Increasing HVAC efficiency helps homeowners save money and maintain cleaner in-home air quality. This is very important for the hot summer months in Greensboro when your air conditioner is running constantly. The U.S. Department of Energy states that taking simple steps to improve efficiency can save households up to 30 percent a year on their bills.

To start, a homeowner should look for air leaks. It is best to begin by pressurizing the house. This means closing all doors and windows, as well as fireplace flues if present. Turn off the water heater and furnace. Lastly, turn on the exhaust fans in the home, typically located in the kitchen and bathrooms. This will make it easier to detect where air leaks are occurring. Most leaks can be sealed by proper application of caulking or weather-stripping.

Air leaks typically occur around:

• Window frames
• Door frames
• Electrical outlets
• Light switches
• Fireplaces
• Window-mounted air conditioners
• Mail slots
• Faucets
• Pipes
• Wiring

Another area that can contribute to central air loss is a home’s insulation. A home’s builder typically installs enough insulation to meet requirements at the time, but as improvements are made in heating and cooling systems, there have been advances. For the same reason homeowners might want to consider replacing a HVAC system if it was installed more than 15 years ago, homeowners should consider when insulation was installed.

Testing for air leaks, insulation and HVAC evaluation can be performed by the experts at Berico Heating and Air Conditioning. Our experts have the knowledge and equipment to help you evaluate and improve your HVAC system.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues. We want to help you avoid air conditioning repair in Greensboro whenever possible. Give us a call today for a free home energy audit. We can find any air leaks and problems with your HVAC system.

Berico services Greensboro, Burlington, Eden, Reidsville, Mebane, Brown Summit, Summerfield and other areas. Visit our specials page for our current air conditioning offers.

With the summer heat in full force, especially in Eden, you’re probably using your home’s air conditioner 24-7. You’ve probably also seen the effect it’s had on your utility bill. And that bill is bound to only increase in the years ahead as fuel costs rise. Even if your home’s air conditioning system is relatively new, an upgrade to a high-efficiency model can certainly be worth your investment. Avoiding Eden AC repairs is our first priority.

Here are a few reasons why upgrading your air conditioning now is actually a good idea:

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a high-efficiency system will use significantly less energy than a system built in the 1970s, and noticeably reduce your monthly bills.
A new system will cool your home more efficiently and can regulate humidity, making those Eden summers much more bearable.
Installing a high-efficiency air-conditioning system qualifies you for federal tax credits that expire at the end of this year, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars.
Air conditioners are rated according to their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), a rating that reveals the efficiency of a unit. In essence, SEER is a number that shows how much energy the unit consumes in watt-hours (W/H) to produce cool air, and cooled air is measured in British Thermal Units (or Btu’s). So, a SEER 13 unit will produce 13 WH/Btu (or watt-hours per British thermal unit).

High-efficiency units start at SEER 16 and reach SEER 23, and these systems often include advanced features that increase energy efficiency, such as dual-stage compressors, Electronically Commutated Motors (ECMs) for blowers and condensing fans, as well as better refrigerant flow through high-tech expansion valves.

If you have any questions about high-efficiency air conditioning systems, contact Carolina Fuels for help or to discuss ways you can save energy and lower your utility bills. At Carolina Fuels we’re happy to help you stay cool at a price that will keep you happy.

Are you thinking about skipping over the air conditioner tune-up in Greensboro this year? While summer may seem far away, it will be here soon. Putting off AC tune-ups can lead to long term problems and needed repairs, plus cause you and your family to be uncomfortable when you need cool air the most.

Unpleasant Conditions

Especially in Greensboro, summer time heat can be brutal. It’s very unpleasant when you walk out of the summer heat outside into a home where temperatures are even higher. Your family’s comfort is very important in the summer, especially for children who may be home all day while they are on a break from school.

While an appointment will cost money, it will make the conditions in your home better and well worth it. Look at the cost as an investment that may last for several summers to come. While the heat outside may seem unbearable, your home will be the perfect place to cool off for your entire family.

Causing More Damage

You may be tempted to put off an air conditioner repair because you think the system is working okay. Your unit isn’t in tip top condition nor running at the best efficiency, but you don’t think it requires a call to the experts just yet. In this case, you may be causing more damage than you realize. It might not only feel less than cool at home, but also damaging the system and the equipment.

If you continue to drop the thermostat temperature knowing that the system isn’t running well, there’s a problem. The system struggles to work harder to produce the same results. You can end up needing a completely new AC unit instead of just a Greensboro air conditioner repair appointment with a professional. This is such an important issue that some people even schedule regular maintenance checkups to ensure that there are no hidden problems.

Avoiding the Busy Season

You certainly do not want to put off Greensboro air conditioner repair until the middle of the summer. If you are aware of a problem before the temperatures outside begin to rise, quickly take care of it. Companies like Berico are more likely to become busy when its hot outdoors and AC units aren’t working. A lot of people are calling us needing a technician to visit their home right away.

As soon as you notice a problem, call Berico for an appointment. Even if the weather is fine and you think it isn’t a big deal, your wallet and family will thank you once the temperatures outside rise. Remember, it will be a big deal when everyone is unhappy and hot and you have to wait for a routine repair appointment. Call Berico today and let us solve your small problem before it becomes a bigger one.

If you are a homeowner, most likely you have central air conditioning. And if you have central air conditioning, you’ve probably had to have it repaired at least a time or two, depending on how long you’ve owned your home. If you live in a region such as Greensboro that has hot summers, air conditioning is a necessity. And if the hot season is 4 or 5 months long, energy costs can be significant. If you want to lower your energy costs, consider replacing your air conditioner.

How old is your air conditioner? If the answer is 8 years or more, then you will probably benefit from air conditioner replacement in Greensboro. Technological advances in air conditioner design have made new systems much more energy efficient than older systems. Even an air conditioner that is 5 years old is not going to run as efficiently as a brand new system would. And as air conditioners age they lose efficiency. If you keep your system well maintained it will run better than if you do nothing, but even a well maintained older system will not run as well as a new system.

When it comes to energy efficiency, all air conditioners are given a SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). The minimum SEER rating used to be 10, but the federal government recently upped it to 13. Most contractors won’t install any systems that rate less than a 13. A good SEER rating is 16 or higher. A great SEER rating is over 20. Of course the higher the SEER rating, the more expensive the system. But don’t let that deter you from purchasing a better system. The higher the SEER rating, the more money you will save on your energy bill. In fact, the money you save on energy will pay for a new system in a few short years.

Has your energy bill been getting higher and higher each month? This is a sign of poor performance by your air conditioner. Look back at your records; is your bill higher this summer than it was last summer? Unless the weather has been significantly hotter this season than last, most likely your air conditioner isn’t running as well as it was. A tune-up could help, but may only be a short-term fix.

Certain makes and models of air conditioners have the best SEER ratings and have also been given good reviews for reliability. You can do your own research to see what homeowners are saying about their air conditioners. Or you can ask a professional heating and air conditioning company what they recommend. HVAC companies that repair and install air conditioners know which makes and models are the best because they work with them every day.

Berico Heating and Air Conditioning has been serving the Greensboro area since 1924. Berico technicians have the experience necessary to recommend the best air conditioner for your home, and they can install it correctly. Don’t continue to lose money because your air conditioner doesn’t run as efficiently as it should; replace it sooner rather than later.

When your air conditioner breaks down in Burlington, NC, you may be faced with a difficult decision; to repair it or replace it. In some cases the decision is easier than in other cases. The best way to decide is to consider the problem itself and a few other factors about your system. And enlist the help of a professional heating and air company to help you make the decision. First, ask the following questions:

Will the repair cost more than a new system? In most cases a repair is cheaper than buying a new system, but not always. If the repair will cost more or even the same amount as a new system, the choice is obvious; install a new system. If the repair is going to cost more than a few hundred dollars, consider the age of your system. If it’s more than 8 years old, it’s probably not worth the money to repair.

How old is your air conditioner? If your air conditioner is more than 8 years old, don’t waste money on repairs. Replace your system and take advantage of all the improvements in technology in the past few years. New air conditioners run twice as efficiently as systems that were made even 5 years ago. And because you have the existing ductwork from your old system, you will save money on installation. But be sure to have the technician test your ducts for leaks and seal any that are found. Leaky ducts can cause you to lose up to 30% of the cool air that should be cooling your home. Another issue with an old system is that it most likely uses Freon as its refrigerant, which is being phased out by the federal department of energy in lieu of a new refrigerant that is more energy efficient and safer for the environment.

Is your current system the right size for your home? It is not uncommon for the wrong size air conditioner to be installed in a home. If your system is too small it is most likely not cooling your home as well as it should and is probably working twice as hard as it should be. If this is not your first repair and your system isn’t very old, the size may be the problem. A system that is too large may cause excessive humidity in your home. A professional HVAC company can assess your home and your system and let you know if the system is the wrong size. If it is, then replacement is the only option.

How efficient is your current air conditioner? The efficiency of central air conditioners is measured by SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). It used to be that a system had to rate at a SEER of 10 or higher, but now the federal regulation is no less than 13. Air conditioners that rate at a SEER of 16 or higher are more expensive, but qualify you for a $300 tax credit when you install one. You will also save a significant amount of money on your energy bill.

If you find yourself faced with the difficult decision for air conditioner replacement in Burlington, the professionals at Alamance Oil can help. Alamance Oil serves Burlington and the surrounding areas. They can help you decide what to do and can repair or replace your system, whatever you decide.