Air Filters 101

What Are The Best Air Filters To Use In My Home?

We don't always concern ourselves with our air conditioning filter. It's not on the top of our priority list. It's one of those sight unseen things. But it is extremely important to change your filter every three months and some companies recommend you change them every month, especially if you have pets or allergies.

How many times have you gone to the hardware store and grabbed a one dollar fiberglass filter?
This may not be the best avenue to take regarding your indoor air quality.

Mechanical air filters are the most common type of home air filters. These types of air filters use synthetic fibers to trap dust and other particulates, preventing them from circulating throughout your home.

The effectiveness of a filter is measured in MERV Ratings ( Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value).
Usuallly the cheaper the filter, the lower the MERV Rating.

Types of mechanical air filters:

• Fiberglass - Removes less than 10% of air pollutants in your home, has a MERV Rating between 1 and 4,  and costs around $2.00. Originally designed to protect your air conditioning equipment, not to improve your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).
• Pleated - Removes up to 45% of air pollutants in your home, has a MERV Rating between 10 and 13 and costs around $10. This is one of the most common air filters used. 
• High Efficiency - These are the most practical for most HVAC systems. They remove up to 85% of air pollutants in your home, have a MERV Rating between 14 and 16, and cost between $25 and $35 dollars.
• Hepa Filters- Removes up to 98% of air pollutants in your home and have a MERV Rating of 14-16. However, they can only be used in a whole house filtration system or a stand alone air purifier.

**An air filter with too high an efficiency rating can cause your air conditioner to work harder. Only use the filter recommended by the air conditioning manufacturer or what your HVAC company recoommends.

For more information you can visit our website Emery Air and Heat 

or give us a call at 321-639-4691.

Ways To Lower Your Electric Bill

It's the dog days of summer in Florida. It's HOT. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, your air conditioner accounts for almost half of your electric bill.

Here's a few tips on how to lower energy costs this summer:

• Plant trees or shrubs around the exterior of your home to provide shade.
• Use solar or mesh screens on your windows - this will intercept up to 70% of solar energy before it gets into your house.
• Set your thermostat at 78 degrees when you are home and between 80-82 when your away, saving you from 5-15% on your bill.
• Use ceiling fans when you are in the room. Turn them off when you are not. A ceiling fan that is running all of the time, can cost you as much as $7 a month.
• Consider buying a higher SEER air conditioner. See our blog about SEER and what it means here: How to know what size air conditioner to buy.
• Keep the filter clean so the condensation drains properly.
• Install a programmable Thermostat. See our blog about thermostats here:What's So Hot About Smart Thermostats
• Close drapes and blinds in the hot summer afternoon. This will keep your home cooler into the evening.
• Use electricity between off peak hrs- run the dishwasher and do laundry after 8 PM.

Emery Air And Heat                                                       

2845 W. King St. #204

Cocoa, Fl 32926

321-639-4691

Emery Air and Heat

What's So Hot About Smart Thermostats?

Today's technology is changing everything! Want to make your life easier? There is an app for everything.

5 Reasons why you may want one:

1. Travel - If you travel frequently or own 2 homes in different states, your WiFi Thermostat can give you the comfort in knowing your Air Conditioning is working fine. If there are any problems with your unit, you can have it set up to where you can be emailed if the unit experiences any problems. With the high humidity in Florida, a broken air conditioner can cause mold, mildew, dampness and unpleasant odors. 
2. Easy Programming- They're easy to program, just download the app and enter the times and temperatures on your phone. Smart Thermostats learn your habits and calculate accordingly.
3. Change the Temperature From Anywhere - Forget to turn up the A/C when you left this morning? Grab your cell phone, open the app and voila! you've turned your A/C up so it's not running all day while your out.
4. Monitor Your HVAC System - Some WiFi thermostats will alert you if the efficiency drops, the humidity is too high, it's time to change your filter, if the coils are clogged or your low on refrigerant.
5. They're COOL - You can change the background color to match your walls, upload pictures, play music, display the outside temperature and be notified of weather alerts during a storm.

One of our favorites is the Bryant Housewise™ Thermostat. Check out the video below:

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Check out our website for more information on Smart Thermostats
Emery Air and Heat
If you have any questions, please give us a call at 321-639-4691

Repair Or Replace?

Your heating or cooling system is one of the most expensive components of your home. 

It's not always easy to know whether your should repair or replace your home's cooling and heating system, especially if you're facing an emergency situation. While there's no hard-and-fast rule, there are some important considerations to keep in mind as you make your decision:

Age of Your System

Air conditioners and heat pumps last an average of 10 to 12 years. If your equipment is within these ranges, expect more repairs in the future.

Outdated Technology

Technology changes all of the time. This is as true for your HVAC system as it is for your phone. By replacing aging equipment, you'll be able to take advantage of smart new features and increased efficiency's  that can save you money on your utility bills. 

Cost of Repairs

As a rule of thumb, Consumer Reports recommends replacing a product when repairs exceed 50% of the cost of a new one.

Freon

Freon laws change every year. The EPA has addressed the concerns of R-22 and the ozone layer.

R-22 is being phased out and will be no longer available after 2020. The freon that is now being used in new systems is R-410A. R-22 is hard to get and very expensive, so if you have an older unit that uses R-22, and it breaks down, your best option is to replace your unit with a system that uses the EPA compliant freon R-410A. 

If you are in need of a new unit, or have an air conditioner that you are not sure about, please give us a call at 321-639-4691 or visit our website www.emeryairandheat.com for more information.

How To Know What Size Air Conditioner To Buy

Choosing a new air conditioner can be overwhelming and confusing. Today's blog will help you understand the terminology used by HVAC contractors when making your purchase.

The following three items are of the most important:

1. Heat Load - Critical- Too small and it will not cool your home. Too large and it will cost too much to run and make your compressor work too hard. Homes "gain" heat from many sources: windows, electronics, appliances and the sun beating on your roof. The sum of these sources is known as the Heat Load, and is expressed in BTU's. 1 Ton = 12,000 BTU's. All Air Conditioning Contractors should do a heat load on your home before installing your new unit. The tonnage of the unit must be greater than the heat gain.
2. SEER Rating - Air Conditioning manufacturers are required by law to rate their equipment by energy efficiency. This rating is known as SEER or (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). The higher the SEER, the more energy efficient. Higher SEER air conditioning systems are more expensive, but will make up the difference in your energy bills. You can save as much as $50 a month with the highest SEER. In the chart below you can see your yearly savings.

Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick You can go here to calculate the best way to save money when buying a new air conditioning system.

If you have any questions, or would like to talk to us about how to save money with your HVAC system, give us a call 321-639-4691 or visit our website: Emeryairandheat.com