3 Energy Efficiency Tips

October 2, 2018

Money doesn’t grow on trees, but there’s no getting around the fact that it costs money to heat and cool your home. The good news that you have more control over that equation than you might realize. Here are three tips that can help you enjoy greater levels of energy efficiency — and therefore lower energy bills — courtesy of our team at GVEC Air Conditioning & Heating in Southern Texas. 1. Assess Your HVAC System HVAC systems lose efficiency over time, especially if they’re not properly maintained. This forces you to run the system hotter or cooler than you normally would just to get the desired effects. The best way to make sure your HVAC system can do its job efficiently is by scheduling regular assessments from our team. We can check the condenser coil, burners, heat exchanger, valves, thermostat, refrigerant, and other variables that affect your system’s overall power and energy efficiency. 2. Look for the Energy Star Today’s generation of air conditioners can produce all the cool air you need while drawing less energy than an older system probably would. The gold standard for energy-efficient heating and cooling components is the Energy Star label. This “seal of...

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What Does it Mean to be NATE Certified?

September 30, 2018

When you’re looking for a quality HVAC company to help you choose, install, or service your heating and cooling equipment, you are going to bump into the phrase “NATE certified”. If you’re in the midst of your search, you’re probably wondering what this phrase means and if you should hire technicians with this certification. Here’s what you need to know. What Is NATE? Short for North American Technician Excellence, NATE is the nation’s largest non-profit certification organization that works with HVAC and refrigeration professionals. The group is industry supported, but participation is optional. The organization was formed about 20 years ago in response to concerns that standards throughout the industry needed to be higher. Now, in that same spirit, the best most reliable companies require their technicians to be NATE Certified. How Do You Get NATE Certified? To become NATE certified, technicians have to pass a written test. The test goes beyond the information presented on the HVAC certification test, and it’s developed by top HVAC professionals and industry leaders. To pass the test, technicians need a solid understanding of HVAC systems. Many of the questions give the technicians scenarios that they’re likely to encounter in the field, ensuring that...

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Career Opportunities in the HVAC Industry

September 19, 2018

Keeping a home comfortable all year long requires a working HVAC system. Because HVAC systems are mechanical systems, they are prone to breakdowns, creating a nearly constant demand for people who are skilled at replacing and installing these systems. HVAC careers are rewarding and can be lucrative, giving skilled technicians the opportunity to help people stay comfortable while earning a good income. Here is a closer look at some of the careers available within the HVAC industry. HVAC Engineers HVAC engineers are often needed in complex installation situations, such as when installing commercial systems. These professionals know how to coordinate the installation to ensure the system runs as efficiently as possible. Skilled HVAC engineers can also evaluate systems and find areas for improvement to make a system run more efficiently. These are the professionals who design new systems in new construction projects. HVAC Mechanic When an air conditioning system breaks down, an HVAC mechanic is the one who puts it back in good, working order. These professionals are in high demand all across the country, but particularly in areas where extreme heat or extreme cold are common. HVAC mechanics focus on repair and maintenance services, not installation, though they may...

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What is Super Cooling?

August 21, 2018

In the HVAC space, supercooling refers to cooling your home at a time of day known to retain low temperatures for the rest of the day. This helps minimize the workload for your air conditioning system. It cools air the easiest way possible and when it is least expensive to do so. The Super Cooling Advantage Supercooling allows you to manage your power usage and the resulting bills. It helps save money spent on energy bills. Supercooling helps cut your energy usage by 25% to 33% compared to other times. This is a significant percentage especially during summer when air conditioning costs are at their highest. How to Super Cool Your Home First, acquire your time-of-use plan from your utility. Explore the varying rate plans. The plan indicates cheaper rates for electricity during specific hours of the day and higher rates during other times. Once the plan is activated and running, set the temperature of your thermostat to as low as you can stand it between 68 to 74 degrees. This should be done throughout during off-peak hours with regards to your plan. It will get quite chilly so break out the sweaters and blankets. A programmable thermostat will ease...

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Will Air Conditioning Remove Humidity?

July 14, 2018

Anyone who has spent time in a hot and muggy climate knows that being exposed to the hot weather is one thing, but having to endure hot and humid air is altogether worse. Hot and humid air can make it seem difficult to breathe. It also has the awful effect of intensifying the heat we feel. This is because the warm moisture in the air sticks to our skin and enters our lungs, making our sweat evaporate less readily. When hot air is dry, it can just pass over us with less effect on our body temperature. But humidity delivers a “sticky” kind of heat that’s so much more unpleasant. Will Air Conditioning Remove Humidity from the Air? The simple answer to this question is, yes, an air conditioner will remove moisture from the air. This is why we call your AC unit an “air conditioner” and not just an air blower. If your AC did not remove moisture from the air then it would just be a big fan that’s channeled through your home. How It Works Your AC unit removes moisture and heat from the air using a condenser coil or condensate array. This device exploits the tendency...

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How Candles Affect Indoor Air Quality

July 10, 2018

We love our home fragrance. Candles are especially loved for their decorative look, wonderful smell and romantic glow. According to The National Candle Association, more than 80 percent of Americans use fragrance in their homes. Many consumers don’t realize that along with the wonderful fragrance, candles release chemicals into the air, causing a major impact on your indoor air quality. Candles are created using paraffin wax and petroleum products. In addition, the fragrances candle manufacturers use additional chemicals to create the fragrance. What this all adds up to is burning candles, although smell wonderful release hidden pollutants into the indoor air. You may ask, “candles are polluting the air? But they smell so, so good.” The answer is “yes,” they are affecting the air you breathe and could be harming your health! Have Your Candles and Burn Them Too With Healthier Air Quality For most people fragrance is not going to cause any health issues. For others who have asthma, allergies, heart issues or are sensitive to smells may find it uncomfortable to be inside while a candle is burning. They might not even realize it but that constant cough or runny nose or even an irritable mood might be...

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Whats the Difference Between a Heat Pump & an AC?

February 23, 2018

Air conditioner units and heat pumps pump do the same job, but using different methods.  The difference in their approaches directly affects your home, air quality, and comfortability for all. Considering Central Air Conditioning A Central air unit is an inner loop system that circulates air to make it colder. A refrigerant begins the cooling process. The coolant travels through the unit and heats and is pressurized. The inner coil will then release the heated air, and the refrigerant is liquefied. As it evaporates, it uses the surrounding air to cool. Cold air circulates through the vents and duct system through your entire home. Hearing Out Heat Pumps AC units typically are made for climates that remain on the warm end year around. Milder climates may see a heat pump as a more energy efficient choice. Heat pumps are useful all year. They are less complicated than the inner workings of a central air unit. It draws the air from outside and either cool it or warms it, depending on your needs. The air the pump heats or cools is the distributed evenly throughout your home. Knowing The Difference The humidity and year-around temperature in Texas likely makes a central air unit your best choice. You do...

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