How Does A Burderus Solar Thermal System Work?

April 29th, 2012

Buderus solar is one of the largest and most reputable manufacturers in the world. They have been manufacturing and designing solar water systems for over 25 years, and continue to invest in research and development to bring innovative, high quality, solar products to the market.

A Buderus solar thermal system for hot water consists of a solar collector, a pump station, and an indirect hot water storage tank. The solar collector, which is located on the roof, collects the sun’s energy and transfers the heat to the storage tank via the tanks internal heat exchanger. The storage tank in turn allows the hot water to be stored until it is used. The controller activates the system’s pump when there is enough solar energy to create hot water. Even on a cloudy day, light penetrates the cloud layer and heats up the solar collectors.

An existing Buderus wall hung or floor standing boiler can be combined into the solar system as a back-up for domestic hot water. The solar system can also complement the boiler for space heating by reducing the number of boiler starts, saving on costly fuel.

A typical Buderus residential solar hot water system using 2-4 collectors takes about 1-2 days to install depending on location and roof type. Larger commercial systems take longer because of the scale, equipment, and labor required. The typical life expectancy of a Buderus solar hot water system is 20-30 years. If the system is properly maintained, it can last over 30 years. Every 5 year, the heat transfer fluid should be checked and replaced. The pipe insulation and controller settings should also be checked as part of the annual system check-up.

A residential solar water heater will offset greenhouse gas emissions by about 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. That’s equal to the amount of CO2 released by an average vehicle every 1,700 miles!

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Humidity Control With Aprilaire

March 18th, 2012

Keeping your home’s humidity levels consistent can significantly improve the health and comfort of your home. In general, when it comes to feeling comfortable in your home nothing affects a body’s perception of comfort more than the humidity level.

Industry experts report that keeping your home’s humidity between 30-60% can reduce the effects of many unwanted conditions. Too much humidity or too little humidity can not only lead to an unhealthy home, but also cause permanent damage to your home and belongings.

When there is Too Little Humidity the Following Occurs:

  1. You begin to experience chronic physical symptoms such as sore throats, dry/itchy skin, nose bleeds, or sinus irritation.
  2. Your home’s wood floors begin to shrink and crack, and the joints in the wood furniture become loose or fail.
  3. The wallpaper peels, while your paint or plaster starts to crack.
  4. Annoying and painful static shocks begin to occur.
  5. You still feel cold even though your thermostat is cranked up, and so is your energy bill.
  6. Your piano and other musical instruments begin to fall out of tune.

When There is Too Much Humidity…

  1. Your skin feels clammy, sweaty, or sticky.
  2. Musty smelling odors begin to invade your living space.
  3. Wood floors, trim, or wood furniture warps or rots; and paint peels.
  4. Condensation, frost, or ice form on the inside surface of your windows; and water pipes sweat.
  5. Damp spots, mold, and mildew form on ceilings or walls.
  6. Your allergies or asthma get worse due to the mold, mildew, and dust mites.
  7. Your house becomes a breeding ground for termites, cockroaches, and other pests.

What You Can Do:

  1. Use ventilation fans in kitchens and bathrooms. Make sure that your fans are venting directly outside.
  2. Cover dirt floor crawlspaces under your house with plastic. This acts as a vapor barrier.
  3. Also make sure your dryer is vented to the outside. Don’t dry wet clothes on drying racks in the house. If possible air dry them outdoors.
  4. Ensure air conditioning drip pans are clean, and drain lines are unobstructed.
  5. Fix any water leaks in pipes, toilets, showers, etc.

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4 Tips To Help Prepare Your Home For The Winter

February 9th, 2012

You can get your home ready for the winter season by tackling easy and inexpensive projects that will save you money in heating bills in the long run. Here are a few simple winterizing suggestions to help you prepare your home and your wallet for the cold weather months.

Furnace Tune-Up

Contact a local HVAC company to have your HVAC system serviced. Make sure they inspect the duct system for leaks, as this can cause warm air to leak outside instead of being distributed throughout your home.

Some do-it-yourself tune-up improvements include:

.Change your filter monthly, this will not allow the filter to get clogged and restrict air flow. Furthermore, maintaining your filter will increase the life of your system.

.Purchase a programmable thermostat, taking advantage of your programmable heat settings will decrease unnecessary heat consumption.

Check Your Attic Insulation

Insulating your attic reduces unwanted heat loss out of your home during the winter months and air conditioning in the summer months.  A quick way to determine if you need more insulation is by looking at the floor joists. If the joists stick up past the insulation levels, you probably need more. If the joists are hidden under the insulation, your attic is thoroughly insulated.

In addition to checking insulation, weather-strip and insulate your attic hatch or door. Seal up holes in the attic that lead down into the house such as open wall tops and ducts, and plumbing or electrical runs. Any hole that leads from the basement or a crawlspace to the attic is a big energy waster.

Close Off the Chimney

If you wish to close off your chimney, install glass doors or inserts to keep the heat from getting sucked out of the house. If you are going to use your fireplace, hire a chimney sweep to clean it out annually and inspect the damper for proper opening and closing to minimize the chances of heat escaping.

Seal Doors & Windows

Using weather stripping around doors will prevent cold air from entering your home. As you check all of your exterior doors make sure the weather stripping is intact. If the weather stripping has deteriorated or is non-existent, install it on the sides and top of the door. The bottom of every exterior door should have a sweep running along the bottom.

Make sure all double hung windows are pulled up.  Sometimes the top half may slip down unknowingly if the catches are not securely locked.  If you have a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.

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How to Maintain Central Heating & Cooling Systems

January 7th, 2012

When your central heating and cooling system is in its best condition, it provides a great mix of efficiency and comfort. On the other hand, if it is left without proper maintenance, that efficiency crashes and so does your wallet.

Most maintenance for central heating and cooling systems should be left to the professionals, but some general upkeep can be performed by homeowners of any skill level. Here’s a list of suggested maintenance for central heating and cooling systems to ensure you keep the cost of comfort at its lowest.

CENTRAL COOLING

Air Filters

Air filters on central heating and cooling systems block dust, pollen, and other small particles from entering your home. Eventually, these air filters become clogged by these particles, causing a reduction in energy efficiency from 5 to 15 percent. Ignoring air filter maintenance is like throwing away the money you spent on a better unit. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that filters be replaced every one to two months during the season. Some central air conditioner filters are reusable while others are disposable. Before you replace your air filter, check to see which kind you have.

Clogged drains:

Central air conditioners feature drains used to remove condensation and humidity. These can become clogged over time. Unclogging the drains is simple. Just push a wire through the drain channels to knock out the gunk.

Expert Level Central Cooling Maintenance

Other maintenance should only be done by professionals or homeowners with advanced knowledge. These include:

Cleaning coils:

The evaporator and condenser coils collect dirt overtime, limiting air flow and the amount of heat removed by the air conditioner. These should be cleaned, at most, every year.

Coil fins:

Fins on the evaporator and condenser bend over time, which blocks air flow. When this occurs, the fins should be straightened.

Blower adjustment:

The blower may wear down over time and need an adjustment to boost air flow.

Adjust refrigerant:

If your air conditioner has too much or too little refrigerant, an essential chemical component that creates cool air, your system will operate inefficiently.

CENTRAL HEATING

Air Filters:

A furnace relies on a filter to block out dust, mold, and other particles, which collects dirt over time, leading to falling energy efficiency. Your filter should be changed regularly, as much as once a month during seasons when it’s in constant use. A filter change takes just a few minutes.

Pilot Light:

If you have natural gas, check whether the pilot light is on and that it’s blue. If you’re trying to heat your home but getting nothing except cold air blowing in, a pilot light that’s gone out is the likely problem. If the pilot light is yellow or orange, there may be a mechanical issue with the system.

Expert Level Central Heating Maintenance

Other maintenance should only be done by professionals or homeowners with advanced knowledge. These include:

Belt adjustment and lubrication:

Belts inside your central heating dry out and become worn over time, this reduces efficiency. These should be adjusted and lubricated, at the most, annually.

Interior cleaning:

Dirt will inevitably end up in your central heating, requiring a professional cleaning. Nearly all elements of the furnace must be wiped down and cleaned out. A dirty furnace can significantly reduce efficiency. Get a contractor to clean your furnace every few years.

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The Benefits of An Air Purifier

December 13th, 2011

Indoor air quality is becoming an increasing health concern, which is why quality air purifiers have never been more important for good health.  Those tight seals that allow your home to feel comfortable and energy-efficient also make the indoor air in your home polluted. Pollutant levels of airborne particles, gases, chemicals, and volatile organic compounds are higher in the home than they are outside. Did you know that the air inside your home is five to ten times dirtier than the air outside, given that Americans spend about ninety percent of the time indoors?

The most common indoor air pollutant is air mold. It exists wherever moisture and oxygen are present. Inside your home, molds can  likely be found in damp basements, closets, bathrooms, air conditioning  systems, humidifiers, or any humid place. Poor indoor air quality affects people in different  degrees. It all depends on an individual’s age and relative health, but there are different ways of protecting yourself and your loved ones against indoor  air pollutants. Some ways to improve indoor air quality include:

. Attempt to control the source of the pollutant. If the pollutant is coming from indoor air mold, smoke, or some type of chemical, you can remove it by having a thorough cleansing of your home. Keeping  in mind that some indoor air pollutants such as dust or pollen are not so easily eliminated.

. Improve the ventilation in your home.  You can accomplish this by allowing fresh air into your home through windows.  However, opening a window on a high pollen-count day or in a smoggy city will  probably worsen the air situation in your home.

. Purchase an air purifier. There are numerous types of air purifiers on the market so be sure to buy one that is  well suited for the dimension of your home.

Air purifiers are designed to clean and purify the  air people breathe, by reducing odors and airborne pollutants that contribute to poor air quality, and filter common allergens such as pollen, mold and dust. Tips on choosing an air purifier include:

.  Area Coverage: Make sure the square footage recommended for the air purifier is close to or slightly greater than  the square footage of the room where you intend to use it.

. Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) – This number  informs us how frequently the air purifier can exchange all the air in a given  room in an hour.

. Filter Replacements – Filters have to be  replaced on many types of air purifiers. Be sure to find out the cost of the filters and how often they must be changed.

. Noise Level – Some air purifiers are very quiet, while others can be quite loud. Make sure to have a trial demonstration of the unit before purchasing it.

. Energy Usage – Because air purifiers operate on energy and run continuously, the amount of energy they consume will  be reflected on your energy bill.

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Double-Bottom Heating Oil Tanks – A Green Choice

November 22nd, 2011

The National Oilheat Research Alliance recommends that storage tanks be replaced after 30 years of service no matter how good they look on the outside.  Tanks corrode from the inside as well by “pitting” in the steel.  Starting in September 2009, Oehlert Bros. started replacing tanks exclusively with Granby GreenShield tanks which are constructed with a double bottom and include a leak detection system!  These tanks have a superior finish and boast warranties of up to 25 years!  If your heating oil tank has been in service for more than 30 years, it is a must to replace it before it leaks and causes an expensive cleanup.

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Why Choose A Heat Pump?

November 17th, 2011

Heat pumps have had a poor reputation for providing optimum confort in a home due to the low temperature air that they generate at the supply vents.  Oil-fired and gas-fired furnaces provide heated are that is 15 to 20 degrees warmer at the supply vents.  Often a hybrid heating system can be installed that uses either heating oil or natural gas as a back-up when temperatures are at the coldest during the winter months.  

Heat pumps work best in well‐insulated and well‐sealed homes. The ducts must be tactically placed to collect cool air in the winter and hot air in the summer.  When you operate a heat pump make sure to find a comfortable setting and leave it alone. It is recommended to place the settings of the heat pump at 68°F in the winter, and 78°F in the summer. If the thermostat is adjusted frequently in the winter, auxiliary electric heat can be activated which can contradict the efficiency of the unit. In addition, change the filters regularly to a MERV rating of 6 or greater. If you preform the basic maintenance procedures it will help your unit to run at its optimum capacity.

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Heating An Old House

September 13th, 2011

Heating an old house is a balancing act often met with trouble.  Many early homes were built without any type of central heating system (unless you count the chimney) meanwhile others are faced with aging, and incompetent systems.

Unless you are planning to remodel your house, you probably have no other choice in the matter but to deal with systems such as these: existing steam or hydronic radiators powered by a broiler, or forced air ducts fueled by a furnace.  Even if you don’t intend to tear out your floor, there are ways to incorporate new technology that will make your system more competent, and more comfortable to live with.

Landowners have long complemented central heating systems with wood or gas burning fireplaces, stoves and inserts.  These often proficient components may boost warmth in a gathering room or even heat a small house at prices that make sense to most homeowners, but there are plenty of other choices that can resolve heating problems or increase comfort in chilly spots like entries, porches, and bathrooms.

One Choice Preferred:

Got a steam or hot water system with indisposed radiators?

No need to throw out the boiler with the bath water when you replace the broken one with a new one.  Choices can consist of nearly silent baseboard units that melt into the wall, flat-fins units that tuck under windows, or streamlined tubular radiators that look like the originals you may already have.

Want to know more about better heating your home?  Get in touch with Oehlert Bros. to find out how!

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Tankless water heaters: Cost effective and efficient

March 23rd, 2011

Tankless water heaters are instant heaters one doesn’t have to wait for hours to heat water. It’s much better than traditional heaters and now more in demand. They are highly energy efficient and cost effective.

Many people look for much more greener and efficient lifestyles should switch to tankless water heaters as they conserve a whooping amount of energy. In fact, studies show that your average tankless heater has an efficiency rating of up to 99%. It’s a fact that tankless heater runs off of electricity and natural gas means conservation of natural resources and lower rate of associated pollution as well.

If you ever had a full sink full of dishes and you run out of hot water half way through, then you probably may understand one major benefit of tankless water heater as they are capable of providing as much hot water as you need. Tankless water heaters heat water as it’s passed through the system instead of pre-heating water and storing it in tank the patent way old heater does. Because of this they provide limitless flow of heated water.

Tankless heaters are not susceptible to problems such as water corrosion or leakage. In fact, tankless heaters last much longer than the old one, allowing you to cut down on money and hassle of replacement or repair.

The biggest advantage of tankless heaters is that they don’t occupy much space. Tankless heaters are small enough to be placed underneath a sin or in any other convenient location that would provide easy access.

When all these uses are considered its gets easy to say that replacing your traditional heater to tankless heater is the most sensible decision. They are compact, easy to use, highly efficient, and environmentally conscious, perfect for today’s modern homes.

 

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Oehlert Bros. Wins HVAC Installation Award!

January 4th, 2011

Oehlert Bros. Inc. won a “Design/Build” award from The BIE of Pottstown and Vicinity for excellence in designing and installing a high efficiency commercial boiler system. The Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge was in need of a new heating system to replace their 47-year-old heating oil boiler.  Efficiency was a top priority to reduce energy costs.  The replacement system was designed to utilize two smaller boilers to replace the inefficient single boiler.  The 2 boiler system allows for greater fuel efficiency due to the ability to only fire one boiler during non-peak demand times (fall and spring).  During peak loads, both boilers fire to provide the heating needed for the building.  High efficiency modulating circulators were also used to reduce electrical costs and increase efficiency with the heating system.  The Buderas Boilers also utilize a computerized heat manager to increase the efficiency of the heating system.

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