HVAC Installation Archives - Quality Heating Blog of Brookfield, WI

Major Stages of HVAC Installation

May 1, 2022 By Anthony Bodden

The HVAC system in your home is one of its most important elements and one that many people think about the least. But your HVAC system is what will keep you and your family warm in the frigid Wisconsin winters and cool in our sweltering summers. Whether you’re involved in a new build, or have come to the realization that your current system is not meeting your needs, you should know what to expect with HVAC installation. In this post, we’ll take you through the steps that responsible professionals like those at Quality Heating go through every time.

Analyze Your Needs

The first thing that one of the professionals from Quality Heating will do is talk to you. They’ll spend the time necessary to really get to know what your needs are. Do you or any of your family members have a respiratory condition? Or suffer from allergies? You may need a particular kind of filtration system. What about the topography and geography of your home? Wisconsin has varied landscapes and if you’re sitting in the kettle moraines your needs will be different from someone in open farmland, and different still from someone in Waukesha. And of course the size and construction of your house comes into play. If you live in a farmhouse from the 1830s, your HVAC system will need to work within that existing structure without damaging it. If you’re doing a new build with all the latest insulation, the HVAC system can really contribute to your house’s thermal envelope.

Size Your System

A crucial step when installing a new HVAC system is determining the right size unit for the property. Bigger isn’t always better. An oversized unit will lower the efficiency of the system, lead to premature wear and tear, and shorten its lifespan. An undersized unit will cause you and your family discomfort and lead to higher bills as it works overtime to try to heat or cool your home. Your HVAC technician should conduct a load calculation to determine the correct size unit for your home. At Quality Heating, our experts are trained to perform these load calculations with precision so that you end up with exactly the right HVAC system.

Optimize Efficiency

Your HVAC system should last between 15 to 20 years, so it’s really crucial that you have the most energy efficient system you can afford. Fitting energy-efficient equipment will help save you money in the long run. Your Quality Heating professional will talk to you about the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of an air conditioning unit. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient it is. We’ll explain the rating of your heat pump too. The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) should be a minimum HSPF of 8.2 to be considered energy efficient. At Quality Heating, we’ll make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

Deal with Ductwork

Another important step is checking the ductwork. If there is any damage to the ductwork, our technician will first repair damage and seal the ductwork. If debris or dust build-up is blocking airflow, we will clean the ducts. Those ducts are vitally important. Even if you purchase the most expensive HVAC system out there, you’re wasting money if air is leaking from the ducts, or can’t get through because of dirt. Clean, properly sealed ducts greatly improve the performance of your HVAC system and will cut your energy costs.

Check Refrigerant Lines

Refrigerant is a dangerous chemical and it needs to stay in the pipes, not leaking into your home environment where you and your family could be affected. The refrigerant lines of your HVAC system should be in top condition. Your HVAC expert from Quality Heating will carefully examine your refrigerant lines, and test them to determine if there are leaks. If they are in really poor condition, you may need to install new ones. If that’s the case, our professionals will make sure that we fit the correct length of piping, braze or solder the pipes, and perform a refrigerant leak test to make sure that no coolant is leaking from the soldered joints.

Test the System

At Quality Heating, we don’t just bolt as soon as the last bit of work is done. Our experts will make sure that everything is running smoothly. With the HVAC system running, we will listen for any unusual noises, make sure the thermostat is working properly, and check that airflow and temperature are consistent in every room. Finally, our experts will talk through the best way to maintain your HVAC system, and discuss seasonal maintenance. Remember that Quality Heating is a local business; we want your HVAC system to be absolutely right, so you can call us anytime you have a question or concern.

Preparing Your HVAC System For Spring

April 1, 2022 By Anthony Bodden

The HVAC system in your house is responsible for keeping you and your family warm in the winter and cool in the summer. And comfort is only part of its importance. The system is also designed to filter out contaminants in the air, both actual dirt particles, and biological ones. So your family’s health is also in play. Finally, your HVAC system uses a lot of energy, and you want to make sure that it’s working at peak efficiency so that you spend only as much as you need to. All of that makes maintaining your HVAC system really important, and the best way to do that is to have it professionally serviced twice a year. For best results, you should have it done in the spring and the fall.

Importance of Regular Servicing

The heating and cooling system in your house accounts for as much as half of the energy used in your home. So maintenance of that system is one of the most important money saving practices you can do. Newer heating and cooling systems can be very energy efficient, but can’t perform at their best without continued maintenance. Service calls can identify issues when they are minor, and avoid breakdowns that always happen at the most inconvenient times. Manufacturer warranties usually require regular maintenance in order to be valid; you’d hate to discover that your warranty won’t be honored because you neglected your regular service. And the longevity of your system as a whole can be increased by semiannual servicing.

What Regular Servicing Means

At Quality Heating, we perform thorough maintenance services. We do a visual inspection of the system, test all components, measure air flow and temperatures. We find any leaks in the system and deal with them. We monitor flue draft and refrigerant pressure, as well as calibrate the thermostat. We clean all the parts that require it; we lubricate all those that move. The US Department of Energy agrees that for “all heating and cooling systems, proper maintenance is key to efficient operation. The difference between the energy consumption of a well-maintained heat pump and a severely neglected one ranges from 10% to 25%.” If there is any minor damage or repairs necessary, we do that too.

Spring and Fall Is Best

In the winter and summer, your HVAC system must be ready and working at its best, so spring and fall are the times for regular servicing to be most effective. At Quality Heating, we’re happy to come and do maintenance on your system when you ask us to, but you should consider a maintenance agreement. In your busy life, remembering to make an appointment twice a year for your heating and cooling system service could easily fall through the cracks. It only takes one neglected regular maintenance to invalidate your equipment warranty. Once you have a maintenance agreement with us, we’ll remember so you don’t have to. Every fall and every spring, we will make sure that your heating system is working its best.

Finding the Right Furnace

January 7, 2022 By SunAnt

The heating and cooling system in your home is one of the most important long-term choices you will make. The old oil furnaces that last 40 to 50 years (and have no energy efficiency) may no longer exist, but your heating and cooling system should last around 15 to 20 years. So you should really think about all aspects that figure into choosing the right heating system for you. In addition to the initial investment, you must consider energy efficiency, required maintenance, and warranty when making your decision. In this post, we’ll examine some of the factors that you should consider.

Climate

The first thing that you need to consider is the climate where you live. In Wisconsin, we have harsh winters and hot summers. All of Wisconsin is in Zone 5 of the Heating Climate Zone map, and the further north you go, the colder it gets (usually). That means that you probably need between 50 to 60 BTUs per square foot. (https://www.inchcalculator.com/calculate-btus-to-heat-home/)

Geography

The landscape that surrounds your home has tremendous impact on the kind of furnace that you will need. Are you situated in a clearing on a hill with views of a valley? Or are you nestled in a grove of trees? Or are you part of a housing development with neighbors on either side? The permutations can be endless; but the geography your house occupies will influence how much energy is needed to heat your home, and how efficiently it can be maintained.

Building Itself

Finally, there’s your home itself. It will be no surprise to you that a new build will have better insulation and tighter windows than an older home. If your home gets a lot of natural sunlight, that’s another factor that needs consideration. The experts at Quality Home Heating can conduct an analysis of your home’s thermal envelope. A thermal envelope is “everything about the house that serves to shield the living space from the outdoors” (National Renewable Energy Laboratory). It includes the wall and roof assemblies, insulation, air/vapor retarders, windows, weatherstripping, and caulking .

Furnace Type

The choices in heating and cooling are many and varied. There are two basic kinds of systems: split and packaged. A split system is more typical with a condensing unit, furnace, and coil. A packaged system is an all-in-one heating and cooling system where an outdoor unit contains all the parts. If you’re building a new house, all options are open to you. If you’re looking to replace an existing furnace, you may need to go with the more conventional choice.

Fuel Source and More

Then there’s the fuel source. You may not have a choice about that, but if you do, we can talk you through oil, natural gas, and more. Ductless systems are also available now. Some systems allow you to claim a tax credit for the purchase and installation of Qualified Energy Property. And then there are the numbers. In addition to AFUE, different units have SEER numbers (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), and HSPF numbers (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). It can become a confusing maze of too much information.

One of the professionals at Quality Home Heating can perform a Manual J load calculation to confirm the system size you need in your particular home. This calculation takes your entire home into account — from square footage to window efficiency to external geography. Give us a call; we’ll make sure you get the right furnace for your home.

Repair or Replace My AC?

June 3, 2021 By SunAnt

We’ve already had some stretches of hot weather this year, and the summer has not even begun. If your air conditioner isn’t working, you’ve probably already discovered that the hard way. Maybe you’ve noticed that it isn’t cooling as efficiently as it has in the past, or it’s making unhappy noises. In any event, if you’re wondering whether or not to repair or replace your air conditioner, here are a few simple questions to ask yourself.

How Old Is It?

With all major appliances, it is good to practice the 50% rule: if it has reached over half of its life span, and the repair would cost over half of its new counterpart, it is best to replace it. Air conditioners usually last between 15 and 20 years, according to EnergyStar (a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program). As the unit ages, more and more issues develop, so if your unit is 8 years old or older, you should consider replacement. Of course, age alone should not be the determining factor.

Does It Use Freon?

As of January 1, 2010, the EPA banned the manufacture of air conditioners that use R-22 Freon because its use is compounding the depletion of the earth’s ozone layer. Because of this, Freon costs are increasing significantly. If your air conditioner uses Freon, eventually you’ll need to replace it to make the switch to the new R410A refrigerant. It’s most likely a good time to consider a replacement if your unit is breaking down or has problems associated with needing more Freon.

How Often Is It Breaking Down?

If your unit is breaking down a couple of times during the cooling season, it might make sense to replace it before the break downs become more frequent. Inevitably, it will cease functioning when we’re in a stretch of 90+ degree weather, and if that happens repeatedly, your whole family will be not only hot, but irritated. When your air conditioner needs frequent service calls, the repair costs add up quickly, too.

What’s Its Energy Efficiency?

If your air conditioner is broken, it’s time to consider its energy efficiency. Obviously, if it still uses R-22 Freon, it’s over 11 years old, and you can rest assured that it’s wasting a lot of energy. The new models are incredibly energy efficient. Models today have an Energy Efficiency Ration (EER) of 13 or 14 and a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of 19 or 20. If your air conditioning unit has numbers below those, it’s costing you more than it needs to.

How Much For a New One?

Investigate the cost of a new air conditioner; you may be pleasantly surprised. Remember that you need to factor in the savings you will realize with a new unit, both in your electricity bill and repair costs. The experts at Quality Heating can help you explore all your options, and find an air conditioner that works with your budget and your family needs.

A non-functioning or malfunctioning air conditioner can create a lot of problems during our hot and humid Wisconsin summers. When your air conditioner breaks down, you should think about whether it’s worth it to repair it, or whether replacing it would be a better idea. Consider all angles of the problem, and if you’re interested in any advice, the professionals at Quality Heating, your family-owned HVAC specialists serving Southeastern Wisconsin, are happy to help.

Major Stages of HVAC Installation

Analyze Your Needs

Size Your System

Optimize Efficiency

Deal with Ductwork

Check Refrigerant Lines

Test the System

Get In Touch

Reviews

Have Questions?

Our Location

Preparing Your HVAC System For Spring

Importance of Regular Servicing

What Regular Servicing Means

Spring and Fall Is Best

Get In Touch

Reviews

Have Questions?

Our Location

Finding the Right Furnace

Climate

Geography

Building Itself

Furnace Type

Fuel Source and More

Get In Touch

Reviews

Have Questions?

Our Location

Repair or Replace My AC?

How Old Is It?

Does It Use Freon?

How Often Is It Breaking Down?

What’s Its Energy Efficiency?

How Much For a New One?

Get In Touch

Reviews

Have Questions?

Our Location