Air Conditioning Maintenance

Here are some common maintenance tips. If you have any questions or would like to leave the service to the preferred professionals call us at Capstone Mechanical (254-399-8090).

Clean or replace filters

Keeping the filter clean can lower your air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5% – 15%. That’s a great savings for a small amount of time invested!

        Clean indoor and outdoor coils

When either your inside or outdoor coil get dirty it limits how well heat can pass from the refrigerant to the air. Try to keep dirt and yard debris out of your outdoor unit and call Capstone Mechanical once a year to check and clean your indoor coil.

Clean condensate drains

Condensate drains take the moisture your unit is removing from the air and get rid of it. When they get clogged the unit can’t remove moisture as well and the worst case scenario is the water could back up and leak on your sheet rock/carpet/wood. If you have a blow out pour some bleach down it every 6 months.

If you live in central Texas and are trying to find some ways to reduce your utility bills and increase the life of your equipment these three steps will take you a long way towards those goals.

 

Capstone Thanksgiving Celebration

Capstone Mechanical celebrated the Thanksgiving Holiday with their annual Employee Thanksgiving Luncheon.  This year’s event was held at the Hewitt Community Center.  Almost all of Capstone’s 108 employees were in attendance and were treated to a delicious Thanksgiving meal!

Another exciting part of the Thanksgiving celebration is the announcement of the winner of the Preferred Professional Employee award.  Each year, Capstone honors one employee that has gone above and beyond their expectations and give 100% to Capstone on a daily basis.  Jeff Rhoden was honored with this year’s award.  Rhoden plays a vital role in the Capstone family and we are lucky to have him as a part of our team!

Jeff Rhoden, recipient of the 2011 Preferred Professional Employee Award, with Capstone Mechanical founders Rick Tullis (left) and Stefan LeRow. 

All 10 of the nominees for the 2011 Preferred Professional Employee Award.  Thank y’all for everything you do for Capstone!

 

Be looking for pictures from our upcoming office Christmas party which will be held December 23. 

 

The Recipe for a Good HVAC System

In a simplified form it takes three key ingredients to create an outstanding heating, ventilating and air conditioning system for a home or business.  These three ingredients are an Engineered Design, a Quality Controlled Installation, and Top-rated Equipment.

Engineered Design

The foundation of every good project starts with a well thought-out and technically sound design.  A good designer will start the process by calculating actual heating and cooling loads for the structure.  This is used to select the size of the unit and to determine how many units are needed.  He will then determine the best place to locate the equipment for optimum efficiency, serviceability, and acoustics.  The next step is to determine the best placement for grills and then calculate the size of the duct runs.  If ducts are too small the system will not be able to move enough air to meet the cooling load, room temperatures will vary, grills will be noisy, and the system will operate inefficiently.  Properly sized ducts are quiet, allow the system to operate efficiently, and less prone to leakage.

A good designer will also determine what technologies can be applied to the system to improve overall performance.  Examples of this can be high efficiency filtration, zoning controls, high SEER rated units, active humidity control, or energy recovery ventilation.  These options are not always essential and can even cause problems if not applied properly.

At Capstone we approach every home or business with this same engineered approach.  We provide the customer with an engineered design as described above and also give further applicable options to enhance the system.  We are one of the few companies in this area that actually has graduate engineers as part of our design/installation team.

Quality Controlled Installation and Service

To implement a good design takes a team effort.  The engineer’s design is clearly communicated to the project manager who in turn directs a well trained installation crew.  Nothing is installed without a clear set of drawings to guide the installation technicians.  During and after the completion of the installation the project manager and engineer inspect the job for accuracy to design and overall quality.

The installation technicians have a fundamental understanding of HVAC principals, knowledge of the local codes, and a set of “best practices” from which to work.  A good lead technician is capable of foreseeing and dealing with actual jobsite challenges that may require adjustments to the original design.  Each step of the installation is tracked via a documented checklist to make sure no detail is missed.

Once the installation is complete a factory trained service technician comes to start the system and complete the final testing/check out.  Service technicians have specific training in refrigeration and controls that installers typically do not and due to the complexity of today’s equipment it is a necessity for the service technicians to make the final adjustments to ensure optimum operation of the system.  The final readings of the system are documented and kept on file.  The service technician, project manager, and engineer are all available to train the customer or answer any questions throughout the process.

Every air conditioning system requires on going maintenance.  Filters must be changed regularly and a factory trained service technician should complete a preventative maintenance checklist each Fall and Spring.  If a problem should arise, a service technician is available locally 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

At Capstone we are excited to have a team as described above.  We strive to serve our customers with knowledge of our trade and dedicated service.  We do this through on-going internal training and a company culture of treating others the way we would want to be treated.

Top-rated Equipment

The third ingredient for an outstanding HVAC system is to install equipment worthy of the needs of the customer.  In the innovative, technological, and highly competitive era that we live in it is not surprising that there are so many good choices for equipment brands.  There are a few manufactures that make excellent products and there are also many lesser brands of equipment that provide a somewhat “lesser” product.  The important thing to remember is to always make sure you compare “apples to apples”.  Don’t compare a respected brand with a third rate brand and think you are getting the same thing.  Also, even among the respected brands make sure you are comparing the same tier (good, better, best) of product.  Efficiency is not the only differentiator between tiers.  Acoustics, durability, warranties, IAQ features, serviceability, and aesthetics will vary.

At Capstone we proudly represent Carrier brand products.  We are a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer and we specifically choose to sell Carrier units because Carrier has a long history (actually the longest) in the industry that is packed full of innovative leaps and strong product offerings.  Carrier consistently offers the best line of products across all tiers while remaining competitively priced.  Carrier also has a warehouse in Waco that supplies parts and equipment to its dealers which is something none of the other top manufacturers do.  This minimizes down time associated with repairs and allows us to provide customers what they need, not just what we have stuck in our warehouse that we have to sell.  Beside a solid equipment offering Carrier is also a leader in indoor air quality products, zoning controls, thermostats, and overall efficiency.

As a consumer, always ask a contractor about these three key ingredients.  If the contractor cannot provide a detailed design before he starts the work or if he doesn’t have a quality control process, you run the risk of getting a system that does not meet your needs.  Similarly if the contract does not represent a respected line of equipment then you’re running the risk of having a unit for the next 10 to 15 years that is not the quality you expected.  At Capstone, we are pleased to be able to provide our customers with all the ingredients needed to make each air conditioning system an outstanding air conditioning system.

 

Five ways to save on bills while staying cool

With temperatures reaching triple digits for the 43rd straight day, the question on every Texas resident’s mind is ‘how do i stay cool while controlling my electricity bill?’  Capstone Mechanical’s very own Shane Smith is here to give you some insight to that question.  Here are five easy tips for how to save money without sacrificing comfort.

1.  Turn your thermostat up during the day.

Contrary to what many believe, turning up your thermostat even a couple of degrees while you are out and about during the day can make a big different in the amount of time your unit runs.

2.  Caulk your windows and doors

There have been several times during Capstone service calls where the technician notices that the caulk around the window and doors is as old as the house.  Over time caulk will crack and will lose both its water protection and “hot air” protection.

3.  Turn your fans on

If you have fans in your living spaces or bedrooms, USE THEM! Air blowing across your body causes an evaporative effect on your skin.  This results in cooling you down.

4.  Run your dryer at night

For every CFM (cubic feet per minute) of air that your dryer is blowing out of the vent to the outside you house has to make-up.  The only way to make that air up is to bring it in from the outside.  And that outside air is HOT!

5.  Run your large appliances at night or early in the morning

You do not have much of an option when it comes to running your largest appliance – your air conditioning.  But if you can keep from running your washing machine, dryer, stove, dishwasher, water heater, etc., you will help keep the electric grid from getting overheated.  There is nothing worse than loosing electricity during a heat wave like this! Dare we forget, we saw it earlier this year with the record setting cold spell.

The key to all of these is to use common sense.  Stay indoors as much as possible and keep hydrated.  Also, do not forget the “least of these.”  Young children and older folks can be very susceptible to the extreme heat, so keep a watch on them and make sure they are not overdoing it. 

And last but not least, Capstone would love to answer any questions you might have! Give us a call at 254.399.8090 and we will try to help you any way we can.

Shane Smith, Marketing and Sales

 

Indoor Home Comfort through Zoning Systems.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that the typical family spends $1,300 on its annual utility bill, with 44 percent devoted to heating and cooling expenses.  By implementing a few simple energy-efficient measures, you can reduce your energy bills by 10 to 50 percent, reduce air pollution and increase your family’s household comfort.

One of the easiest ways to control the comfort levels and efficiency of your indoor cooling and heating equipment is to use Zoning Controls.  Your thermostat is the “command center” for controlling your home’s indoor air comfort.  If you are controlling your home’s temperature from one central thermostat there is a strong possibility that the other sections of the home that are furthest from the thermostat can range up or down several degrees causing discomfort.

One of the many benefits to Zoning systems is they have several thermostats located throughout the home that control a specific section of the home.  Your home could be divided into a minimum of two zones, or you could have as many different zones as you would like.    In each individual zone there will be a thermostat that controls the temperature in the zone, allowing for different sections of the home to be set at different temperatures.

Above is a picture of the Infinity Control System.

Some of the Zone Contol Benefits:

• Increased comfort through individualized temperature control
• Reduced energy bills
• Reduced maintenance costs
• Responsible energy conservation

If you are interested in learning more about the many other benefits to Zoning systems, please call Capstone Mechanical at 254.399.8090 and schedule a free in-home consultation.

Brian Peters, Residential Manager

 

TriWaco 2011

This past weekend Capstone Mechanical had the privilege to help sponsor the 3rd annual TriWaco triathlon.  This years event attracted over 950 participants from all over the United States.  Our very own Rick Tullis and Stefan LeRow also participated in the event.

Did you know? Waco was host to the first Triathlon in Texas in 1980.  The Waco Triathlon ran from 1980 until 1991.  This was also the same Triathlon that hosted Lance Armstrong as a 15-year-old.  He set the Waco Triathlon record with a time of 1:58:17; a record that went untouched during the race’s 12 year run.

We had multiple Capstone employees volunteering during the event. Check out some pics!

Capstone was also able to support the race by providing our CoolZone fans. As you can tell, they were  huge hit!

For more information about TriWaco visit www.triwaco.org.

Ashley Dunn, Marketing & PR Specialist

 

What is Energy Star and How Can it Help You?

There is still a lot of confusion about Energy Star.  What it is and how it can really help a home owner.  In a nut-shell, Energy Star is a government backed program that helps home and business owners increase their building efficiency, therefore lowering their utility usage.  There are several factors that they focus on (windows, thermostat usage, doors, insulation, etc), but one of largest pieces of the pie is the heating and air conditioning system.

Up to the end December 31, 2010, there was a sizable tax credit (not tax deduction) of up to $1,500 on a new high efficiency system.  But for 2011, the juice from the squeeze has been dramatically reduced.  The credit is now uses stackable credits with a maximum of $500.  Below is a list of the credits that are available through the 2011 tax year.

Maximum Tax Credit Available	Product Type	Efficiency Requirements
$50	Any advanced main air circulating fan	No more than 2% energy usage of furnace.
$150	Natural gas, propane, oil furnace or boiler	95% AFUE
$300	Split system air conditioner	16 SEER / 13 EER
$300	Split system heat pump	15 SEER / 12.5 EER / 8.5 HSPF
$300	Package air conditioner	14 SEER / 12 EER
$300	Package heat pump	14 SEER / 12 EER / 8 HSPF
$300	Package gas / electric	14 SEER / 12 EER

With all that being said, if you had any credits from 2006-2010 in excess of $500, this year’s credit is null and void.  As with any tax credit you should always contact your accountant to understand how this credit applies to your individual situation.  As you can imagine, our expertise is in making you comfortable, not doing your taxes!

And last but not least, Don’t forget to call Capstone with all of your heating and air conditioning needs! 254.399.8090

 

Shane Smith, Sales Engineer

 

Capstone Hard at Work

This week on the blog we are going to highlight some of the hard working employees here at Capstone Mechanical.  It is our vision “To be the Preferred Mechanical Professionals of Central Texas.”  We could not accomplish this vision without the hard work and dedication of our staff.  From working in the office to the guys out in the field, Capstone Mechanical makes it our mission to serve our customers with legendary excellence.

Mathis Riley has been working on the Ridgewood Country Club renovations and is seen here checking to make sure the new system is working properly.

Jason Terrell takes measurements at a local Habitat for Humanity house.  Capstone Mechanical is lucky to work on more than a dozen Habitat Houses every year.

David begins the process of installing ductwork on a local Habitat for Humanity house.

If you are looking for a solution to your air conditioning problems, give Capstone Mechanical a call at 254.399.8090 or visit our website at www.capstonemechanical.com.  We are here to make you and your home comfortable!

 

Seven Summertime Cool Tips

The Central Texas summer has arrived in full force! With temperatures consistently reaching the triple digits, the question everyone is asking is “how do I fight this scorching heat without burning a hole in my wallet?”  Below are seven idea for some summertime relief.

Set your thermostat to 78º F when home and 85º when away.

Bumping your thermostat set point down to 68 during the heat of the day guarantees long run times and will actually make your comfort worse if you have to go outside intermittently. Using programmable thermostats can keep you from throwing money away when you and your loved ones are not in the home.

Keep shades/blinds closed as much as possible to keep sunlight out.

The less sunlight that gets into the home, the less radiant heat is absorbed.

Check and clean your air conditioner’s filters regularly.

Dirty filters make your unit work harder and less efficiently. This simultaneously reduces the life of your equipment and makes it more difficult to get cold air where you want it most.

Turn off lights and other electronic appliances that aren’t in use.

Lights, computers, TV’s…all these produce heat. Turn them off when not using them so your air conditioner won’t have to run as long to keep it the temperature you want.

Upgrade attic insulation.

Your attic could be upwards of 140º F in the heat of the summer. Without proper insulation this heat is transferring directly into your living area.

Upgrade attic ventilation.

If you can change your attic temperature from 140º F to 110º F the direct transfer of heat is greatly reduced to the living area and any ductwork run through the attic is greatly relieved.

Run cool water over your forearms.

Refrigerant flows through your air conditioner to cool your home just like blood flows through your veins! Cooling off your blood can greatly affect how you feel. Your forearms have a lot of veins and are a good point to apply some cooling.

Don’t forget to call Capstone Mechanical at 254-399-8090 for all of your heating & air conditioning needs! You can also visit our website at www.capstonemechancial.com

Casey Stoker, Sales Engineer

 

Thermostat Set Back Myth

Does setting back your thermostat to 80 F when you leave the house really save energy?  Many a wise service technician has told homeowners that it doesn’t.  This is usually under the premise that the unit is just going to have to work harder to get the temperature back to 75 F when you get home.  Nobody wants to make their air conditioner work harder.  That sounds expensive.  I’ve heard techs you should treat your house like your refrigerator.  You don’t go change the temperature on the fridge everyday so why would you do it on your house?

The reality is that the amount of air conditioning a house needs is typically directly proportional to the difference in temperature between the outside and inside of the house.  For instance, if it is 100 F outside and you raise the indoor temperature set point from 75 F to 80 F then the temperature difference has been decreased by 20%.  This will equate to roughly a 20% difference in the amount of air conditioning that your house will need and a decrease of the energy needed to cool the home.  But what happens when the set point is changed back to 75F?

Here’s where a lot of the misunderstanding is.  The air conditioning system  doesn’t work “harder” in order to cool it back down to 75 F but it will run longer.  For a well maintained system this is not a problem but if the unit is very old or in poor shape, the longer run time could expose a problem.  This is another good reason to make sure you unit is checked by a professional before every cooling season.

So did you save energy?  Yes, for whatever the amount of time you were able to leave the house at 80 F instead of 75 F there was a 20% reduction of energy (assuming the 100 F day).  The longer you can leave it at 80 F the more total energy you’ll save.

But what about the energy it took to cool the house back down from 80 F to 75 F, didn’t that erase the energy savings?  No, that energy was a fraction of what it would have taken to keep the house at 75 F while no one was home.

One thing you do need to take into account is the time it takes the air conditioning system to recover back down to 75 F.  There are a lot of variables that go into this, but typically it will take from 30 minutes to an hour.  This is why you need a programmable thermostat so this can all be done automatically before you come home.

So, this myth is totally busted.  Don’t be afraid to set the temperature back in your house.  It could save you hundreds of dollars a year and that will more than pay for that programmable thermostat.