Jeffersonville, IN | VanKleef Heating & Air Conditioning

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  • What is the Difference in Filters?

    Louisville HVACYou have heard us talk a lot about the benefits of changing your filter frequently. Changing your filter out at recommended times helps your system run more efficiently and helps with the overall air quality in your home. You have probably  went to the store and seen the same filter sizes at different prices.  If you have been indecisive about which filter to buy, this may help you to decide.
    According to the EPA (Environmental Protective Agency), Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home article (https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/guide-air-cleaners-home) April 3, 2017:
    Flat or panel air filters with a MERV of 1 to 4 are commonly used in residential furnaces and air conditioners. For the most part, such filters are used to protect the HVAC equipment from the buildup of unwanted materials on the surfaces such as fan motors and heating or cooling coils, and not for direct indoor air quality reasons. They have low efficiency on smaller airborne particles and medium efficiency on larger particles, as long as they remain airborne and pass through the filter.
    ​Some smaller particles found within a house include:

    • viruses
    • bacteria
    • some mold spores
    • a significant fraction of cat and dog allergens
    • a small portion of dust mite allergens
    • Pleated or extended surface filters
      • Medium efficiency filters with a MERV of 5 to 13 are reasonably efficient at removing small to large airborne particles. Filters with a MERV between 7 and 13 are likely to be nearly as effective as true HEPA filters at controlling most airborne indoor particles. Medium efficiency air filters are generally less expensive than HEPA filters, and allow quieter HVAC fan operation and higher airflow rates than HEPA filters since they have less airflow resistance.
      • Higher efficiency filters with a MERV of 14 to 16, sometimes misidentified as HEPA filters, are similar in appearance to true HEPA filters, which have MERV values of 17 to 20. True HEPA filters are normally not installed in residential HVAC systems; installation of a HEPA filter in an existing HVAC system would probably require professional modification of the system. A typical residential air handling unit and the associated ductwork would not be able to accommodate such filters because of their physical dimensions and increase in airflow resistance.
      • Filters with a MERV between 7 and 13 are likely to be nearly as effective as true HEPA filters.
      • (https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/guide-air-cleaners-home) April 3, 2017

     
    (HEPA is short for High Efficiency Particulate Air (filter). Simply stated, a HEPA  filter gets more particulates out of the air than your standard air filter. )
    Airborne particles smaller than 1 micrometer can, fall slowly, and take days to years to settle out of a quiet atmosphere. In a turbulent atmosphere, they may never settle out, and include viruses, small bacteria, metallurgical fumes, soot, oil smoke, tobacco smoke, clay, and fumes. See the list of airborne particulates online at the Engineering Tool Box.
    What about the cost? Higher efficiency filters for the home usually run between $25-$35. They may help increase your overall health, especially if you deal with respiratory issues or have allergies year round. Even if you deal with allergies on a seasonal basis, you may want to switch your traditional filter out to a Higher efficiency filter for those troublesome months you typically have allergy problems. There are a whole host of products that will improve the overall air quality of your home. If you would like more information, call us or schedule an appointment for us to sit down with you and share about YORK™s line of air filtration systems. 812-280-0510
    Fun Fact
    -A micron is 1 millionth of a meter [link http://www.hepafilter-pro.com/Filter_Ratings.php] , or about 0.00003937 inches, which means there are 25,400 microns in an inch. This dot (.) on your computer screen is about 615 microns.

  • The Risks of Neglecting Routine Maintenance on your HVAC

    Louisville heating and coolingImagine driving your car for 100,000 miles and never adding a drop of oil or replacing an air filter or a bald tire. That seems unimaginable, but that kind of neglect often happens with our HVAC systems over time. Putting off routine maintenance seems harmless while things are running smoothly. But when problems start to crop up it becomes evident that our procrastination is damaging.
    If you begin to notice some of the following issues, your furnace may be crying out for attention.

    • It’s noisy
    • Dust is accumulating rapidly
    • Allergy symptoms are increasing inside your house
    • Rooms are too hot or too cold
    • Utility bills are increasing when energy consumption isn’t

    If you begin to notice an issue, there are a couple of basic things you can try to remedy your problem. Most importantly, replace your filters. A dirty and clogged filter adds increased dust particles into the air and prohibits proper functioning of your system. Have your vents and ducts cleaned out to assure proper airflow throughout the house. Also check to see if there is leakage in the attic area in your ductwork. You could be losing capacity through your duct system.
    If those quick fixes don’t solve your problem, it’s time to call a furnace repair professional. A struggling HVAC system can deteriorate rapidly once routine maintenance is regularly neglected. Having a professional perform regular, routine maintenance can provide you with:

    • Lower utility bills
    • Improved reliability
    • Extended life
    • Fewer repairs
    • Increased capacity
    • Enhanced safety
    • Cleaner air

    Spending $100-$300 for seasonal maintenance can save you $3000-$10,000 in future replacement costs. Regular servicing can also save you on your utility bills. A struggling, dirty furnace uses 25% more energy. It’s time to dodge that last bullet. Call VanKleef Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc, for your heating and cooling professionals and put your mind at rest. (812) 280-0510

  • Keeping your Heating and Cooling Costs Down: How to Choose Insulation

    Louisville heating and coolingYou would never consider going outside in the dead of winter in just a simple light-weight jacket. Instead, you pile on the layers to keep warm: coat, scarf, hat, gloves, several shirts, and boots. The same theory holds true for your home. If you want to keep your Louisville heating and cooling costs down, your home needs the proper protection against the elements.
    Choosing the right insulation affects many aspects of your home including curb appeal, resale value, and the quality of the master bathroom shower. Most importantly, the proper insulation affects long-term efficiency and energy costs. If your home is not properly insulated, heat will escape and gravitate to colder areas like the basement and the attic. If you have cracks or leaks in any of these areas, the heat will find them and make a quick exit, leaving your home shivering cold.
    If your home is struggle to keep warm, it may be time to check into re-insulating, especially in the attic area, which is the most heavily insulated area in your home. Insulation is measured in terms of resistance to heat flow, or an “R” value. Attics generally require an R35-45 rating for proper protection.
    In the past, fiberglass insulated rolls were the only way to insulate. Today, there are many options including spray foam, foil-faced reflective paper, polyethylene bubbles and straw core panels. New construction is now made with concrete forms in which the insulation is built right in to the home’s structure. But if you aren’t building a new home, the best form of insulation for remodeling is the spray foam method. This version provides the maximum energy efficiency.
    When selecting the insulation that’s right for your home, evaluate the appropriate R-value for your home’s needs. A home in Montana has different needs than a home in Florida. Take into consideration:

    • The age of your home
    • The structure make up of your home
    • The location of your home

    Although the needs are different, the goals of insulating are the same: to effectively resist the flow of hot and cold air. Protect your home against old man winter this season by bundling up with an extra layer of warmth.

  • New Communicating Thermostats from York

    What is a communicating thermostat? According to York, it’s thermostat that not only controls heating/cooling equipment, but also communicates with other devices inside and/or outside the house. How does this help you? This is one more example of how technology is driving efficiency. The more efficient your system is, the less energy you will consume and that always translates into savings.
    York’s communicating thermostat receives important information from the actual devices like the furnace or air conditioner. This information can be used to make subtle changes in temperature settings to help reduce your heating and cooling costs. This is a step beyond simply having a programmable thermostat. You still have all the benefits of being able to program your communicating thermostat but, you also get many added benefits.
    The communicating thermostat can gauge the diminishing efficiency of your units and may suggest or alert you to filter changing or maintenance needs. The thermostat and devices know what the ideal efficiency is so it can alert you to possible problems and solutions. The interface on these thermostats make programming them so much easier and understandable. If being able to program your thermostat can save you significantly, then making it easier to program is a big plus. You can also get comfortable faster. There is a feature that allows the thermostat to communicate to the devices to operate at its highest capacity to get you the desired temperature more quickly.
    If you would like more information about the York communicating thermostat or other products, call us with your questions or schedule an appointment and we would be happy to help educate you on all the exciting products York offers. Here is a link from York describing the communicating thermostat.
    Fun Fact: If you set thermostats back 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours while you’re at work, you’ll save about 10 percent on your heating and cooling, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

  • April Showers Bring May Flowers and Spring Allergies

    The Ohio Valley has been compared to bowl. It is difficult to get the seasonal allergy irritants to blow away. If you have lived here long enough you know that there are significant fluctuations in pollen levels from one week to another. About the only thing we can control is the air quality inside our homes and businesses. When choosing an air filter during seasons you typically experience allergies, select a filter with a high MERV rating. The higher the MERV rating the better job it does at getting smaller allergens and particles out of the air. A simple air filter change goes a long way in enhancing air quality, but pollens are very fine particles that may require better filtration than most furnace filters provide.

    I am tempted to open my windows on cool evenings and mornings to reduce electricity use but it can work against me by allowing those pollens right in my home. If you suffer from springtime allergies, keeping those windows and doors closed is the better choice. Limiting your time outside is a common sense decision but there are a few things you can do around your home to reduce the severity of your spring allergy battle. Vacuuming consistently, and cleaning surfaces routinely throughout your home really helps. Having your system routinely inspected and serviced is essential not only for efficiency, but also for the air quality in the home. When these steps are not enough, an air filtration system may be your best option. There are very effective Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) systems that can be installed in your home that can make an immediate and lasting improvement.

    According to WebMD, Louisville, Kentucky is one of the top five cities for worst allergies. Making sure your HVAC system is the best it can be gives you a huge advantage of lessening the seasonal effects of pollens and molds.

    • Keep windows and doors closed
    • Upgrade your filter to a high MERV rated filter
    • Routine system maintenance and cleaning
    • Consider an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) system