HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. It’s basically your heating and cooling systems.
Does it help to close vents in rooms not being used during the day?
The answer to this question is very site specific and dependent on several factors, such as: heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system design, location of the thermostat, house design, and climate. In the right situation, closing vents and/or doors to certain rooms that are not being used during the day (or even during a whole season) may reduce heating or cooling bills. However, when you close vents/doors you could also throw off the balance of the system, change the way air is distributed, or cause the thermostat to detect temperatures which make the rest of the house uncomfortable.
We recommend that you check with your local heating and cooling contractor when they come for the next system tune-up. Propose to them which doors or vents you want to close and why. They should be able to help you decide whether certain doors or vents can be closed to reduce the amount of space in your home that is being heated or cooled.
Why is the room over my garage colder than other rooms in the house?
A cold or hot room above the garage (i.e. bonus room) is a common problem. Since the outside walls of the garage are often not insulated, you should make sure the garage ceiling is insulated with blown insulation, like cellulose. Builders sometimes forget to insulate the floor of this type of room. You should also check to ensure the room’s ceiling is insulated and that there are no major air leaks. Also, have an HVAC expert check the air flow and ducts to the bonus room to make sure the ducts are connected and delivering air.
You may be wondering if you should just insulate the outside walls of the garage, and bring the whole garage into the “conditioned space” of your home. Depending on how you use your garage, it may not be advisable to do this. If you keep a car, paints, chemicals, or a lawn mower in the garage the fumes from these items could leak into your house if the garage is part of the “conditioned space.” In this case, it would be better to insulate the walls and ceiling between the house and garage to seal out any garage fumes.
How hard is it to install a programmable thermostat? Can I do it myself?
Most programmable thermostats are a low voltage wiring installation (except line voltage thermostats) and involve anywhere from 2 – 10 wires, depending on your type of heating and cooling system. You will use the wires connected to your old thermostat to connect your new programmable model. Read all instructions and proceed carefully. Always shut off your electricity during the replacement. If the job requires more than just a replacement, a certified HVAC professional can ensure proper installation, as well as operation of your heating and cooling system. It’s a good idea to upgrade an old manual thermostat to a programmable unit, if you’re replacing a central air conditioner or heating system given that programmable units are more accurate and will improve the efficiency of your new system. For heat pumps, you may need a special thermostat to improve energy savings year-round. Talk to your retailer or HVAC contractor before selecting the unit. Also, if you’re replacing a conventional thermostat that has a mercury switch, be careful not to break the tube that holds this toxic substance. Contact your local recycling/hazardous materials center, or the manufacturer of your new thermostat, for advice on proper disposal. Finally, most homes use just one thermostat to control the whole house. If your home has multiple heating or cooling zones, a programmed setback thermostat for each zone can help you improve comfort, convenience and energy savings throughout the house.
Can I over-seal my house or make it too tight?
While it is possible to seal a house too tightly, it is very unlikely in older homes. A certain amount of fresh air is needed for good indoor air quality and there are specifications that set the minimum amount of fresh air needed for a house. If you are concerned about how tight your home is, hire an energy specialist to perform leakage tests using diagnostic tools and make sure all combustion appliances are operating properly. If your home is too tight, the energy specialist may recommend that a fresh air ventilation system be added to your HVAC system. Visit ENERGY STAR Home Sealing for more information.
How do I know if I need a new heating and cooling (HVAC) system?
If your HVAC is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, you should have it looked at by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency heating and cooling units can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs. Before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your house and the duct system. Sometimes, these are the real sources of problems rather than your HVAC equipment. Visit ENERGY STAR Heating and Cooling for more information.
Do I get a bigger HVAC system to be comfortable and save energy?
When replacing heating and cooling (HVAC) equipment, bigger doesn’t always mean better. If the unit is too large for your home, you will be less comfortable and might actually have higher utility bills. For example, an oversized central air conditioner will operate in short run cycles, not allowing the unit to reach efficient operation and remove humidity from the air? resulting in an uncomfortable home. Your contractor should determine the right size for your heating and cooling equipment by using ACCA/ANSI Manual J or an equivalent sizing calculation tool that takes into account specific information about your home. Visit ENERGY STAR Heating and Cooling for more information.
Energystar.com
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