How to pick an HVAC Contractor

For the last 30 years I have worked in Los Angeles as a contractor. Unfortunately, I've seen a lot of improper installations of heating and cooling systems and have heard a lot of horror stories. I want to save you the heartache!

How does a homeowner go about ensuring that they have a good experience with a heating and air conditioning contractor in Los Angeles? As I see it the most important factors to consider are:

• SAFETY - Competent and able to provide an excellent HVAC installation or repair.
• SAFETY - Trustworthy around your possessions and your family.
• SAFETY - Takes complete responsibility, should anything go wrong.

Referrals

There are several trustworthy sources for contractor referrals. Friends are probably the first people homeowners turn to when they realize that they have a need. You trust your friends to tell you the truth of their experience with a contractor.  Another great place for referrals are local Chamber of Commerce organizations. Professional networking groups have an advantage over friend referrals because these professionals rely on each other for business and therefore they protect their reputation. If you were to have a problem with a contractor who your found through a Chamber you could ask the Chamber to intercede should you run into problems down the road. I would also recommend these two review sites; Neighbor 2 Neighbor and Angieslist which actually care enough to make sure that the contractors they refer are properly licensed for their trades.

Check the License

A glowing referral may not give an accurate picture of the kind of contractor you are getting involved with. I suggest checking with the CSLB Contractors State Licensing Board to make sure that the HVAC installer or repair person you are considering is properly licensed, insured for liability, and insured for worker's compensation.

Make Sure They Have Insurance

Liability is a must. Worker's Compensation is expensive, some HVAC installers don't want to pay for it so they tell a lie to the CSLB. They say that they don't have any employees. But how do they lift a heavy air conditioner onto the roof all alone? There's no way! If the person installing your AC system or furnace is anyone other than the contractor them-self they are an employee and should be insured. If the service technician who comes to fix your air conditioner is not the owner of the company, he is an employee. He should be covered by workman's compensation. If he is not, the person who is being forced to take the risk is YOU, the homeowner.

California law is very clear regarding worker's compensation. I have met homeowners with terrible stories of their life savings being wiped out by an uninsured worker, so I am pretty passionate about this. Think about it, if someone is willing to put you at risk in this very obvious way, how else will they be cutting corners? Also if they don't care enough about their employee to insure them, what kind of technicians will be working for this company?

Technician Safety

You want to make sure that the people working on your heating and cooling system are certified by the EPA, Environmental Protection Agency. Service Technicians and installers are dealing with controlled chemical substances, electricity, gas and water lines in your home. Any one of which can devastate your home if handled improperly.

HVAC and electrical skills are taught in California's prisons. I actively screen all of my employees with drug-tests and background checks. My technicians and installers are independently Safety-Sealed. The majority of my business is residential, owner occupied homes and I am not willing to take chances with regards to the safety and security of my customers. When I find a great employee I keep them on my team. Most of my guys have been with me 10 or more years.

Quality of Work

We provide a LOT of training for our team, it is an investment, and the return is worth it!  Factory training, night classes, workshops and frequent trips across the country to attend seminars with a national HVAC Contractors organization.  Each week we have an educational meeting featuring either field experts, manufacturer supplied instructors, or peer training. We focus on safety, codes, and best practices. Energy efficient heating and air conditioning technology is constantly changing and the breadth of knowledge needed to diagnose and repair HVAC equipment has never been greater than it is right now.

So there you have it. These are the important points to check when screening a heating and air conditioning contractor to work in your home. As always, if I can help in any way feel free to call 818-780-0701. I provide free over the phone advice to homeowners regarding their home comfort systems.

Kindest regards :-)
Dean

Tragic Danger Posed By Home Air Conditioning System

Rest in peace Kristal Salcido

Who would ever imagine that your home air conditioning system could be a danger to children or teens in your neighborhood?

The heartbreaking death of 12 year old Victorville girl, Kristal Salcido today, is the latest tragedy resulting from the practice of breathing freon. It is called "huffing" or "bagging".  Children and teenagers looking for a quick easy high open the air conditioner line and inhale the refrigerant.

Kristal inhaled the chemical, later passing out in her grandma’s bathroom. She was pronounced brain-dead at a local hospital. Her family says there were never warning signs of Kristal’s dangerous behavior which is not surprising, children honestly don't realize how dangerous this is.

Huffing freon prevents the body from getting oxygen. It is a dangerous EPA controlled substance.  The chemicals irritate the mouth, throat and lungs. A person can get frostbite through any of the tissues in the nose, the mouth, the face. Huffing Freon, even one time, can cause brain damage including memory loss and behavioral problems or even worse. Kids don't realize what they are risking.

But how easy is it for teens to get to that dangerous freon? Access to the refrigerant is similar to a tire access. You just unscrew the cap, press the button and let the refrigerant out.

There are refrigerant locks available and most HVAC service companies will gladly install them on your system. If teens or children have access to your equipment you may want to buy a little peace of mind. Before your next scheduled maintenance of your heating and air conditioning system ask for a freon lock. It is typically about a $40 extra.

Is your Old Central Air Conditioner Worth Fixing?

The heat wave that has hit Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley this summer has had many homeowners calling AC repair companies to find out whether it still makes sense to repair their older central air conditioners or if replacement is a better option.

After the unit reaches a certain age several factors can make it more sensible to replace the central AC rather than continually invest in costly repairs.

Repair or Replace Factors For Homeowners

• Age of the Central AC and Heating Unit - Is your central Air conditioner older than 10 years? Depending on the brand and the quality of the installation 10 years can be the point at which equipment may start breaking down and requiring higher repair bills each season.
• Higher Energy Bills in Summer - It won't come as a surprise to hear that your old Air conditioner is not much of an energy saver. By upgrading to a higher efficiency air conditioner or heat pump system you can expect to save approximately 40% in energy costs.
• R22 Refrigerant is Leaking - Refrigerant is a toxic substance controlled by the EPA. It's expensive and reoccurring leaks are an indication that major repairs are needed.
• Cost of Repairs - In Los Angeles, the San Fernando valley and Beverly Hills Air Conditioning repairs are not cheap! If the cost of repair is more than $750 you are 1/4 of the way to a replacement AC unit. Remember you don't always have to replace the entire system. You can replace the AC only.
• Frequency of Repairs - Even when AC repair costs are minimal, say $150 per repair, if you are having your central AC several times per year it may be time to consider a replacement unit.

A good central air conditioning contractor will help you decide what is best for you and for your home. It's always a good idea to get 3 different prices for replacing your central air conditioning and many San Fernando Valley air conditioning contractor will give a free estimate.

The HVAC Factor: Energy Recovery Ventilation

By Stephen J. Pargeter
Originally published in the August 2012 issue of Today’s Facility Manager

Studies have proven that outdoor air ventilation creates a healthful work environment. However, as these intake rates increase, so does the size, cost, and operating expense of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Facility managers (fms) are therefore caught between two powerful forces—the need to lower energy costs and the need to meet or exceed outdoor air ventilation regulations for occupant health and comfort.

During the ventilation process, large amounts of energy are wasted as HVAC systems replace indoor air with fresh outdoor air multiple times per day. The heating or cooling energy is continually lost in the exhaust air stream while new energy must be expended to condition entering outdoor air. Those who fail to capture wasted energy will continue to incur high energy costs.

To address this challenge, one option for fms is a site recovered energy technology such as energy recovery ventilation (ERV). Site recovered energy is any energy recovered on-site and reused to reduce the demand for more energy. Designed to operate with new or existing HVAC units, the ERV technology provides a means to cut energy costs without compromising outdoor air ventilation requirements.

While there are a number of air-to-air heat exchangers used in ERV, the most commonly used type in commercial and institutional buildings is a rotary heat exchanger (also known as an energy recovery wheel or enthalpy wheel). This wheel resolves the conflict between indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy conservation by recovering site energy normally wasted in exhaust air. It transfers energy by rotating between incoming (outdoor) and exhaust air streams to transfer heat and moisture from one air stream to the other, recycling up to 80% of this energy by preconditioning outdoor air for significantly reduced HVAC load and operating cost.

Rotary heat exchanger

Total energy saved depends on the wheel’s effectiveness and the difference in temperature and humidity between the two air streams. A bigger differential means larger energy savings.
For new and replacement projects, energy recovery costs are typically offset by lower first costs for an HVAC system. And significant reductions in fuel consumption provide healthy returns for the life of the HVAC system—instant to two-year paybacks in most North American climate zones. An energy recovery wheel may also be added to an existing HVAC system to improve efficiency.
HVAC systems with ERV improve control over humidity to minimize mold and mildew and reduce the risk of IAQ complaints and sick building syndrome, especially in humid climates. Meanwhile, many gas and electric utilities offer rebates for energy recovery to reduce peak demand and encourage energy conservation.

Organizations Using ERV
To meet new building codes, Dillard’s, a large apparel and home furnishings retailer, sought to increase outdoor air ventilation rates by a factor of three at its store in Palm Beach, FL. The two story building required approximately 50,000 cfm (cubic feet per minute) of outdoor air. Rather than add capacity to meet the increased load, management at Dillard’s installed rooftop units with integrated energy recovery wheels. By reducing the load by 160 tons, the retailer was able to choose units with that much less capacity. And by reducing peak demand by 215 kilowatts (kW), the company qualified for utility rebates that effectively paid for the wheels. The use of ERV is now standard for all Dillard’s stores.

Another example of this technology involves a major renovation at the Providence Career and Technical Academy (PCTA) in Providence, RI. The engineering team there chose to install a dual temperature, two pipe HVAC system with energy recovery wheels to maintain control of humidity during the shoulder season. The improved efficiency has yielded an estimated savings of $28,000 per year.

Another ERV adopter is the Eddy Village Green in Cohoes, NY, a nursing home complex of 16 housing units, each with 12 bedrooms. Each of those units has a 13 ton HVAC system with an integrated energy recovery wheel that supplies 3,500 cfm of outside air. In addition to an estimated upfront combined savings of $20,208 from installing smaller packaged units, the facility hopes to recover an estimated ongoing savings of $23,168 based on local utility rates.

Evaluating ERV Systems
Fms who are interested in finding out about the potential of ERV can begin by looking for the following characteristics in a system. These include products that feature:

• rating and certification by the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI);
• high humidity (not just heat) transfer capability;
• easy accessibility and cleaning; and
• performance modeling software.

Fms should also look for established providers of these systems. Most mainstream HVAC equipment manufacturers offer energy recovery wheel options for new or existing applications.
The energy demand posed by outdoor air ventilation requirements is a pressing issue among fms eager to save money while still providing clean, healthy buildings. Energy recovery wheels offer a way to cut energy costs and supply ample outdoor air ventilation while also garnering a high return on investment.

Pargeter is vice president, Product Engineering, at Airxchange, a Rockland, MA manufacturer of energy recovery wheels. He holds a BSc (Honors) degree in Production Engineering and Production Management and has served on the board of directors of the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).

Air Conditioner Shortage In The Valley?

Is it true that there is an air conditioner shortage in the San Fernando Valley? We sent our reporters out to investigate the rumor.

Our first stop was to find out what company makes the most reliable Air Conditioning unit. We know that homeowners in the San Fernando Valley are smart enough to want the very best. The most trusted  independent rating magazine surveyed over 30,000 property owners and hands down the most reliable brand of home Air Conditioning equipment was American Standard.

The manufacturer's top American Standard air conditioner dealer in the San Fernando Valley, Kilowatt is located in Sherman Oaks right where the 101 meets Sepulveda.  We stopped by their cheerful office building to chat with owner Dean Gilford. "It's been over 100 degrees in the Valley every day this week," Dean said. "So people panic a little when their AC shuts down. They worry that there might not be enough product to supply all the extra demand when it gets this hot."

Dean assured us that there is no shortage of AC units. Just to prove that there was nothing to worry about we went to the warehouse in Van Nuys where hundreds of air conditioning units wait to be installed in homes throughout the Valley and Los Angeles.

 

Over the next few months Kilowatt will expertly install these air conditioners in homes and businesses from Malibu to Glendale. So rest assured that the Los Angeles air conditioning supply chain is in tact and ready to fill the needs of our healthy, happy communities.