The Relationship Between High Efficiency Equipment and Energy Savings

I think most of us can agree this winter has been terrible! One thing we have enjoyed is hearing from satisfied customers about how much their new high-efficiency furnace has saved them money. Even with the longer and colder winter they have noticed lower gas bills than with their old furnace. It's true that the cost of gas is lower than normal but most of us have been using more than normal with the extremely low temperatures this winter.

We may be nearing the end of this winter season but installing new equipment can save you money all year. Not only can a high-efficiency furnace reduce your gas bill but it can also save you money on your electric bill, which may be more noticeable during the cooling season.

Click here for more information about one of our most popular high-efficiency furnace models.

There is still time to benefit this season and there are also instant NIPSCO rebates available with the purchase and installation of a high-efficiency furnace! (And it's never too early to start thinking about replacing your old A/C system.)

Nest Learning Thermostat Review

We installed a Nest Learning Thermostat for one of our customers and asked her to give us some feedback on her experience with it.  Here's what she wrote:

"I was lucky enough to be chosen as the pilot user of the Nest Learning Thermostat (http://nest.com/)  I have had the Nest for a few months now and have been able to play around with all of the cool features it has.  #1 it looks awesome on the wall, #2 I can change the temperature from my phone anywhere, home, laying in bed, on vacation etc it's wonderful. The same interface is also available on the computer.   The Nest learns your schedule and can automatically adjust the temperature when you are home or away to save on heating and cooling costs.  Through the website or phone app you can also track the usage of your system for the past week, letting you know if you are using more or less energy than typical and if it was because it was hotter, you were home more etc.  It's quite informative.   To round out the information that you get Nest emails you once a month with an energy report. This report gives you an abundance of all sorts of information.  Overall my energy bills seem to be less than prior years (I was never the best at keeping track of those sorts of things), and my house seems way more comfortable.  I would recommend the Nest Learning Thermostat to anyone."

~ A Smith

There has been plenty of studies that show using a programmable thermostat will save energy and money.  If you are not currently using a programmable thermostat and would like more information on what options are available, please call or email us and we will answer any questions you have.

Premiere Mechanical is transitioning from being an independent Rheem dealer to a Customer Care dealer for American Standard.   We carefully considered our options and decided to switch to American Standard because it is a quality product and a good value.  Their furnaces and air conditioners are both highly ranked in customer satisfaction and reliability by Consumer Reports.

We have been loyal to the Rheem brand for more than 20 years and we still stand by it as a quality product; however, our supplier has decided to close its Fort Wayne branch.  With this being the only Rheem supplier in our area it affects how readily available equipment and parts are to us and our customers.  Although other options were available, we feel changing suppliers is our best option for continuing to provide the best customer service.

If you currently have Rheem equipment we will still honor any warranties that you have and we will honor any outstanding estimates.  If we cannot get the Rheem equipment we quoted we will provide you with a comparable American Standard product.

Our American Standard supplier has given us the tools and resources to make this transition as seamless as possible and we do not foresee any interruption in our ability to provide our customers with personal attention and exceptional service. 

American Standard is part of the Ingersoll Rand family which also includes TRANE.   For more information on American Standard and their products, check out their website:

http://www.americanstandardair.com/pages/index.aspx

25C Tax Credit Included in Fiscal Cliff Deal

Among the items contained in the Fiscal Cliff deal, which passed Congress this week and was signed into law by President Obama yesterday, was a resurrection of the 25c tax credit for high efficiency HVAC and water heating equipment. The credit, which had expired at the end of 2011, was extended both retroactively for 2012 and for 2013. There is a lifetime limit of $500 for this credit, meaning if a homeowner has previously claimed the credit (up to $500), they will be ineligible to claim it on their 2012 and 2013 tax returns. As had been the case in 2011, homeowners are eligible to claim up to 10% of the cost of installing high efficiency equipment with the total dollar amount capped depending on the product installed. For example, the maximum amount a homeowner could claim for a qualified air conditioner, heat pump or hot water heater is $300, with a cap of $150 for qualified furnaces and hot water boilers and a $50 limit for an advanced main circulating fan. Qualifying Efficiency Levels for the credit are as follows:  *   Central A/C (Split-System): 16 SEER & 13 EER or higher  *   Central A/C (Package System): 14 SEER & 12 EER or higher  *   Heat Pump (Split-System): 15 SEER/ 12.5 EER/ 8.5 HSPF or higher  *   Heat Pump (Package System): 14 SEER/ 12 EER/ 8.0 HSPF or higher  *   Boilers (Natural Gas/ Oil/Propane): 95% AFUE  *   Furnaces (Natural Gas/ Oil/ Propane): 95% AFUE  *   Advanced Main Circulating Fan: If the fan uses less than 2% of the furnaces (Natural Gas/ Oil/ Propane) total energy

What this means for most of our customers:

If we installed a 95% furnace for you in 2012, you could qualify for up to $150 in tax credits.  Anything installed in 2013 would qualify as well. 

1 + 1 = 1 and here's why...

Last winter we attended a training class for our industry.  At this class we met someone who we found was running a company very similar to ours. Our similar backgrounds and stories made it possible to share ideas and help each other out when needed.  So this is what we've been doing for awhile now.  Earlier this summer we had a situation come up where we found out how much we really depended on each other.  This made it apparent to both of us that we would greatly benefit by partnering up and working together full time.  So that's what we've decided to do and that's why this equation works.

As of October 1, 2012 Deckard Mechanical LLC will be partnering up with Premiere Heating and Air Conditioning LLC to start a new company called Premiere Mechanical, Inc.  Although there is a lot going on behind the scenes, we're confident the only thing our customers will notice is the name change!

Premiere Heating and Air Conditioning is run by Kirk Chevillot.  Kirk is a longtime resident of Fort Wayne and is very active in the community.  We can't go anywhere with him without running into to someone he knows!  He shares our beliefs in how business should be done and how customers should be treated.  Kirk also enjoys giving back to the community when possible.  By teaming up, we will be able to give customers even more personal attention and even better customer service!

New information and some changes you'll see soon:

Premiere Mechanical, Inc. 

P.O. Box 5371, Fort Wayne, IN 46895-5371

260-450-3343

Website: www.premieremechanical.com

Facebook: Deckard Mechanical LLC will change to Premiere Mechanical, Inc.

Twitter: @deckardmech will become @premieremech

If you already like us on FB or follow us on Twitter, the name changes won't effect that.

And here's our new logo:

                                We will keep everyone up to date on the new changes as they happen!  This is a very exciting change for both companies which will allow us to be even better!  We appreciate your patience during this time and thank you for the awesome support you've showed us thus far!

Honeywell Prestige 2.0 HD Thermostat: A Woman's Perspective

I’m Jen.  I’m married to Scot and together we run Deckard Mechanical. Scot is the heating and cooling guru of this family.  He likes to keep up with all the latest technology and enjoys the gadgets that go along with it.  When he told me he wanted to replace our perfectly fine programmable thermostat with a new programmable thermostat I wasn’t at all surprised.

This is a short blog about my experience and opinion of this new Honeywell thermostat.

Programming

Although Scot pretty much programmed the thermostat for our house and schedule he gave me a quick tutorial on how to do it if I ever needed to.  He also had me download the corresponding app on my phone if I wanted to make changes while I’m away from home.  This option is really nice on those Indiana days that start out at 30 degrees and end up at 90.  Whether making schedule changes on the actual thermostat or from my phone, it’s pretty simple.

Display Information 

The display on this thermostat is amazing.  With the digital display you can tell quickly what temperature the thermostat is set at.  It also tells you the humidity inside your home.  For me I spend a lot of time inside the house during the day so it is especially nice that the display tells me the outdoor temperature and humidity level.  Sometimes those things aren’t easy to tell from the looking out the windows.  And if needed for quick reference, the display also tells the time and date.

Appearance 

I’m a woman so appearance is important.  The Honeywell Prestige thermostat is visually appealing.  It’s not huge so it doesn’t become an eyesore hanging on the wall.  It’s white so it will look good just about anywhere.  The display, as well as being informative, is a beautiful blue that has some happy clouds in the background.  It’s almost like having a little bit of art on the wall.

In all seriousness, this is a great thermostat.  It’s easy to program, easy to use, and it looks good.  We have blogged plenty of times about the benefits of programmable thermostats.  They make your house more comfortable and they can save you money on your heating and cooling bills.

This thermostat is part of the next wave of technology… smart thermostats!  Smart thermostats are designed to be programmed from anywhere and can even send alerts to you when something’s not quite right.  If you are considering upgrading your thermostat, this would be an excellent choice.

It's Not the Heat, It's the Humidity

Everyone knows in Indiana the weather is always changing, not only the temperature but also the humidity.  We try to stay comfortable inside by controlling the temperature but controlling the humidity is just as important. 

Have you noticed sticky floors, moisture around the windows, or mold?  These are warning signs of high humidity and things most of us would like to avoid.  

In addition to temperature control, your heating and cooling system is designed to control the humidity level.  Some HVAC causes of high humidity include poorly sealed duct work, condensate leaks, and improper sizing of your air conditioning equipment.

Poorly sealed or disconnected duct work can allow moisture to enter or escape your system. This makes your equipment work harder and less efficiently which also affects your personal and financial comfort.  Sealing your ducts improves the air flow, efficiency, and humidity control which keeps the "conditioned air" conditioned and going where you want it to go.   

An improperly sized air conditioning system isn't going to condition your air properly.  When a system is over-sized it cools the space too quickly not giving it the chance to control the humidity.  If it's under-sized, the system will never be able to cool the space or control the humidity at a comfortable level.

Call or email Deckard Mechanical with questions or for a free assessment of your home or business. 

For more information about humidity:

http://contractingbusiness.com/comfort/increase-control-humidity-0611/index.html 

Earth Day: HVAC Style

There are many things you can do on Earth Day like participating in local programs that aim to clean up our natural resources.  Here's some ways to be Earth-friendly all year long.  Especially check out #4!

http://www.thedailygreen.com/going-green/latest/green-tips-10-easiest?click=nav

Giving Back

At Deckard Mechanical we feel the community has been very supportive.  We would like to "pay it forward" as a way of saying thank you!  Check here for more details.

"Today you are You, that is truer that true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." ~ Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Carbon Monoxide Levels - When is it dangerous?

Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a common byproduct of the combustion of fossil fuels.  CO is invisible, tasteless, odorless, and highly toxic.  Small amounts of exposure over time can be as dangerous as high levels of exposure for a short period.

Here are some basic guidelines:

Concentration: Effect:

30-35 PPM* Low: Becomes toxic after continuous exposure for more than 8 hours

35-200 PPM Mild: flu-like symptoms;headache, sore eyes, runny nose in 2-3 hours

200-800 PPM Medium: dizziness, drowsiness, nausea in 1 hour, unconscious in

2-3 hours

800+ PPM Extreme: Any of the above mentioned symptoms, brain damage, death in less than an hour, within minutes in some cases

*PPM = Parts Per Million

How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning

- Make sure fuel burning appliances are installed properly

- Check heating systems and fuel burning appliance annually

- Make sure fireplaces and chimneys are venting properly

- Don't run cars, lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc. in a closed garage or shed

- Don't use gas or charcoal grills indoors

- Don't heat your house with a gas oven

- Install a CO detector in your home

If your suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, seek immediate medical attention.  If you CO detector goes off, leave the house and call 911.

New HVAC Standards

There are big changes coming in the heating and cooling field.  As with most things, we're always trying to find better ways to do things.  The Department of Energy is trying to make the HVAC industry more efficient.  This means that while consumers are saving energy and reducing their energy costs, the price of new equipment will go up.  Here's a little information about what to expect.

Cooling:

With cooling, the big change is the continual phase out of R-22 refrigerant.  Last cooling season it was hard to find units that contained R-22 so we started installing units with 410-A.  This year it will be even harder to find units with R-22 and the cost of the refrigerant has nearly double since January 1st.  

What this means to consumers is that if you have a leak or need your R-22 unit recharged, you will be looking at a more costly repair.  Typically people prefer doing a repair over replacing their unit.  Now it might be more cost effective to replace your old unit with a new 410-A system.

For more information:

http://www.hardinet.org/blog/r-22-update

Heating:

As of now, the minimum standard for furnaces is 80% efficiency.  As of May 1, 2013 it will no longer be legal to install an 80% in our area.  This will affect nearly the entire upper half of the United States.  Consumers looking to replace their old units will have to go to a minimum 90%+ furnace.

What this means to consumers is that replacing your furnace will be more expensive next May.  If you have a unit that you've been putting off replacing and a low budget is a concern, you will want to replace it before May 1, 2013.  

For more information:

http://www.achrnews.com/articles/118051-industry-awaits-regional-standards-ruling

Newly installed heat pump with Rheem's new color

Mitsubishi Mr. Slim Service Course

New Years' Traditions and Superstitions

On New Year's Day we also have black-eyed peas, the legume not the group, because they are associated with bringing you good luck.  We will also eat cabbage or sauerkraut, and pork or sometimes corned beef.  We don't really practice any other traditions regulars but we have learned about some that others take as serious as our "black-eyed pea" tradition.  Here's some fun links for different traditions and superstitions from all around the place!

http://www.superstitionsof.com/new-years-superstitions.htm

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-new-years-traditions-superstitions.php

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/newyears/beliefs.asp

Happy New Year!

Did You Resolve to Save Money in 2011?

Many people include saving money on their list of New Year Resolutions but it's never an easy task.  Here's a few HVAC ways to save a little money.

1. Install a new high-efficiency system: Cost $3000-$6000

Installing a high-efficiency system will cut your energy costs and save money on your utility bills.  It's a large up-front investment but you will see the savings right away. While you will see the most return on a higher-efficiency model, any increase in efficiency will make a difference.  Check out this calculator for estimate savings in heating or cooling:

http://www.armstrongair.com/calculator.html

*High-efficiency equipment is also eligible for federal tax credits and NIPSCO rebates in 2011

2. Install a programmable thermostat: Cost $100-$800

A programmable thermostat can regulate the temperature in your house to keep it comfortable without using excess energy.  People who are away from home all day can set it up to be at lower temperatures during the day and then warm the house up when they're close to coming home.  Check out this link from Energy Star on programmable thermostats for more information:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=TH

*Programmable thermostats qualify for a $20 rebate through NIPSCO in 2011

3. Preventative Maintenance: Cost $75-$150

No matter what the efficiency rating is on your equipment it will always be more efficient if it's clean and running smoothly.  This is the least expensive option but it can have as much of an impact on your utility bills as replacing or upgrading equipment.  Not only can keeping your equipment running efficiently cut down energy costs but it can also save you money on repairs.  Here's a link to what we include in our preventative maintenance service:

http://www.deckardmechanical.com/node/7

7-Day Programmable Thermostat Installed for $105

Between now and December 31st we are offering Jackson Systems T-21-P programmable thermostats installed for $125.  These thermostats qualify for a $20 rebate through NIPSCO which would make your final cost $105.

This is a great deal! Check out the features of this thermostat:

http://jacksonsystems.com/search/category/260

For more information on the NIPSCO rebate:

http://www.nipsco.com/en/save-energy/residential/appliance-rebate-program.aspx

From the Alliance to Save Energy:

"The idea behind a programmable thermostat is simple: why heat or cool your house when there’s nobody around to enjoy it? Programmable thermostats allow you to lower the thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer during the day when you are at work or at night while you're sleeping - without having to remember to manually set it each time. You can even set the thermostat to turn the heating or cooling back on shortly before you return from work or wake up, so that you can come home or wake up to a comfortable house."