Heating and cooling account for about half of the average American home’s energy consumption and makes a high-efficiency furnace installation a great investment. Heating and cooling are easily a family’s most expensive energy costs every month.

If your home’s HVAC equipment is older than 10 years old, a high-efficiency furnace investment cuts your energy expenses significantly.

Because they extract more heat from the gas they consume, a high-efficiency furnace uses less energy to heat your home. This increased efficiency saves you money. Learn what else makes a furnace highly efficient and why a high-efficiency furnace is worth the investment below.

What Makes a Furnace Highly Efficient?

AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, measures how much fuel is converted to heat. It is noted on the yellow Federal Trade Commission-required EnergyGuide label on the outside of your furnace.

To qualify as highly efficient, a furnace must have an AFUE rating of 90 percent or higher. This is around 10 percent to 20 percent higher than mid-efficiency models. In some cases, such as original HVAC systems, it may be even higher.

Features of a High-Efficiency Furnace

To use less energy to heat your home, all high-efficiency furnaces come equipped with the following components:

• Electronic ignition. This saves more energy than pilot lights on gas-burning furnaces. Electronic ignition only kicks in when the furnace is signaled to start.
• Two-stage heating. This allows high-efficiency furnaces to run using less energy under mild temperatures. The higher stage turns on to heat your home only under extremely cold weather conditions.
• Second heat exchanger. This extracts heat which otherwise escapes your system through vented exhaust gasses. This produces more heat using less energy.
• Variable speed blower. This can run at faster speeds when your home needs more airflow and switch to a lower speed when less will do.
• Sealed combustion. This allows high-efficiency furnaces to draw in outside air for the combustion process and conserve energy.

Advantages of a High-Efficiency Furnace

Replacement of your old heating system with a high-efficiency furnace is a worthwhile investment with several benefits, including:

• Cost savings. A high-efficiency furnace pays for itself in savings on your monthly energy bills. Having an ENERGY STAR-qualified high-efficiency furnace installed in your home could save you more than $115 annually on your heating bill, according to ENERGY STAR.

• Higher performance. High-efficiency models use quieter, newer technology so you’ll benefit from advances in gas valves and sound-absorbing materials.
• Cleaner, better airflow. High-efficiency furnaces operate via variable speed motors, which distribute heat more evenly throughout your home. Additionally, you’ll breathe healthier air. Newer filtration systems remove mold, dust and other allergy and asthma-causing particulates.
• Better for the environment. High-efficiency furnaces use a third of the fuel compared to standard models. They also have lower carbon dioxide emissions.

High-Efficiency Furnace Experts in Alabama – Douglas Cooling & Heating

Having a high-efficiency furnace installed in your home is a great way to save money on your energy bills in the long run. The pros at Douglas Cooling & Heating are experts at high-efficiency furnace installation. If you have any questions or would like to talk to us about a free estimate or finance options, contact us at Douglas Cooling & Heating today.

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Winter’s here, and heat pumps in Birmingham homes are probably kicking into high gear. To keep your home comfortable, they move warm air from outside to inside.

Homeowners in areas like Birmingham, who experience milder winters, have used heat pumps for many years. Why? Because heat pumps require less maintenance and lower running costs than combustion heating systems. Have a traditional HVAC system? Schedule your heat pump installation with Douglas Cooling & Heating today! 

Do you know how they work and how to maintain them properly through the winter months? We outline those topics and more below.

Parts of Heat Pumps

To get a better idea of how heat pumps work, it helps to know about its parts. The system contains an outdoor unit which looks similar to an air conditioner and an indoor air handler. The heat pump works with the air handler to distribute the warm or cool air to interior spaces.

In addition to the electrical components and a fan, a heat pump system includes a(n): 

• Compressor which moves refrigerant through two sets of copper coils. One is inside your house and another outside. It also pressurizes or compresses, the refrigerant as it changes from gas to liquid.
• Condenser is one of two sets of coils containing refrigerant. When the unit is heating, the outside coils act as the condenser. The outside coils extract heat from the outdoor air and condense the refrigerant into a gas. The gas then travels to the indoor evaporator coils.
• Evaporator, where gaseous refrigerant pressurizes in the indoor evaporator coils. This causes it to return to its liquid form and release the heat it stores.
• Air handler moves heated or cooled air from the heat pump into the system’s ductwork. From there it moves throughout your home.
• Reversing valve changes refrigerant flow direction and switches the heat pump’s function from heating to cooling.

How Heat Pumps Function

Refrigerant flows through a closed system of refrigeration lines between the outdoor and the indoor unit. Even in cooler temperatures, the condenser coil absorbs enough heat energy from the outside air and the evaporator coil releases it inside.

A motorized fan then pulls indoor air into ductwork. Meanwhile, the refrigerant pumps from the interior coil to the exterior coil, where it absorbs the heat from the air. Then, it pushes the heat through connecting ducts to air vents throughout your home, raising the temperature. This refrigeration cycle happens continuously, providing consistent heat.

How to Care for Heat Pumps

According to the Department of Energy, the difference between the energy consumption of a well-maintained heat pump and a severely neglected one ranges from 10 percent to 25 percent. Here are some tips to keep your heat pump in working order:

• Change your air filter. A dirty filter blocks airflow to your system. Poor airflow increases its energy consumption and causes operational problems.
• Know your heat pump thermostat settings. It likely has three settings: heat, cool and emergency heat. When heating your home, switch your heat pump to “heat” mode, not “emergency heat” mode.
  
  Only use emergency heat mode when your heat pump is broken or covered in ice. By switching to emergency heat, you’ll bypass the heat pump and only use your backup furnace while your heat pump defrosts or is being fixed. 
• Remove branches, snow and debris from your outdoor unit. Unlike conventional heating and cooling systems, a heat pump uses its outside unit during winter. As it gets colder and leaves begin to fall, twigs can get stuck in your outdoor unit’s fan.
  
  Remove any debris building up on your heat pump’s outdoor unit. It’s also important to remove any snow buildup on your heat pump.
• Schedule a tune-up. Even though your heat pump runs all year, you should still schedule a tune-up for it, as well as for its backup furnace, twice a year.

Call Douglas Cooling & Heating: We’re Experts with Heat Pumps

Are you past due for maintenance on your heat pump? Call Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule a service call today. If you think you’re ready to upgrade, we offer finance options to help spread out payments. We want to help you so give us a call today!

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We understand new heating and cooling equipment represents a large investment so at Douglas Cooling & Heating we offer HVAC finance options. Perhaps you’re ready to upgrade your HVAC system to increase your home’s energy efficiency. Maybe it’s an unexpected expense because your system stopped working for the last time.

The good news is you don’t have to pay for a new HVAC system with cash you have on hand. At Douglas Cooling & Heating, we work with several trusted lenders. These HVAC finance options help you get the proper equipment installed in your home right when you need it.

Read on to learn about the finance options we offer and the advantages of financing a new HVAC system.

Know Your HVAC Finance Options

At Douglas Cooling & Heating, we specialize in improving your home’s comfort. We also want you to feel comfortable working with our financing partners if it’s how you prefer to pay for your new HVAC system. So we partner with Wells Fargo, Microf, Synchrony Financial, and Alabama Power for all your HVAC finance needs.

We have years of experience working with each company and have developed a relationship of trust with each. So no matter which one you choose, you can expect the following:

• Convenient term options and monthly payments.
• Special financing terms.
• Easy online account management.
• Simple application process.
• Lease to purchase finance options.
• Preferred interest rates.

Benefits of HVAC Finance Options for You

Financing your new HVAC system purchase and installation comes with a whole host of benefits. The best of all is you enjoy renewed home comfort right away! It also allows you to take advantage of manufacturer promotions and seasonal specials.

Save on Energy Bills Right Away

Older HVAC models run inefficiently and cost you more money on your energy bills than they should. With HVAC finance plans, it’s installed — and you save on bills — sooner. If you wait to save up the cash, you’ll pay more in the form of higher energy bills.

Increase Your Home’s Value

Plan to sell or rent your home? A new HVAC system can be a huge bonus because it adds to its overall value. If you rent your home and include utilities, for example, you want the efficiency to be at its highest. HVAC finance options allow you to install the new system now and add value to your home. This often leads to a better deal on the new system to boot.

Make Your Home More Comfortable Sooner

If you need to replace your old HVAC system, your home is probably not as comfortable as it could be. When you have a broken system, you may not have time to save enough cash for a new one. HVAC finance plans allow you to have a new installed now, instead of waiting to save the money to pay for it all at once.

Improve Your Family’s Health 

HVAC finance options also improve your family’s health sooner rather than later. Your older or inefficient HVAC system can’t extract all the contaminants in the air. This ultimately lowers the air quality in your home. Allergies, asthma and dry skin worsen if your vents and ducts aren’t working as they should, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, (AAFA).

Invest in Your Home’s Comfort with HVAC Finance Options!

Financing new HVAC equipment for your home has advantages, not the least of which includes saving money with more efficient equipment in the long run. At Douglas Cooling & Heating, we can guide you to any of our outstanding lending partners to help streamline the HVAC finance process. Call us today to get started!

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The average American household spends $900 annually on energy bills, half of which comes from heating and cooling costs, according to ENERGY STAR. It’s true –  we spend a lot on heating and cooling our home. This season, try these heating and cooling energy saving tips and learn more about how Douglas Cooling & Heating can help you save money on your HVAC repair in Birmingham.  

Heating and Cooling Energy Saving Tip #1: Check Your HVAC Filters Monthly

With cooler weather setting in, your heating and cooling system kicks into higher gear to keep your home comfortable. That’s why during these heavy-use months it becomes especially important to check your furnace’s air filter once a month. A dirty filter slows the flow of air through your home. This makes the system work harder and use more energy.

To keep your system running efficiently, now is also a great time to schedule your annual professional HVAC system tune-up.

Heating and Cooling Energy Saving Tip #2: Insulate Your Attic and Air Ducts

Another common area for heat to escape your home is through the attic. Ensure the space has enough insulation. It’s a good heating and cooling energy saving measure. It keeps warm air inside — and you more comfortable.

An additional energy-saving tactic is to seal and insulate air ducts. This especially impacts ducts in your attic or crawlspace. This often improves your HVAC system’s efficiency by as much as 10 percent, according to ENERGY STAR.

Heating and Cooling Energy Saving Tip #3: Invest in a Smart Thermostat

If you still have a manual or basic programmable thermostat, it may be wise to invest in a smart thermostat. It’s called “smart,” which means it “learns” your temperature preferences after a couple weeks of manual programming. Based on these household rhythms, it automatically adjusts to energy saving temperatures when you’re asleep or away.

Heating and Cooling Energy Saving Tip #4: Protect Your Windows and Doors

Outer walls, windows and doors are the most common areas for heat to escape your home. Per ENERGY STAR, save you up to 10 percent on your heating bills when you seal air leaks. Caulk around your windows and install weather stripping on doors.

For windows, hang quilted or thermal curtains. To maximize your energy saving, keep them open on windows with direct sun exposure. This is usually on the south side of the house. Let sunlight heat the room, then close them at sunset to trap heat indoors and keep the cold glass covered.

Heating and Cooling Energy Saving Tip #5: Add a Humidifier for Extra Heat

Especially during the winter months, air inside your home becomes dry. A humidifier adds moisture to the air in your home. This makes it feel warmer and retain heat better.

This allows you to feel comfortable even when your thermostat is set at a lower temperature. Houseplants also increase humidity in your home.

Heating and Cooling Energy Saving Tip #6: Get an Energy Audit

Most utility companies offer free energy audits. A professional from the company visits and performs an assessment of your home. An energy audit detects air leaks and identifies insulation problems with a blower door test.

He or she also finds leaks or problem areas you’ve missed with tools such as an infrared camera. This identifies points of heat loss in your home. Once addressed, you can improve overall energy efficiency.

Heating and Cooling Energy Saving Tip #7: Use Ceiling Fans to Circulate Heat

If you have fans, you can strategically use them to keep warm air moving through rooms in your home. Fans set to run counter-clockwise pull hot air up. Change their direction to clockwise and push heat along walls and down to keep rooms warmer.

Heating and Cooling Energy Saving Tip #8: Call Douglas Cooling & Heating!

Don’t spend more money warming your home this winter than necessary. Call the friendly service pros at Douglas Cooling & Heating to schedule a system tune-up. We’ll make sure it’s running as it should. We’re also happy to talk about more heating and cooling energy saving ideas.

For example, if your heat pump or furnace is older, or provides an AFUE of 80 percent or less, it may be time to upgrade. Heating and air technology have come a long way and the more efficient, the more money you save.

Interested? We’re happy to provide a free estimate. We also offer finance options to keep your household budget intact. Call us to improve the safety, comfort and energy savings in your Birmingham home today!

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Gas furnaces are a godsend to stay comfortable in your Alabama home all winter. They have lots of parts, however. If a problem ever arises it could stem from anywhere in your system.

Lucky for you, if you ever experience any of the issues common to gas furnaces, your heater may have a simple fix.

Gas Furnaces Problem: Furnace Won’t Start

This issue has many likely culprits. The most simple is your furnace might not be turned on or your thermostat not set to “heat.” It’s okay! It happens more than you think! Other issues include a faulty thermostat or circuit board.

Solution: Check the wiring connections. If you have a battery-powered thermostat, check if it needs fresh batteries. If neither fixes your problem, you may have a bad thermometer. You can check using an electrical multimeter to see if a circuit is complete.

Your next step is to call an HVAC technician. He or she can check if your furnace has a bad main circuit board, and if so, replace it.

Gas Furnaces Problem: Blower Won’t Shut Off

It’s likely the fan switch on the thermostat is set to “on.” Relays in the control board are stuck in the closed position, so the blower has a constant supply of electricity. Or you have worn contacts in your thermostat. These contacts which control power to the furnace may be at fault.

Solution: An easy thing you can try is first to turn the fan switch on thermostat to “auto.” Next, have an HVAC technician replace the thermostat or control board.

Gas Furnaces Problem: Furnace Keeps Shuts Off Early

If your furnace burner lights but the furnace shuts off soon after, it may be a dirty furnace filter. It might also be a broken flame sensor or a failing thermostat. Call an HVAC technician to diagnose.

Solution: Clean or replace your furnace filter. If your furnace continues to shut off, you may need to replace your flame sensor or thermostat.

Gas Furnaces Problem: Furnace Runs but House is Cold

If you have the proper-size furnace for the size of your home, it should keep your home warm no matter how cold it gets. If it runs constantly but fails to keep your house warm, it’s likely due to your filter or air ducts.

Solution: You may have a dirty filter. It may be the wrong type of filter for your furnace. This sometimes restricts airflow throughout your home. Your filter could be installed backward. All of these issues have pretty simple fixes. Your furnace’s manual should list the proper size for your unit.

If none of those suggestions remedy your cold air issue, you may have a leak somewhere in your air ducts, in which case you’ll need to have it sealed per Energy Star recommendations.

Gas Furnaces Problem: Furnace Makes Loud Noises

Any extra noise gas furnaces make are most often the result of old age or a broken part somewhere in the unit. It may also be a lack of maintenance.

Or, if you have a single-stage gas furnace which continuously runs on high capacity, it may just be the nature of your unit. These types of gas furnaces tend to be loud.

Solution:  Clean or replace your furnace filter — dirty ones can cause whistling. Otherwise, no matter what noise your furnace makes, your next best bet is to call an HVAC technician to help you diagnose and fix the issue.

It’s likely a part needs to be fixed somewhere. You may need a blower motor replacement. It’s possible your furnace cabinet leaks or ductwork near the furnace is loose.

We Can Help You Solve Your Problems with Gas Furnaces

Don’t sweat it if after trying any of these troubleshooting ideas your gas furnace still doesn’t work — the friendly expert HVAC technicians at Douglas Cooling & Heating have seen just about everything.

They can help you get your heat back up and running in no time. Call us to schedule a service call if you experience any issues common to gas furnaces.

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If your new year’s resolution this year is to save money, live healthier, or embrace new technology, great news — upgrading to a new heating and air system in your Alabama home can help you achieve all those goals and more.

Best of all, the friendly expert HVAC technicians at Douglas Cooling & Heating are here to assist your home’s HVAC system. We’re excited to help Birmingham heating and cooling perform at its best for another year.

Need more proof a new heating and air upgrade is a great idea in 2019? Read on for more benefits to an HVAC system upgrade this year.

New Heating and Air Saves Money on Energy Bills

The average HVAC system has a lifespan of about 15 years. If you can’t remember the last time you upgraded your home’s HVAC equipment or know it was at least longer than a decade, you’re a good candidate for investing in a new, more efficient heating and air system.

In addition, consider this: the Department of Energy reports homes heating and cooling their homes with high-efficiency models save up to 30 percent on their energy bills.

With those savings, it won’t be long until your investment in your family’s comfort starts paying for itself.

Breathe Easier with New Heating and Air Systems

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend an average of 90 percent of their time indoors. If you have an inefficient heating and cooling system, it adds up to a lot of exposure to allergens and other harmful particles in your home.

With a new high-efficiency heating and air system this year, rest assured your home feel more comfortable. The air you breathe will be cleaner, too.

High-efficiency systems come equipped with filtration systems and variable speed motors to provide constant purified airflow throughout your home. This is a major plus for allergy and asthma sufferers.

Add better ventilation throughout your home and everyone breathes easier.

Live in a Quieter, More Comfortable Home

If it’s been more than a decade since you updated your home’s clanging and banging HVAC equipment you’ll be amazed. The sound of a new heating and air system made with high-tech sound-absorbing materials will be music to your ears.

That’s because they’re so quiet and built for their intended purpose — for you to feel heating and cooling comfort, not hear it.

Integrate Smart Devices into Your Home

If your HVAC equipment is fairly new, you can still improve the comfort in your home.  

With smart thermostats, for example, you can program and control an efficient heating and cooling schedule from anywhere.

Change the settings with the tap of a button on an app on your smartphone. You can even set it to make automatic adjustments based on the weather forecast and your family’s preferences and schedule.

Improve Your Home’s Heating and Air System This Year

Make 2019 the best year yet for your home’s HVAC system. Call the pros at Douglas Cooling & Heating to guide you on the best options for enhancing your home with new heating and air equipment today. We’re also indoor air quality experts! We’re available for free estimates and finance options to improve your Birmingham home or business.

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Heating and air systems have many components which function together to deliver comfort to your home. For heating, the air handler is an important component of a heat pump system which delivers warm air throughout your home.

Learn how air handlers function with heating and air systems and see why this equipment is so vital to the heating process. If you have questions or need service for your Birmingham, Alabama-area home’s air handler, call Douglas Cooling & Heating today.

What Is an Air Handler in an HVAC System?

An air handler looks very similar to a gas furnace, except these two pieces of equipment function quite differently. Like a furnace, it uses a blower and fan to circulate air into the home.

While air handlers are available with supplemental heating, their primary use is not to generate heat, like a furnace.

Air handlers pair with split system air conditioners or heat pumps. Their main function is to circulate the conditioned air into your home. It connects to the home’s duct system to circulate air. The air handler is the indoor component of the split system and is paired with the outdoor component.

Air handlers look like a big metal box similar to a furnace. They contain a blower, filter compartment, heating or cooling elements, sound attenuators and dampers.

Do I Need an Air Handler for my Heating and Air System?

If your Birmingham, AL area home is equipped with a heat pump, an air handler is a must. The air handler’s job is to move air heated by the heat pump into your home for warmth – without it, your heat pump really wouldn’t do you much good.

New air handler technology offers features such as variable speed blower motors to adjust air speeds and save energy based on your home’s heating needs. This helps you cut heating energy consumption.

Air handlers improve air circulation in the home, benefitting indoor air quality. With an air handler paired with your heat pump, you’ll experience fewer pollutants and allergens inside your living areas.

As a result, your family breathes easier and copes with fewer respiratory illnesses.

Matching Air Handlers for Heating and Air

For best performance and efficiency, indoor and outdoor split system units should be properly matched. These heating and air components are designed to work together, and when one unit isn’t the right fit for the other, performance and efficiency will suffer.

It’s always smart to replace your air handler and your outdoor unit at the same time to ensure a matched heating and air system.

If you purchase a new high-efficiency air handler and do not replace the outdoor heat pump or air conditioner, your new air handler will not offer the efficiency levels you expect.

Non-matching units create more operating stress on the system, driving up energy costs, increasing wear and tear, and causing earlier breakdowns.

Heating and Air Professionals in Birmingham

Get the right air handler your heating and air system needs when you work with Douglas Cooling & Heating. Our NATE-certified technicians are happy to answer any air handler questions you may have.

We want to help you find a perfectly matched heating and air system to deliver the comfort your household needs. So, are you ready to get comfortable? Call Douglas!

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