Category: Blog Posts

Air Innovations LLC Explains SEER Rating

SEER is a maximum efficacy rating that stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and determines the annual energy consumption and efficiency of a unit’s total cooling output in typical day-to-day use. The higher the SEER rating, the less energy a heat pump or air conditioning will need to do its job efficiently. To calculate SEER, you must take the total cooling capacity during a typical cooling-season divided by the total electric energy input produced during the same period.  

Understanding the SEER Rating

To clear up some confusion early on in this article, we want to break down the SEER rating into less complicated terms. To start, a SEER rating is a maximum efficiency rating, meaning a unit’s score can be as high as 26 SEER. Which does not mean that the unit will always rate 26 SEER. To help break this down even further, we can use the comparable example of miles per gallon (MPG). If you buy a car with a high MPG but are constantly driving it around like a race car driver, you won’t be getting the high MPG rating you had hoped.

Similarly, if you are continually changing the temperature of your house, or if your climates temperature is prone to frequent fluctuation, you will not be obtaining the full potential of your SEER value. That’s why deciding on a higher SEER rating or an average one only matters to you and your individual needs and circumstances. If you are located in Houston, TX and want to learn about which HVAC system and SEER rating would be best for you, contact our specialists today!

Improvements in Heating Pump and AC SEER Ratings

Before the SEER rating had been implemented, HVAC equipment was solely rated off how much energy was used while the system was running at full capacity in a controlled environment. Since this rating-type does not take into account the various factors that affect typical efficiency, SEER was developed as a more comprehensive rating system. SEER provides consumers with a much more accurate representation of the average energy use of an air conditioning unit or heat pump in cooling mode, taking into account important factors, such as:

• Climate
• Part-load efficiency
• Standby mode energy consumption
• Fluctuating load requirements

In the past few decades, there have been many efforts to improve the overall efficiency of heating pumps and air conditioners. While customers used to purchase units based on their cooling power alone, today, rising energy costs have buyers more concerned with operating cost. Operating costs can be defined as the amount of money it takes to produce the level of cooling power a particular buyer desires. SEER ratings for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems manufactured today have a range of 13-14 (depending on your state’s requirements) to 26 SEERs, with dated models having a rating of 6 to 10. With that being said, many people are under the impression that modern 13-14 SEER is bottom of the barrel when in all actuality, a modern minimum SEER will perform drastically better than that of an older 6-10 SEER. The point is, if you’re in the market for a heating pump or air conditioning unit, chances are even with the minimum SEER, your efficiency will already be going up. It’s true that higher SEER ratings typically indicate the most efficient units that offer the most energy savings annually. So whether you prefer a higher SEER vs. an average one, it all depends on your needs.

How SEER Ratings Are Determined

SEER AC and heating pump ratings are based on efficiency tests required by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). These tests assume an outdoor temperature of 82˚F, an indoor temperature of 80˚F, and an indoor relative humidity of 50%. This rating system implies that an air conditioning unit with a SEER rating of 16 is 60% more efficient than a 10 SEER unit. Of course, this is only a relevant conclusion if your home just so happens to match the test conditions. The DOE obviously can’t go to every house and rate the efficiency of each condition, that’s why we want to use the SEERs rating as a guideline and not an absolute. The U.S. contains a plethora of varying climates, and in some regions, the maximum temperature could be as high as 102˚F, far above the 82˚F used to rate an HVAC system according to the DOE. It goes without saying that this difference in temperature will most definitely affect the rated efficiency of the unit.

How to Get the Best SEERs Rating for Your Home

If you are looking to buy a new heat pump or air conditioning unit and want to know what SEERs rating is best for your home (or business), here are some critical questions to be asking yourself:

• What is the square footage of your home?
• Where is your home located?
• How hot does your area get in the summer?
• How cold does your area get in the winter?
• Does your home reside in a shaded area?
• Do you have a basement or slab?
• What is your roof’s color?

There’s a lot to factor in when trying to figure out what a good SEER rating is for your circumstances. Our skilled professionals at Air Innovations LLC in Houston, TX would be happy to go through these questions with you if you need assistance.

Why should I Install an Air Purifier System in My Home?

1 – Benefits to your Health

Being exposed to poor air quality in your home can cause a number of different adverse health effects including:

• Eye, nose, and throat irritation
• Headaches,
• Coughing and sneezing
• Aggravated asthma symptoms
• Irritated allergies
• Respiratory diseases

Adding a home purification system to your home removed 99.9% of the airborne partials and 90% of Germs and Bacteria. This will improve the air quality of your home and help make your family healthier.

2 – Keep Your Home Clean

Does a fine layer of dust frequently build-up on all the surfaces in your home, and no matter how much you clean and vacuum, you can’t seem to get rid of it?

This dust can be caused by any number of things, and it’s difficult to clean or prevent. Pet dander is a large contributor to this build-up of dust and dirt, but our pets aren’t the only ones who shed. Humans shed about 1.5 pounds of skin per year, at a rate of about 600,000 particles per hour.

So we are constantly creating new dust, but installing an air purifier to clean the air circulating throughout your home can significantly reduce the amount of accumulating dust and dirt all around your house, and keep your house significantly cleaner.

3 – Extend the Life of Your HVAC System

We know that a build-up of dust and dirt and debris is one of the worst things for our furnace and HVAC system.

Allowing dust and dirt to accumulate in our furnace, ducts, and vents, puts more stress on your HVAC system, causing it to run inefficiently and become worn out faster. Not only can a build-up of dust and debris lead to expensive repairs, but a clogged furnace and ducts can cause your furnace to fail completely or become significantly damaged, leading to a complete replacement of your HVAC system. Installing a HEPA air purifier in your home will considerably decrease the amount of dust and debris that circulates throughout our homes and accumulates in our HVAC system.

Adding an Air Purification system to your home will extend the life and performance of your HVAC system.

Call today for a consultation and quote for your new home air purification system!

Get more information on our Lennox PureAir Air Purification Systems here!

Why are some rooms hotter than others?

Sounds like you need an Air Balancing

Air Balancing is the practice of testing and adjusting HVAC systems to achieve maximum performance. Just as important as choosing the right energy-efficient air conditioner for your home is, the means by which it is achieved through your air distribution system is vital for maximum efficiency and comfort. Air is, after all, the first word in air conditioning, and a vast majority of duct systems do not function as designed. An average residential system can be found operating 30-50% below its recommended air flow, which means that a poorly operating duct system could reduce your comfort and efficiency by up to 50%. This could be caused by a range of problems typically found in the field which include but are not limited to the following:

• Leaking ductwork (poorly sealed or torn)
• Undersized or Oversized ductwork
• Kinks or smashed ducts causing a restriction
• Blower speed improperly set to match system capacity
• Dirty/clogged air filters or evaporator coils restricting air, reducing system capacity

At Air Innovations we use all the necessary tools to perform a proper air balance and air side diagnostics. This, however, does require the use of manual dampers that may or may not be currently installed in your ductwork and repairs may be necessary prior to initial balancing. Some telltale signs of an improperly balanced system are:

• Uneven temperature differences from one room to another (should not exceed 2-3⁰F)
• Noisy supply registers or return grills
• Thermostat overshooting target temperature
• High humidity in the home
• The need to use oscillating fans where more air is needed to feel comfortable

Should you have your furnace inspected? Here are 7 reasons you should!

Cold weather has come to the Houston Area, so it’s very important to think about scheduling your furnace inspection. An annual inspection ensures that your furnace will work when you need it and prevents costly emergency repairs and health risks in your home.

Having your furnace inspected or “tuned up” gives a technician an opportunity to check for possible issues and correct them before they turn into problems (or emergencies). Here are seven reasons why you should schedule your furnace inspection now.

Prolong the Life of Your Furnace

The longer you put off having an annual inspection done on your furnace, the more likely you’re going to have a breakdown (usually when you need your furnace the most). During an inspection, a trained technician may very well find small problems that if left unchecked could result in a major repair. Preventive maintenance on your furnace guarantees that all the parts in your furnace work together to heat your home safely and reliably for years to come.

Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks

When the heat exchanger in your furnace becomes cracked, gases like carbon monoxide can escape into your home.

Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and potentially deadly. For your family’s safety, it’s important to inspect your furnace regularly to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s also wise to install a carbon monoxide detector outside of each bedroom to protect and alert family members.

Clean Built-Up Rust and Dirt

A proper inspection includes checking for rust and dirt that can build up on the burners in your furnace. This type of buildup can create pockets that trap gas and cause hot spots on your furnace’s heat exchanger.

Even if your furnace is new, it still requires inspection as different factors can cause rust and dirt to accumulate.

Replace Worn-Out Parts

Your furnace’s internal parts wear out over time, which could cause it to stop working. A qualified technician should check the parts in your furnace and replace those that could cause problems before your next inspection.

Increase Efficiency

Neglect your furnace’s annual inspections, and particles like dust and dirt can accumulate on any moving parts. This causes your furnace to work harder than necessary to maintain the heat in your home, which compromises efficiency.

During an annual inspection, a technician will clean your furnace’s parts and make sure they work together properly. Your furnace is at its most efficient when its parts are clean, without anything preventing it from working correctly.

Keep Your Warranty Valid

Some manufacturers require a furnace owner to keep up with regular maintenance in order to keep their warranty valid. If you haven’t been getting an inspection on your furnace every year and something goes wrong, the manufacturer could potentially ask to see your maintenance records. If you don’t have any, your warranty could be invalid, meaning you have to pay for repairs yourself within the warranty period.

In an unexpected emergency, you want to make sure that furnace repair or replacement costs will be covered by warranty. Your annual furnace inspection prevents problems and keeps your warranty valid in case of a breakdown.

Clean Air Filters

During your annual furnace inspection, the technician should replace or clean your furnace’s air filters. A clean furnace filter catches dust and debris before it has a chance to circulate through your house, which can affect your indoor air quality. However, this isn’t the only time your furnace’s air filter should be replaced or cleaned during the winter you should check your furnace filter every month.

Whether your furnace is old or new, there are benefits to having it inspected annually by a qualified technician. It will not only save you money, but it keeps your furnace working hard for years to come while also protecting your home and family.