Keeping your Home Smart - HVAC Options for You!

Is your smart home, smart phone, smart TV, and even your smart watch making your heating and cooling system seem a little unsophisticated? Many of the latest smart A/C technologies designed to make your life easier and your system more efficient continue to fly under the radar, despite customer interest.

Did you know about these innovative new “smart” HVAC technology options?

• Smart “learning” thermostats
  Installed by an HVAC company you can trust, smart “learning” thermostats from manufacturers such as Nest, Honeywell and Ecobee are perfect for both those who will never sit down and read a programmable thermostat manual - as well as the technology-phobic. Saving you as much as 20% on your home’s largest energy expense when used correctly, smart “learning” thermostats boost the efficiency of your air conditioner with little to no work from you. Learning models monitor your routine, self-adjusting temperatures based on your absence to save energy. On vacation or wish to override? Simply adjust settings manually or via a smart phone or mobile device driven app from anywhere in the world.
• Smart vents
  Smart vents by companies like Ecovent and Keen are easily programmed to do for individual rooms what smart thermostats do for your home, regulating airflow, customizing temperatures, eliminating hot and cold spots, and boosting efficiency. Forget the stepladder, app-driven smart vents open and close venting in each room separately based on pre-programming for occupancy, manual adjustments via your smartphone, or built-in temperature, airflow, and occupancy sensors. Mobile device and EMF interference a problem in your home? Opt for The RF Zone Control System for control of your multi-zone system remotely via radio frequency instead.
• UV light air purifiers
  Installed in your existing ductwork, UV light air purifiers are a superior weapon against poor indoor air quality that can impact your family’s health, and are especially beneficial to allergy, asthma, and COPD sufferers. Providing fresher, cleaner air, UV light air purifiers reduce microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew, and fungus, preventing them from replicating and causing infection. 
• The Green Vacuum
  The Green Vacuum prevents unwanted leaks, foul odors, and outside air from invading your living space by automatically purging your condensate drain line at regular intervals to prevent the buildup of dust, fungus, mold, and algae that can lead to issues. Operated manually or installed with an optional solar panel for pre-timed, maintenance-free operation, its simple installation requires no outlet or wiring.
• CirrusSense Sensor
  This wireless bluetooth pressure sensor replaces your manual manifold gauges to measure refrigerant pressure locally, communicating readings to any smart phone or tablet allowing for proactive planning of an air conditioning service call to avoid emergence repairs and keep your system operating at peak performance.

Is your home ready for a little schooling? The pros at H & H Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. are standing by to teach you a thing or two about the latest in smart HVAC technology. Contact us today.  

8 Tips to Save Energy on your Summer Air Conditioning

'Tired of high energy bills and repeatedly calling for air conditioning service in your Villanova, PA home? Your system may be working overtime courtesy of your bad habits. Save money on your air conditioning while increasing comfort in your home with the help of these helpful cooling practices:

1. Get the most out of thermostat settings.
   For efficient operation and energy savings, HVAC units require continual adjustment. Adding a programmable thermostat makes this job a snap, adjusting your home to a comfortable 78°F when you are home, and raising temperatures while you are away. It also helps curtail bad habits, like cranking your thermostat to a colder setting when you first get home, which does not, in fact, cool things down any faster but instead results in excess cooling and energy expenses. Techno-phobic? Rest assured, the latest in affordable learning or “smart” thermostat technology doesn't even require programming, and can be operated from your mobile phone.
2. Stop shirking your maintenance duties.
   That nasty filter won’t change itself, and it can cause excess energy use and wear on system components as your system struggles to force air through its clogged surface. Skip needless HVAC repair costs and mark your calendar to change the air filter regularly – every 3 months, at a minimum. Additionally, don’t neglect annual routine maintenance before times of peak use, such as fall or spring, to ensures efficiency and proper operation. Neglected internal components and improper coolant levels are just as detrimental to your system as air filter maintenance.
3. Enlist the help of your fans.
   Ceiling, box, and rotating fans can keep you more comfortable, allowing you to raise thermostat settings 4°F without losing comfort thanks to the “wind chill effect.” They also help better circulate conditioned air through your home. Just remember: Fans cool people, not rooms – so turn them off when you leave.
4. Force the issue.
   Enlist the help of an air conditioning company you can trust to install a whole house fan in your attic. Best used in the early morning and late evening when temperatures are cooler, whole house fans draw cool air in and force hot air out through attic vents to help reduce air conditioning use.  
5. Tie-up loose ends.
   Properly secure leaky, poorly insulated ductwork, and address air leaks around windows and doors. These can add up to the equivalent of a constantly open window.
6. Stop fighting physics.
   Rearrange furniture to prevent blockages of vents and registers that can destroy comfort and efficiency.
7. Live in harmony with nature.
   If you live in a climate where evenings cool, turn off your system at night to sleep, then close-up your home in the morning, shutting windows and blinds to capture cool air and block out solar heat gain.
8. Avoid heat buildup.
   Opt for cool LEDs and compact fluorescents over super-hot incandescents. Avoid using ovens, dryers, and dishwashers during the hottest part of the day. If you must cook, use your microwave or outdoor grill instead.

Can’t stand the heat? Kick it to the curb with the help of your friendly, Villanova area cooling experts. Contact H & H Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. today.

Shopping for a new Air Conditioning System - What are my Options?

Purchasing a new or replacing an existing air conditioning system in your home?  H & H Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. offers award-winning installation and repair alongside an array of quality, efficient and technologically advanced air conditioning products from the industry’s leading manufacturers.

What air conditioning system type is best for my home?
Our air conditioners from brands like Bryant, Lennox, Mitsubishi, Rheem and Amana have a lot to offer. What’s the best brand for you? That will depend on your climate and home’s amenities…

• Central Air Conditioners
  For homes with existing ductwork and a furnace, boiler, fireplace, or other heat source, standalone central air conditioning systems offer cost effective cooling comfort, installing virtually invisibly without distracting from your home’s décor. Split systems are the most common type of central A/C, circulating refrigerant between an indoor unit (housing the coil) and an outdoor unit (housing the condenser and compressor), then distributing conditioned air via a mechanical blower through ductwork and into your home. Newer models offer vastly improved efficiency over those just several years old, however proper sizing and ductwork installation by an A/C company you can trust is integral to efficient operation.
• Heat pumps
  A sub-type of central HVAC systems, in moderate climates, heat pump systems offer multi-functional heating and cooling. Typically used for cooling about 7 months per year, these systems operate by transferring warm air to where it is needed – or in the case of the summer months, not needed – by exchanging heat to move warm air outside in the summer, and inside in the winter.
• Ductless
  Ductless systems (also called mini-splits) from brands like Mitsubishi, consist of an outdoor component that sits next to your home, and an indoor component that mounts on the wall. If you live in a hot region and need to cool a large area inside your home, a ductless system may be a good fit for you. These systems are also a great option for older homes without existing ducts, as instead of ductwork, they use tubing to connect parts (electrical, drainage) and circulate refrigerant, only requiring about a 3 inch hole for tubing hidden behind each indoor unit. They are among the most efficient cooling options available today as no cooling is lost to leaky ductwork in unconditioned space. Multiple, programmable cooling units can cool up to 8 rooms (4 units) per system, offering efficient, zoned temperature control.
• Geothermal system
  Operating much like standard air conditioners, geothermal systems tap into thermal energy in the earth, taking advantage of more constant temperatures to keep your home comfortable. Highly efficient, these systems move air out of (or into) your home, transferring heat via polyethylene pipes filled with water. Bentonite grout surrounding these underground pipes maximizes thermal conductivity. Pumps in your home circulate the water through the pipes in the thermal unit, transferring or absorbing heat from the refrigerant in the system depending on the season, then distributing it with the help of a compressor and ductwork to meet your comfort needs.  

Feeling the heat? Cool off with an expertly designed system from the professionals at H & H Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Contact us today.