With energy prices climbing and climbing, it’s always a good idea to take some time to evaluate your home’s energy use to see if there are things you can do to improve the home’s energy efficiency. People usually are aware of the importance of having proper insulation around doors and windows to seal air leaks, regularly changing the filter on their HVAC systems, swapping traditional bulbs for LED bulbs, and using efficient faucets and showerheads for water.

One thing many people fail to realize is that the direction that their ceiling fan blades rotate can also save them a good amount of energy and money. With the changing of the seasons, it’s a good idea to check on your ceiling fans and see if the blades are rotating in the proper direction according to the season.

It’s All About the Air Movement

Everyone is aware that using a ceiling fan during warm weather can improve the comfort level of a home by creating a “breeze” and increasing the airflow of a space. What many people do not realize is that they are also just as valuable in the colder months. Using your ceiling fans to their utmost ability provides a lot of benefits that all too often go unnoticed.

During the summer months, the ceiling fans in our homes move the air about to create a more comfortable space. During the winter months, the direction that the fan blades rotate in should be reversed.

Summer Ceiling Fan Blade Rotation

When the weather outside is nice and warm, you need to make sure that all of your ceiling fans are set so the blades rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. When the blades rotate counter-clockwise, they create a downdraft of air that creates that cooling breeze we all know and appreciate.

What is interesting to know is that ceiling fans don’t actually do anything to cool the air. In fact, they don’t cool the air at all. What they do is push cooler air down toward the floor, closer to the level at which people are. Air is pushed down in columns by the ceiling fan blades, evaporating perspiration and creating a wonderful breeze.

Winter Ceiling Fan Blade Rotation

For the colder months, switch all of your ceiling fan switches so that the blades rotate clockwise. One thing to note is that while we often want the blades to spin as fast as possible during the hot months, this is exactly what we do not want during the winter. Make sure the speed setting on your ceiling fans is low. If it’s any faster than that, it will begin to create a chilling breeze.

When the blades are rotating in a clockwise direction at low speed, they create an updraft, which helps warm air that is trapped near the ceiling move to lower areas of the room. This is especially valuable for rooms that have very high ceilings.

Save Money and Energy with Ceiling Fans All Year Long

Using your ceiling fans properly throughout the year will be a great boon when it comes to energy usage. If you use an air conditioner during the summer months, using your ceiling fans in conjunction with the A/C will offer even bigger savings, and it’ll help your HVAC system not work quite so hard. The same holds true during the colder months; ceiling fans will help your furnace and give it a bit of a break, also saving you money.

If you’d like more tips about additional energy- and money-saving changes you can make for your home, contact A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air today for a professional home energy assessment.

Spring is just around the corner and traditionally, it’s the season during which many homes for sale hit the market. If you’re thinking about selling your home within the next few years, it’s a good idea to start paying some attention to your HVAC system.

A heating and cooling system is one of the most influential home features buyers look at, so you’ll want to focus on your HVAC system a bit before that “for sale” sign goes up in the yard.

Update Your Thermostat

If homebuyers check anything in a house that has to do with the HVAC system, it’s going to usually be the thermostat. If an HVAC system is brand new but a homebuyer sees an old thermostat, it might signal to them that the system needs to be replaced, even if it doesn’t.

Even if your system is a bit older, you should know that many older HVAC systems can support a new, modern thermostat with no problem. Today’s thermostats offer excellent control over heating and cooling systems, and they’re considered an excellent quality-of-life upgrade that will catch the attention of home buyers.

It’s recommended that you choose a programmable thermostat or even a smart thermostat. These are designed to function with most HVAC system types and brands, and many homebuyers these days consider smart thermostats an attractive feature of homes. Nest and Ecobee are two popular brands that our experts at A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Inc. frequently install, along with others.

Get an HVAC Tune-Up

Any time a homeowner plans on selling their home, they should aim to put their best foot – and house – forward. Regular HVAC maintenance is always recommended anyway, and it’s especially beneficial if you’re going to be putting your house on the market. There is no better time to make sure it’s running at its best with a tune-up by a Bay Area HVAC professional.

Getting a professional tune-up is an excellent way to present a smoothly running system to buyers. You’ll also be doing yourself a favor by creating a clean, healthy, and comfortable environment for yourself for the duration of time during which you continue to own the home.

Should You Replace Your HVAC System Before You Sell?

If you’re planning on selling within the next five years or so, you might be debating replacing your HVAC system now. Is it a good idea to do so? The answer heavily depends on exactly when you’re planning on putting the house on the market.

If you’re looking to sell within the next year, you really aren’t going to get much personal benefit out of replacing the system. It’s a common fear of sellers that a buyer will ask for a lower price if they notice an old HVAC system. However, if your system is in good shape and has been properly maintained, this may not happen.

If the sale will be further into the future, that may change things a bit. If your current system is going to lower the value of your home in the next five years or so, it may be a good idea to replace it. The cost to replace that system is only going to increase as time goes by, so the case for replacing your system if you’re not moving for a few years yet is a stronger one.

Keep HVAC Best Practices in Mind when Selling Your Home

If you’re considering selling your home, either now or in a few years, contact A-1 Heating & Air, Inc. to get an HVAC tune-up and maintenance check-up. Our experts provide award-winning service to customers throughout the entire Bay Area, including Napa, Solano, Vallejo, Vacaville, and Fairfield.

Whenever you’re thinking of buying a new home, there is a lot to consider. Too many would-be homeowners fail to realize the importance of checking out the HVAC system of houses they are interested in purchasing and sometimes, they realize their mistake too late.

There are three things that are some of the most important and long-term aspects of a home: the roof, windows, and the HVAC system. Failing to check these systems can cost new homeowners tens of thousands of dollars.

However, there are some easy steps you can take regarding HVAC to help you make a sound purchasing decision. You’ll want to get every benefit possible out of the HVAC system in any home that you’re interested in and of course, you need to know a few things so you can do it in a way that will save you money and time.

HVAC: The Basics

A seller is only required to disclose whether or not an HVAC system is working or not. Beyond that, it’s the responsibility of the buyer to conclude whether or not the heating and cooling system is an asset or a liability. There are some simple ways to determine exactly that.

Find the Age of the System

Check out the furnace and look for the serial number, which should always be found on the side of the unit, whether it’s indoor or outdoor. Keep in mind that the age of a furnace or heat pump could be different than the air conditioning unit, so be sure to check them both. With the serial number, you’ll be able to look up many things about the system, including its age.

Although there are, of course, different answers to the question, “How old is too old?” most systems that are at or above 15 years old will likely need to be replaced within the next few years. If the HVAC system hasn’t been properly maintained, it’s likely to cost you money even before it finally quits for good.

Don’t Rely Solely on Home Inspections

While home inspections should happen with any new home purchase, relying solely on this inspection is not a sound way to determine the health of an HVAC system.

This is because inspectors are usually general contractors and are not HVAC professionals. They can tell if the system works or not, but usually, that’s it. They usually aren’t trained to tell you how efficiently it’s running or if there are problems with it.

Check the Make and Model of the System Equipment

Look for the make and model of the HVAC equipment while you’re checking for the serial number. The make and model can reveal whether it’s a top-of-the-line, variable speed furnace or an entry-level one, for example.

Knowing that information could mean the difference in hundreds of dollars in operating costs each year. With the make and model, you can also look up descriptions, reviews, and other information about the system.

Schedule a Professional HVAC Inspection

As a buyer, you’re well within your right to have an HVAC inspection done on the system of a home you are considering purchasing. An HVAC professional will be able to give you a much more detailed analysis of the condition of the system and include information on any leaks, corrosion, or other problems that could cost you money down the road.

If you’re thinking of purchasing a home in the Bay Area, contact A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Inc. to schedule a professional HVAC inspection. The assurance you’ll receive from discovering the health of such important equipment can be a great asset and help you make the best decision. Contact A-1 Guaranteed today; we serve customers in Napa and Contra Costa counties, Solano, Vacaville, Fairfield, and the entire Bay Area.

Businesses have special needs to consider when choosing a programmable thermostat. Buildings with multiple levels, multiple temperature requirements, and multiple HVAC systems must all be considered. Systems have to run smoothly to keep everyone comfortable and also to keep energy bills as low as possible.

While choosing a programmable thermostat can make a huge difference in comfort and energy usage, the right type of thermostat for your business is paramount. Following are some of the choices you’ll need to consider when deciding which programmable thermostat will best suit your needs.

System Programming Options

There are some thermostats available that allow you to program them to follow a specific weekend or weekday schedule, which is excellent for businesses that are closed on the weekends. In addition, for businesses that are routinely closed on different days of the week, some thermostats can be programmed to follow that schedule instead.

Multi-Stage or Single-Stage Programmable Thermostat?

Whether you should get a single-stage or a multi-stage programmable thermostat is going to depend on the heating system in your building. A single-stage thermostat will suffice if your building:

• Uses only one source of heat, such as one furnace or one heat pump
• Uses only one source of cool air
• And both sources provide air at just one level

However, your building may need a multi-stage thermostat if it:

• Has an HVAC system with inputs from two heat sources, such as a heat pump and a boiler or a heat pump and a solar panel
• Has sources that provide heated and cooled air to multiple levels

You might also want to look for a programmable thermostat that offers up to two-stage heat alongside one-stage cooling, assuming your building has only one cooling source.

Thermostats for Heat Pumps vs. Conventional Systems

It’s important that you be aware that some programmable thermostats are designed specifically to work with heat pump systems only. There are also others that are designed to be used only with conventional HVAC systems.

This is not to say that all thermostats follow this “one or the other” rule. There are several quality products on the market that work very well and are compatible with both types of systems.

When you are considering which programmable thermostat to choose for your business, make sure that the type you choose aligns with the type of heating system in your building.

Consider a Programmable/Manual Combo Thermostat

The benefits that programmable thermostats can offer are clear, but there may be times when you would rather take manual control over the temperature of your commercial building. For example, if there is an unexpected heat wave or even a cold spell in the Bay Area, you’ll likely want to take over manual control so you can ensure that customers and employees stay safe.

If you want to prepare for these types of circumstances but otherwise want the money-saving control that a programmable thermostat provides, consider a model that does both. These types of thermostats can be switched between automatic and manual modes when needed.

Get a New Thermostat in Contra Costa from A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Inc.

A-1 Guaranteed is the Bay Area’s award-winning HVAC leader. Offering services for residential and commercial customers throughout Napa, Solano, and Vallejo, our professional teams are licensed, bonded, insured, and expertly trained to help you with your HVAC needs.

We also provide solar energy services, home energy assessments, tankless water heater service, and more. If you’re interested in having a new thermostat installed for your business or you’re in need of any of the services we offer, contact A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Inc. for a free quote.