Lew's Reliable Heat & Air Conditioning

Protect Your HVAC System and Maintain Its Performance with the Right Air Filter

Your HVAC appliances can be costly to repair if left unattended for long periods of time. One of the most important types of regular maintenance your home needs is filter replacement. Check out this video to learn more about how filters impact HVAC performance.

A quick filter swap can make a big difference when it comes to home heating and cooling efficiency. That’s why this Energy Now News video suggests regular filter replacements for your home furnace and air conditioner. This single maintenance task will help you to greatly reduce the energy waste that occurs inside your home.

Lew's Reliable Heat & Air Conditioning has been in business for over forty years. Contact us at (440) 210-3748 if you have more questions about the importance of filter replacement.

A Homeowner's Guide to Heating and Cooling Product Efficiency Ratings

Consumer products are carefully labeled with informative efficiency ratings. This information can help you to choose an upgraded washer or dryer at a glance. Explore the three major heating and cooling efficiency ratings with these helpful summaries.

• SEER: The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) measures the efficiency of air conditioners and heat pumps at cooling indoor areas. The higher an appliance’s SEER value, the more money the appliance can save for your home. Today, federal law states that all cooling systems must be sold with a SEER rating of 13.0 or better. These requirements ensure that even low-priced replacement appliances offer higher efficiency than your older model. Plus, high-quality air conditioners and heat pumps can boast a SEER value as high as 21.0.

• HSPF: Heating Seasonal Performance Factor is a measurement used to compare the efficiency of electric heat pumps. In particular, the HSPF rates a heat pump’s ability to warm a room using a certain amount of energy. Choose a heat pump with an HSPF rating of at least 6.0 to ensure as that your new heating system can perform reliably in cold weather. Extra-efficient models can also be found with HSPF rankings higher than 9.0. 

• AFUE: Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency is very similar to HSPF. However, AFUE is specifically designed to rate the burning efficiency of oil and gas furnaces. Specifically, the rating represents the amount of heat your appliance emits divided by the amount of energy spent to produce this warmth. An appliance with a high AFUE percentage is able to keep your home warm while using the minimal amount of gas or oil. This efficiency will allow your household to stay warm during the winter for less cash.

Lew's Reliable Heat & Air Conditioning is committed to helping our customers find green solutions for their HVAC problems. We can be reached by phone at (440) 210-3748 if you have more questions about green housing solutions. 

Want More Heating and Cooling Knowledge? Take A Look Below

Visit the pages below to understand how furnaces and air conditioners can become less efficient as they get older, and understand how you can take control of your comfort and energy efficiency by using your programmable thermostat the right way. Call Lew's Reliable Heat & Air Conditioning at (440) 210-3748 for more information today.

• Learn how maintenance is an important part of maintaining the efficiency of your HVAC system on this page from EnergyStar.gov.
   
• Get some more important tips on improving your energy efficiency at home when you visit this page from HowStuffWorks.com.
   
• Explore different types of thermostats and control systems for your HVAC equipment on this page from EnergySavers.gov.
   
• Visit this page from ACEEE.org for more information about improving the efficiency of your air conditioner.
   
• Check out this page from FYPower.org to learn more about using a programmable thermostat the right way for maximum savings.

Gone But Never Forgotten

In loving memory of our father and founder of Lew’s Reliable Heat and Air, Lew Schwentner, who passed away six years ago today. We miss you!

Tips for Taking Full Advantage of the Energy-Saving Potential of Your Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats are incredibly traditional, single-set point units. They can provide you with the true ability to harness the power your HVAC system has to offer while enjoying maximum efficiency and making no sacrifices when it comes to your comfort.

Check out these tips for programming your thermostat in such a way that you maximize your energy-saving potential, but enjoy increased comfort when your home with your family.

• Set your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher when you're not at home, or when you're sleeping. For longer periods of time, typically eight hours or more, you can save the most energy by using settings at 78 degrees or higher.
   
• When you’re home, the energy you save can help you enjoy increased levels of comfort. With single-set point thermostats, you don't often save as much energy during the day, and thus have to have your thermostat at a higher and often more uncomfortable temperature when you're at home during the summer.
   
• Take advantage of learning thermostats. Even if you already have a programmable version, upgrading your existing thermostat can be a great idea. Today's technology enables these thermostats to "learn" your habits and adjust their settings accordingly. This can help you save even more energy, because the thermostat takes care of it even when you're not at home.
   
• Finally, consider zoning your home's HVAC system. Zoning can use more than one thermostat or a central control unit, and enables you to exercise full control over your entire home's heating and cooling. It can help you save energy 24 hours a day.

Lew’s Reliable Heat & Air Conditioning has an excellent selection of programmable thermostats for you to choose from. We can also help you understand how to increase the efficiency of your HVAC system, so visit us online today, or call us at (440) 210-3748.