This is Part-2 Of A Two-Part Article Discussing If A High-Efficiency Gas Furnace Can Lower Heating Costs enough to justify the extra charge — In DFW. NOTE: This article is location-specific — it applies only to DFW and locations further south. Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps. Additionally, we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).
Al’s also provides full-service plumbing maintenance, repairs, and replacements for every plumbing component in your home. Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters. Al’s is near your home in; Richardson, TX; Garland, TX, and northeastern Dallas, TX. We service all homes in northern Dallas County, TX; northern Tarrant County, TX; and southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge. Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing. We will arrange an appointment at your convenience.
This Is Part-2 Of A 2-Part Article. Click Here For Part-1: Hi-E Furnace – Part-1
Energy-Saving Upgrades That Provide Year-Round Savings
Is the extra money spent for a Hi-E furnace your best choice in DFW? It’s important to keep in mind that DFW is in a “cooling climate” — meaning we use A/C more than the furnace. The cost to upgrade the furnace may be significant when compared to how much it will lower heating bills in DFW homes.
If you have less than R-38 attic insulation — and you choose to spend the Hi-E Furance (upgrade charge) on more attic insulation — you’ll get year-round savings. Also, more attic insulation will reduce the amount of outdoor noise entering the living space. This can be a significant advantage for those who live under air-traffic patterns, or near busy streets, roads or highways. Ceiling are where most outdoor noise enters your home. We go into this in detail later in this another article (link provided below).
Adding Insulation Up To R-38
(TX requires R-38 in newly-built homes.)
Image Source: ShutterStock
Texas Homes Insulation Levels That Were Common — Or Became Required By Building-Code
Attic Insulation Wall Insulation
- Before 1965: none none
- 1965-1970: R-13 (3.5″ BATT) R-6 (2″ BATT)
- 1970’s: R-19 (6″ BATT) R-6 (2″ BATT) *3
- 1980’s: R-30 (9″ Blown) R-13 (3.5″ BATT) *4
- 2014: R-38 (15″ Blown) R-15 *5
R-38 requires 12″ of blown fiberglass insulation. ** Blown fiberglass insulation provides nearly R-3.2 per one inch of insulation.
Depending on your home’s age — it may have sufficient insulation (built 2014 or newer) and it may have none (built before 1965). While adding wall insulation in a brick home can become quite an undertaking — adding insulation to an attic is easy. Settling of blown-in fiberglass insulation has a negligible impact — typically only 2%–4% its insulating ability. ** But, once an attic is insulated, future workers in the attic may move insulation out of their way. This might be a problem when an attic furnace or water heater is installed. If insulation is moved — it must be moved back to ensure maximum energy savings.
Source: https://homecomfortinsulation.com/insulation/profile/blown-in-attic-insulation
** Souce: https://www.hunker.com/12613527/how-much-does-blown-insulation-settle
*3 Source: https://snuggpro.com/blog/item/many-homes-built-prior-to-1980-were-built-without-insulation-in-the-walls
*4 Source: https://www.jlconline.com/how-to/insulation-code-change_o
*5 As required by the 2012 Edition of the International Building Code (IBC).
To Learn More About Attic Insulation, Click Here: AlsPlumbing.com Lower Heating Costs With Attic Insulation
Is There Benefit From Adding More Attic Insulation (above R-38) In DFW?
The Primary Benefit Of Adding Attic Insulation (above R-38) — Would Be To Reduce Outside Noise From Entering Your Home.
If You Hear Outside Noise In Your Home — The Most Likely Locations Are Ceilings.
We Have An Article Dedicated To Ways To Reduce Outside Noise In Your Home.
Click Here To Read It: AlsPlumbing.com How To Reduce Outside Noise In Your Home.
Ductwork Sealing
Your HVAC Ductwork May Be Leaking. On Average — Up To 30% Of Heated & Cooled Air Goes Into The Attic Through Ductwork Leaks. **
Image Source: ShutterStock
The U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates typical homes lose up to 30% of the heated & cooled air from leaking ductwork. **
If you install a new HVAC system — the contractor may want to replace existing ductwork.
- If the existing ductwork is flexible — it needs to be replaced. Flexible ductwork lasts only the lifetime of furnace it was installed with.
If The Ductwork Is Metal — It May Not Need To Be Replaced.
- If the new HVAC moves about the same volume of air (when the blower-fan is running) — the existing ductwork will work just fine.
- If the new System moves a higher volume of air — the existing ductwork may be too small.
- That does not necessarily mean it won’t work. It may be able to be modified to accommodate more airflow.
- If you don’t replace existing metal ductwork — have it tested for leakage, and resealed if needed (it likely needs resealed). Your HVAC Contractor can seal the ductwork.
Resealing Existing Ductwork Can
Lower Heating & Cooling Costs By Up To 1/3!
Ductwork in older homes may not have been sealed when installed. In other cases, duct tape was used — it fails within days in very hot attics. Today ductwork is sealed with non-hardening mastic at the seams and connections. Mastic can withstand temperatures in DFW attics during summer.
Click Here To See Ductwork Being Sealed With Mastic: Ductwork Sealed With Mastic
Max Sherman & Iain Walker of the DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory performed a” bake-test”. Sample ductwork joints were baked at temperatures of 140 to 187F to test different ductwork sealing products. They stated “Only one duct-tape product survived 3 months of the aging test. 11 Duct Tape products failed within days.” **
**Source: http://www2.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/duct-tape-HVAC.html
Texas Homes Built Through July 2017 Were Not Required To Have A Ductwork Leakage Test.
The 2015 Energy Conservation Code Required Ductwork Leakage Testing Starting On August 1, 2017. *10
*10 Source: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/ihb/pdf/TB1201.pdf
Your ductwork installation may have seemed perfect when it was installed — But Over The Years:
- Ductwork was not sealed when installed.
- Ductwork was sealed — but not tested for air leakage.
- The ductwork sealant may have failed after years of DFW summer attic temperatures of up to 160 degrees.
- Normal ductwork movement (flexible ductwork) plus wear & tear may have occurred during countless furnace blower-fan cycles.
- Workers in the attic may have hit or damaged the ductwork.
Click On The Links Below To See Examples Of What’s Been Found During Ductwork Inspections:
Leaking Ductwork – 1
Leaking Ductwork – 2
Leaking Ductwork – 3
Leaking Ductwork – 4
Leaking Ductwork – 5
Poorly Installed Flexible Ductwork
Poorly Installed Flexible Ductwork
Poorly Installed Flexible Ductwork
Poorly Installed Flexible Ductwork
Poorly Installed Flexible Ductwork
PROPERLY Installed Flexible Ductwork
PROPERLY Installed Flexible Ductwork
PROPERLY Installed Flexible Ductwork
PROPERLY Installed Flexible Ductwork
PROPERLY Installed Flexible Ductwork
Sealing Air Leaks
Image Source: Pixabay
Today, A New home exchanges about 1/2 their indoor air with outside air (through leaks or ventilation) each hour.
A 1970’s home exchanges indoor air with outside air as many as 17 Times Each Hour (through leaks)!
If you live in an older home, you can buy the 80% efficient furnace and spend the upgrade cost (for High-Efficiency furnace) on Insulating and air sealing your home instead. We provide details below that demonstrate why you may reduce heating & cooling bills more with Energy-Saving Upgrades to the house than with an upgraded furnace.
- Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) is a rating system to determine the rate indoor air exchanges with outside air each hour (through air leaks or mechanical ventilation).
- Today’s Standard is a minimum ACH for a home is .35. This means at least (just over) 1/3 of indoor air must exchange with outdoor air each hour.
- A home with less than .35 ACH will have unhealthy indoor Air Quality + too much humidity.
- A DFW Energy Star Rated Home can have not more than .5 ACH (half of all indoor air exchanges with outside air each hour).
- Because new homes are built so airtight, many have mechanical ventilation to ensure at least the minimum .35 ACH per hour.
- A 1970’s Built Home Has Up To ACH! *
* Source: http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/revisiting-energy-saving-handbook-1979
Where Air Leakage Occurs In Homes
Click Here To See A Pie-Graph Of Air Leakage Locations: Home Air Leakage Locations
- 31% Openings in Floors, Walls & Ceilings
You might think “How can a ceiling leak air?” The leaks are at the openings in the ceiling. Most older homes have gaps around electrical boxes. Because these leaks are in the ceiling (heat rises), they present a great opportunity to lower heating costs.
To seal the gaps, use caulk or spray-foam (for gaps too large for caulk).
- Most DFW homes have HVAC Vents in the ceiling. Older homes will have gaps between the vent and the ceiling. The gap isn’t visible due to the vent cover.
Click Here To See Gaps Around Ceiling HVAC Vent: Gaps Around Ceiling Vent
Click Here To See An Example: Gap Around Ceiling Light Box
Click Here To See An Example: Gap Around Bath Vent In Ceiling
- This includes air leaking into the home where the walls meet the floors
Click Here To See Thermal-Image Of Air Leakage Where Floor & Walls Meet: Air Leakage At Floor
- 15% Leaking From Ductwork
- 14% From Fireplaces with open damper (when not in use) OR have a damaged / warped damper that cannot close properly.
Click Here To See Damaged Fireplace Damper That Does Not Close: Damaged Fireplace Damper Does Not Close
- 13% Plumbing Penetrations Through The Walls
Click Here To See A Large Gap Around A Plumbing Penetration: Large Gap Around Plumbing Penetration
- 11% Exterior Doors
Click Here To See A Gap Under An Exterior Door: Gap Under Exterior Door
- 10% Windows
The biggest source of air loss through windows occurs when they are left unlocked. Locking the window pulls the upper & lower window sashes more tightly together.
Image Source: ShutterStock
Notice The Gap Between Upper & Lower Window Shashes In This Unlocked Window
- 4% Exhaust Fans & Vents
- 2% Electrical Outlets & Switches
Click Here To See A Gap Around An Electrical Outlet Box: Gap Around Electrical Outlet Box
Click Here To See A Thermal-Image Of Cold Air Leaks Into A Home During Winter: Thermal Image Shows Air Leakage
Click Here For Part 1 Of Our 4-Part Article On Lowering Cooling Costs: 75 Ways To Lower Cooling (& Heating) Costs
Click Here For Part 1 Of Our 3 Part Article On Lowering Heating Costs: Uncommon Ways To Lower Heating Costs
This Article Discussed If A High-Efficiency Gas Furnace Can Lower Heating Costs enough to justify the extra charge — In DFW. NOTE: This article is location-specific — it applies only to DFW and locations further south. Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps. Additionally, we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).
Al’s also provides full-service plumbing maintenance, repairs, and replacements for every plumbing component in your home. Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters. Al’s is near your home in; Richardson, TX; Garland, TX, and northeastern Dallas, TX. We service all homes in northern Dallas County, TX; northern Tarrant County, TX; and southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge. Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing. We will arrange an appointment at your convenience.