During colder months, latent heat from the outdoor air is extracted and transferred into the interior of your home. Believe it or not, even a 32 degree Fahrenheit day produces enough heat to warm a home via a heat pump.

A central heat pump system helps maintain comfortable temperatures inside your home and reduces humidity levels year-round.

Using electricity as its energy source, heat pumps are used for either the heating or cooling of your home by transferring heat between two reservoirs. In the warmer months, the heat pump acts as an air conditioner, removing heat from the air in your home and transferring it outside.

Homes located in regions with severely cold temperatures may require supplemental heating via a gas furnace or electric air handler.

A furnace works to keep a home warm in the winter, producing heat by combustion of natural gas in the furnace’s burner which then passes through the heat exchanger. The furnace fan blows air over the heat exchanger into the ductwork, dispersing warm air throughout the home.

There are many heating and air-conditioning systems to choose from today. Precision Heating & Indoor Air Quality has a vast degree of heating and air-conditioning knowledge and experience to help you decide on the system that best fits your specific needs. The size and age of your home, as well as the number of rooms, climate, utility costs, and utility incentive/rebate programs are all factors that will affect the functionality and, therefore, selection of your system. Precision Heating offers the latest technology, and considers all these factors while assisting you in choosing the best system for your home.

Consumers seeking to replace an existing system often choose a new unit with equal or higher efficiency ratings compared to their previous system. Replacing a unit that is 10 to 15 years old may reduce natural gas or electricity costs by 30 to 50%.

Precision Heating & Indoor Air Quality will help determine initial cost, warranty protection, service options, maintenance options, operating cost and proper installation.

We realize that purchasing a heating or air-conditioning system is no small matter. However, if your existing system is old, in need of repair or simply inefficient, purchasing a new unit, one which can be as much as 60% more efficient than a system purchased just 10 years ago, can offer long-term benefits. Rather than continuing to pay for ongoing maintenance and costly monthly bills, invest in a new system today that will save you money for years to come.

Factors affecting the size of your new system include the climate in your region, humidity levels, the number of windows in your dwelling, total square footage of your home, the direction your home faces, the number of heat-producing appliances in your home, the type of insulation you have and the number of people that live in your residence.

We can perform the proper calculations to determine the appropriate heating or cooling unit for your home and lifestyle.

Putting a new system in a home that has not had central air and heat before will require the installation of ductwork, insulation, refrigerant piping, electrical service, wiring, thermostat, condensate piping, flue piping, flue terminations, chimney liner, slabs, filter, driers, registers, grills, drain pans and evaporator coil. Beyond equipment, the most important component installed with a new system, however, is the ductwork.

To install the most efficient HVAC system in your household, we will perform a detailed inspection that will include, as a minimum, the inspection of your home’s ductwork, insulation, refrigerant piping, electrical service, wiring, thermostat, condensate piping, flue piping, flue terminations, chimney liner, slabs, filters, driers, registers, grills, drain pans, evaporator coil, and any of your comfort complaints.

Maintenance and service play a key role in the lifecycle of a heating or air-conditioning system. If all recommended maintenance and service actions are taken, an air conditioner can last 12 to 15 years and a gas furnace 20 to 25 years.

It is generally a good idea to replace the indoor coil or heat exchanger if you are also replacing your heat pump. There is a correlation between the efficiency of your heating and cooling system and the performance of the indoor coil. Changing out the current indoor coil for a new one may be critical to optimizing the performance, the efficiency and the savings potential of your new system. But most importantly, it will maximize your home comfort.

Your system can actually be located in several different places. A system with up-flow application might be located in the basement, while a system with a horizontal application may be found in your attic. A self-contained, or single package unit, could be located outside on a slab or on the roof. Your garage could utilize an up-flow, down-flow or horizontal application system.

A heat pump is a device used for either the heating or cooling of a space by transferring hot and cold between two reservoirs. A heat pump can act like an air conditioner, transferring heat from inside to out, or like a heater as it transfers exterior heat to the interior. A winter day with a temperature of 32º Fahrenheit still produces enough heat to warm a space when the air is transferred by heat pump.

Mini-split heat pump systems provide heating and air conditioning without requiring ductwork. They belong to the family of air-source heat pumps, and work like a refrigerator in reverse. In typical mini-split heat pumps the refrigerant is produced at the outdoor unit and driven via small-diameter insulated refrigerant lines directly to the rooms or parts of the house, where the air is blown by fans located in small indoor units.

Because they do not rely on ductwork, mini-split heat pumps can boost energy efficiency (energy losses in conventional systems based on ducts are often estimated at 30%, especially if the ducts are in non-insulated spaces like typical attics). Besides, the possibility of restricting the heating or the cooling to a specific part of the house means that the operational costs can be reduced with a proper use and a careful design.

The number of indoor air handling units may vary with the specific heating and cooling needs in each home's rooms, and will be commanded through different thermostats – a way of saving energy and money.

Mini-split heat pumps provide high flexibility in interior design options – there are floor-standing, ceiling-suspending, and wall-hanging models. They are also easy to install and do not require large holes in the walls – a three-inch hole is often sufficient.

Like other air-source heat-pumps, mini-split heat pumps aren't efficient enough on heating mode in freezing climates, for negative temperatures. Besides, if the ductwork already exists, installing a mini-split heat pump will demand a higher investment than installing an alternative central air conditioning.

Costs between $500 and $1,000 per ton are common. They depend upon the configuration and the number of zones covered by each unit. These prices are higher than those of central air conditioning systems.

Sizing and installation should be done properly: oversized or incorrectly located air-handlers are a cause of higher operational costs and inadequate temperature and control of humidity.

If you live near the ocean, you may have noticed that your heat pump (or your neighbor’s) is a rusty mess. This corrosion is caused by the salty air. Neither rain nor hail or seacoast corrosion can keep a coastal-rated heat pump from doing its job – they’re built tough inside and out. A specially formulated epoxy is permanently bonded to the coil surfaces. This helps prevent the destructive galvanic corrosion that is common in coastal areas. A galvanized steel cabinet with a baked on paint finish protects against corrosion and keeps the system looking its best for years. We can tell you if you need the special protection a coastal-rated heat pump provides.

Humidity levels can be reduced by using a variable-speed furnace or air handler as part of your HVAC system. Variable speed units run longer, at lower speeds, allowing air to constantly circulate against the cooling coil and remove more moisture. Variable-speed motors also use less electricity than regular motors and can save up to 80% on power consumption. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers can also be used to maintain the proper humidity in your home.

HVAC systems are complicated networks of machinery that should be serviced by a certified professional. However, if your HVAC system seems to be malfunctioning, you can try a few basic steps prior to calling us, which may correct your problem. If you do not feel comfortable performing any of these tasks, however,do not hesitate to call us at 503-861-1687.

• Disconnect and reconnect your indoor and outdoor switches.
• Make sure your circuit breakers are in the ON position.
• Make sure your filters are clean.
• Open supply and return vents and make sure they are unobstructed.
• Check the settings on your thermostat.
• Make sure the system switch is on the appropriate COOL or HEAT setting.

AFUE is the abbreviation for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio. AFUE is used to rate furnace efficiencies by dividing the ratio of heat output by heat input. This measurement describes how well fuel, gas or oil is consumed to produce heat by a furnace. As the AFUE rate increases, the efficiency of your furnace also increases, lowering your fuel costs. Furnaces manufactured in the United States are required to have at least an 80% AFUE.

HSPF is the abbreviation for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, which is a rating of the efficiency level of the heating operation of a heat pump. The higher the HSPF, the more efficient the heating performance of a heat pump. New units in the United States have HSPF ratings from 7.0 to 9.4.

R-22 is the common name for hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). R-22 has been used as a refrigerant by HVAC manufacturers for over 40 years, but studies in the past decade have shown that HCFCs contain chlorine, an ozone-depleting agent. For this reason, the United States Clean Air Act has set a target date for January 1, 2010, on which HVAC manufacturers must cease the production of products that use R-22.

R-410A is the common name for an emerging hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) that is being used as a refrigerant in the HVAC industry. R-410A is more environmentally friendly than R-22 and is being seen as the most likely replacement for R-22 by HVAC manufacturers. At the beginning of 2010, the use of alternate refrigerant will be required in HVAC manufacturing.

The Green Screened mark is bestowed upon contractors who embrace the challenge of protecting the environment by:

• Educating people about the environmental and savings benefits of having a “green” home comfort system;
• Offering homeowners products and services that can improve the energy efficiency of their home; and
• Taking an active role in preserving the environment through recycling, reusing, and conserving products and supplies in the office and field.

Precision Heating & Indoor Air Quality, Inc. was recently granted the prestigious Green Screened contractor mark and is the only Green Screened contractor in Clatsop and Pacific Counties.

ENERGY STAR is a program that was created by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help businesses and individuals make energy efficient purchases.

This program places the ENERGY STAR label, a small blue and white logo, on items that meet superior energy efficiency standards. This label provides an easy way for consumers to identify quality, high efficiency products.

Heating and cooling systems work incredibly hard to perform their functions for your household. The constant stopping, starting and continual operation can wear down a machine quickly and unexpectedly if the proper care and maintenance is delayed. However, by performing preventive maintenance, or servicing your system regularly, you can maximize the lifecycle of your heating or cooling unit and guard against many unexpected failures.

Preventive maintenance inspections performed on a regular basis can uncover leaks, rust, rot, soot, frayed wires and corroded electrical contacts.

At least once a year, heat pumps and furnaces require a professional tune-up. Because gas-fired equipment functions with greater heat, it also needs to be serviced every year.

Inspections on boiler and furnace systems should include ductwork, pipes, dampers, valves, the chimney, registers, radiators, pumps, blowers, fuel lines, the gas meter, oil tank and every part of the actual furnace and boiler.

Meanwhile, heat pump inspections should also include inspections of the fan, compressor, indoor coils, outdoor coils and refrigerant lines and operating pressures.

Although modern technology has made significant advances in air filters over the past decade, a fractional amount of dust still finds its way past heating and cooling filters and into your home’s ducts. As this dust accumulates throughout your home, it creates the perfect environment for the growth of mold, mites and harmful bacteria. To check your ducts for dust buildup, pull off several supply and return registers and see how much dust has accumulated in the system. If you choose to clean your system, your best option is to contact us for professional duct cleaning. Precision Heating & Indoor Air Quality is the only local company that uses endoscopic duct cleaning (which allows the technician to see the ducts as they are being cleaned), and is NADCA Certified. All other duct cleaners in Clatsop and Pacific counties are not NADCA trained or certified and they clean without any “visual verification system.” It’s kind of like hiring a blind window washer.

STAN SAYS: “If you are installing a new system, you should consider cleaning the ducts at the same time. New systems are more powerful and can stir up dust that is sitting in the existing ductwork.”

The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that “any person in the business of duct cleaning without in-duct camera verification borders on consumer fraud.”

Duct cleaning has a large effect on the actual air quality. It will eliminate a house-wide breeding ground for harmful bacteria and mold in addition to helping your heating and cooling system operate more efficiently.

Here are several tips to help you keep your system running at its most efficient level:

• Keep your thermostat at a constant temperature; the recommended temperature is 60-68º, even when no one is home.
• Change your filters every month.
• Check the outside condensing unit regularly for any grass clippings or leaves stuck to the coil. If it is dirty:
  • Disconnect the power at the circuit breaker FIRST!
  • Use a shop-vac with a brush attachment to vacuum off the debris.
  • Run water from a garden hose through the coil until the water passing through it is clear.
  • Turn the power back on.
  • Have us service your unit every spring.

Standard furnace filters do not work well to keep your system and its ductwork clean, and they don’t really improve indoor air quality. To do that you need a media filter. The media filter rests between the main return duct and the blower cabinet and will improve dust and particle removal by seven times that of a standard furnace filter. Upgrading to a pleated media filter will remove everything from insecticide dust to airborne viruses from the filtered air, and also helps with allergy and asthma prevention.

A media filter can have a life of one year, and its only drawback is that its tight fiber weave can cause your furnace to work harder to blow air through the house. Always choose a filter that matches your blower’s capacity.

Precision Heating & Indoor Air Quality, Inc. also offers various state-of-the-art electronic air purification systems to keep your family comfortable.

Beware of the 3M 1-Inch pleated air filters. They have a special coating to collect dust, but it also reduces your furnace’s efficiency by 15%.

We heat or cool our homes to keep our family comfortable. But, a single thermostat in the living room can’t always keep the upstairs cool or the basement warm. Fact is, you may feel a 12 to 15 degree difference in comfort levels within your own home. Heat from the sun can make one side of your home significantly hotter than the other side. What’s more, homes with large rooms or rooms with high ceilings can be very difficult to heat or cool. One thermostat just can’t maintain suitable comfort levels throughout the entire home.

With a zoning system, you divide your home into separate comfort zones that make sense for your lifestyle. Each zone gets its own thermostat you can set to a desired temperature for that zone. Precision Heating & Indoor Air Quality offers a unique zoning system that uses dampers that are easily inserted into your existing ductwork to control the flow of conditioned air, making each zone a custom comfort zone. There are no wires, no noisy motors or special sensors and this zoning system works with any conventional thermostat.

With a zoning system, you can lose the extra blankets, space heaters or fans and cut your energy bills at the same time!

Cracked Heat Exchanger – Precision Heating & Indoor Air Quality can perform a safety test on your furnace to determine if your heat exchanger has a crack. Other heating or utility companies may tell you that the carbon monoxide level escaping from a crack in the heat exchanger is not very much. The only thing that no one can tell you is when the crack or leak will enlarge itself to the point that it becomes a serious danger to your health, or even to your life. We use the Inspector infared camera kind of like an x-ray to find the hairline cracks before they become a safety problem.

A cracked heat exchanger cannot be repaired. The entire heat exchanger can only be replaced if the part is available. The bottom line is if you have a cracked heat exchanger, you are going to have to replace the furnace sooner or later. It is just a matter of time. We all know the effects of carbon monoxide: severe headaches, sleepiness, dizzy spells, and eventually death. Only YOU can decide how much risk is too much risk for your family.

CO Detector – If you have a gas furnace or any gas appliance (even a wood stove), a Carbon Monoxide detector is a good tool to alert you to a CO leak.