Keep Out the Cold

Every winter, your home’s heating system can be your best friend, or it can really leave you cold. To make sure you stay warm, start thinking heat even before the temperature drops. Georgia offers plenty of temperature surprises, so start by setting up a biannual maintenance plan. If it’s time for a new system, do your homework to find the one that is right for your home, your family and your budget. You will find there are plenty of ways to make your system more efficient, which will save you money and keep you warmer.

Photo courtesy of TRANE

Heat Pumps
There are a few main types of heating systems. While totally electric furnaces were used in the past, today most of them have been replaced with heat pumps or dual fuel systems. A heat pump works like an air conditioner, but in reverse. It takes warmth from the cool air outside, which is passed by a fan and distributed into the house. It might sound strange that warmth can be drawn from the cold air outside, but until the temperature gets down to about 32 to 40 degrees, there is warmth in the air.

Heat pumps give off a gradual heat and most run all of the time. Because it does sometimes dip into the 30s in Georgia, a heat pump alone is good, but a dual fuel system is better. That means adding a backup to the heat pump in case it gets extra cold. Generally, a home will have an additional gas furnace that switches on automatically when the temperature gets too low for the heat pump to do its job.

Illustrations courtesy of the Department of Energy's Office of Energy's Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Gas Furnaces
Although heat pumps are gaining in popularity, most people in Georgia get their heat from gas furnaces. Gas furnaces work by burning natural or LP gas (propane) inside the unit, which heats the box. A fan blows across the hot air and disperses it throughout the house. Some furnaces have variable speed motors or only run some burners depending on the temperature. One of the weaknesses of gas can be the kind of heat produced. “Gas heat is going to be drier,” says John Smith with Zack Hammonds AC, Heating & Refrigeration Inc. A possible solution is to add a whole house humidifier, which adds moisture into the system. Just don’t put one upstairs, warns Tim Mason with Shumate Air Conditioning & Heating, because it might end up flooding the system.

Photo courtesy of TRANE

From the ground up
When homeowners and HVAC pros talk about heat pumps, they are generally referring to the air-to-air kind. However, a geothermal heat pump pulls heat from below the ground where the temperature always remains constant. Because the system works with a consistent heat source, geothermal heating is very energy- efficient. However, this subterranean heating can require a lot of land if you use horizontal grills, but less if you go with vertical grills.

Illustrations courtesy of the Department of Energy's Office of Energy's Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Another interesting option that can provide a high level of comfort, according to Tyson Swann with Premier Indoor Comfort Systems LLC, is the radiant floor. This system consists of tubes under the flooring that contain hot water or electricity, to circulate and heat the floor. Radiant floors give off consistent heat without forced air. They also make the most important part of your body toasty. “If your feet are warm, you’re warm,” Swann says. What’s more, since heat rises, heating from the bottom up is a good idea, and without the forced air, this type of heating can be less drying. Still, most homeowners who choose a radiant floor also install a heat pump, which is particularly beneficial during days when it is cool, but not cold. And since radiant floors can take a while to heat up, a supplemental system makes a better package.

If you are thinking of trying to go green and get a solar-powered heating system, your best bet is to look for a system that will heat your water or your pool. Solar systems are gaining in popularity in the South for those purposes.

Energy efficiency
With different heating options, levels of efficiency vary, but rather than simply asking for the most efficient system, you should look for the one that best suits your needs. Most importantly, make sure that the system fits the space it is heating. Thus, the important decision is not so much which type of system to choose, but making sure you select a system with a high efficiency rating. “A system that is designed correctly can maintain any temperature,” Swann says. If the temperature in your home is not being maintained, there is a problem with installation or the size of the system.

•Heat pumps, which run on electricity, all have SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) numbers. Currently, a 13 SEER is the lowest allowed to be installed, and 21 is the highest available in a conventional unit. A unit with an 18 or 19 SEER is very efficient and will pay you back in energy savings in about four to five years, according to Mike Tarrer with Shumate Air Conditioning & Heating.

• For gas furnaces, take a look at the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). Today, the lowest rating allowed is 80 percent, meaning that out of every dollar you spend on gas, 80 cents of it is going into your home and 20 cents is going up the flue. You can find furnaces with ratings as high as 96 percent.

• In geothermal heating systems, you want something with at least a 30 EER (Energy Efficiency Rating). This is like a SEER, but isn’t seasonal since the earth’s temperature never changes.

Due to the variation in systems and efficiency ratings, comparing new unit and installation costs from type to type can be difficult. You might start by keeping the type of system you already have if you are not building a brand new house. “If you’ve got gas, it’s better to go with gas,” Tarrer says. When obtaining price quotes, be very specific about what is included because it can also be difficult to compare across HVAC companies. Sometimes utility companies will also offer discounts when you switch units or buy something more fuel-efficient.

For a general idea on costs, a gas furnace can be anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000, while a heat pump might be $4,500 to $9,500. Of course, the heat pump price includes the entire system. Geothermal systems are generally the most expensive, and a radiant floor will be somewhere from $4 to $8 per square foot, depending on the number of zones.



The cost of heat
Since every home is different, you should have a Manual-J heat loss/gain analysis run on your home to determine the size of the system you will require, according to Smith. The analysis takes into account factors like number, location and size of windows and doors; wall space; ceiling height; facing directions and insulation. If your unit is too small, you will not get enough heat. If it is too big, it will heat and cool so quickly that it will constantly be turning off and on, which will leave you with an inconsistent temperature.

Also, look for an installer who uses quality equipment and will offer assurances like a one-year money-back guarantee. Your new system should come with a warranty, too, and higher SEER and AFUE systems can have as much as 10-year parts and labor warranties.



Managing maintenance
Once your new system has been installed, your most important task will be to maintain it properly. “It’s just like a car,” Tarrer says. “You’ve got to maintain it.” Maintenance can actually be very easy. You just need to change your filter about every three months and have biannual HVAC check-ups.
If changing your filter sounds simple in theory, but somehow you just cannot ever remember to do it, help is on the way in the form of a new product called Filtersmarts. This little gadget clips right onto the filter bracket, and by shining a light beam through the filter, it can tell when the filter is dirty and needs to be replaced. It lets you know with a flashing light first, followed by a beep. “The alarm can potentially add years to the life of your unit,” says David Wilson with Filtersmarts. Not changing the HVAC filter is like not taking the lint filter out of your dryer. Also, a dirty filter decreases the flow of air by about 50 percent, so a system with a clean filter will use less energy.

Try to be diligent about changing your filter as often as the manufacturer lists. Photo courtesy of HD Supply & TRANE

To make sure you keep up with the biannual visits from an HVAC professional, sign up for a maintenance program with a respected company. With a maintenance agreement, you will get visits from a service person twice a year. During each visit, your system will be prepared for the coming season and will be checked for any problems. Even better, when you have a maintenance agreement, the company usually will give you priority if you call for service another time and will give you a discount on repairs. These maintenance programs are reasonably priced at around $150 per year for one system or $250 for two systems. If your system is properly maintained, it can last up to 15 years, or longer for a geothermal system.

Because Atlantans never know what the weather will be like from one week to the next, make sure your heating system is always ready. Start by having a maintenance checkup, and if your system does need to be replaced or updated, take the time to decide which type and size make the most sense for your home. Take care of your heating system, and your heating system will certainly take care of you.

The Filtersmart clips to a filter bracket, and if the filter is dirty, it flashes, then beeps. Photo courtesy of Filtersmart