ProTech HVAC

In these times of high-energy prices, it can be hugely beneficial to ensure that your HVACR equipment is operating at its peak performance. Following are some examples of how your equipment can run inefficiently and what remedy/remedies can be applied to increase efficiency.

In the case of oil burners:

The rule of thumb is annual “proper” maintenance - fuel filter, nozzle, and accumulated soot removal - pays for itself with the savings of increased fuel efficiency. Why? A dirty nozzle affects combustion efficiency; therefore, improper oil atomization results in a dirty fire, which produces soot. An 1/8″ of soot accumulation on the heat exchanger is equal to an inch of fiberglass insulation. Insulating the heat exchanger allows increased heat from the combustion process to go right up the chimney, rather than transferring through the heat exchanger into the space to be heated. Also, did you know that your fuel company’s primary interest is in selling fuel? That may seem elementary, but there are many companies who facilitate this by not offering energy saving devices that could save you as much as 30% or more on your fuel bill. Many fuel companies do not stress among their technicians the importance (to you) of optimizing combustion efficiency, so often a poor furnace cleaning results. There are many primitive devices that perpetually cause your heating system to burn more fuel, and I can identify them in minutes, usually over the phone.

Air conditioning & Refrigeration:

Three things guarantee that your electric bill will be high - dirty evaporator and/or condenser coils, refrigerant leaks, and low SEER rated equipment. The first issue can be resolved through periodic cleaning that involves application of special dirt and grease remover. As in the example of the soot on a heat exchanger, dirt/grease on coils will block heat transfer and cause the equipment to run longer to produce the same amount of cold energy. Low refrigerant charge means there is less refrigerant to carry the heat from the indoor (evaporator) coil to the outdoor (condenser) coil, and can cause the compressor to cycle on and off excessively. Low Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) means that the equipment must also run longer to transfer heat - usually from the space to be cooled to the outdoors. The higher the SEER the less electricity is required to cool the space. For example by upgrading from SEER 9 to SEER 21, the power consumption is reduced by 57% (equal to 1 - 9/21). It is claimed that this can result in an energy savings valued at up to $570 per year depending on the usage rate and the cost of electricity. The higher the electricity cost, the more money is saved by installing 21 SEER equipment.

There are many more examples that can be given of how equipment efficiency can be adversely affected, which I would be happy to discuss with you. The upcoming cooling season will soon be upon us. Is your equipment poised to consume excessive energy? The best time to clean oil burning equipment is prior to summer when condensation can mix with the sulphur content of the soot accumulation in your furnace or boiler and cause corrosion, which dramatically shortens the life of the equipment.

Please post any comments you may have.

John Rocheleau