Sizing
Detmer & Sons, Inc. can make sure you get an air conditioner or heat pump that is the correct size for your home. If your system is too small, it won’t be able to cool properly and will work harder than necessary. A system that’s too big will cycle on and off too frequently, wasting energy, putting strain on system components, and not evenly cooling your home. We can perform a load calculation that will take into consideration all the characteristics of your home and show exactly how much cooling is needed to keep your living spaces comfortable.

Efficiency
We can evaluate your unique needs and suggest a high-efficiency cooling system that will work best in your home. These systems can save you significant amounts of money on your monthly energy bills. For example, we recommend Energy Star-certified models with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 7.7 or higher.

Installation
At Detmer & Sons, Inc., we know how to safely install cooling systems so that they work properly, make the best use of their features, and function safely at all times.

Maintenance
We can provide the regular preventive maintenance that will extend the useful life of your cooling system and keep it working at its optimal level for years. As our technicians become more and more familiar with your cooling system, they can make recommendations based on your specific needs. We know what to look for to keep your cooling system working and prevent small issues from becoming bigger problems later.

For more than 30 years, Detmer & Sons, Inc. has provided trustworthy heating and cooling services to Dayton and the surrounding area. Contact us today for reliable expert consultation when you are comparing air conditioners. We can offer technical advice on a new air conditioning system, provide an estimate, or schedule an installation.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Upgrade image via Shutterstock

The U.S. government has determined that R22 Freon, sometimes known as HCFC-22 Freon, is harmful to the environment because it contributions to ozone depletion. The Clean Air Act, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, requires that R22 Freon must be eliminated by the year 2020. At this time, it will no longer be manufactured and can no longer be used as a refrigerant in air conditioning systems. R22 Freon must be replaced by the safer R410A Freon, which will become the standard refrigerant in air conditioning systems.

As a homeowner with a functioning air conditioning system, this regulatory requirement leaves you facing two expensive prospects. First, the cost of R22 Freon has begun to rise and is expected to continue increasing as the 2020 deadline approaches. By the time the cut-off date arrives, R22 Freon will likely be extraordinarily expensive.

Second, most existing air conditioners cannot use R410A Freon. This means that the majority of air conditioners in use in 2012 — as many as 80 percent of them — will need to be completely replaced. This leaves most American homeowners with the choice of spending thousands of dollars for new equipment or being left without a home cooling system entirely.

Now may be a good time to replace your existing air conditioner with a high-efficiency model that uses R410A Freon. High-efficiency air conditioners can be an expensive investment, but keep in mind that they offer monthly savings on cooling expenses that can be large enough to almost pay for the new system by the 2020 deadline.

Detmer & Sons, Inc. has been providing quality heating and cooling services to Dayton and the surrounding area for more than 30 years. We can help you decide if you should continue to use R22 freon or update to a new system.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about R22 freon and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Here are some of the more useful features of today’s high-tech programmable thermostats.

• Touch-screen operation: Touch-screens offer a set of streamlined and simple controls that you can operate with the light touch of a finger. You get quicker access to system settings through multiple information and control screens accessed through a tabbed interface.
• At-a-glance information: Newer thermostat screens present home-comfort details on an easy-to-read display. They include information such as current temperature, indoor humidity level, system heating or cooling status, date and time, and more.
• Alerts: Modern programmable thermostats provide a variety of alerts that keep you informed on the condition of your HVAC system. These alerts include notices to change filters or schedule service appointments.
• Backlit display: Lights up the screen so you can see it in low light or with no lights at all.
• Remote programming: A remote control unit lets you change temperature settings or program your thermostat from your bed, chair or other location. Some units can be programmed via phone or through an online interface. If you have more than one programmable thermostat, they can often communicate with each other to keep temperatures consistent and comfortable throughout your house.
• Simplified programming: Programmable thermostats come equipped with pre-programmed set points you can use to control when your HVAC system runs and how much heating or cooling it provides. These settings can easily be modified or canceled through the touch-screen.
• Control of other devices: Some programmable thermostat models can also operate other home-comfort equipment, such as whole-house humidity control systems.

For three decades, Detmer & Sons, Inc. has provided reliable heating and cooling services to the Dayton area. Contact us today for more information on programmable thermostats, to check out our stock of available units, or to schedule a professional installation.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Thermostat image via Shutterstock

How Do They Work?

A programmable thermostat allows you to set temperatures in advance based on your daily and weekly schedule. Most households don’t need their HVAC system on around the clock; with a programmable thermostat, you can set your heating system to automatically turn off when you leave the house, and come back on before you return – and the same when you go to bed. This can potentially save you as much as 33 percent on heating bills and up to 20 percent on cooling.

When you shop for a programmable thermostat, consider whether you’d like one you can program on a one-week schedule; one schedule for the work week and a separate one for the weekend; one schedule for the work week, then separate schedules for Saturday and Sunday; or a different schedule every day.

Pick the Right One for Your HVAC System 
Before you shop for a programmable thermostat, make sure you choose one that works with your HVAC system. Here are some of the variables that may come into play:

• Works with one-stage heating or cooling: For use with separate heating and air conditioning units.
• Works with two-stage/multi-stage heating or cooling: If your system has more than one speed.
• Works with direct line voltage: 110 or 240 direct current power source, found in some older systems to power the thermostat.
• Zoned HVAC : Zoned systems are becoming increasingly popular, utilizing multiple thermostats to independently control temperatures in different parts of your home.

Contact Us

For more information on choosing the right programmable thermostat for your Dayton area home, contact Detmer & Sons, Inc. today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about programmable thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

What Are UV lights?

UV light rays are invisible to the human eye, as they travel via short wavelengths in a form of radiation that’s not dissimilar to the rays given off by the sun or from tanning beds. But not all UV light is dangerous, and it can have a lot of productive uses, including destroying live pollutants via air purifiers installed in your home.

How Do They Work?

Ultraviolet lights work best when combined with high-efficiency air filters. While the UV lights will attack and neutralize living organisms in your air, high-efficiency filters are needed to remove non-living dirt and debris from your indoor air. This two-pronged strategy is the best way to provide clean and healthy air to your family.

UV light works by altering the molecular bonds in a microbe’s DNA. They are in turn broken up so that the cells are unable to reproduce, rendering them harmless. Household bacteria enter the area, known as the “kill zone,” and are quickly destroyed. The threat is removed and you have peace of mind that your home is safe.

Installing UV Lights

It’s relatively simple and inexpensive to install UV lights, and research by the federal EPA has proven that  they can greatly reduce molds, bacteria and other viruses when effectively installed in your home.

For more information on achieving better air quality in your Dayton area home, contact Detmer & Sons, Inc.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about improving air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

All furnaces are required by law to be tested and a determination made as to their efficiency. AFUE, or annual fuel utilization efficiency, ratings compare the fuel that goes into operating a furnace and the amount of heat your furnace is capable of producing from that fuel. When you begin looking to upgrade or select a new furnace, this is the most critical number to understand.

Modern high-efficiency furnaces rate at 90-97 percent AFUE. This means the heating system has a sealed combustion chamber with a heat exchanger for capturing additional flue heat for re-circulating back into the system before exhausting. These are your most efficient but also higher-priced systems. Mid-efficiency furnaces have 80-89 percent AFUE ratings. They are not as robust but are quite acceptable with their compact size and lighter weight. Older furnaces carry as low as 68-72 percent AFUE ratings. These are the least efficient and no longer meet the minimum allowed AFUE ratings in the United States.

Furnaces that are all-electric have 100 percent AFUE ratings because they have no flue requirement and therefore no heat loss. The high costs of electricity in most parts of the country make choosing an all-electric furnace cost-prohibitive for many homeowners.

If the AFUE information is not readily noticeable on your existing furnace for upgrading, or the new furnace system you are considering, hold off until that information is made available. For help with your furnace upgrade, including which modern features will most enhance furnace efficiency, please contact us at Detmer and Sons, Inc.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnace performance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

If this is your situation, you should consider an annual HVAC maintenance plan. The professionals at Detmer and Sons, Inc. have busy lives, too, and we know how easy it is to put off scheduling an appointment until you have a problem. Our solution is to offer a yearly maintenance plan where we contact you to set up a maintenance appointment twice a year. We service your air conditioner in the spring and your heating system in the fall, ensuring that both are in proper working order when you need them.

We will inspect your HVAC unit to make sure all parts are clean, properly connected, and working as expected. For the air conditioner, we will check refrigerant levels and adjust them as needed. For the heating system, we will check your heat exchanger, and if appropriate check your gas connections to make sure there are no cracks or leaks that could cause a health or fire hazard. We also offer priority preferred service and a 15 percent repair discount as a thanks for choosing Detmer and Sons.

When you keep up with HVAC maintenance, you see several long-term benefits. Just like any machinery, HVAC systems benefit from being properly lubricated, cleaned, and having drains and filters unclogged. When everything is in proper working order, the life of the machine is extended, protecting your investment and reducing the chance that you will have to pay for costly repairs. Perhaps most importantly, you will have the peace of mind that your HVAC system will work when you need it the most.

For expert advice on all HVAC issues in the Dayton area, contact Detmer and Sons, Inc.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about HVAC maintenance  and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

Air Loss

One of the biggest challenges facing homeowners is trying to seal all the leaks, cracks and holes in their home. Even the smallest crack will let conditioned air escape from your home, which will lead directly to high energy costs. When heated or cooled air is escaping, your system has to work harder to make up for it. To minimize air loss, install inexpensive insulation around windows and exterior doors, and place a door jam at the bottom. Use caulking to seal any cracks or holes around rim joints in your basement and chimney or in plumbing stacks in your attic.

Duct Leaks

The ductwork connected to your HVAC system is essential for distributing conditioned air throughout your home. If the ducts become damaged, air will leak through the holes or cracks instead of warming or cooling your home. Fortunately, a professional HVAC technician can seal the ducts and reduce high energy costs.

Thermostat

Improper thermostat settings may be increasing your energy use and packing extra dollars on your utility bills. Try lowering the thermostat at night when under the covers and during the day when the house is empty.

Annual Maintenance

The best way to keep your HVAC system functioning properly and running at its highest efficiency is with annual maintenance by a local company that you trust. During the routine servicing, the technician will examine your system for problems – including those that cause high energy costs – and inform you of possible solutions.

For more solutions to high energy costs, contact the experts at Detmer & Sons, Inc. Since 1978, we have provided Dayton area homeowners with quality service from a family-owned business.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about high energy costs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Having Your Air Conditioner Serviced

Maintenance helps keep your air conditioner running efficiently, and prevents serious problems from developing in the future. Maintenance should be performed annually, and spring is the best time to have it done. That way, your system will be ready for summer by the time the cooling season gets into full swing. When you hire someone to service your air conditioner, they should thoroughly check your entire system, including undertaking the following:

• Check the refrigerant levels.
• Test for refrigerant leaks and capture any refrigerant that has to be removed from the system.
• Oil the motor and check all belts for tightness and wear.
• Measure air flow through the evaporator coil.
• Inspect electric terminals, tighten and clean connections and, if necessary, apply a non-conductive coating.
• Check for the right electric control sequence so that your heating and cooling systems cannot operate at the same time.
• Make sure your thermostat is accurate.

Things You Can Do Yourself

In addition to (but not instead of) annual maintenance, there are a number of things you can do yourself to boost efficiency and increase the lifespan of your air conditioner.

• Change the air filters regularly: check them once a month and change them at least every three months during the cooling season. Dirty filters reduce efficiency, allow dust into your air conditioner and reduce your indoor air quality.
• Check your air conditioner coils annually, and clean them if they are dirty.
• At the beginning of the cooling season, if you’re using room air conditioners, check the seal between your air conditioners and the window frames.

To schedule an appointment to get your air conditioner ready for late spring and summer, or to learn more about annual maintenance, contact Detmer and Sons, Inc. We’ve been serving the Dayton area since 1978

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about getting ready for summer and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! 

Geothermal heat pumps do not require any fuel to heat and cool your home. The type of geothermal system you choose depends on your property layout and, to some extent, your preferences. The most common type of installation is the horizontal system, and these are also the most cost effective to install. The main alternative is to dig deep for a vertical installation. These systems cost more because they require deep, narrow trenches for the loops, and digging requires a drilling rig. However, in small yards or when you want to preserve existing landscaping, vertical systems work as effectively as horizontal to deliver affordable heated or cooled air.

Even though the installation costs are higher for any kind of geothermal system, the payback is substantial. The underground coils can last as long as 50 years, and the indoor components have a 25-year life, as a rule. These systems require less maintenance than air-source heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioners. Their energy use is substantially lower than any other heating and cooling system available. A geothermal heat pump does not need an outside compressor, freeing up yard space and running more quietly.

You can also take advantage of a generous federal tax credit of 30 percent for the entire cost of the equipment. No cap exists on the credit, as long as the equipment meets the geothermal heat pump qualifying requirements.

If you would like more information on geothermal heat pumps and the many benefits they offer, contact Detmer and Sons, Inc., serving the Dayton area since 1978. We are a geothermal HVAC contractor and can answer your questions.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about geothermal heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Detmer and Sons services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!