HVAC Systems, Money, and Milkshakes

Have you ever been so excited about a milkshake that you stabbed the straw in too hard and it cracked? Well I have and it is no fun! You spend the rest of your dessert time sucking in air instead of enjoying the Oreo milkshake you had been excited for all day.  No one likes sucking in air when they were expecting ice cream, but especially when it is 110˚F and everything is melting.  But what I hate even more, is when they give you a straw that is too little and the milkshake is perfectly thick so you have to wait until it is essentially melted. 

Although you may have never thought about it in this way, your HVAC system can have the same issues leading to the same frustrations.  It can be a terribly hot Arizona day and your AC is pumping out refreshing cold air, but you aren’t getting any.  Instead your house is sucking in hot air from the attic or the ducts are too small to deliver enough of the AC's output… and it is frustrating just like drinking air when wanted to drink your milkshake.

Now maybe you have never been frustrated by either situation.  You don’t notice hot air coming in through the vents during summer, and you easily solve your milkshake problems by asking for a new straw.  Both of those arguments are legitimate.  But what if I told you that your HVAC system is throwing milkshakes away?  Obviously not literally, but hear me out.

The average ductwork in a house leaks between 10-30% of the conditioned air, meaning that you are spending money keeping the attic more comfortable.  When was the last time you hung out in your attic? Exactly the point, there is no need to spend money on your energy bill simply because you have leaks in your ductwork.  Most people do not continue to use a broken and you shouldn’t continue to use leaky ducts.  I am not saying you should pay to have all your ductwork replaced, but instead repair and seal the leaky ducts.

That sounds expensive huh? Fortunately for you, APS and SRP care about your milkshake money, and have specific rebates in place to offset the costs of a duct test and repair.  Check them out.

APS

SRP

And if you act fast, we are running a deal at Southwest Insealators.  Check it out on our Facebook Page!

Spray Foam Insulation 101

 

            New is always a scary concept.  Change is a constant part of life, but that doesn’t make it easier.  You remember the adjustment from high school to college or your first day at your new job; you were forced outside of your comfort zone.

            But eventually you realized it wasn’t so bad and that maybe, just maybe there was good you could gain from it. Well for many people owning a home for the first time, whether it is a house that needs some fixing up or a brand new build it is new territory with many unknowns.

            Due to a lack of experience, many homeowners scowl the Internet for useful tidbits of information on everything from appliances to insulation.  It is for this reason that I offer you a quick run down on the latter.  More specifically one of the best types of insulation, spray foam insulation.  The following is a brief report on all that spray foam insulation has to offer.

The Benefits

• Creates complete air barrier
• Saves money on your energy bill
• Ensures quieter spaces
• Improves air quality
• Reduces airborne allergens
• Maintains better balanced room temperatures (more comfortable)
• No settling - Constant R-Value
• Can reduce A/C tonnage requirement
• Blocks pests and rodents

The Applications

• Residential
• Commercial
• Industrial/Agricultural

The Types

• Open Cell Foam
• Closed Cell Foam

The difference

          Because spray foam insulation is newer than most other types of insulation, it is a scary commitment.  It is generally speaking more expensive up front, and many doubt the effectiveness and advantages.  Although it is not as widely accepted or implemented, with the right contractor it can make all the difference in a new or existing building.  Here are some links with great information.

Spray Foam Quick Facts
Spray Foam Education

If you need more information or would like to schedule a free estimate, we would love the opportunity to earn your business!

Why You Should Insulate

Don’t worry we won’t waste your time with lengthy details, personal agendas, or sales pitches.  If you are looking for information about what insulation can do for you, look no further.

Why you should insulate your home and business:

• Cooler temperatures in the summer
• Warmer temperatures in the winter
• More even temperatures between rooms
• DOE estimates insulation can save you 15-40% on your heating and cooling bill
• Insulation is earth friendly – if all the homes in the U.S. were properly insulated (based on 2012 IECC) 3.4 million homes could be powered with the saved energy
• Properly insulated houses sell at a higher value and 117% of the cost of insulation is regained
• Insulation lasts a lifetime without maintenance
• Solar panels are more effective and save more money when paired with proper insulation
• Can reduce sound levels within insulated space
• Allows your HVAC equipment to work less and prevent long term damage

Why you should not insulate your home and business:
• You do not like money
• You hate the environment
• You enjoy being uncomfortable

All jokes aside there are few circumstances where an insulation upgrade or installation would not be recommended in Arizona.  If you have an insulation level of R-38 value or higher, any additional insulation is a waste of time and money. If you have a very leaky roof, you should not upgrade insulation until the roof is repaired.  If there is no access to where existing insulation is located, and access costs are too expensive, insulation could potentially be unpractical.

Beyond some of these rare situations, insulation is a great investment for a home owner to create a more comfortable living space while simultaneously saving money for that dream vacation you have always wanted to take.

So if you are interested in anything insulation related, we would love the opportunity to earn your business!

Making Energy Efficiency Affordable

When was the last time someone offered to pay for your lunch? Your answer is probably not as recent as you would like.  Well, we want to change your answer, so lunch is on us today!  Ok so not literally, but we want to help you reallocate your spending money back to the places that you want to, like going out to lunch or finally going on that vacation you've been planning.  How do we do this you ask? Great question!

We start by lowering your energy bill.  Well actually we start with an energy audit, but then eventually it can help you save up to 40% on energy expenditures.  You are probably thinking, "this is just another sales pitch attempting to convince me to buy something that doesn't actually work". Normally I would agree with you because nobody likes a pushy salesman and gimmicks are everywhere these days, but this is different.

The main difference is our participation in a program that emphasizes saving money in a real and certified way.  Home Performance with Energy Star has partnered with APS and SRP in a program dedicated to save you money on your energy bill by improving your home's energy efficiency.  Our energy business, Arizona Going Green, is a certified contractor for the program, and as 1 of the 31 contractors we can serve as your one stop shop for energy efficiency.

Now you are probably thinking that this doesn't sound like the free lunch we had promised you.  In fact it sounds more like we are asking you to spend money.  Well you caught us. In order to save you money you must spend it first.  Although it is counter-intuitive APS and SRP have created incentives in order to show you that the benefits are not imaginary.  Those incentives come in the form of rebates for specific energy efficient home improvements completed by a certified contractor.

We have put together a list of rebates and how to receive them, but here is the breakdown of how it works.

1. Have an energy audit performed on your house.
2. Get building science recommendations for home improvements and choose your projects.
3. Hire a certified contractor to complete the work.
4. Ensure savings performance of your finished improvements with an "out" audit.
5. Enjoy your promised "Free Lunch".

So if you would like a "Free Lunch" on us, we would love the opportunity to earn your business!