At Minnick’s, we care about the hidden comfort issues that plague homeowners. We have the advanced HVAC technical knowledge to find and conquer those issues, so everyone can have a healthier, more comfortable home.

Short cycling is an HVAC term used to define a situation where a furnace or air conditioner turns on and off too frequently. The term “short-cycle” describes the period of time that your HVAC equipment is actually running, and the shorter this cycle, the harder your system needs to work.

To learn more about what causes short cycling, click here! 

A proper bathroom ventilation system is important for every home, and as we’ve shared, you can’t assume the one that was already there is properly venting your bathroom. Exhaust fans without proper ventilation can cause major moisture issues to your home. For this reason, many local counties have building codes with required specifications for bathroom ventilation.

If you don’t already have a ventilation system in your bathroom, or feel as though your current one is not performing well, now is the time to ask for help. Without a properly working fan and ventilation system, your bathroom is putting your home at risk for mildew and mold growth. Save yourself the expensive cost for mold and mildew removal by ensuring your bathroom can effectively control moisture.

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IMPROPERLY SIZED DUCTWORK

If your home’s ductwork was poorly installed or you upgraded your furnace without upgrading your old ductwork, it’s likely your ductwork is the wrong size for your home. Your ductwork must be properly sized and matched according to the size of your home and the equipment you have connected to it. Improperly sized ducts can impact the balance of heating and cooling in your home and can lead to long term damage to your system. In the cold months, improper airflow can cause your system’s evaporator coils to freeze up. In the warm months, the opposite problem occurs: your system can overheat and fail prematurely.

AIR LEAKAGE

The conditioned air in your home can leak from several places around your home such as doors, windows, pipes, electrical outlets, and ductwork. Even small leaks can make a huge difference in your home comfort – leaky ducts can lose up to 30% of airflow. If your home isn’t retaining heat or cool air, you’re going to end up wasting energy and spending more to condition the entire house. Even if this is only a problem in one room, you’ll be running your system longer than necessary to heat and cool that room, which will be expensive in the long term.

POOR INSULATION

Poor insulation is commonly found in both old and new homes, especially those with vaulted ceilings. Poor insulation and thin walls can have a negative impact on the overall temperature of your home. Poor insulation allows air to escape through the walls. As a result, some rooms may feel warmer or cooler than you prefer, while other rooms are perfectly comfortable.

These are the most common causes but there are a lot more factors that can impact the heating and cooling of your home. We recommend getting a home energy audit to determine exactly which area is affecting your home the most.

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Dry air is a natural byproduct of cold weather. As temperatures decrease, the outdoor air drastically loses its ability to hold onto water. When it becomes colder, you’re also more likely to turn on your home’s heating system. These two conditions together contribute to why your home’s air is too dry.

Most homes aren’t as insulated as they should be, so when you’re running your central heating system, you may be losing your conditioned heated air through cracks and walls. This lost air is then replaced in circulation with the cold and dry air from the outside. Unless there is enough moisture added from other sources like cooking, bathing, etc. the air will continue to get drier.

Your home needs to completely replace the indoor air with fresh air from the outside, at least eight times per day. However, if you’re losing all your conditioned air then there will be an imbalance of dry air present in your home. While there can be many sources for where your home is losing heat (walls, windows, cracks, etc.) the primary source for your dry indoor air is always the outside environment.

Knowing that the outdoors is the culprit for drying out your home, we can now discuss some solutions for improving your indoor air quality. Minnick’s, the leading HVAC Company in Laurel MD can help you find the causes of dry air issues in your house.

Even though spray foam has a higher upfront cost, the lifetime costs are actually much lower in comparison. Cellulose will eventually sag, shift, and settle over time, which means you’ll need to regularly maintain it and eventually replace it. You won’t have that worry with spray foam insulation, as it stays right where it is applied for the life of the house unless someone removes it. Spray foam insulation also has the ability to form an air seal that will keep the outside temperatures and lower your utility cost as a result.

Depending on your specific goals, you may prefer the smaller upfront cost of cellulose insulation, but we’d encourage you to weigh the long-term cost-savings of spray foam insulation. Overall, we’ll call spray foam the winner in terms of cost due to it having lower maintenance cost and it’s cost savings from improved energy efficiency.

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There are three main types of HVAC systems that are used in residential homes. Each type of system differs in parts, sizes, and most importantly cost. Knowing which type of HVAC system is in your home is the first thing to consider when estimating the cost to replace. The three types of HVAC systems are:

1. Split Systems: The most common type of HVAC system; designed with two main units, one for heating and one for cooling. The cooling system is usually located outside and uses a fan, refrigerant, compressors, and coils to remove hot air from the house. The heating system is usually located in the basement and uses gas or electric and ductwork to produce and circulate heat in the house. A split system often has the most affordable equipment but the highest installation cost due to the required ductwork. The cost to replace only the equipment for a standard 14 SEER split system can range between $7,500 – $10,000.
2. Mini-Split (Ductless) Systems: A unique type of HVAC system that has individual units in each room. These types of systems are usually visibly mounted on indoor walls and attached to an outdoor compressor. Ductless systems do not require ductwork to operate which can save money on installation costs, but they often cost more for equipment since you’ll need a unit for each room. The cost to replace only the equipment for a standard single zone ductless system can range between $8,000 – $15,000.
3. Packaged Systems: This uncommon type of HVAC system is designed with all its major parts packaged together into one cabinet. These types of systems are usually installed outdoors and use a blower to circulate air in and out of the home. Packaged systems can run on either a heat pump or gas and electricity. Packaged systems are fully assembled by the manufacturer which saves you money on installation costs, but they often require more frequent maintenance due to all the major components being exposed to the outdoors. The cost to replace only the equipment for a standard 14 SEER packaged system can range between $10,000 – $14,000.

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HOW CENTRAL AC (AIR CONDITIONERS) WORK

Registers and supply ducts carry cooled air from the air conditioner to your home. It becomes warmer as it circulates through your home. It then flows back to the central AC through return channels and registers.

Air conditioning systems help in humidifying the incoming air. However, in extremely humid conditions, it will now achieve low humidity. This will also be the case if the AC system is oversized.

The best solution to this is getting a dehumidifying heat pipe which can be included as a retrofit to the system. This is a better choice compared to using the dehumidifier, because that leads to higher energy consumption.

TYPES OF CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONERS

There are two main types of central air conditioning systems: split-system unit and packaged unit.

The split-system unit is very economical if your home has a furnace. The outdoor cabinet contains the compressor and condenser, whereas the indoor cabinet contains the evaporator. The indoor cabinet has the furnace, this is where the supply duct is installed.

The packaged unit is an AC system in which the packaged central air conditioner, condenser, evaporator, and compressor are located in one cabinet. The unit is placed in a concrete slab next to your building’s foundation or placed on a section on the roof. Since it includes electric heating coils, the need for a separate furnace indoors is eliminated.

In the event that your AC system is faulty, it is best to get a professional to fix it because carbon monoxide may be produced at the furnace and circulate in your home, leading to risks. Carbon monoxide is commonly known as the ‘silent killer’.

HEATING SYSTEMS

Heating systems have a shorter useful life compared to A/C units. This is because their performance is affected by the extreme weather conditions and in some cases, blockage of the heating furnace may lead to malfunctioning.

Heating systems have different Heating Seasonal Performance Factors (HSPFs). HSPF is a term used to measure the efficiency of air source heat pumps. A system which has a lower HSPF rating will need to work harder so as to meet the expected level of comfort.

Therefore, your system can have a longer lifespan if you use a heating pump, which has a higher HSPF rating.

Some of the heating units used in homes include:

Oil-based furnaces: Although they are not expensive, these require a lot of maintenance work to keep them running and they only last a few years.

Boilers: They last slightly longer than other heating systems (1-3 years). The quality of water supplied to the boilers also determines the lifespan of the heating system.

Geothermal systems: These can last for more than 30 years, if well-maintained.

It has been found that nearly half of the HVAC systems have been installed incorrectly. Therefore, you need to choose ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation.

This will offer you a guarantee of better energy savings, quality, performance, and comfort. The equipment will also have a lower risk of failure. Having a well-installed heating system offers you the guarantee of a longer useful life.

WHAT IS THE AC UNIT LIFESPAN?

Consumers and contractors have varying ideas on how long air conditioning systems should last. The average lifetime air conditioning systems is 20 years, ranging from 10-30 years.
Manufacturers also have insight on the lifespan and efficiency of the cooling systems. They also continuously support existing equipment and offer replacement parts.
Factors that determine the life span of an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system include:

• Run-time hours per day.
• Proximity to corrosive contaminants.
• Maintenance of the equipment.
• Whether repairs or retrofits have been done.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN GETTING AN AC SYSTEM

The following are features you should consider when buying an AC system:
• High efficiency. The rating of central air conditioners is done according to their seasonal energy efficiency ratio, indicating the relative energy required to provide a specific cooling output. High-efficiency operation during hot seasons can be provided by systems that have a thermal expansion valve and a high-temperature rating (EER) greater than 11.6.

• A quietly-operating system.
• A variable speed air handler, in case you will install new ventilation systems.
• A fan-only switch, which can be used at night.
• A filter check light.
• An automatic-delay fan switch, which will turn off the fan some minutes after the compressor turns off.

MAINTENANCE

Maintenance of your home heating and cooling systems is important and it also determines the lifespan of the systems. You will be able to detect any faults and take corrective measures in good time. You will also save on costs, improve the energy efficiency of the system and reduce pollutants.

Technological advancements also make it easier for you to know the condition of your home heating and cooling system, through the use of smart maintenance.

Do you suffer from headaches, dry throat, or allergy-like symptoms? Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Ever notice that you feel better when you have left your house and are around different air?

• Indoor air quality can become contaminated by any number of biological contaminants. This
  can include bacteria, viruses, animal dander, cat saliva, house dust, mites, insects, rodents,
  pollens, molds, mildews, and more.
• Additional pollutants may include building materials, paints, glues, carpets, piping, water
  supply, metals, and more. Many newly constructed homes can have these issues in addition to
  older homes.
• Moisture and humidity is a breeding ground for issues, inviting insects and rodents, and causing
  molds and mildews to grow in both visible and invisible areas of your home.
• If you regularly take long, steamy showers or you’re frequently steaming or boiling foods,
  these can also be contributing factors.
• Even something as simple as the kind of vacuum cleaner you’re using or storing certain
  household products in a certain way can be significant contributing factors.

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Nothing can be more annoying during the winter months than stack effect. Stack effect is a common problem when your home’s heat rises to the second story and leaves your first floor cold.

Think of it like the second story is stealing the blanket.

While it’s true that hot air rises, it isn’t just the air that’s leaving your first floor frozen. Here are some other major factors that can contribute to this icy issue.

1. Your HVAC system is getting too old.
2. Your attic isn’t properly sealed.
3. Your treeline is blocking the sun.

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There are a few ways you can reduce your utility bills this winter without losing out on any warmth and comfort. Consider the following tips to help save money this season.

1. Clean Out HVAC Filters Regularly
2. Lower Your Thermostat a Few Degrees
3. Keep Your Curtains Open During the Day

Read More Details Here!