Dual-Fuel Systems A dual-fuel heat pump is an electric heat pump and a gas furnace all in one. In areas of the country where temperatures are typically above freezing and that have low electric rates, a heat pump is the most efficient way to heat your home. In those few instances when the temperature drops below freezing, a gas furnace provides heat more economically. By combining the two, you can have the benefits of both systems.

How it works. When the temperature is above 35° or so, the dual-fuel heat pump uses electricity to heat your home as necessary. This type of heat circulates evenly throughout your home, and isn't too dry. When it gets really cold outside (around 35° or lower), the heat pump automatically switches to supplemental gas heat for better efficiency.

Because there are advantages and disadvantages to both a heat pump and gas furnace based on the outdoor temperature, the dual-fuel solution really does give you the best of both worlds. It's the most comfortable heating system at any outdoor temperature, as well as one of the most efficient, versatile, and economical heating-and-cooling systems you can buy.

Cost and savings. A dual-fuel heat pump system costs about $600 to $1,000 more than conventional heating and cooling systems because you’re getting essentially two systems in one. But the amount you'll save in the next two to three years from lower heating costs will more than make up the difference you spend on this versatile system.

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for a free estimate on a dual-fuel heat pump or your heating system in general!

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Green Heating Solutions You don't have to shiver or walk around wearing four sweatshirts to reduce your heating bills and your carbon footprint. Taking simple steps can often help you significantly lower your energy use.

Energy audit. A good place to start is to find out how much energy you’re currently using through a home energy audit. You’ll find out how much energy your home consumes overall and also determine the efficiency of your home's heating and cooling systems. You can perform a simple energy audit yourself.

Add insulation. Keep warm air in and cold air out by improving your insulation and closing up any gaps where outside air may enter (around windows, doors, switchplates, etc.). Also, insulating furnace ducts and hot water pipes reduces wasted heat.

Program your thermostat. You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours. You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat. If you do not have a programmable thermostat, look for the ENERGY STAR® label when you’re shopping for one. Read more about thermostats here.

Tune up your system. No matter what type of heating system you have, it’s important to give it regular service. A tuned-up system will run more efficiently, lower your energy costs and last longer. Contact us to give your system a complete tune-up at the beginning of each heating season.

Add heating zones. Zone heating means using supplemental heating sources such as space heaters or gas fireplaces. Using zoned heating can save money and energy because you can turn down the thermostat on your central heating, avoiding heating the whole house, and heat the rooms your family occupies most with the zoned heat. Using zoned heating solutions may save a household 20-40% on energy bills.

High Efficiency. If your system is older, you might be able to cut your fuel bills and your furnace's pollution output in half with a new, high-efficiency unit. For example, upgrading your furnace or boiler from 56% to 90% efficiency in an average cold-climate house will save 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year if you heat with gas, or 2.5 tons if you heat with oil.*

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for a free estimate on an energy audit or your heating system in general!

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Tune-Ups Your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system is probably the most expensive system in your home. Between the cost of all the hardware and the hours it takes to properly install all the components, your heating and cooling system is a major investment in comfort. So why wouldn’t you spend a little bit of money each year to keep it running properly?

Maintain your HVAC system. You don’t think twice about getting the oil in your car changed every 3,000 miles. And unlike your vehicle, your home actually increases in value. The better shape it’s in, the more it’s worth. Needless to say, it’s worth it to your regularly maintain your heating and cooling system. Some things you can do yourself, such as changing the filters regularly.

Professional heating system inspection. It’s also important to have your furnace or heat pump inspected and tuned up each season. Call ARS®/Rescue Rooter®, your local home comfort specialists, to keep your system running right.

Our complete heating system tune-up includes all these services for one low price:

• Clean blower compartment—a dirty blower wheel loses efficiency and increases heating costs
• Inspect and tighten wiring and connections—to avoid higher operating costs and expensive repairs
• Clean and adjust burners—to maximize your furnace efficiency
• Visually inspect heat exchanger
• Visually inspect gas pressure and flame operation
• Inspect for proper operation of ignitor or pilot light
• Inspect and vacuum indoor filter—for top efficiency and air quality (filter will be replaced if you supply replacement)
• Check for proper airflow—including inspection of ductwork and connections to ensure peak performance
• Plus more safety and efficiency checks

Your service representative will present a completed Tune-Up Checklist upon completion of Tune-Up and share any concerns or recommendations about your heating system. An ongoing Home Service Plan can help ensure you receive regular tune-ups—and provide discounts and other benefits!

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for a free estimate on a heating system tune up or your heating system in general!

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Heat Pump Systems In a mild climate, a heat pump system may be your best option for effective and efficient heat.

What is a heat pump? A heat pump is simply an air conditioner that can switch to become a heating unit. When air conditioners process refrigerants such as Freon, they create a tremendous amount of heat. The heat pump simply reverses part of the process to extract and distribute that heat throughout the home.

Best for warmer climates. Heat pumps are generally very energy efficient for central heating in climates where the temperature is somewhat mild. However, if the outside temperature falls below 37°F, heat pumps need to run constantly to maintain warmth.

Heat pump ice build-up. The coils within the heat pump’s outdoor component may collect ice. To function properly, the heat pump has to melt this ice every once in a while so that it doesn’t build up and damage the unit. To do this, the heat pump automatically switches back to air conditioner mode. But you won’t feel it, because when the unit switches to AC mode, electric heating strips are activated within the unit to keep warm air flowing. When the ice is melted, everything goes back to normal.

Combine with a furnace. Dual-fuel systems use an electric heat pump during milder temperatures (above freezing) along with a gas furnace during cold weather. This solution has become a popular solution for maximum comfort.
 
Tune up your heat pump for best performance. Remember, just like any other HVAC system, the key to years of efficiency with a heat pump is regular maintenance.

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for a free estimate on a heat pump system or your heating system in general!

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Oil to Gas Conversion We specialize in oil to gas conversions for your residential home. Our oil to gas conversion includes:

• One Day Oil to Gas Installation - keeps your family warm during the season.
• We administer all paperwork required by the towns.
• We coordinate tank removals if required.
• Provide free chimney analysis to insure your family's safety after the oil to gas conversion.

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for a free estimate on an oil to gas conversion!

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Thermostats The thermostat is really a remarkable device—it's truly the remote control for your home's heating and cooling systems. From the ease and comfort of your hallway, bedroom or den, you can stoke the fires of your furnace (or crank up your A/C) with the turn of a dial or push of a button. Then it keeps working to control your system and deliver the exact room temperature you desire.

There are two basic types: electromechanical thermostats and digital thermostats. Each has its own unique advantages.

Electromechanical thermostats. These are the older types with little metal coils and a mercury tube inside. As the temperature in a room shifts, the coils either contract or expand, pushing the mercury to one end of its tube or the other which signals the HVAC system to either turn on or off. While they aren't as accurate as digital models, they are quite economical and simple to use. This type of thermostat is being phased out because of its use of mercury and the effects it has on the environment.

Digital thermostats are the new rage, with good reason. Most models today are programmable thermostats, which means you can set times for your system to run or shut down based on when you need it. It's kind of like TiVo for temperature. Just set it and forget it! This thermostat is much more accurate at keeping your home comfortable. And because you have much more control, you can significantly save on your energy costs by reducing your heat and cooling when you don't need as much.

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for a free estimate on a thermostat or your heating system in general!

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Furnaces What is a furnace? Simply put, a furnace draws air in from the living space, heats it up and returns it to warm the home. Modern furnaces are forced air systems in three basic configurations based on the direction in which the furnace outputs heat:

1. Upflow furnaces
An upflow furnace takes cool air in from the bottom and discharges it from the top. Upflow furnaces are generally placed in a home's basement.
A gravity furnace is a type of upflow furnace that does not use a blower motor, instead using physics: The heated air rises through ducts and cooled air sinks through return vents. Gravity furnaces are incredibly efficient but don’t provide the immediate gratification of blower units.

2. Horizontal flow (or cross-flow) furnaces
A horizontal furnace lies on its side, pulling cool air from one side and pushing warm air out of the other.
Horizontal furnaces are often used in locations where there is limited space and may be found in a crawl space or a closet.

3. Downflow furnaces
In this configuration, the furnace takes cool air from the top and discharges warm air from the bottom.
Downflow furnaces are generally found in homes with no basement and are usually placed in an attic.

Choosing a configuration. The biggest consideration in choosing among these configurations is your home's layout. If you have no basement or crawlspace, an upflow furnace is not an option.

Because hot air naturally rises and cold air sinks, upflow furnaces have to perform less work and tend to have longer life spans than the other configurations.

The hot air in an upflow furnace will dissipate its stored air quickly because the air rises out of the unit on its own, whereas in horizontal flow and downflow furnaces, the unit doesn't cool down as fast so they incur more wear. That’s something to think about if you’re building a new home. Another thing to consider is the heat source.

Furnace fuel options. Most furnaces use gas—either natural gas or propane. The gas enters a chamber, is ignited by the pilot and warms the air within a heat exchange chamber. The air is blown into the living space through heating ductwork and the exhaust gases are vented out of the home. Electric furnaces use heating elements, or strips, to warm the air instead of a fossil fuel source. Everything else works the same way.

Maintaining your furnace. As with all HVAC systems, air filtration is critical to effective heating. Make sure you change or clean your furnace filters often and have your furnace professionally serviced before every heating season.

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for a free estimate on a furnace or your heating system in general!

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Ductless Mini-Split Systems Ductless mini-split heating/cooling systems can be a good choice for room additions where extending or installing distribution ductwork is not feasible, and for older homes without air ducts.

A ductless system operates like a conventional heat pump. The difference is that instead of a single indoor unit distributing heated or cooled air through ductwork, a ductless system has multiple small units serving individual rooms or zones (the term "mini" refers to the small indoor air-handling units).

Advantages of ductless mini-split systems. The main advantages of mini-splits are their small size and flexibility for heating and cooling individual rooms. Many models can have up to four indoor air-handling units connected to one outdoor unit. Each zone has its own thermostat, so you can condition each space individually, saving energy and money.

Efficient heating and air conditioning. Since mini-splits have no ducts, they avoid the energy losses associated with ductwork of central forced air systems—which can be as high as 30%, especially if the ducts are in an unconditioned space such as an attic.

The biggest disadvantage of mini-splits is their cost, which can be about 30% more than central systems and may cost twice as much as window units of similar capacity. But for certain applications, a ductless mini-split heating/cooling system may be your best option—especially if you’re retrofitting a non-ducted home or space.

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for a free estimate on a ductless mini-split heating systems or your heating system in general!

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Electric to Gas Conversion

Gas vs. electricity – which is more cost-effective when heating a house? It seems like that’s an age-old question. In many areas of the country gas is the cheaper alternative. But what if you already have an electricity-powered heating system? Is it worth the time, effort and cost to convert it to a gas-powered system?

If you’re considering an electric to gas conversion, there are a few things you will want to consider, including:

• The type of electric heat you currently have. If it’s a modern electric heating system the cost and time to convert it is smaller. Baseboard or radiator systems tend to be more complicated because often many components of these older systems will need to be completely replaced.
• Whether or not gas is an option in your area. Check with your utility company to make sure gas heat is offered in your area. PSNC Energy provides gas heating services for the city of Raleigh and surrounding areas, including many parts of North Carolina.
• The cost/benefit analysis. 72 Degrees professionals can advise you on whether or not electric to gas conversion will benefit you from a cost perspective – not just now but in the long run. In many cases it will, but there are several factors that play into this, including your current system, size of your home, and more.

We’ll be happy to talk to you more about the benefits of electric to gas conversion and help you decide on whether or not it’s right for you. We can also provide you with up-front pricing that will give you a good idea on how much it will cost to convert your house from electric to gas heat. Simply call us today at 919-439-8359 to schedule an appointment.:

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for a free estimate on an electric to gas conversion or your heating system in general!

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Heating Air Filters If you have a forced-air furnace or a heat pump, it is essential to regularly clean or replace your filters. A clean filter promotes your health by improving your home’s air quality. It also allows your furnace to run more efficiently, which can save money on energy bills and help avoid costly repair or replacement.

Depending upon where you live, you’ll want to replace your air filters or clean reusable filters at least four times a year or as often as every month. Remember, with filters you get what you pay for. So spring for the good ones. Keeping dust and dirt out your system is critical to a system’s well being.

Choosing the right filter. There are a number of common filter options available. The right one for you depends on your family’s sensitivity to airborne particles:

• Disposable fiberglass filters are the least expensive – and also the least effective, designed to block only large dust and dirt particles to protect your furnace. Smaller particles, like pollen and mold, pass right through.
• Washable "electrostatic" filters have a static charge that attracts dust, dirt and other matter. These filters are slightly more effective than disposable, but still block only 15 to 20% of airborne particles.
• Pleated "allergy" filters use a much denser mesh material to trap particles. The pleats increase the surface area, eliminating large allergens like pollen and mold – most are 35 to 50% efficient.
• Electronic air cleaners use electrodes to create an ionized electrical field that "magnetizes" pollutant particles and collects them on the filter material. An electronic unit can eliminate virtually all pollen and mold spores, up to 94% of smaller particles, and even up to 80% of airborne viruses.
• HEPA furnace filters, which stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air filters, are the "gold standard." These filters are used in commercial applications like hospitals, research facilities and electronics manufacturing where clean air is vital. HEPA filters not only block air particles, but also air flow, so they’re not recommended for residential use.

If allergies and respiratory problems aren’t a concern for your family, a disposable or washable filter can be enough to keep your furnace clean. But it’s important to change or clean the filter every month – remember that dust and dirt are the cause of half the repair calls to service technicians.

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for a free estimate on your heating air filters or your heating system in general!

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HVAC Problems Whatever type of heating system you have, it's a complex system. And while it's designed to work efficiently, after years of service it can break down and you may need a system repair. Here are some of the common heating system problems we come across.

• Pilot Lights Issues
• Hot and Cold Spots
• Mold on Vents
• Air Duct Design and Load Issues
• Air Duct Maintenance
• Severe Cold

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for more information on your heating system!

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Zone Heating Systems You may have experienced the frustration of feeling different temperatures in different parts of your home. Zone heating furnaces allow you to control the temperature in each part of the home.

Zoning can be accomplished in different ways. A homeowner can install multiple comfort systems to heat (and cool) different parts of the home. For example, you could add supplemental heating sources such as space heaters or gas fireplaces.

Another option is to use a single furnace with mechanical zone dampers installed in the ductwork to direct the airflow only to where it’s needed.

A properly zoned heating and cooling system can save 20-30% on energy costs because it’s operating only to boost or lower the temperature in areas where needed. But as with any heating and/or cooling system, the key to achieving maximum energy efficiency and comfort with zone heating and cooling is professional system design and proper installation.

Contact A-TEAM Heating & Air Conditioning today at (888) 433-9413 for a free estimate on a zone heating furnace or your heating system in general!

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