Is Dual Fuel better than Gas

Scratching your head over whether you should be shopping for furnaces or heat pumps? Why not enjoy the best of both worlds with a dual fuel system for your home.

What is a Dual Fuel System?

Dual fuel systems are among the best heating and cooling units on the market. They combine both a furnace and a heat pump into a single, multi-functional, highly-efficient system. Providing both air and heat, they truly offer the best of both worlds.

What Makes Dual Fuel Systems So Efficient?

The ‘dynamic duo’ of heat pump and furnace technology:

• Heat Pumps
  Heating and cooling companies know heat pumps are highly-efficient, removing heat from the outdoors and transferring it into your home. In cool (not cold) weather, they are more efficient than furnaces. Non-combustion, they do not produce carbon monoxide. Air is passed over a coil in the system. This coil is warmed in the winter, and cold in the summer when the system works in reverse to provide air conditioning. However, heat pumps aren’t perfect. They struggle to provide heat when temperatures dip in the 30s, relying on electric heat strips, which are more expensive to use, to supplement heat.
• Furnaces
  Natural gas prices are relatively low, making gas furnaces an efficient heating method in the bitter cold of winter when energy usage is highest. Newer furnace models with 95% AFUE ratings (efficiency ratings) use 95% of energy (gas) as heat, expelling just 5% as exhaust (waste). Heat produced feels warmer than heat pump generated warmth, which blows cooler. But furnaces aren’t perfect either. Gas heat isn’t as efficient as heat pump warmth when winter temperatures are warmer (40s-50s). With improperly/over-sized systems, they can heat the home too quickly, leaving warm and cold spots. The hotter heat they produce can dry skin. These combustion systems also produce carbon monoxide, making annual professional inspection a necessity to ensure safety, as well as the addition of a carbon monoxide monitor.

Dual Fuel Systems Deliver

Providing optimal comfort and efficiency, dual fuel systems combine both these systems into one high-performance unit: Heat pump components are used to cool and heat the home when the outside temperatures are moderate. Then, when temperatures are frigid, the system is switched to furnace mode for superior comfort and performance.

Is A Dual Fuel System For Me?

Dual fuel systems make a cost-effective option when you have access to gas lines. If your home currently has only one of these systems (heat pump OR furnace), however, there may be additional costs involved in upgrading to a dual fuel system: Either upgrading your electrical system to accommodate a heat pump, or running gas lines to your home to accommodate a furnace may be necessary.

Purchasing a heating unit for your house is a major investment. Reduce the stress with the help of your friendly neighborhood H&H Heating & Air Conditioning pro. Discover our ‘no lemon’ guarantee, learning more about available government and utility incentives on these amazingly efficient systems. Contact us today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/is-dual-fuel-better-than-gas/

5 Signs your House has Poor Indoor Air Quality

You spend a great deal of time obsessing about the way your home (and its contents) look. But how much time have you spent considering what you can’t see: Your home’s air quality? EPA research indicates the air indoors, where you spend about 90% of your time, is often far more polluted than the air outdoors. If you or your family members suffer frequent headaches, sneezing, wheezing, and respiratory issues, or other health problems, your home may be harboring a hidden menace.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Look To The Source:

• Chemicals & VOCS
  Common household cleaners, air fresheners, paint, varnish, textiles, as well as the adhesives used to hold together household furnishings can release hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals can irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, as well as cause nausea. Newer, more tightly-sealed homes more easily trap these pollutants.
• Germs & Allergens
  Ductwork can collect and distribute dirt, cold and flu germs, mold spores, and allergens like dander, dust mites, and pollen throughout your home.
• Humidity Issues
  Persistent odors? Unpleasant musty odors could indicate mold/mildew issues in the home, especially when paired with peeling paint/wallpaper and a ‘clammy’ feel. Dry, chapped skin, sore throat, or frequent cough? Wood furnishings and structural components with rapidly-reproducing cracks? Your home may be too dry.

Take Action

• Upgrade the Air Filters for Your Home Air Conditioner
  A HEPA filter with a MERV rating of 16 can remove around 99% of common particulates, including 90% of bacteria and germs and 50% of chemical VOCs.
  NOTE: Perform this upgrade with the help of a pro, who can adjust blower settings to reduce strain and help you avoid HVAC system damage.
• Invest in a Whole Home Air Purification System
  A whole house air purification system, including a UV air purifier, attached to your HVAC system, can help you combat most indoor air quality threats. Bonus: They install in less than an hour and add less than $10/month to your utility bill.
• Consider Humidity Control
  Including whole home humidification and dehumidification with a built-in hygrometer (moisture meter). Keep your home between 40-50% humidity for maximum health and comfort.
• Smarten-Up Your Thermostat
  Today’s Smart Wi-Fi thermostat models not only monitor temperature settings, providing more efficient HVAC system use, but help you monitor humidity levels and keep track of common maintenance such as air filter changes that can effect indoor air quality. Not sure which model is best for your home/lifestyle? Your local air conditioning company can help.
• Air Things Out
  Air out your home as weather (and air quality) allows, particularly during times of increased airborne pollutants such as painting/sanding.
• Go Au-Natural
  Choose natural, organic furnishings, including zero-VOC paints, and solid wood furnishings over particle board and glue-laden furnishings, which will reduce nasty vapor buildup in your home.
• Keep it Clean
  Vacuum, mop, and dust regularly to reduce indoor pollutants. Avoid chemical cleaning products in favor of natural alternatives to uphold air quality.

Create a healthier home environment for your family with the help of H&H Heating & Air Conditioning today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/5-signs-poor-indoor-air-quality/

Common concerns with Humidifiers

Humidifiers offer welcome relief in dry, bitter winter months. Bringing moisture to the air that can help control skin and respiratory ailments common with winter weather such as chapped skin and lips, irritated eyes and throat, inflamed nasal passages, allergies, cough, and sinus headaches, heating and cooling companies know humidifiers solve a variety of problems. However, like any appliance, there are some risks to consider with humidifier use.

Humidifiers come in a variety of styles, including portable/room units and whole house humidifiers, steam, ultrasonic, and impeller models, each with their own operational intricacies and risks:

• Dirty water
  Most common in portable units with a reservoir, as opposed to whole home units which take fresh water as needed via your home’s water supply, humidifiers with dirty water from filter or tank cleaning neglect can emit contaminated water into the air. This can result in flu-like ailments, or in severe cases, pneumonitis or Legionnaires.
• Excess humidity
  Some humidity in the air is good, however, you can have too much of a good thing. Your local indoor air quality service can tell you lots of tales surrounding the dangers of excess humidity. Mold, mildew, bacteria, dust mites and more thrive in damp environments. With portable systems, it is not uncommon for mold to grow where moisture has continuously accumulated on nearby walls/ceilings. This can negatively impact occupant health and worsen respiratory problems.
• Mineral buildup or ‘white dust’
  Pure, clean water is essential to humidifier operation and lifespan. Unfiltered, hard tap water contains high levels of particle and minerals compared to purified and distilled water. These will not only be distributed into the air and onto surrounding surfaces, aggravating respiratory issues, but can buildup up on essential humidifier components, causing them to wear down faster.
• Risk of burns
  Traditional humidifiers emitting moisture via steam carry the potential risk of burns. Whole house or central humidifiers, attached to heating and AC units, however, do not emit steam. This safeguards the children and elderly, those most at-risk, from burns.

How to Handle Humidifier Concerns

Most humidifier issues result from improper maintenance and cleaning. To avoid humidifier-related issues:

• Clean all essential components per manufacturer instructions regularly.
• Change filters regularly and do not allow water to sit in the humidifier too long.
• Carefully monitor humidity levels. If your humidifier doesn’t have a built-in hygrometer, as is common with portable models, pair it with a standalone meter to safeguard proper moisture levels in your home. The EPA and Mayo Clinic recommend indoor humidity levels be kept in the 30-50% range.
• Ensure a supply of clean, pure water to your purifier. If you do not have access to distilled water, consider the addition of a reverse osmosis system.
• Remove visible scaling (mineral buildup) regularly with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide.
• Opt for a whole house humidifier from your local home air conditioning company, which not only requires less maintenance, but operates more precisely, safely, and efficiently than portable models.

Patience with your portable humidifier all dried up? Contact H&H Heating & Cooling today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/common-concerns-with-humidifiers/