Energy Efficient Heating and Cooling in Las Vegas

We service and repair any and all brands, our team understands how to make systems perform at optimum efficiency.

Before and After of a ductless air vent, common older building practice.

HVAC Unit A Ductless Air Return, the stand under the air handler serves as a duct.

Before Inside View of the passage for air to travel from indoor to the air handler. Notice the gaps, dust, moisture and environment for air to travel into home causing poor indoor air quality.

After Inside View of the passage after an insulated duct as built inside the box.  Much more efficient and better indoor air quality.

If you are replacing your unit -  the “SEER” level is the final thing you should consider!
This is why - The average air conditioner (or heat pump) performs only about 55% of its efficiency and capacity – due to factors we are not aware of.  The following list explains the most common reasons we lose efficiency and should be considered the first steps to take ahead of determining your new systems “SEER” level.  All of these systems work together to create the highest level of efficiency

1. Duct Leakage – The national average for duct leakage is 30%. We install systems that perform at 5% or better. Are you sending expensive conditioned air into your attic or taking attic air into your system?
2. Duct Heat Conduction – Ducts in the attic or on the roof transfer heat or cold from the environment into the duct. This can account for 30% or more of your heating and cooling costs due to poorly insulated ductwork. How old are your ducts and are they well insulated?
3. Room-to-Room Air Flow – Each room that is conditioned requires an exact amount of air delivered to that space. The common attempt at solving this problem is duct sizing – the best way to handle this situation is by using dampers at the air handler. Commonly, some rooms get way too much air, while others do not creating a variation of degrees throughout your home. Do you have rooms that are too hot or too cold?
4. Low Air Flow – HVAC units require that the air pressure just before and after the units is under a pressure limit of .5IWC. This is a technical term, however the duct design should allow for the ducts to be under this pressure for proper installation and correct operation. This is commonly ignored by most AC installers, because they do not have the expertise or training as our team does. Most HVAC systems fail this test and this results in less air being pushed through the system than the system requires. Have you had an indoor fan motor replaced in the last 5 years?
5. Refrigerant Charge – The refrigerant in the system is pressurized and requires an exacting technology to ensure it is optimized. In some systems if the refrigerant charge is 5% off – it may use 30% more energy for the same result. The challenge with this is – systems that suffer low airflow due to high air pressures cannot get this step done correctly. Have you or a friend had to replace a costly compressor?  (this may be the result of low air flow and incorrect refrigerant charge).
6. Over sized units – Most of the HVAC industry has used the slogan “Bigger is Better” or use a rule of thumb “One ton per 400 square feet”. This type of sizing methodology is far from accurate and comes with a heavy energy penalty. It is the difference from driving a hummer or a 4 cylinder car; compared to whether you are doing city driving or highway driving. Smaller is better and the longer it runs the better efficiency you get. Does your unit turn on and off often or run for only very short periods of time?
7. Unit Efficiency (SEER Rating) – This is a measure of the volume of cooling or heating energy that you receive from a unit for a quantity of energy put into it. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings are tested in a lab with 80 degrees inside and 85 degrees outside. The lab does not factor in the above steps, 1-6. Once the above steps are factored in, it is possible for a 10 seer to perform better than even a 16 seer. This is why “SEER” should be your last consideration.

ACTUAL TESTED RESULTS: FACTOR IN REFRIGERANT CHARGE. ACTUAL RESULTS WHEN INCLUDING STEPS 1-6 ABOVE ON REAL WORLD PROPERTIES, NOT IN A LAB.
SO YOU SEE, A 14 SEER PER TESTED CONDITIONS WITH POOR DUCTS, ETC. THE BEST THAT WAS GOTTEN WITH A 14 SEER UNIT WAS AN ACTUAL 7.6 SEER TO 9.6 SEER.

Distinct ENERGY Performance
2905 Lake East Drive Ste. 110
Las Vegas, NV 89117
(p) 702.256.SAVE (7283)
(f) 702.396.3898

Ask a Question?info@distinctenergyperformance.com