Great customers are taking the time to actually send us emails praising our service. These are customers that make an extra effort and take time out of their busy schedules to write us a personal email thanking us for our professionalism.
Here’s one from Patrick in early July:
“My name is Patrick and I just had to let the supervisor of Ms. Heather know that she was very, very, very professional and kind!!!… when she came to fix my air conditioner unit on July 9 in Clinton, MD. Keep up the Excellent work Ms. Heather. YOU GO GIRLLLLLLL.”
Check out this email we received from Demetrice in Upper Marlboro on July 21:
“I am reaching out to you to inform you that the HVAC service I received on Saturday from Heather was wonderful. From the beginning to the end she showed impeccable ability and professionalism. She quickly assessed our problem and got to work restoring our Air Conditioning to our home. My husband and I were very pleased.
Thank you for the wonderful experience; and if we need our unit serviced again in the future, we know exactly whom to call.”
Marvin in Upper Marlboro also took the time from his busy schedule to send us this awesome email review in late July praising our service:
“I am writing to recognize your HVAC technician Heather for her hard work and diligence in resolving my problem with my HVAC system. After making arrangements with my warranty company to initiate service with your company, Heather was called in to make it her number one priority to solve our problems. She listened when I knew I wasn’t making any sense explaining my problems. She was patient and actually tried different configurations with the system when previous technicians basically looked at it, and said there was nothing they could do.
My family thanks her for her outstanding service and to you for hiring her to represent your company.”
This great email review was received from Dave and Nancy in Leonardtown, MD on 5 August:
“Good morning Stephanie (our super customer service rep). All is well at the moment! Just to let you know that the new Pump-Motor & Holding Tank and associated plumbing installed on 23 July has been working fine and keep up with water demands since we had the new 20 Amp circuit breaker installed on 30 July. The breaker is no longer tripping. We sincerely appreciate everything Jerry’s Plumbing and Heating has done to help us out with this problem. Your Senior Technician, Doug, did and absolutely outstanding job throughout the entire and check-out the pump system. He stood by us all the way until the system was working properly. We will call on your technical assistance for our future plumbing problems. And, we will highly recommend Jerry’s to our neighbors and friends.
Appreciate all your help with this problem.”
Here’s another fantastic review from Bobby C in Waldorf, MD.
“Good morning. I like to express my extreme pleasure with the service I received from Heather. Her professionalism, enthusiasm and love for her job was unlike anyone I have ever seen. Totally impressed! I will definitely recommend Heather/Jerrys to all my family and friends should they require your services. She should be promoted!!!
Warm Regards,
Bobbie”
Our management team recognizes the accomplishment of all our techs, but there is no better recognition then those received from our satisfied customers praising our service. And, for that we thank all our customers!
The purpose of this article is to provide an overview on the types of gas furnaces available on the market today. You will not become an overnight expert on gas furnaces, but you will be much more knowledgeable and better prepared when either building a new home or replacing an existing furnace.
That day may come when you need to invest in a new furnace for your home. So, in terms of priorities, what should you consider in choosing a new furnace. Obviously, comfort is important. You should also consider cost and efficiency as major priorities. In the meantime, make sure you read our article on Furnace Maintenance Tips.
For example, electric furnaces are still very popular with people who want to reduce their carbon footprint. But, while electric furnaces are generally the least expensive to buy and install, they are not necessarily the most energy efficient.
Although both electric and oil furnaces are still popular, forced air furnaces that burn propane or natural gas, are generally the most efficient and economical method of heating.
Energy Efficiency is measured according to how efficiently each unit produces heat. This measurement is known as the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or AFUE. AFUE is determined by comparing the amount of fuel consumed to the amount of heat created. For example, an AFUE of 80% means that 80 cents of each dollar is being converted into effective heat, while 20 cents is essentially wasted. For more information see Guide to Furnaces.
5 Types of Gas Furnaces:
These gas furnaces are ranked according to efficiency, comfort, heat distribution and quietness.
1. Modulating Variable Speed Gas Furnace
Modulating Variable Speed Furnaces are the very best furnace available in terms of operating efficiency, comfort, heat distribution, and quietness. According to Washington Energy, The National Association of Homebuilders likens a standard furnace to stop and go traffic, with its inefficient use of energy for your car. Modulating furnace performance is more like highway driving, where you are cruising along, making slight operating adjustments while achieving maximum efficiency. The modulating furnace operates with more finesse to reduce temperature fluctuations, providing consistent indoor temperature, quiet operation, and an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) up to 98%. That means fuel is used more efficiently, reducing your energy consumption and cost.
2. Three-Stage Variable Speed Gas Furnace
Three stage furnaces use a variable or three speed variable blower to increase efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. On days where it’s not as cold outside, your blower will operate at a slow speed. Then, on colder days, it will automatically switch to a higher speed. Once the desired comfort is reached, the blower will gradually slow down to the lower speed levels.
3. Two-Stage Variable Speed Furnace
Two-stage variable speed furnaces, like the three-stage variable speed gas furnace, can provide additional comfort in your home and reduce energy consumption. Two-Stage Variable Speed Furnaces are much quieter than Single Stage or Two Stage Furnaces. When additional equipment is added to a furnace, a Two-Stage Variable Speed Furnace is a good choice for two and three story homes.
4. Two-Stage Furnace
Two-Stage Furnaces have two fan speeds, provide a more uniform heat distribution, and are generally a bit quieter than Single Stage Furnaces.
5. Single-Stage Furnace
Single-Stage Furnaces only have one fan speed. While these are the most common furnaces, they are generally the least energy efficient and loudest on terms of operation.
For more information on Single-Stage versus Two-Stage gas furnaces, watch this short 3-minute tutorial produced by Alpine Home Air Products.
The four major advantages of a geothermal heating and cooling system are: 1.) reduced heating and cooling costs; 2.) low life-cycle costs; 3.) positive environment impact; and 4.) potential Federal and State tax credits.
A geothermal heat pump functions like a conventional heat pump, by using high-pressure refrigerant to capture and move heat between indoors and out. The difference is that conventional systems gather their heat—and get rid of it—through the outside air. By comparison, a geothermal heating and cooling system transfers heat through long loops of liquid-filled pipe buried in the ground.
Reduced Heating and Cooling Costs
Homeowners should realize a reduction of 30 to 70 percent in their overall heating and cooling costs with a geothermal heating and cooling system. Geothermal systems have the capability of capturing reclaimed heat during heating and cooling modes and using it to heat domestic water. This application can reduce the water heating cost of a four-person household by 50 to 60 percent. In the winter, the geothermal heating and cooling system pulls heat from the earth into the house or building and in the summer, the system removes heat from the house or building by dumping it into the ground.
Low Life-Cycle Costs
A study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency showed that geothermal systems have the lowest life-cycle cost of all heating and cooling systems currently on the market. Lower maintenance costs and longer life expectancy of geothermal units should certainly be taken into consideration when determining true savings. You can expect your geothermal system to provide an average of 20 to 24 years of reliable comfort and savings. In comparison, the average life cycle of a conventional system is 13 to 15 years.
Positive Environmental Impact
Furthermore, geothermal systems have a positive impact on the environment since they burn no fossil fuels and operate on a modest amount of electricity. According to the United States Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal systems are the most environmentally friendly way to heat and cool your home. They do not emit greenhouse gasses, which are known to contribute to environmental air pollution. Flammable fossil fuels are not used to operate geothermal units. Because there is no combustion, there is no chance of explosion, hazardous fumes or risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Tax Credits
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act adopted in October 2008 allows for a 30% tax credit for costs associated with ENERGY STAR qualified geothermal heat pumps, as noted in section 25D of the Internal Revenue Code. The credit applies to geothermal equipment placed in service through December 31, 2016. The credit is equal to 30% of the total system cost.
Furthermore, HB 1186 (May 22, 2012) allowed Maryland to become the first state in the country to make the energy generated by GHC technologies eligible for the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) as a Tier 1 renewable source. GHC system owners are also eligible for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). See more here: Geothermal Heating and Cooling (Maryland Energy Administration).
In summary, there are some very significant advantage to geothermal heating and cooling systems. Cost savings alone can help offset what can be a high price to install this type of system. If you are interested in learning more about geothermal heating and cooling, please use the source links we provide below.
The purpose of this article is to drive home the point that you must provide annual preventive furnace maintenance. Your furnace is an extremely expensive component of your home heating and cooling system.
Everyone knows that any mechanical device, be it a car, boat or tractor has lower repair costs and runs more efficiently and safely if you keep up with your maintenance. Similarly, annual furnace maintenance is necessary for the safe and efficient operation of your heating furnace. Annual preventative maintenance is the best way to eliminate costly breakdowns and repairs. For example, you know you need to change the oil in your car every 3,000 – 5,000 miles; and, if you own a boat you very well know that you better get it winterized. Failure to change the oil in your car can result in significant complications, engine failure and breakdown. Failure to properly winterize a boat can cause complete engine failure in the late Spring or early Summer months when you launch it the following year.
Here are a few important aspects of preventive furnace maintenance by component:
The Heat Exchanger
The condition of the heat exchanger is a primary concern when performing preventive maintenance on the furnace. If there is any hole or crack in this unit, then carbon monoxide might leak into your home and cause various health issues. Two symptoms of carbon monoxide in the home include headaches and a feeling of drowsiness. This is one reason homeowners with a gas furnace need to have CO2 detectors set up in their home.
A trained technician will perform various tasks when inspecting the heat exchanger. One way to do this is to use a video-scope or a mirror. Visual operation of the burner might also be done to ensure that there is no abnormal activity, such as a flame roll-out or flame deflection. If abnormal operation is being observed, then a hole or crack may be present in the heat exchanger.
The Flue
The flue is part of the furnace that is used to vent gases. If the flue is not capped properly, then birds or other animals can easily create blockage. Again, any blockage of the flue can cause carbon monoxide poisoning in the home.
Fresh Air Intake
Many homes have a fresh air intake that is necessary for proper venting of the furnace. A screen on the fresh air intake can become clogged and prevent the flue from venting properly. Scheduling preventive maintenance for your furnace will ensure there is no blockage on this screen.
Safety Controls
There are various safety controls found on modern furnaces. These need to be checked to make sure all are operating correctly. Basic safety controls will include flame roll-out sensors, flame rectifying sensors, a high temperature limit switch, and temperature and draft pressure sensors.
Furnace Efficiency
There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the efficiency of a furnace. This includes the burners being out of alignment, too much combustion air, too little combustion air, burners that may need to be cleaned, a dirty manifold, and improper gas manifold pressure. The best way to determine if the unit in your home is operating efficiently is to perform a combustion analysis.
Air Flow
Proper air flow is needed for a furnace to achieve optimal performance. There are many things that can affect the air flow for a furnace. This includes the duct system in your home, the blower wheel, furnace air filter, and the evaporator coil. A visual inspection of these items will be performed and cleaned if needed.
If you have any questions about furnace maintenance, contact us for more information.
Do you live in a neighborhood with housing restrictions that prohibit window air conditioners? Or maybe you’re looking for something a little more efficient and powerful than a window air unit but you are not interested in splurging on a whole home air conditioner?
A ductless mini-split heating and air conditioning system is a perfect solution. This is a good option if a window air conditioner or central air conditioning system is impractical or too expensive. A split air conditioner means just that, an air conditioner with an indoor and an outdoor unit.
No Ducts
A ductless mini-split air conditioning system uses compact air handlers to provide cool air. Copper tubing runs through small openings in the wall or ceiling that easily connects the indoor and outdoor units. This is why no ducts are needed for this type of system. Air handlers are mounted on a ceiling or a wall. The creation of moisture is eliminated as insulated hoses prevent conditions where moisture can occur.
Energy Efficiency
The lack of ducts for a ductless mini-split heating and air conditioning system means less cool air is lost. If a typical air conditioning system is used, then up to 30 percent cooling loss occurs. The efficiency that is provided by this air conditioning system will help to lower monthly electric bills. Many models used in a home are Energy Star qualified. Many units have increased efficiency of about 27.2 SEER. This is a basic standard known as Standard Seasonal Efficiency Ratio. A higher SEER rating means the unit will be more efficient.
Zone Control Lowers Energy Costs
The ability to set specific zones to heat or cool will result in better performance and lower energy costs per year. Air will be sent to certain areas and not to rooms that are unused. This means that a standard home with a second floor can have a separate zone that does not need to be cooled or heated.
The refrigerant used in a ductless mini-split air conditioning system is R410A. This means that there is no harm to the environment and no contribution to further ozone layer depletion.
Improves Home Safety
Homes without central air conditioner will typically have window units installed. These are often not a good option for home security. The air handlers of a ductless mini-split system are mounted away from windows and virtually eliminate the chance of an intruder to enter a home.
In some cases, there are homes with inefficient central air conditioning and faulty ductwork that causes poor air flow to some rooms. In this case, homeowners have to install unsightly window mounted air conditioners to cool these rooms. Just compare this appearance to the indoor unit above!
Like mentioned before, units that are installed in a home will have two parts. One part is the outside unit and the other part is a series of air handlers that are installed inside. This two-part system means that louder components used for the system are located outside.
Easy Installation
The installation of a ductless mini-split system require drilling a small hole in an exterior wall. This is all that is needed to connect the inside unit to one or more air handlers inside. The result is a unit that is able to provide comfort in a home throughout the year. Indoor units will have varying sizes and usually means a home may need between two and eight units installed. This all depends on your particular heating and cooling needs.
For more information and estimates, call us at: 240-222-3205.
There are some amazing alternative heating and air conditioning systems available today. The purpose of this article is to describe how a ductless mini-split system might be the type of heating and air conditioning system that helps you create additional comfort, convenience in your home or office while saving valuable dollars in energy costs
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. But a video is worth a thousand pictures. Please watch this short video. It provides a fantastic overview on a ductless mini-split system.
Personal Experience on Convenience and Cost Savings
I can recall when my parents decided to install a central air conditioning system in our small home back in the 1970’s. They needed to install all new ductwork to support the system. That’s an expensive project to add to an existing home. It was a huge project and cost a ton of money. I’m extremely thankful to them for providing this added level of comfort to our growing family, but one of these mini-split heating and air conditioning systems would have provided a much better alternative… both in space and cost.
Personal Experience on Lousy Ductwork
Let’s say you’d like to have air conditioning but your home or new room lacks the necessary ductwork. Or maybe you have a room that’s a little too hot or too cold and you’d like to make it more comfortable. Perhaps you own a business that has supplemental heating or cooling needs. Here’s my personal experience. I’ve had my home for 16 years. I have four bedrooms on my second floor. My master bedroom cools well. I have a middle bedroom for one of daughters that does OK. But, my existing central air conditioning does an extremely poor job of cooling my other two rooms. One of these rooms, occupied by another of my daughters faces the daily sun. It’s in the front of my house facing east. I paid a lot of money to install wooden blinds to keep out the sun… still, this room just does not cool. I have a another small bedroom on the other side of the side of the house. This room doesn’t get the hot sun. This is my business office. I purchased a window air conditioner for this room. I live in a neighborhood governed by “home owner’s association” rules. They dictate we can’t use window air conditioners. It’s in the back of my house, so my home owner’s association doesn’t bother me. But, I’ve chosen not to test their rules by installing a window unit in the front of my house in my daughter’s room in the front of the house.
I’ve had my ductwork checked several times by experienced Waldorf HVAC contractors. Cool air just does not reach these two rooms. There might be leaks in the ductwork that is just too costly to explore. Heck, I don’t want a contractor to tear down my walls to find leaks in my ductwork. And, I realize that my heating and air conditioning system was done by contractors 16 years ago that just wanted to fulfill their contracts. They didn’t know me and I didn’t have the time, inclination or knowledge to spend time with them.
Jerry’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning company is a company that I know and trust. To find out more if a ductless mini-split system can help you solve similar problems, call Jerry at 240-222-3205.
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