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How to Measure Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Your home’s energy efficiency impacts everything from how easy it is to stay cool during the summer to how much you pay in monthly energy bills. You may already have a general idea of how efficient your home is if you’ve felt hot or cold spots in certain rooms. However, you probably don’t know your home’s exact energy efficiency rating. That’s where we come in! Here at Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating, our expert technicians can perform three tests to measure the efficiency of your Hanover home.

Blower Door Test

A blower door test is designed to measure your home’s air-tightness. The more airtight your home is, the more energy-efficient it is because heat loss is minimized. The test is performed by attaching a large fan to a door in your home. When we turn the fan on, the test is able to measure the airflow that passes through the fan in or out of the house.

Low-Emissivity Window Checkers

Low-emissivity coatings are used on modern windows to reduce home heat loss. Not only do these coatings increase your home’s energy-efficiency, but they also help keep your home comfortable. Many modern windows are treated for low-emissivity, but some older windows or specialty windows do not. We use a device called a low-emissivity window checker to find out if any of your windows should be replaced.

Infrared Cameras

Infrared cameras have the technology to capture hot and cold spots. We use the camera to take images around your house, of both the interior and exterior of the building. We’re able to use the resulting images to identify spots where your home is experiencing air leaks or insulation problems.

Hanover’s Expert Heating & Cooling Technicians
Here at Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating, we’re Hanover’s experts in home energy efficiency. Our technicians are skilled at performing all the tests needed to measure your home’s energy efficiency, in addition to providing expert heating, cooling, and indoor air quality solutions. Whether you need a tune-up, replacement, or repairs, we’re the right team for the job. Give us a call today to learn more.

How to Fix Hot Spots in Your Home

It can be quite unsettling to suddenly feel hot spots in your home. If you have a cooling system that’s otherwise working fine, you may be especially frustrated. Luckily, there are a few ways to alleviating those hot spots.

Reroute or Unblock Ducts

Older houses that were built before the era of central air may need to have the duct system checked. If you have ducts that are properly installed, you may need to have them unclogged. Check to see that cool air is coming into the place in your home where the hot spot exists. If not, you may need to contact a technician about getting your ducts cleaned.

Zoned Thermostats

A zoned thermostat allows you to control the temperature in specific areas of your home. With a zoned thermostat, you can adjust for greater cooling in the room with the hot spot. This way, you will not be causing your central air to cool your entire home excessively to counteract the hot spot.

Ductless AC Systems

Ductless air conditioners provide a great solution for hot spots, especially for places like attics, porches, and garages. These areas of a home are well-known for producing hot spots and can be locally dealt with using a ductless AC.

Contact Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating in Hanover, MD if you want to implement an energy-efficient solution to your hot spot problem. We offer a range of residential and commercial heating and cooling services.

Which AC System is Best for You?

Choosing the proper AC system for your home will play an essential factor in your comfort and finances. To make the right choice, you will have to know the aspects that determine an ideal system.

Cost Efficiency

If keeping your electricity bill low is a priority for you, then you will want to invest in an AC unit that is of a higher SEER rating. This means that the air conditioner produces a higher cooling output per unit of energy it consumes. The more efficient the air conditioner you choose, the higher its price tag. However, the premium paid upon installation is well worth the outlay. Higher SEER air conditioners can provide anywhere from 10 to 60 percent savings on energy consumption; a difference that makes for a great return on investment.

Size

Choosing the right size air conditioner goes hand-in-hand with efficiency. You will need to purchase an AC that is powerful enough to cool your home while not being too large, thus wasting energy turning on and off so as to optimally do its job. An experienced professional will be able to determine the exact size of AC that is ideal for your living space.

Maintenance and Repairs

Air conditioners require maintenance from time to time. Replacing the filter or making sure there is enough refrigerant are the most common issues that may need to be addressed. Installing the most recent AC the market has to offer will guarantee that maintenance costs less and is not needed as often. Newer models use a refrigerant that puts less strain on the unit’s compressor, thus resulting in fewer breakdowns. Contact Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating for a reliable AC system that will require minimal maintenance and repair.

Your Residential or Business HVAC Needs

At Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating, we cover more than AC installation and repair in the Hanover, MD, area. Ask us about checking your indoor air quality or providing the optimal heating system for your home or business.

Your Guide to a Career in the HVAC Industry

Whether you are a young person looking for a calling in life or someone a little older who wants a career change, the HVAC industry is a superb option. The sector has grown significantly in recent years, and it has not shown any signs of slowing down. In addition to that, HVAC careers pay well, and they generally don’t require a four-year degree.

There are several career paths you can pursue in the HVAC industry, and you may wish to consider the possibilities. Let’s take a look at some of them.

HVAC Technician

Like all equipment, HVAC systems will eventually need professional repair. If you want to be the one to carry out that work, becoming an HVAC technician could be a good fit for you. You’d also be handling the installation and maintenance of HVAC systems.

In order to succeed in this career, you will need to be mechanically inclined and have an in-depth understanding of the equipment. You could choose to work as a general technician or opt to specialize in one specific area, such as refrigeration.

HVAC Engineer

If you would prefer to spend your days planning and coordinating the details of an HVAC installation, you may wish to pursue a career as an engineer. Engineers don’t just work on brand-new installations. They also analyze and evaluate existing systems with the aim of increasing their efficiency. This occupation would require additional education.

HVAC Sales

Some people are inherently outgoing, and they love personal interaction. If you’re one of these, you may wish to eventually go into HVAC sales. Of course, you’ll need to learn the trade first, but once you do, you can make the switch. Your time would be spent dealing directly with clients and furnishing them with estimates or explaining sales contracts and warranties.

Contact the HVAC Experts

The team here at Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating in Hanover knows just about everything there is to know about the HVAC field. We handle all aspects of heating and cooling installation, repair, and maintenance. To learn more about life in our industry or to enlist our services, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help.

What to Look for In An Air Conditioning Company

For most of us, a house represents the largest financial investment we’ll ever make. That means finding a company to handle your AC needs is of utmost importance, as well. The company you pick will be your partner in choosing and maintaining your home’s HVAC unit, which has consequences you might not have thought about. Since cooling and heating can account for almost half of a typical homeowner’s energy costs, making the right decision can have an impact on your financial well-being, in addition to the comfort of you and your family. For years, people in [fullstate] have trusted Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating for their HVAC needs. We’ve assembled a list of things to consider when you’re looking for a company to trust with your air conditioning needs.

It pays to seek out a firm with that gets consistently good reviews. Do you homework and see what the Better Business Bureau has to say, and check for consumer reviews on Yelp and other sites that post real-life feedback on local companies.

An HVAC company should hire technicians who are certified by North American Technician Excellence. A NATE certification signifies a firm believes in hiring employees who are knowledgeable and know their stuff.

Ask friends, neighbors and co-workers for their recommendations. An honest referral can point you toward an HVAC contractor you might not have considered. Ask potential contractors for references, and ask those references specific questions about the firm’s previous performance.

You should pay attention to price, but don’t make it your only consideration when choosing an HVAC contractor. You may save a few bucks initially, but often the firm with the lowest price is a fly-by-night operation that may not even be properly licensed and insured. Your best bet is to find a legitimate contractor that offers fair prices and superior service. A reputable HVAC contractor will check your system before giving you a cost estimate. A firm that quotes a price over the phone before an in-person visit may be up to something.

When you’re looking for an HVAC contractor, do your due diligence, and make sure Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating is on your short list of companies you’re considering. We’re not afraid to answer your tough questions, and to earn your trust. If you need an AC repair in [city] or surrounding areas, don’t hesitate to call us!

Should I Continue Repairing My AC Unit?

For most of us, a house represents the largest financial investment we’ll ever make. That means finding a company to handle your AC needs is of utmost importance, as well. The company you pick will be your partner in choosing and maintaining your home’s HVAC unit, which has consequences you might not have thought about. Since cooling and heating can account for almost half of a typical homeowner’s energy costs, making the right decision can have an impact on your financial well-being, in addition to the comfort of you and your family. For years, people in [fullstate] have trusted Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating for their HVAC needs. We’ve assembled a list of things to consider when you’re looking for a company to trust with your air conditioning needs.

It pays to seek out a firm with that gets consistently good reviews. Do you homework and see what the Better Business Bureau has to say, and check for consumer reviews on Yelp and other sites that post real-life feedback on local companies.

An HVAC company should hire technicians who are certified by North American Technician Excellence. A NATE certification signifies a firm believes in hiring employees who are knowledgeable and know their stuff.

Ask friends, neighbors and co-workers for their recommendations. An honest referral can point you toward an HVAC contractor you might not have considered. Ask potential contractors for references, and ask those references specific questions about the firm’s previous performance.

You should pay attention to price, but don’t make it your only consideration when choosing an HVAC contractor. You may save a few bucks initially, but often the firm with the lowest price is a fly-by-night operation that may not even be properly licensed and insured. Your best bet is to find a legitimate contractor that offers fair prices and superior service. A reputable HVAC contractor will check your system before giving you a cost estimate. A firm that quotes a price over the phone before an in-person visit may be up to something.

When you’re looking for an HVAC contractor, do your due diligence, and make sure Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating is on your short list of companies you’re considering. We’re not afraid to answer your tough questions, and to earn your trust. If you need an AC repair in [city] or surrounding areas, don’t hesitate to call us!

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