1.Free Estimates and Consultations
2. Free Heat Loss/Gain Calculation & Operating
Cost Analysis
3. Annual Preventive Maintenance "Clean & Checks"
4. Heating and Cooling Service Rates
5. Air Conditioning
6. Furnaces
7. Furnace Venting Requirements
8. Heat Pump Installations
9. Extensive Service Experience
10. HVAC for New Homes Construction
11. Energy Recovery Ventilators
12. Humidification
13. Air Cleaning
14. Forced Air Zoning
15. Air Balancing. “Requires Tools, Training, & Measurements”
16. Radiant Heat "In Floor, Wall, & Ceiling"
17. Geothermal Heat Pumps. "Earth Coupled
and Well Water"
18. Mini Split Ductless Heating and Cooling Equipment
19. UNICO “Anywhere Central Air, No ductwork,
No problem"
20. Boilers "Hot Water and Steam"
21. Direct Fired "Conditioned Ventilation
Makeup Air"
22. Rooftop Heating and Cooling
23. Modest In House Sheet Metal Shop
24. Thermostats
25. Electrical
26. Carbon Monoxide Detectors
27. Gas Line
28. Air Leakage “Infiltration” and “Expiration”
29. Insulation Values and Windows
30. Lets Review Some Fundamentals
1. Free Estimates and Consultations
Estimate and Consultations are as a rule free. When not, we’ll
advise you beforehand. If we get your job, we normally return
your money by discounting it from our proposal. Our estimates
usually take from 1 to 1.5 hours. The length of time spent
on the estimate is usually dependent on your questions. We
arrive at your home prepared to present many different manufacturers
products but we feature the YORK product line wherever applicable.
Thanks for giving us a look. Hope we
fit the bill. Give us a call. We’ll set up an appointment.
2. Free Heat Loss/Gain Calculation & Operating
Cost Analysis
Have you ever had a heat loss/gain and operating cost analysis
done on your home? Probably not.
If not, we'll be happy to provide that service at not
charge. It tells you what the heatloss & heatgain of your home
is and approximately what your yearly fuel bills would be
using various fuels, heating equipment, and efficiencies.
Now you
can possess the facts necessary to select your equipment
with the assurance it will be just right for your homes heating
and cooling needs.
We can provide this if you would just give us a call and be
prepared to provide us a picture
of your home by answering a few questions. Approximate answers
are normally sufficient.
We can send your report in the mail or we can bring it with
us to review during an estimate.
Here’s the questions
we need answered:
1) What year was the home built?
2) How many total square feet is your home?
3) What is the square footage of the first floor?
4) How many people live in the home?
5) What is the total number of baths and powder rooms?
6) Is it a walkout basement?
7) Insulation or windows been upgraded?
3.
Annual Preventive Maintenance "Clean & Checks"
Call for pricing
4. Heating and Cooling Service Rates
Call for pricing
5. Air Conditioning
YORK is the dominant supplier of Heating and Cooling Equipment
in Upstate New York. We offer their complete line of equipment
in all available efficiency and configuration
ratings. York standard warranties are 5 years parts and
1 year labor with 10 year compressor and lifetime heat
exchanger.
The standard warranty matches or exceeds the competition.
An optional extended warranty package is “YORKCARE” that
is 10 year parts and labor.
A key component of air conditioning is your homes ductwork.
When you have an on going problem
it’s usually traceable to the ductwork. During warm weather,
major amounts of cooling is lost to leaks, poor insulation,
and generally bad design. Keep in mind that during cooling,
heat is not lost… it’s gained and needs to be removed
to the outside by the return air duct work and your refrigerant.
Window units are particularly good at this for some very good
reasons:
1) Located inside the room they condition, so there is not
need for return air duct work.
2) Placed in outside windows so heat is easily discharged directly
outdoors.
3) Return and supply air are next to each other in the conditioned
area. Couldn’t be better.
MITSUBISHI
Offers a heating, cooling, or heat pump mini split system
that does not require ductwork. The indoor and outdoor
unit are
connected through a sealed 2 inch round hole in your wall
so there are no security issues. Notable unique advantages
is the unobtrusive pleasing appearance, almost silent operation,
and no security issues with a 2” hole. You don’t
have to remove and reinstall this unit each year either. UNICO
Offers a unique system approach for central A/C. It uses 2” supplies
that are very unobtrusive and can be install practically anywhere.
The supply air is discharged at high velocity and uses aspiration
rather than diffusion. Unico is exceptionally quiet during
operation. Particularly applicable with hot water heat where
central A/C is being considered. A UNICO Installation requires
minimal if any tear out or remodeling.
6. Furnaces
Currently there are
(2) Furnace Choices available.
80% Category 1 and 90% Category 4
Each Category has 3 distinct choices.
• Single stage heating,
• Dual stage heating,
• Variable Speed Blowers with Dual stage heating.
The variable speed blower uses an extremely efficient ECM blower motor, “Electronically
Commutated Motor” both 80% and 90% Furnaces offer an attractive pay back
with a solid
13% advantage going to the 90% Category 4.
The Single Stage Furnaces operates in one capacity rating.
The Dual Speed Furnaces operate in one of
two capacity rating.
It normally comes on at 60% of capacity in 1st stage and then, if after 10
minutes it has not
shut off, it knows it is not keeping up with the heat loss of the home and
will shift to the 2nd
stage high capacity rate. You’ll hear it get louder as it moves more
air.
The Variable Speed Dual Stage also operates in one of two
capacities.
It incorporates a few enhancements not found in dual stage. The primary difference
is the
blower motor. This furnace uses an ECM “electronically commutated motor” which
can reduce
your electric consumption by 50%. You select the volume of air required and
it produces that
volume practically regardless of resistance to air flow encountered. This can
be a big benefit.
Just be aware increased velocity doesn’t lead to velocity noise which
is objectionable.
7. Furance Venting Requirements
Venting product of combustion is subject to
many pitfalls. Here’s a glimpse into why it’s
necessary to do it right. Please do not treat this as any
type reference.
National Fuel Gas Code fills that need with specific information
that is best used following a course of instruction.
Category 1 appliances should be B Vent all the way to atmosphere or
B Vent to a masonry chimney where its enters an approved
aluminum chimney liner to atmosphere. Category 1 venting
is done under the guide of the National Fuel Gas Code Book.
These
are negative pressure, non condensing furnace and the vent
piping does not have to be air tight or water tight. However,
a cold masonry chimney will condense the flue gases which
over time damage to your masonry chimney. This damage is what
the
chimney liners are designed to prevent.
Category 4 appliances
are vented with PVC. Your contractor will follow the Manufacturer
Installation Guide. This is
a difficult subject to explain comprehensively in a short
time. Let me attempt to provide a little rational behind
chimney venting and why 90% furnaces do not require chimneys.
These are positive pressure condensing furnaces and the
flue needs to be water and air tight. Most of the energy “heat” is
removed from the stack gas of a Category 4 furnace which
puts it below the gases dew point where it condenses. This
moisture can’t be put in your chimney so these furnaces
vent through plastic PVC piping to outside the home and are
pitched back toward the furnace so the condensate can be
removed. Sometimes two pipe venting is used which makes your
furnace a direct vent appliance where it brings combustion
air directly in from outside and vents the products of combustion
directly back out.
8. Heat Pump Installations
A great deal of disinformation is in circulation concerning
Heat Pumps. We work with them everyday and have concluded
that when the right equipment is selected, installed correctly,
and competently serviced they’re more than equal to
the task. However, if these steps are ignored heat pump performance
and longevity inevitably suffer.
Not all heat pumps are created equal. Some do not
survive in Upstate NY due to the demands imposed by extreme outdoor
temperature. Cold weather operation requires good equipment,
good
installation, and knowledgeable service personnel. Anything
less and your heat pump is running on borrowed time.
AIR TO AIR HEATPUMPS >
YORK manufacture the dominant heat pump used in Upstate New
York. We carry the complete line of YORK Heat Pumps with
all the available efficiency ratings and refrigerant configurations.
The YORK standard warranty is 2nd to none, 5 years parts, 1
year labor, 10 year compressor, lifetime heat exchanger. Plus
an optional extended warranty package of 10 year Parts and
Labor.
GEOTHERMAL HEATPUMPS >
Over the past 18 years, we’ve sold, installed, and serviced
both Earth Coupled Closed Loop and Well Water Pump and Dump
Water source heatpumps. We own a high capacity flushing cart,
thermal fusion tool and all necessary equipment to do this
work. The only Geothermal HeatPump Manufacturer we’re
aware of that requires certification is Waterfurnace, and we
are a certified Waterfurnace Dealer.
HEATPUMP BACKUP >
Supplemental/Backup Heat is a necessity with heat pumps in
Upstate NY. Examples of equipment that serve as backup/supplemental
heat for heat pumps are forced air gas or oil furnaces,
boilers with a hot water coil, and electric KW in an air
handler.
The main criteria is the blower has to be able to provide
400 CFM per ton over the heat pump coil.
9. Extensive Service Experience
We have a cumulative total of 40 years in our service department.
We continually strive to
maintain our reputation for getting the job done right
the first time at the right price. We
use flat rate pricing for service rates. It allows us to
tell you exactly how much a service is going
to cost. Our customers like it and so do we. Its a win/win
situation that eliminates any guess work.
10. HVAC for New Homes Construction
If your planning on building a new home you’ll be pleased
with your decision to have us do your HVAC ”heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning”. Our ductwork design
does result in a particularly comfortable home. There are two
paramount reasons for this, (1) we do not use outside wall
for heat runs, “ it steals energy”. (2) All
supply runs in the 2nd floor are located in the ceiling
and use
conditioned air from the basement equipment. The supplies
and the basement
is all connected with a single trunk from the basement
to above the ceiling of the 2nd floor. This results in
excellent
air
flow especially on the 2nd floor and eliminates most of
the problems others hear. If you want forced air zoning
later
it can easily and inexpensively be added. Doing it this
way automatically
provides Energy Star Performance.
11. Energy Recovery Ventilators
Homes
today are being built very tight and therefore allow very little
outside air to enter
into
your homes conditioned space. While this is good for energy
conservation, it’s not for your
oxygen supply and clean air. Explaining how the air get polluted
and with what gets involved.
Installation of a device to exchange you air supply can simply
solve the problem. There are essentially two choices when it
comes to ventilation. Either the use of an exhaust
fan or a
recovery ventilator.
Exhaust Fans remove air from an area and replacement air ultimately
finds its way back from
the outdoors. Energy conserving isn’t involved but air
pollution and oxygen levels can be resolved.
Recovery Ventilators
These have been a requirement for a while in Canada where new
construction comes equipped with an Air/Air Heat Exchanger.
Wanted to be sure everyone knew they exist and how they’re
applied.
Basically there are 2 types:
•
Heat Recovery Ventilators
•
- Recovers sensible energy only. Less expensive than Energy
Recovery Ventilators and
best employed when humidity levels are not a concern.
•
Energy Recovery Ventilators
- Recovers total heat, both sensible and non condensed humidity. Normally not
employed
an area that creates an excess of humidity.
12. Humidification
This is a major factor in health and comfort. What’s occurring in winter
is cold outside air enters the house due to infiltration. When the air is warmed
to room temperature and expands it might go from 50% to 5% relative humidity
which is extremely dry air and requires humidification. A side benefit of humidified
air is it can feel up to 5 degrees warmer. Keep in mind too much or too little
humidity cause their own distinct problems. Enthralpic humidifiers such as
Aprilaire’s AutoTrac option monitors indoor and outdoor humidity and
temperature and reacts accordingly.
Dalton Heating and Cooling has been an Aprilaire Humidifier dealer almost exclusively since we’ve been in business.
It has always been #1 in quality and satisfaction . They have
a broad range of products with excellent documentation. Their
new humidifier line has an optional component called Autotrac.
This option requires installation of an outdoor sensor so indoor
and outdoor humidity levels can be compared and hence provide
a more constant humidity level in the home.
13. Air Cleaning
There are many ways to accomplish air cleaning. The thing
that needs to be kept in mind is that ideally you need
to keep the
velocity below 500 FPM "feet per minute" and the
static pressure drop across the filter below .2 IWC inches
of water column. You ignore this at your peril. Often a furnace
blower is unable to provide the required air flow due to increased
resistance of the filter. This is becoming increasingly common
as we install high arrestance air filters and the diagnostic
capability of static pressure will quickly point this out.
HVAC is very interrelated with the increase of static pressure
resistance often at the heart of reduced air flow and loss
of comfort.
Here is a few “Reduced Air Flow” aftermath
scenarios.
• Reduced Air Filtration effectiveness
• Reduced Heating and Cooling efficiency
• Reduced Indoor Comfort levels
• Reduced A/C Compressor and Furnace Heat Exchanger life expectancy.
• Intermittent shut downs
• Increased A/C operating costs
• Increased Equipment run time due to decreased capacity
• When a Blower works extra hard for long periods its a candidate
for premature failure
Ultraviolet light is another technique that is gaining popularity.
It kills living bacteria and some odors in the air stream.
Just remember these have to be captured and removed by filtration
prior to being recirculated. Otherwise they cause their own
odor problems.
There are more devices available than can be mentioned. They
all claim to clean the air. I’m going to skip the free
standing units because we’re concerned mostly with the
whole home. Keep in mind the only way the furnace can clean
the air is if it’s running. The debris must stay suspended
in the air for the duct work to capture the particles and return
them to the return air filter. The placement affects the effectiveness
of the return air grills and is important to prevent dust settlement.
14. Forced Air Zoning
Forced air zoning is most economically done when a home is
built because you’re able to design your duct system
to incorporate the concept. If Dalton Heating and Cooling
did not design your home’s ductwork it usually means
disconnection of heat runs and return air and rerouting and
adding trunk.
The reason for this is the way we do our 2nd floor work.
It is incredibly effective and actually less
labor intensive but it does mean doing things differently
which doesn’t seems to be unpopular. Be glad to talk with you
about it.
Often air balancing can provide the comfort you’re looking
for but nothing really replaces zoning.
We have selected the Trol-A-Temp Company as our preferred zoning
product, then when Honeywell bought the company we stayed with
them.
15. Air Balancing. “Tools,
Training, Measurements”
When most of us consider Air Balancing we visualize adjusting
basement heat runs. If you ever tried this you likely didn’t
get far because adjusting any heat run effects all of them.
You must be able to test and measure. The ability to do that
requires instrumentation, knowledge, and the experience to
interpret what the measurements are telling you. The catch
with air balancing is that when anything is changed it effects
everything. If you can’t measure change, you’re
guessing.
Here are the major factors being interpreted, they all
interrelate.
•
air flow velocity “feet per minute” FPM
•
air flow volume “cubic feet minute” CFM
•
static pressure “inches of water column” iwc
•
temperatures “dry bulb, wet bulb, dew point”
• relative humidity percentage based
on how much moisture it could hold at that temperature
• BTUs delivered verses BTUs required
Here’s an Example: Perhaps you were wondering if your
equipment is operating at capacity. Being able to interpret
the above factors will provide the answer. The reason people
inquire about air balancing is primarily concern over their
lack of comfort. Usually a certain area or room is not comfortable.
Initially, we do an Air Side Diagnostic and supply a written
report which points out problems and provides recommendations.
During the diagnostic we might calculate the BTUH loads of
a room, measure the air temperatures and air flow actually
being supplied to the room which tells us how much of the required
load is being met.
DUCTWORK AIR DISTRIBUTION
Your forced air distribution "ductwork" is at least
as important as the furnace itself particularly if your thinking
of air conditioning. Keep in mind homes built prior to 1960
often didn’t consider air conditioning an option. Heating
only ductwork performs poorly during cooling due to lack of
concern for return air. Is there one or two rooms in your home
you avoid because they’re uncomfortable while the rest
of the home is fine? This is a common complaint and generally
due to air distribution.
Good duct design should be done when the home is built. In
the case of older homes this can be a problem because air conditioning
was never considered and it has heating only ductwork. During
our service work we encounter many problems caused by poor
ductwork. We invested considerable time and money to acquire
the skills and test equipment necessary to resolve problems
with Air Balancing.
Diagnostic Evaluation @ 1 hour $60.00
Corrective Action @ 1-4 hours $500.00
each additional hour (per hour) $80
16.
Radiant Heat "In Floor, Wall, & Ceiling"
Radiant Infloor Hot Water Heat is without question very comfortable.
We’ve done a number of these installations and its
true, people love the comfort and so will your pets. We
often have used conventional hot water heaters to provide
the hot
water which works well up to approximately a 30,000 btuh
heat load.
17. Geothermal Heat Pumps. "Earth
Coupled and Well Water"
Over the past 18 years, we’ve sold, installed, and
serviced both Earth Coupled Closed Loop and Well Water
Pump and Dump
water source heatpumps. We own a high capacity flushing cart,
thermal fusion tool and all necessary equipment to do this
work. Waterfurnace is the only Geothermal Heat Pump Manufacturer
we’re aware of that requires certification is, and
we are a certified dealer.
We possess a working model of a Waterfurnace Geothermal closed
loop system which we bring to
trade shows with us.
18. Mini Split Ductless Heating and Cooling Equipment
MITSUBISHI, Mini Split Systems that do not require ductwork.
The Indoor unit is installed on
the wall, ceiling, or ceiling/wall combination and the
outdoor unit installs on a pad on the ground. Connected
through a sealed
2 inch round hole in your wall produce no security issues.
Notable unique advantages are its unobtrusive pleasing appearance,
almost silent operation, no security issues and you don’t
have to remove then reinstall it twice a year.
19.
UNICO “Anywhere Central Air,
No ductwork, No problem"
Heating, Cooling, Heat Pumps. A unique approach when ductwork
in the home is not available.
It uses 2” supplies that can be employed practically
anywhere. The air is discharged at high velocity
and uses the technique of aspiration rather than diffusion.
Unico is practically silent in operation and has very successfully
been applied in homes with hot water or steam boilers. Due
to the small size of the heat runs, it requires minimal if
any tear out or remodeling. It’s difficult to paint a
clear picture of this very versatile product but we’d
be happy to talk with you about it. We’ve done a number
of these installations successfully in existing homes. They’re
a terrific product.
20. Boilers "Hot
Water and Steam"
We do a considerable amount of hydronic work but have not
had the opportunity to update this link yet. Don’t give
up on us. Give us a call. We’ll be happy to talk with
you about any phase of this.
22. Rooftop Heating and Cooling and Make
Up Air Units
These are both commercial products we have designed from requirement
and installed.
If this is something you have a need for we’d be glad
to talk with you about them.
23. In House Sheet Metal Shop
We don’t fabricate a lot of sheet metal, but when we
need that odd sized fitting we can make it.
8’ Brake, 30” shear, etc.
24. Thermostats
The choices and options available for thermostats have become
infinite. Our experience shows Battery Powered Electronic
Thermostats provide the most reliable operation. Points
to consider.
(1) Don't misplace your thermostat instruction book.
(2) Replace your battery each year.
(3) Solid State logic chips require very steady clean
power.
(4) There’s no power that’s steadier
or cleaner than a fresh battery.
(5) Thermostat wiring requires consideration and
should provide.
> solid connections
> no splices
> be short as possible
> Minimally 20 gauge wire
> Shielded cable should be used and carefully routed to
avoid crosstalk and
interference from house wiring and other sources.
25. Electrical
New furnaces require higher amperage due to the larger volume
of air being moved plus the addition of the inducer fan
or power venter. This means larger wire. Air conditioning
equipment
on the other hand draws less power. But they all require
clean power and good GROUND connections due to the extensive
use of solid state electronics. Many old electrical panels
are evaluated and upgraded.
26. Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Much of what was said about batteries in the thermostat section
applies here with one additional comment. You want your CO2
detector working during a loss of electrical power. You may
not have considered that, but please do and you'll see why.
GET A BATTERY OPERATED DETECTOR AND CHANGE THE BATTERY
YEARLY.
27. Gas Line
This is another area that offers plenty of opportunity for
error. Some things to consider.
>Calculate the BTUH load to insure pipe diameter can provide
the demand.
> After Installation check each connection for leaks
> Were unions used so the piping and be disassembled and
modified?
> Were ball valves used rather than gate valves?
> Were drip legs installed and piping pitched correctly?
> Should some of the existing gas line work been repaired?
28.
Air Leakage “Infiltration” and “Expiration”
Infiltration of outside air inside is often encouraged by you gas appliances.
They consume indoor air and vent it to
the outdoors. This causes a negative pressure in the home and
outside air will enter the home by infiltration and manifests
itself in drafts.
A 2 pipe Direct Vent Furnace does not create
a negative pressure in the home which discourages infiltration.
There is no combustion
air to be replaced because it was brought directly in, used
and then discharged. Direct venting causes no negative pressure
in the home and often doesn’t need the humidification
previously required and significantly reduces infiltration
older windows permit.
Expiration is when we bring in more air
than we exhaust. This causes a positive pressure in the home
which encourages expiration.
This is a good thing when trying to maintain a clean indoor
environment. It definitely limits debris in the air being
brought into the house from outdoors.
29. Insulation Values and Windows
Most of us are aware of the value of insulation. When blanket
insulation is compressed its insulation value is reduced.
When wet its useless, which is the reason for vapor barriers,
keep
it dry. The thicker the higher the R value “resistance
to heat loss or gain” The R value allows us to measure
how many BTU’s per hour are lost or gained.
Windows are often purchased on the basis of their energy savings.
If given the choice of replacing windows or the furnace,
we’d
replace the furnace, likely a superior choice every time.
We remain skeptical that the best way to cut you energy savings
is window replacement.
We are thoroughly convinced however
that having windows in
our homes is preferred to reducing our energy consumption.
A little humor?
30. Lets Review some fundamentals:
(5) Five factors which determine human comfort levels.
1. Air Temperature 2. Air Velocity 3. Relative Humidity 4.
Activity Level 5. Clothing.
It is important to remember. Heat moves only in one direction,
heat always goes to cold.
It moves in three ways, four if the human phenomenon of evaporation
is included.
• Conduction, Conveying without motion
This is how heat moves through material
• Convection, Conveying with motion
Commonly referred to as, warm air rises. When air is warmed it expands and
a cubic foot
of air gets progressively lighter and tends to rise. It also displaces denser
cold air which
tends to fall and produce cold air currents, this is the principle behind
the gravity furnace.
• Radiation, Propagation of invisible waves of energy
To experience the Radiation effect, sit next to a south facing window. During
the day you
roast as the sun radiates in and at night you feel chilled as you radiate
out.
• Evaporation, How the body regulates its temperature
Evaporation is why wet bulb temperature is normally lower than dry bulb. The
more humid
the air
the less the difference. It has to do with the removal of latent heat which
involves a state change. Evaporation is an example of a change of state,
liquid to a vapor.
Something to think about
One cubic foot of standard air weighs .075 pounds and your
blower moves 1000 Cubic foot of these per minute, which it
would if you had 2 ½ tons of air conditioning. 1000
cubic feet per min x .075 pounds per Cubic Foot = 750 pounds
your blower moves each minute.
If you run your blower constantly for 24 hours that’s
75 x 60 x 24 = 108,000 pounds per day.
More to think about
Your furnace blower draws 4 amps, a common value. 4 amps
x 120 vac = 480 watts
480/1000 = .48 kw each hour “every 2 hours you consume
approximately 1 Kw of electric.
RG&E charges us 12 cent per Kilowatt “KW”
24 hrs / 2 hour = 12 kw x .12 cents = $1.44 per day
$1.44 per day x 30 days = $43.20 per month
$43.20 per month x 12 months = $518.40 per year for continuously
fan.
Make sense?
If you think running your furnace blower is cheap you may
want to think again.
What’s a ton of Air Conditioning
and where did the phrase come from?
1 ton of ICE will absorb 288,000 btuh while melting.
If it melts in exactly 24 hours it will have
absorbed 12,000 btu’s per hour. 1 ton of A/C also
removes 12,000 btu’s per hour, hence the name.
Here’s
the boring technical part:
- One ton of Ice weights 2000 pounds
- 1 pound of ice absorbs 144 btu in Melting, from solid
to a liquid state, “latent
state change”
- 2000 pounds x 144 = 288,000 btuh
- 288,000 btu / 24 hour per day = 12,000 btuh removed per hour
- 12,000 btuh per hour happens to be how many btu’s per hour 1 ton
of A/C can remove.
If you have any – and we mean any – Heating
or Cooling questions or problems, please call.
We're here to provide quality service, we're a local Rochester
Area Contractor and we respond.
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