The way our nation’s power grid works, any unexpected spike or dip in the current flowing through the lines can cause blackouts over a large area. If a storm knocks over power lines, or a heat wave or cold snap overloads the system, thousands of people can be left without electricity — just when they need it most.

You can avoid the pain of a power outage, whenever it may come, by getting a standby generator installed today.

Unlike the portable generators that you might be familiar with, standby generators are permanent fixtures that respond immediately and automatically to any loss of power. They are connected directly to your home’s breaker box, and can provide consistent, essentially endless power to the entire house, at the precise voltage needed by today’s sensitive electronics.

There are a number of different standby generator options available today. To choose the right system for your Northeast Ohio home, there are several factors you need to consider.

• The fuel type – Most standby generators run on natural gas or propane. When connected to a natural gas line, they can run for weeks and never need to be refueled.
• Your home’s electrical load – The amount of electricity required by a house depends on its size, the number and type of electrical devices inside, and the specifics of your HVAC system. At WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning, we can help you calculate your home’s power requirements.
• Your budget and comfort preferences – Some large generator systems can power the entire house. Smaller, less expensive generators can be set up to power only essential circuits, such as the HVAC system. In between you have so-called “smart” generators, which decide which part of the house needs power the most and rotates between powering different appliances.
• The transfer switch – Though sometimes sold separately, an automatic transfer switch senses when the power goes out, and automatically starts up the generator for you.

To learn more about standby generators, or for help selecting and installing one anywhere in Northeast Ohio, contact us at WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal at WeatherKing is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Generator image via Shutterstock

When you’re upgrading to a new water heater, you’ll want to look for each system’s EF rating, a number that indicates the efficiency of a particular model, based on several factors. Many of these factors will vary from one home to another, but the EF rating will give you a good comparison indicator.

An EF rating takes into account:

• How efficiently the water is heated – in other words, how much energy is required to heat the water in the tank
• How much energy is lost during the process of keeping the water at the desired temperature during the day
• How much energy is lost as water is cycled through the home and water heater during normal use

Generally speaking, the higher the EF rating, the more the unit will cost, but the energy saved could make up for the additional price over time. Or it may not. Besides the EF rating, the type of energy your system uses will also affect the overall outcome. Electric water heaters may have a higher EF rating than gas, but electricity typically costs a lot more throughout the U.S, so while you may be saving energy, you will not be saving money.

Another factor to consider is the size of the unit. To ensure enough hot water, you’ll want to enlist the help of a professional to appropriately size your new system to efficiently meet the hot water demands of your home.

Finally, be sure to use an expert HVAC contractor to install the system to ensure optimal performance, as poor installation practices can greatly hinder the system’s efficiency potential.

If you are confused by all the variables involved with choosing a new water heater, just contact WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning for a free estimate or consultation. We proudly serve the Greater Cleveland area.

Our goal at WeatherKing is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Water heater image via Shutterstock

Heating and cooling — 45 percent
Heating and cooling equipment consumes the largest amount of energy in most homes. In Northeast Ohio, heating your home can be a major expense. To reduce costs:

• Ensure that you have adequately insulated walls, attic and ductwork
• Use an energy-efficient furnace
• Install a programmable thermostat and ceiling fans

Hot water heater — 11 percent
The second largest consumer in most homes is the hot water heater. Tankless hot water heaters offer significant savings, but you can save with your existing unit by:

• Replacing old showerheads and faucets with low-flow models
• Insulating your hot water heater and connecting pipes
• Reducing the system’s temperature setting to 130 degrees

Washer, dryer and dishwasher — 12 percent
You can take several actions to reduce the amount of electricity this equipment consumes:

• Replace older machines with high-efficiency models
• Use cold-water cycles, as modern detergents work well in cooler temperatures
• Upgrade to a front-loading washer to reduce energy used by nearly 25 percent
• Only wash full loads

Lights — 7 percent
Older lightbulbs can be a major energy consumer. To save energy:

• Switch to low-watt fluorescent lightbulbs
• Use automatic timers

Refrigerator — 6 percent
Refrigerators do not use as much energy as they used to, but there are still ways to save:

• Choose a top-freezer model
• Avoid icemakers

Electronics — 4 percent
While electronics are not a major part of most energy bills, taking action here can help you to save energy if you:

• Set your computers, TVs and other devices to shut off or “sleep” mode when not in use

Other — 15 percent
Many devices, such as clocks and PDAs, use electricity even when off. To save energy:

• Purchase devices that only use electricity when in use
• Unplug devices when you’re not using them

Saving money on your energy bills is not difficult, if you know what to look for. Contact WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning for expert advice. Serving Northeast Ohio, we’re always happy to help.

Our goal at WeatherKing is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Energy efficiency image via Shutterstock

In addition to dust, many air cleaners are effective at capturing:

• Other small, breathable particles, such as dirt, pollen and allergens
• Bacteria, viruses, fungi and airborne mold spores
• Chemical vapors, smoke and assorted household odors

There are two types of electronic air cleaners: electrostatic precipitators and ion generators. Both types of systems charge polluting particles; they just differ in how they perform this function:

• Electrostatic precipitators draw air into the cleaner. The polluted air passes through an ionizing device, which charges the particles and sends them to plates that supply the opposite charge. The polluting particles adhere to the plates and are removed from the air.
• Ion generators draw in polluting particles, charge them and then release ions into the air. These newly charged particles then latch onto other particles or surfaces and drop to the floor.

An air of caution continues to surround the effectiveness of electronic air cleaners. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency points out that more studies need to be done to draw a conclusive link between electronic air cleaners and better health. But many people who are sensitive to dust, pollen and other indoor air pollutants swear by them. And physicians say that if electronic air cleaners help people breathe easier, then they are well worth the investment.

If you’re considering an electronic air cleaner, look for one that:

• Removes a high amount of particles from the air
• Is correctly sized and is made by a reputable manufacturer
• Is designed to remove the substance that you deem most important
• Targets the indoor pollutants that may be affecting your health
• Is affordable
• Is simple to operate
• Provides a comprehensive and long-term warranty

The indoor air quality experts at WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning can help you find the right electronic air cleaner for your home, taking into account all of your needs. Call us today and start breathing easier tomorrow. Serving Northeast Ohio, we’re always happy to help.

Our goal at WeatherKing is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air cleaners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Fresh air image via Shutterstock

Further, selecting a device that has “smart” capabilities makes using a programmable thermostat and ensuring lower energy costs even easier.

Programmable thermostats are a smart choice because they save you energy while your house is unoccupied or while you’re sleeping. All you have to do is set the thermostat according to the comings and goings of the people in your home.

Programmable thermostats function at their best when they are set back, during winter, and set forward, during summer, for eight-hour stretches of time. Specifically, adjusting your thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours can reduce your heating and cooling bills by as much as 10 percent a year, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates.

Families have different temperature preferences. And the time settings you choose may differ, too. But here is an example of how you could set your programmable thermostat for heating:

• 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.: 68 degrees
• 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: 58 degrees
• 6 to 10 p.m.: 68 degrees
• 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.: 60 degrees

For air conditioning, your settings might look like this:

• 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.: 76 degrees
• 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: 83 degrees
• 6 to 10 p.m.: 76 degrees
• 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.: 80 degrees

For convenience, some programmable thermostats have taken a cue from smartphones and have become rather smart themselves, allowing you to adjust their settings via a web connection if you’re away from home and wish to reset the temperature in anticipation of your arrival home. Alternatively, other devices allow you to connect via an iPhone or smartphone application.

In good economic times and especially in trying ones, Northeast Ohio homeowners need practical, easy-to-implement ways to save money. Call WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning, and let us show you how a programmable thermostat can keep the energy bills in your home in check, all year long.

Our goal at WeatherKing is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Thermostat image via Shutterstock

Most heating systems generate heat using some form of combustion, a process that requires power, usually in the form of natural gas. Heat pumps work differently and more efficiently. Instead of generating heat, they move it either into the house during cold weather or out of the house during hot weather.

A heat pump uses coils filled with refrigerant to move heat. Depending on whether it is trying to heat or cool, the heat pump’s refrigerant makes the coils warm or cold. Air blowers move air across the coils, cooling or heating as needed, before distributing the air throughout the house. In the process, they can create as much as four times the energy that they consume. This results in reduced utility bills that can add up to significant savings over time.

In order to maximize your investment, there are some factors you should discuss with your heat-pump contractor.

• Sizing – Just as with furnaces and air conditioners, the size of a heat pump is important.
• Efficiency – Heat pumps have one efficiency rating, called Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), for the cooling mode and another, called Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF), for the heating mode.
• Energy Star – The highest-rated heat pumps earn the Energy Star label, which are between 8 and 20 percent more efficient than models without the Energy Star seal.
• Refrigerant — To protect your investment, consider the type of refrigerant used by the system. R22, or Freon, is a commonly used refrigerant that is being phased out by the government, due to its negative impact on the environment. Making sure you get a heat pump that uses a newer, safer refrigerant will help you to avoid having to replace your entire system when R22 is no longer available.

For expert advice on heat pumps, in Northeast Ohio, contact WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal at WeatherKing is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Heat pump image via Shutterstock

If this sounds too good to be true, consider some facts about the heating-ventilation and air-conditioning industry that are strongly working in your favor:

• February through May is usually the slowest period of the year—a period marked by few calls for furnace repairs and air conditioning service. Think of buying a new furnace within this time frame in the same way that you would think about buying winter clothing. Essentially, you are buying during the off season.
• Contractors are keenly aware of this seasonal truism, and so are often more willing to negotiate a better price on a new furnace during this slow period.
• Furnace discounts may be easier to negotiate and greater options may be available to you as contractors clear out last year’s inventory to make room for newer models.

All of these factors work in your favor and will help to offset the expense of buying a new furnace. Plus, this major investment in your home should last about 20 heating seasons and maybe even more, especially since Energy Star rated furnaces can perform at ultra-efficient levels, up to 98 percent Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), with features designed to withstand wear and tear. Over a short period of time, you can recoup your investment, as the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that high-efficiency furnaces can reduce heating bills by as much as 20 percent over their older counterparts.

When you are ready to discuss your furnace options, call WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning, Northeast Ohio’s premier HVAC company. We’ll properly size a furnace for your home, and your needs, so that you don’t buy one that is too small or too large. Then we’ll expertly install it and guarantee our work, so that this spring purchase is one you’ll always be glad you made — exactly when you did.

Our goal at WeatherKing is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Upgrade image via Shutterstock

One of the most significant risks associated with buying HVAC equipment online has to do with the warranty. Partly to maintain their relationships with manufacturers, many HVAC contractors are unwilling to install equipment purchased online — it’s important to manufacturers that the people selling and installing their equipment are properly trained. That can leave you on your own when it comes to installing equipment purchased online. And if you install the equipment yourself, or if you hire someone without certification to install it for you, it could invalidate your warranty.

Beyond protecting your warranty, there are other reasons to trust a certified HVAC expert for the installation. Professionally installed equipment is more likely to run at peak efficiency, lowering your utility bills. It also helps maintain your home comfort by ensuring the even distribution of heated or cooled air.

Reliability of performance is another benefit of trusting your purchase and installation to a certified HVAC expert. Sizing and installing a furnace or air conditioner is a complex job that requires advanced knowledge, equipment and experience. When you work with a local contractor with a strong reputation, you will also enjoy the increased security that comes with knowing help is well within reach in case you encounter any problems.

The professionals at WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning have built an excellent track record of providing affordable and courteous home comfort services to customers in the Cleveland and Akron areas. If you need any advice about new heating or cooling equipment, or if you are facing any other home comfort issue, contact us. We’re here to help you 24 hours a day.

Our goal at WeatherKing is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Warranty image via Shutterstock

Also known as demand systems or instantaneous water heaters, gas- or electricity-powered tankless water heaters consume energy to heat water only when a hot-water tap is activated. By applying a large amount of heat all at once, cold water is rapidly brought to a hot temperature on an as-needed basis, providing homeowners with hot water, but without the energy losses commonly associated with large storage-tank systems.

The main advantage of a tankless system is energy efficiency, but homeowners should be aware that in order to maximize that efficiency, it might be necessary to install more than one system.

Water demand
An individual gas tankless water heater can provide up to five gallons of hot water per minute, but this may not be enough to meet the needs of an entire family, particularly at times when multiple taps may be simultaneously open, or when two or more machines use hot water at the same time. Electric tankless systems can generally supply about two gallons of water per minute, further compounding the problem.

Maintaining temperature
In addition, heated water tends to cool off if it must pass through long runs of plumbing pipes in order to reach the open tap. In order to use tankless water heaters most effectively, homeowners ideally should install a smaller system near each point of use. This can guarantee a dedicated supply of hot water to each bathroom, for example, and eliminate the issue of water cooling off before it reaches its final destination. Further, experts recommend this strategy for maximum efficiency.

Another solution is to install two or more tankless water heaters in parallel, meaning that they are located together. While this does not address the problem of long pipe runs, it does increase the amount of hot water that can be drawn at a single time.

For more information about innovative and energy-saving ways to meet all of your energy needs, please feel free to contact WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning. Serving the Greater Cleveland area, we’re always happy to help.

Our goal at WeatherKing is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Hot shower image via Shutterstock

But slow down just a tad to ensure that the job is done right — the first time. For your peace of mind, follow this five-step guide:

• Gather and call at least three references on the contractor, or check for testimonials on the contractor’s website. A contractor with a roster of satisfied clients, such as WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning, is proud to share this information with others.
• Call the Ohio contractors’ licensing board at 614-644-3493 to check the status of the contractor’s license. Then call the contractor’s insurance company to verify that he or she has commercial general liability insurance. Though not required, such a policy covers accidental injuries and property damage.
• Find out if you will need a building permit for your project or repair and, if so, who will secure it.
• Read the work contract carefully. Be sure that it includes a detailed description of the scope of the work, when the work will begin and end, the materials to be used and/or the equipment to be installed. Do not assume that the details will “come together” at a later date; spell them out before any work begins. Also, find out if the three-day “right to cancel” clause applies. And if you’re required to make a down payment, be sure that it is not more than 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. Be absolutely certain to put all changes to the contract in writing.
• Ask for a “notice to owner” statement that describes liens and how to prevent them.

Bringing strangers into your home can be nerve-racking, but WeatherKing Heating & Air Conditioning eliminates this stress because we understand that courtesy matters to our customers. That’s why we always wear protective coverings on our shoes and leave the service area cleaner than we found it. Always prompt and professional in serving the Greater Cleveland area, our technicians will treat your home like the castle that it is.

Our goal at WeatherKing is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Contractor image via Shutterstock