resulting in lower operating costs.  On the other hand, the lower the SEER rating, the lower efficiency, resulting in higher operating costs.  Invest in a higher SEER unit today and save a lot in the long run. You won’t be sorry!

So you may be asking yourself, what is a packaged heating and cooling system and why do I need one?  A packaged system contains the same components as a split-system namely the compressor, condenser, evaporator, and the expansion valve – all located in a single unit utilizing less space as opposed to a split-system.  Packaged units are usually installed on the ground or on the roof outside, allowing for both horizontal or down-flow designs.

Packaged heating and cooling systems have been designed to contain all of your heating and cooling equipment in an all-in-one system.  Depending on the weather and your energy needs, there are four types of packaged systems to choose from, each with different functions:

• Packaged heat pumps that both heat and cool your home
• Packaged air conditioners that offer cooling for warmer climates
• Packaged gas-electric units that can switch from electric air conditioning to gas heating
• Hybrid fuel packaged systems that work as a heat pump, but can also provide gas heating

Some benefits of a packaged heating and cooling system include:

• Packaged units include all of the components of a heating and cooling system in a single location, saving more space.
• Energy-efficient performance.

For more information, call Casteel Heating and Cooling at 770-565-5884 or visit us online!

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), your heating and cooling system uses more energy than any other system in your home. It’s estimated that heating and cooling accounts for nearly 40 percent of a typical utility bill.

You can save money by regularly maintaining and upgrading your heating and cooling system along with appropriate insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings.  By doing this, the EERE estimates you can save on your heating and cooling bill, and reduce environmental emissions from 20% to 50%.

Here are a few tips to save on your heating and cooling bill:

• Use a programmable thermostat and set it at a comfortable temperature.
• Clean or replace your furnace filters once a month.
• Clean your warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed.
• Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season.
• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing.
• During the cooler months, keep the drapes on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
• During the warmer months, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain.
• Select energy-efficient products when buying new heating and cooling equipment.

By following these tips, you should notice a reduction in your heating and cooling bill! For more information, you can speak to one of our team members or you can contact us online!

Article cited: http://www.kudzu.com/article/How-can-I-save-on-my-heating-cooling-bill-id5742

So you’re probably asking what are UV germicidal lights?  UV germicidal lights kill the mold spores and certain live, airborne bacteria passing by the light to prevent them from being re-circulated into your home’s air.  The lights are similar to those used in hospitals, restaurants and laboratories, and are easy to install to your heating and cooling system.  The lights protect against mold and bacteria from easily spreading throughout your home.

Some benefits of UV germicidal lights include:

• Eliminates up to 99.9% of mold spores in your heating and cooling system
• Kills up to 87% of certain live, airborne bacteria passing by the system
• Helps maintain system efficiency and airflow

So if you want cleaner air in your home, contact Casteel Heating and Cooling and ask about UV germicidal lights!

I’m sure many of you have heard of a dehumidifier, but do you know what one is?  A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air.  The ideal level of humidity in a home should be between 30 to 60 percent.  People living in homes at this range feel the most comfortable and can limit many harmful effects.  As we enter spring and as summer approaches, excessive moisture can be a major problem.  The moisture in the air can make your home feel uncomfortable.  Excess moisture also promotes mold and mildew which is not fun to deal with!

Some benefits of a dehumidifier are:

• Helps protect you from asthma attacks due to dust mites.
• Deters symptoms of arthritis from acting up.
• Prevents mold and mildew.
• Energy efficient for your home.

These are just some of the many benefits of having a dehumidifier.  So as we enter the warm summer months in Atlanta make sure your home has a dehumidifier.  For more information, you can speak to one of our team members or you can contact us online!

Thermostats have sure come a long way since the old programmable ones we grew up with.  Thermostats are now offered in digital, programmable and non-programmable with the needs of the individual in mind.  They’re now designed to maximize the performance of heating and air conditioning systems using accurate temperature control.  They are also designed to meet ENERGY STAR requirements when appropriate coils are used. The best part is they are extremely easy to use and appealing to the eye (ask Thermo).  Thermostats come in a streamlined design and you don’t have to worry about it not blending in with your home decor.

Trane is offering a new high definition programmable thermostat this year and will be the most advanced home comfort device on the market.  The thermostat has a high-definition color touch screen and will serve as an easy-to-use central planning center with features that help keep you comfortable inside, prepare you for the weather outside, and help manage home energy-efficiency.  As technology advances so do HVAC systems.  Be sure to ask Casteel Heating and Cooling about our thermostats!

Freon or R-22 as its known in the trade, is being phased out. What does that mean for you? It means you can no longer purchase a new HVAC system that uses Freon. But wait? Can I still get Freon? Yes, you can for now AND Casteel Heating and Cooling, you won’t pay for Freon!

In 2010, manufacturers were to stop making R-22 according to the guidelines of the EPA. Now it has to be recycled and recovered and beginning in 2020, all R-22 used will need to be those types. For now, you can still get it and Casteel has it!

So never fear, Casteel Heating and Cooling is here!