Tax Credit allowances are:

1. $300 maximum for replacing the Heating and Cooling System with a qualified system.  This applies to Heat Pump and Gas Furnace systems.
2. $150 maximum for a 95% Efficient Furnace
3. $50 maximum for a High Efficiency Furnace Fan.

A total of $500 is available if the home owner purchases a Gas Furnace system with a 95% Efficient Furnace.  95% furnaces usually have high efficient furnace fans included.

If the homeowner claimed a Federal Tax Credit of $500 or more for energy efficient improvements from 2005 through 2010, then the 2011 is not available to them.  This includes insulation, windows, doors, water heaters, etc.

SOS Mechanical would be happy to give you an estimate and determine what federal tax credits you might qualify for plus any local utility rebates.  Please give us a call for a no obligation appointment.  512 238 6699

In the summer, humidity is high and even though the HVAC system is cooling, you feel muggy or even warm because of the humidity in the air.  The humidity carries the heat to your skin and gives you that uncomfortable feeling.  In a lot of cases, you just turn down the temperature to feel better.

In the winter, humidity is low and even though the heating system is running, there isn’t a lot of humidity in the air to carry the heat to your skin.  The thermostat may show the temperature to be at a level where you would expect to be warm, but you are not.  In most cases, you just turn up the temperature to feel better.  You may also notice that you have dry skin, splits in the skin of your fingers and nose bleeds.  This is usually being caused by not having enough moisture (humidity) in the air.

For those of us who have respiratory illnesses, we may sometimes have difficulty breathing due to too high or too low humidity.  High humidity in the summer supports the life cycle of mold spores, bacteria and viruses.  Low humidity in the winter dries out the linings of the nose, throat and lungs.  You can see then, that proper humidity may be important to a lot of people.

Fortunately, Trane has been working on ways to correct humidity for several years and there are HVAC products and accessories that we can install to help supply the right amount of humidity that most of us need.  The best time to do this is when you need to replace your HVAC system.

Increasing Humidity in the Winter:  There are really two methods to do this.  One is using a room vaporizer and the other is adding a humidifier to your HVAC system.  Vaporizers are inexpensive and do a decent job of adding moisture into a room.  The downside is that they usually only affect one room and do not keep the moisture level consistent in that room.  Trane Humidifiers are installed in your HVAC system and keep the humidity level consistent throughout the home.  They are adjustable, based on your needs and require minimal maintenance.

Reducing Humidity in the Summer:  There are really three methods to do this.  One is using a De Humidifier installed in your HVAC system.  While expensive, it will allow you total humidity control.  A second method utilizes a staged, variable speed fan motor in the HVAC system.  A third method utilizes a 2 stage or dual compressor outdoor condensing unit.  Let’s look at these methods and see how they can help you with this.

De Humidifier

This is a piece of equipment that only does one thing which is removing humidity.  It is fully adjustable and has minimal maintenance.

Staged Variable Speed Fan (Blower) Motor

Trane uses a software controlled Fan Motor which is located in the Trane furnace or air handler.  Using the patented Comfort-R software, the fan motor operates at different speeds during the cooling cycle to help the system remove humidity.  The Trane thermostat allows some adjustment of the cooling cycle to aid in the removal of humidity.

Two Stage Cooling or Dual Compressors:

Trane offers outdoor condensing units that have 2 Stage (2 speed) compressors or Dual Compressors.  When the outdoor temperatures are milder, a home that needs a 4 ton unit can be cooled with 2.5 tons, which has two benefits for the home owner.  When operating on the lower tonnage (lower speed) or on the smaller compressor, the cooling cycle is a little longer and this helps the system reduce the humidity.  The second benefit is reduced energy costs since it takes less electricity to operate less tonnage.

Trane’s XL16i

This model of the Trane outdoor condensing units has a 2 Stage compressor.  It is able to cool the home in milder temperatures on a lower “speed”.  This reduces humidity and the energy costs to operate it.  When needed, the compressor runs at maximum speed.

Trane’s XL20i

This is Trane’s Dual Compressor model and is the industry leader in performance and energy savings.  It uses 2 compressors and like the example above, a 4 ton system would have a 4 ton compressor and a 2.5 ton compressor.  In milder temperatures, the smaller compressor does the job at a much reduced energy cost, which also reduces humidity.  When needed, the large compressor runs to increase the cooling capacity.  Another benefit is that since only one compressor runs at a time, the life span of both compressors are much higher than a single compressor outdoor condensing unit.

With Trane, we can increase the humidity in the winter and reduce it in the summer.  This will makes you feel better and in many cases may improve your health.  Please call us and we will be happy to show you what we can do for you.

The outdoor Heat Pump Unit is very similar to an outdoor Air Conditioner Unit.  There are a couple of additional valves and components that allow the Heat Pump Unit to reverse the refrigerant flow as needed when switching between the heating and cooling modes.  Heat Pump outdoor units run anytime there is a heating or cooling need for inside the home.

The Air Handler inside the home basically consists of the fan assembly, coil, electric heat strips and other electronic controls.  The coil works with the outdoor unit to transfer heat from or to the inside of the home.  In colder weather it takes longer for the Heat Pump to warm up the inside of the home since it is removing heat from the cold outdoors.  This is where the electric heat strips turn on to add additional heat in the home until the Heat Pump “catches up”.

Heat Pumps are considered more energy efficient than Air Conditioners with Furnaces.  Many electric companies provide larger rebates for Heat Pump system upgrades over the Air Conditioner and Furnace systems.

Trane offers several different models of Heat Pump Systems from a basic system to those with variable speed indoor fans and 2 speed / 2 compressor outdoor units.  In all cases, the Trane Heat Pump systems are made with high quality components for long life.

Nothing beat a Trane.

Fan motor or blower:  This is what moves both heated and cooled air throughout your home.  Most existing home furnaces have single speed fans that turn on and off as needed.  In fact, most HVAC system manufacturers today still use furnaces that only run at one speed.  Trane offers several models of furnaces with true variable speed fans.  The fans start off at ½ speed for a minute, then speeds up to around ¾ speed for several minutes and then runs at maximum speed until the temperature selected has been reached.  For winter use, this reduces the “cold air” blast of air that you currently feel when the heater comes on.  For summer use, this helps the air conditioner lower the humidity in your home by removing moisture from the air in the first few minutes that it runs each time.  In both cases, it reduces the start up pressure shock to the homes duct work when the blower first turns on.  In summary, a variable speed fan or blower is best for any air conditioning and heating system.

Heat Exchanger: This is the part of the furnace that creates heat by burning natural gas or propane.  Heat exchangers are usually either steel or aluminized steel.  The metal expands and contracts with usage which can cause a problem (cracking) with those that are welded together.  Trane uses aluminized steel heat exchangers that are crimped together, which allows for the expanding and contracting without cracking (longer life).

Gas Valve:  This is the part that controls the amount of gas that flows into the heat exchanger.  Most furnaces use a single stage gas valve that runs at maximum all the time.  A 2 stage gas valve will allow the heat exchanger to run at ½ of normal when mild temperature changes are needed and at full flow when a lot of heat is needed.  The 2 stage gas valve will reduce the amount of gas burned in mild temperature changes and reduce your energy costs for heating.  Trane offers several models of furnaces with 2 stage gas valves.

Furnace Cabinet:  The cabinet holds all the heating and fan components within it.  Most manufacturers use painted steel with some type of insulation in it.  Trane uses a high quality, heavy steel cabinet with a uniform paint finish.  Trane’s furnaces are fully insulated and they use automotive grade gaskets around the doors and panels which reduces noise and keeps the conditioned air inside the furnace.

So what’s the best furnace for you?  It’s a quality built unit that is properly sized for your home with 2 stages of heating and a variable speed fan or blower.

Nothing beats a Trane.