Q. Why does the air from my vent feel cool when the heat pump is on?
A. The HP is designed to heat the air about 20 degrees each time the air goes through the system. A gas or oil furnace is designed for a 40-70 degree temperature rise as the air passes thru the furnace. So if you maintain 70 degrees in the home, a heat pump will put out about 90 degree air depending on the outside temperature. Since the normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees this 90 degree air feels cool to us. In comparison a gas or oil furnace normally warms the air to between 110 - 140 degrees or higher and therefore it feels warm to us.
Q. Will smart devices such as Nest help me save on my energy bill?
A. Programmable thermostats can save you money if you use them properly. Typically with a gas furnace if you program in a setback of 5 degrees when you are at work and while you are sleeping you will use less energy in the month. With a Heat Pump you would need a special thermostat that would not bring on the electric backup heat when coming out of setback or you would use what you just saved to get the house back to temperature. In summer, avoid increasing the temperature for work and sleep times during extreme weather because the AC will take a long time to get back to your ideal comfort conditions.
The heat of a West Chester summer takes a lot out of an air conditioner. By investing in air conditioning service early in the cooling season, you'll gain the peace of mind of knowing your system can handle the hottest weather without springing any costly surprises on you.
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Over time, myths about using HVAC systems have developed. While some are harmless, others can drive up energy costs and cause system problems. Here are five myths you shouldn't fall for this summer.
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