Most people think that their home’s duct design — the structure built for taking air to an A/C unit and furnace and then returning it into the home — is fairly simple. It takes air from the home, heats or cools it with the HVAC equipment and returns it back to the home. Simple, right? Not so much.

There are a few myths concerning the designing of ductwork that can really affect the adequate heating and cooling of your Michigan home. In truth, the installation of ductwork requires a great deal of attention to duct design to maximize airflow and balance the pressure in your home.

Check your home for the following ductwork design myths:

• MYTH: Following specific instructions (Manual D) for duct design will result in a self-balancing system. Return grilles and supply outlets take air and bring air, changing the pressure in various rooms. This affects the balance of air pressure in your home. Special attention still needs to be paid to placing returns and supply outlets so that the pressure differences don’t pull in outdoor air or push the heated or cooled air out of the home.
• MYTH: There's a one-size-fits-all rule of thumb for sizing return grilles, such as one square foot per every ton of your HVAC system. Making sure that return grilles are large enough to handle the airflow is an important part of duct design; most returns are actually too small. This results in noisy grilles, bad airflow, leaks and poor performance for filters.
• MYTH: Duct sealing alone is a magic wand to improve HVAC operation and your home’s comfort. Leaky ducts are bad, but they need to be correctly sized first or the sealing will cause additional problems if your ducts are too small.
• MYTH: Supply outlets can go anywhere. Duct design must consider the best positioning for supply outlets to adequately heat and cool a home.

Let your home’s duct design be handled by the professionals. Contact us at Mast Heating & Cooling to install or inspect your Michigan home’s ducts for optimal home comfort.

Image via Shutterstock.com

If you're concerned about your energy bill, you may consider having an energy audit performed on your home.

This professional evaluation will provide an in-depth look at your home to see how you can cut down your utility costs while simultaneously checking for issues like air leakage or moisture problems.

What is an energy audit?

During a professional audit, a qualified technician assesses how and where energy's being lost in and around your home. The pro will check each room of your home, conducting a blower door test and thermographic scan to identify specific leaks. These require specialized equipment such as a calibrated fan, a pressure measuring device and an infrared camera. 

What you need to do before an energy assessment

Before a professional arrives for an energy audit:

• List the problem areas in your home, including drafts and condensation.
• Have copies of the previous year's utility bills to show the technician.
• Know facts such as your average thermostat settings, how many people are in your home during the day and which rooms are used the most.

After the audit

Once the audit has been completed, the technician will have recommendations for you. It may be suggested that you improve your home's insulation or seal up air leaks in your home. Another good idea is to sign up for a regular maintenance program so that you keep your HVAC equipment in excellent condition.

For more information on an energy audit of your home, please contact us at Mast Heating and Cooling. We've been giving expert service to the Holland and Zeeland areas for over 55 years.

Image via Shutterstock.com

The programmable thermostat has been promoted by HVAC contractors as an easy way to maximize the energy efficiency in your home. Coupled with a high-efficiency air conditioner or furnace, a proper setting can help you see substantial savings on your utility bill.

If you follow these easy guidelines, your home and your wallet will stay comfortable all year long.  

• Choose the location of the thermostat carefully. Placing a unit in direct sunlight, next to a window or on an outside wall may cause the furnace or air conditioner to run unnecessarily.
• When the house is empty, adjust the temperature up or down 7 or 8 degrees and maintain that for as long as possible (a minimum length of 8 hours ensures savings).
• In the summer, set the temperature at 78 degrees or higher.
• In the winter, set the temperature at 68 degrees or lower.
• Make adjustments in one-degree increments and allow several days before making the next adjustment.
• Program the thermostat to start bringing the house to the desired temperature about 1 or 2 hours before you wake up or arrive home so that you aren't tempted to use the hold or override feature. Constantly overriding the system uses more energy and defeats the purpose of programming.

If you find that your home isn't comfortable at these temperatures or you're not seeing the savings you'd hoped for, you may need to look beyond the thermostat setting. Poor insulation and leaky ducts can increase the work load of the furnace or air conditioner.  

For more information on how to maximize your energy efficiency with a programmable thermostat, contact the pros at Mast Heating and Cooling. Let our experts answer your questions and help you find the best solutions for your home. We've been serving the Holland and Zeeland areas for more than 56 years. 

Image via Shutterstock.com

If you’ve considered installing a geothermal heat pump, you already know about the efficiency and savings that these units provide.

But maybe you're still intimidated by the installation process. While installation costs are higher, it pays for itself in a matter of years. A geothermal heat pump delivers more energy for each unit consumed than other types of systems — up to four units of heat for every unit spent on electricity. Some systems can also heat water for household use for even more savings.

The first step in installing a geothermal heat pump is evaluating the site. Even in Michigan, where outdoor temperatures often plunge, the ground temperature remains at a constant temperature suitable for a heat pump. However, the installer will also measure other site characteristics. They’ll identify landscaping, underground components like sprinkler systems, electrical wires and other utilities to determine where to place the unit without disturbing existing features. They’ll also evaluate the geology—soil and rock—of the site to determine the best type of installation.  Surface water availability can also determine the type of ground loop to use.

A geothermal heat pump is installed by excavating the ground to bury the piping. The closed loop system is most often used. It's made of high density polyethylene pipe that's filled with an antifreeze solution. Horizontal installations are typically buried at 4 to 6 feet deep, while vertical installations are buried up to 400 feet deep. Vertical installations are used when there's not much usable ground to work with because of soil conditions or existing landscape, hardscape or buildings. Open loop systems take advantage of a nearby water source, with loops placed under the water's surface several feet.

Like other HVAC systems, a heat pump connects to your home’s ducts to distribute hot or cold air. Existing ducts can usually be used, but should be checked carefully for proper sizing, leaks and seal damage.

Geothermal heat pump installation is a complicated undertaking that must be done by a qualified installer like Mast Heating and Cooling. Contact us today to find out if your site's a good location for a geothermal heat pump.

Image via Shutterstock.com

Heating and cooling your Michigan home can be tricky. Variations of several degrees are common between different rooms and levels, often leading to discomfort and frustration among family members. A zoning system is a highly effective solution that allows you to control the temperature in various designated zones throughout your home with a series of individual controls and dampers which will open and close depending on your needs.

Four benefits of upgrading to this type of system include:

1. Maximum efficiency - By only heating or cooling occupied zones, you can realize some serious energy savings. In combination with a programmable thermostat, you may save as much as 30 percent on your annual energy bills, while reducing your carbon footprint.
2. Unparalleled comfort - A zoning system eliminates hot and cold spots within your home by providing a separate thermostat for each zone. This allows each member of your family to control the temperature of the room they’re in and adjust it to suit their needs.
3. Increased control - The network of duct dampers and thermostats in your zoning system puts you in the driver’s seat, allowing you to control which areas of your home receive conditioned air at any given time.
4. Quiet operation - In a traditional HVAC setup, when conditioned air is called for, the system comes on at full capacity to get the job done. With a zoning system the workload is reduced, allowing your equipment to operate at a lower speed and make less noise.

If you’re considering upgrading to a zoning system, call the experts at Mast Heating & Cooling. Since 1954, we've been providing top quality service to the residents of the Holland and Zeeland areas.

Image via Shutterstock.com

Spring is in the air, and right behind it are the dog days of summer. Before you head into the summer months, take advantage of the mild spring weather and prepare your air conditioner.

Not only can scheduling air conditioner maintenance reduce your energy bills, but it can also identify any looming problems that might leave you sweltering in the summer breeze.

Properly maintaining your air conditioning equipment is a team effort between you and your service technician. Between scheduled maintenance calls, homeowners can do their part to maintain a healthy HVAC system.

• Change or clean the air filter on a regular basis to maintain the maximum airflow required by the system to operate at its peak efficiency. 
• Keep the outside condensing unit free of leaves, weeds and other yard debris that could block the airflow to the unit. An occasional rinse with a water hose also helps to maintain airflow. 
• Make sure that returns and vents inside of your home remain unobstructed to allow good circulation to the HVAC system to maintain efficiency. 

Now that you've done your part, it's time to let your HVAC technician do the heavy lifting. When the technician visits your home for an air conditioner maintenance call, the following procedures should be performed.

• Check refrigerant levels in your HVAC system. 
• Practice industry standards when evacuating refrigerant. 
• Check central systems for air duct leakage and seal when necessary. 
• Verify sufficient airflow through the evaporator coils. 
• Test and gauge the thermostat for accuracy. 
• Check control sequences for HVAC system to ensure that both the heating and cooling system cannot function at the same time. 
• Inspect, clean and tighten all electrical connections. 
• Inspect belts and tighten when necessary. 
• Inspect and lubricate fan motors. 

Homeowners seeking additional expert advice on spring air conditioner maintenance can contact Mast Heating & Cooling. Since 1956, we've provided exceptional service to the Holland and Zeeland areas of western Michigan.

Image via Shutterstock.com

In the market for a new technician for your Holland or Zeeland area home? Checking for NATE certification is, hands down, the best way to ensure that you're getting the most reliable service for your HVAC system. Let's take a look at what certification means, how it will benefit your household, and why you should only choose technicians who have gone through certifications.

Certification is rigorous

NATE, or North American Technical Excellence, certification is taken seriously within the HVAC community and industry. Orchestrated by a panel of industry professionals that maintains the program's KATEs (Knowledge Areas of Technician Expertise) , this nonprofit organization has ensured quality experts since 1997. Training and testing is a rigorous venture, and HVAC professionals can be certified in a wide variety of categories. Certification is good for a period of five years, at which time the technician must be retested in order to retain his or her certification.

A symbol of expertise and excellence

As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. When you hire a NATE-certified HVAC technician, you'll find that he or she is well-versed in a variety of subjects and techniques. The training and testing that's provided ensures that the work being done will always be top notch, and any issues that you have will be quickly and professionally rectified. This is one reason why you should hire technicians who have completed certification.

Another great benefit that NATE certification provides is an understanding of what exceptional customer service is all about. These technicians will not only evaluate your HVAC needs, but they will also explain what's wrong with your system, the steps needed to fix the issue and what you can do in the future to help prevent further problems. And what's wonderful about this is that they will explain all of this in terms you can easily understand.

For expert advice about NATE certification, or for questions relating to home comfort, please be sure to contact the professionals at Mast Heating & Cooling. We've been serving the Holland and Zeeland area of Michigan since 1956.

Image via Shutterstock.com

These tips will help you better manage your home's heat pump operating costs, winter and summer. Heat pumps are among the most energy efficient HVAC appliances available, and executing these 9 tips will help you get the most from it without sacrificing any comfort.

1. Go through your home and verify that all the registers are open and not blocked by rugs, furniture or wall hangings. 
2. Use the windows to your advantage. In the summer, keep the window coverings closed to lower heat gain and open them in the winter for passive solar heating. 
3. Make sure the dryer vent doesn't blow exhausted air near the outdoor condenser. The lint from the vent can collect on the fins and condenser coil, retarding the cooling process in the summer.
4. Keep the damper for your fireplace closed when you're not using it and the coals have completely extinguished themselves. Verify that the damper's closed before cooling season starts. 
5. Use kitchen and bathroom fans sparingly during the heating and cooling season. They're small but capable of removing lots of conditioned air.
6. Check the air filter for the blower monthly during heating and cooling seasons. It's the one thing you can do to keep heat pump operating costs lower. A dirty filter slows the airflow through the blower and drives up conditioning costs. It also increases the wear and tear on all the parts of the heat pump. 
7. Have your system checked and serviced annually. The Department of Energy reports that a heat pump that's properly maintained uses up to 25 percent less energy.
8. Verify that your ductwork is sealed and insulated to reduce air and thermal losses.
9. Keep sources of heat away from the thermostat and in a draft-free zone. 

To learn more about reducing heat pump operating costs, contact Mast Heating & Cooling. We've provided HVAC services for the greater western Michigan region since 1956. 

Image via Shutterstock.com

Traditional heat pumps have heated and cooled homes for many years. While these heat pumps are very effective at pumping heat in or out of a home in milder temperature zones, they're not efficient enough to work in all weather in colder climates such as that of western Michigan. However, a hybrid cooling and heating option may be a great choice for your Holland and Zeeland area home. 

Hybrid heat pumps, otherwise known as duel-fuel heat pumps, are different from the traditional version. Coupled with your furnace, this hybrid cooling and heating system is like a great central air conditioner. During cold winters, these hybrid heat pumps shut off and let the furnace do the work. Once the spring and fall temperatures roll back around, the hybrid heat pump takes over to provide cheaper heat just like in warmer climates. With a hybrid heating and cooling system, you can save more money in the long run, and you may also qualify for an energy-saving tax credit, which will put more money back in your pocket.

Determining if hybrid cooling and heating is right for you

There are many factors to consider before deciding if a hybrid heat pump is the right choice for your home.

• Conduct a heating and cooling load analysis. A professional can determine the size of the unit best suited for your home's needs. Don't just rely on your current model's label for future purchases.
• When it comes time to comparing units, make sure you're using the right numbers. For cooling efficiency, compare the seasonal energy efficiency ratios (SEER). The higher the number, the more efficient the unit.
• Conduct a comparative cost analysis. Your trusted HVAC professional can look at local energy rates to help you estimate your potential future savings. 

For more expert advice about hybrid cooling and heating, contact Mast Heating & Cooling. We've proudly served homeowners throughout western Michigan since 1956.

Image via Shutterstock.com

Your health may be at risk as a result of the indoor air quality in your home, which may contain pollutants and irritants found in everyday household products as well as outdoor air that's found its way indoors.

Here are five ways you can improve your home's indoor air quality this season:

• No-smoking zone - Research shows that secondhand smoke causes a host of health problems, and children are especially susceptible. Keep your home smoke-free. If you haven’t quit smoking yet, at least smoke outside.
• Floors - Invest in a high-performance vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. The HEPA filter retains the waste instead of blowing it back into the room. Vacuum the house diligently at least two or three times a week, including upholstered furniture, carpet edges and walls. Mop the floors with microfiber mops and dust cloths. Put a large mat at the door to collect dust and other particulates that are tracked into the house on people’s shoes. Wipe your shoes on the mat and take them off at the door.
• Humidity - Keep the humidity levels in your home between 30 and 50 percent to prevent mold and dust mites from establishing a home base. Control moisture levels in the house by venting the dryer to the outside, using an exhaust fan in the bathroom and kitchen and opening a window when you’re cooking, showering or washing dishes.
• Test for radon - Radon gas is colorless, odorless and is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Testing is easy, quick and inexpensive, and reducing harmful levels of radon isn’t complicated.
• Fragrance - Those fresh-smelling fragrances in laundry products and air fresheners are often formulated using dozens of chemicals that you won’t find on the label. Play it safe and avoid artificially-scented products and aerosol sprays. Use lemons and baking soda for a fresh fragrance and take advantage of the natural capacity of plants to purify the air.

For more expert advice about indoor air quality, or any other issues related to home comfort, contact the experts at Mast Heating & Cooling. We’ve been providing qualified and quality HVAC services in the Holland and Zeeland areas since 1956.

Image via Shutterstock.com

Are your electricity bills always increasing and messing up your monthly budget? Using a few time-tested methods and some common sense, homeowners can easily cut utility costs down in a meaningful way. The monetary savings depend on your individual situation, but the energy-saving ideas are still worth your while.

Here's a short list of tips you can use to decrease your home electricity bills and enjoy a more comfortable home:

• Switch to CFL bulbs - Traditional incandescent light bulbs don't last nearly as long as the more environmentally-friendly compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). As your current bulbs burn out, replace them with CFLs.
• Install smarter switches  - These switches turn off lights, fans and other household equipment automatically so there's no more wasted energy.
• Air conditioner servicing - Regular air conditioner maintenance not only keeps the unit running efficiently, but it also lengthens the life span of the HVAC system.
• Stop energy guzzlers - Many electronics waste lots of energy, even when they're off. Plug them into a power strip and turn off the strip when not in use.
• Dryer performance - A blocked lint screen or duct dramatically reduces the efficiency of your dryer. Clean them out to improve performance, save energy and keep your dryer running safely.
• Change filters - A clogged filter in your heating and cooling system makes it work harder, using more energy. Check them once a month and change or clean as needed.
• Water heater savings - Use a timer to turn the unit on and off, drain the tank periodically to reduce sediment and wrap the unit in an water heater insulation blanket if it's warm to the touch.
• Get smart metering - You pay less for energy used at certain times of the day. 
• Refrigerator coil cleaning - Cleaning the coils under and in back of the fridge twice a year with a bendable brush will improve the refrigerator's performance and reduce energy used.

For more information on how to reduce your home's electricity bills, contact the pros at Mast Heating & Cooling. We've been proudly serving the Holland and Zeeland areas of Michigan since 1956.

Image via Shutterstock.com

Your air conditioner may not be the first thing you're thinking about this spring, but think of it this way — if you need a new air conditioner, you’ll be relieved to have it taken care of it before the temperatures take off, rather than wallowing in the heat while you get a new air conditioner installed.

Before you buy a new air conditioner, you’ll need to do some research. Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking about upgrading.

• Decreased energy costs - We’ve written about ways to decrease your cooling costs before, and this is another good method to add to the list. The cost of running a newer-model air conditioner is almost always lower than the cost of running an old one. Look for an air conditioner with the Energy Star label for the best savings.
• Fewer repairs - If your current air conditioner breaks down frequently, it’s time to install a new one. The cost of a new air conditioner is nothing compared to the cost of constantly repairing an old model that’s going to be replaced anyway.
• Improved cooling efficiency - Does your air conditioner cool your home unevenly? Newer air conditioners use much less energy and can cool your home much more effectively. Air conditioners’ efficiency is rated by their seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER. Air conditioners manufactured today are required to have a SEER rating of at least 13; older models usually have much lower ratings. A higher SEER rating translates to higher cooling efficiency.

If you feel that installing a new air conditioner could decrease your energy costs, free you from constant repairs and increase the cooling efficiency in your home, now's the time to get started! The team at Mast Heating & Cooling would be happy to answer any questions you may have. We've been proudly serving western Michigan homeowners since 1956.

Image via Shutterstock.com

Even homes that use high efficiency filters can suffer from poor air quality.

Most furnace filters only remove about 10 percent of the dust and particulate matter from the air. An electronic air cleaner, however, can remove up to 95 percent of the particulate matter from your indoor air. Many homes today have indoor air quality issues, and electronic air cleaners are healthy additions to any home. 

How electronic air cleaners work

Electronic air cleaners use an electric charge to attract particles to the pre-filter and collector plates inside. Particles gather on the collector plates, which must be periodically cleaned off in order for your electronic air cleaner to work at peak efficiency. This is a fairly easy job to do, and almost any homeowner can do this maintenance task in just a few steps. 

• Remove the cells containing the collector plates and run them through your dishwasher. Just remember to use the "air dry" option so that anything that may be left on the plates isn't baked on.
• If the cells won’t fit in your dishwasher, soak them in soapy water in your tub. Rinse them with hot water, and then soak them in clean water. Let them dry completely before returning them to your air cleaner.
• You can also take the cells to your local do-it-yourself car wash, just be careful to hold the sprayer at least 2 feet from the cells so you don’t damage them.

Keeping your electronic air cleaner spick-and-span isn't a hard job. You should clean it four times a year for maximum efficiency.

If you have any questions about electronic air cleaners and their care, contact the pros at Mast Heating & Cooling. We've been serving the HVAC needs of Holland and Zeeland area homeowners since 1956.

Image via Shutterstock.com

Water heaters generally last 8 to 12 years, depending on the quality of the water in your western Michigan home. With proper water heater maintenance, however, you can extend the life of your system, maintain its efficiency and ensure it operates safely year-round.

Annual preventive water heater maintenance by a qualified HVAC professional is recommended, but if you're an experienced DIYer, you can perform some of this maintenance yourself. Here are a handful of tasks you can do to extend the life of your water heater and lower your water heating costs.

1. Set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees. Hotter temperatures increase the risk of scalding, promote corrosion and increase your energy costs.
2. Maintain 2 feet of clearance around your water heater and keep combustible materials at least 15 feet away.
3. Drain the sediment from your tank annually. Sediment on the bottom of the tank acts as an insulator and makes your system work harder to heat your water. To do this, place a bucket under the drain valve and open it slowly to release water. Let the water flow into the bucket until it comes out clean. Always keep in mind that the water is extremely hot!
4. Test the temperature and pressure relief (TPR) valve every year to ensure this important safety feature is fully operational. Place a bucket under the discharge pipe and pull up on the TPR valve. If water isn't released when you open the valve, it needs to be replaced.
5. Check the anode rod. This sacrificial metal rod prevents your tank from rusting and should be replaced when more than 6 inches of the core wire is exposed. Loosen the hex head screw and remove the rod to inspect and replace it.
6. Insulate an older water heater with a tank-insulating blanket to improve its efficiency. 
7. Set the thermostat to the vacation setting on a gas unit when you leave town to keep the pilot light lit without heating the water.

For more expert advice on water heater maintenance, please feel free to contact us at Mast Heating & Cooling. We're proud to serve the Holland and Zeeland areas with a high level of customer satisfaction. 

Image via Shutterstock.com

Geothermal cooling and heating is an HVAC option that many homeowners haven't considered. A few feet below the surface, the earth's temperatures hover at a consistent 50 to 65 degrees, and a geothermal heat pump takes advantage of that. It brings that coolness into your home in the summer, and in the winter, it brings the relative warmth up out of the ground.

The energy efficiency of geothermal cooling and heating is unparalleled. The most efficient gas furnaces only have a 95 percent efficiency. In other words, they only provide 95 cents worth of heating for every dollar put into them. Geothermal systems, however, have an efficiency rate of over 400 percent. In fact, it's estimated that they can cut your HVAC energy usage by as much as 50 to 70 percent. 

An additional benefit of geothermal systems — they're very quiet since they have few moving parts. The lack of moving parts also means there will be little to no maintenance required. You never have to worry, as you would with a gas furnace, about a gas leak. Geothermal systems are reliable, easy to manage and safe, and since these systems use renewable energy, they're great for the environment.

Though a geothermal system can require a significant initial investment, the energy savings can certainly make up for it. Additionally, geothermal cooling and heating falls under the residential renewable energy tax credit, which can reduce the price of installation.

If you're searching for more information on geothermal cooling and heating, please contact the team at Mast Heating & Cooling. We're proud to have met the HVAC needs of homeowners throughout the Holland and Zeeland area for over 55 years.

Image via Shutterstock.com

Are you considering adding a heat pump to your western Michigan home? Heat pumps can help reduce both your winter heating costs and the cost of cooling your home in the summer. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that if you heat your home with electricity, adding a heat pump could save you up to 40 percent on your winter electric bill.

Getting your home ready for your heat pump
You'll need to do a little prep work before you have your new heat pump system installed.

• Have your ducts checked. Any time you make a change to your heating system, it's a good idea to have your ductwork checked to make sure that it's working as efficiently as possible. After all, the heated air isn't much use if it can't reach your living space. Look for leaky connections, holes and ducts that have come apart.
• Have the HVAC installer seal the heater closet. If your heat pump system is being installed in a utility closet, make sure that the area is well sealed, especially at the ceiling level, where heated air can escape into the attic, compromising the efficiency of your heat pump system.
• Find a spot for the outdoor unit. The ideal spot for the outdoor unit of your heat pump system is on the north side of the building. If that isn't possible, choose a shady location. Make sure there are no obstructions within 10 feet of the top of the unit and the sides with openings.
• Check for 25C energy tax credits. Many heat pump systems are eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $300 if replaced before the end of 2013. Ask your HVAC professional about systems that qualify for this incentive.

If you have questions about adding a heat pump to your western Michigan home, let Mast Heating & Cooling answer all of your questions and help you choose the product that works best for your family and budget. We've been helping Holland, Grand Rapids and other western Michigan residents with their heating and cooling needs since 1956. 

Image via Shutterstock.com

You’ve probably heard that today’s Energy Star furnaces and air conditioners are gloriously efficient, outpacing their predecessors and saving consumers big money every year on their heating and cooling bills. But maybe what you haven’t heard is that these high-efficiency systems are a little like today’s vehicles — computerized wonders that require specialized tools and expert precision to navigate.

 

This is one reason why you should call on a NATE-certified technician when your high-efficiency system needs a tune-up or repair. The acronym stands for North American Technician Excellence, a stamp of approval that only the most technically proficient contractors earn.

The difference between NATE-certified technicians and everyone else out there? Rigorous on-the-job training, followed by tests that put technicians’ skill under a sharp spotlight. For example, technicians must:

• Log at least one year of on-the-job experience before taking installation technician tests
• Work at least two years on the job before taking service technician tests
• Accrue five years of trade experience to be eligible for senior-level technician status

This ladder system suggests that you can’t rush the process of learning about today’s high-efficiency HVAC systems. It’s a long and complex road. But when a technician earns his wings, it’s actually consumers who benefit.

Nearly 85 percent of customers whose systems were serviced by NATE-certified technicians said they would ask for the very same contractor again — a vote of confidence almost unheard of in the HVAC industry. These customers were impressed that their technician provided fast, efficient service, addressed their HVAC problem with ease and were both professional and respectful on the job. 

NATE sets high standards, and so does Mast Heating & Cooling. Contact us today for more information about your high-efficiency system. We proudly serve homeowners throughout western Michigan.

Image via Shutterstock.com

Energy savings in the winter is on every Michigan homeowner's mind. One easy way to encourage energy savings is to insulate your water heater. This may not create a noticeable savings instantly, but over the course of a year, it can add up with minimal out-of-pocket costs. 

How to insulate your water heater
You can easily insulate your own hot water heater with a few items and following a few simple steps. Traditional hardware stores sell everything you need — a water tank insulation kit, duct tape, a utility knife and gloves to protect your hands from the insulation. Once you have the tools, take the following steps:

• Fit the insulation kit over the top of the hot water tank. 
• You may need to make cuts to ensure a proper fit. Be sure to cut out any air vents, control knobs or drain valves. Be sure to keep the insulating blanket away from burner or pilot light areas.  
• Use the duct tape to secure the seams together. 

Your water heater has to work harder to heat the fresh water coming into the tank and keep that water consistently warm. The insulating blanket helps the water tank maintain the temperature of the water while the heater is at rest. When it's heating the fresh water, the insulating blanket helps the water heater by allowing less heat to escape, saving energy in the process.

If you're looking to insulate your water heater or would like more information about HVAC related topics, contact the pros at Mast Heating & Cooling. We proudly serve homeowners throughout the Holland and Zeeland areas. 

Image via Shutterstock.com

Ensuring the comfort of your family is sometimes difficult. One thing that's been making this easier for a number of homeowners is the use of zoned heating and cooling. If you're looking for a way to improve the comfort level of your Michigan home, you might want to give zoning a try.

The problem with traditional heating and cooling

No heating and cooling setup is perfect, but if you're still using a traditional system, you may be doing your home a disservice. With a traditional setup, if you want to heat or cool even one room in your home, you'll need to do the same to the entire house. Add to that the differences in both a room's design and location and an individual's personal comfort level, and you have a recipe for an uneven household.

Zoned heating and cooling fixes these problems

As the name implies, zoning allows you to designate different zones within your home. These can be specific rooms or a collection of rooms in the same area. This allows you to tackle the problems of comfort within your home. For example, if your spouse is in the upstairs bedroom and you're in the downstairs living room, there's a good chance that the mere location of these rooms will necessitate different heating or cooling needs. Plus, you need to take your individual comfort level into account. Zoning goes a long way to improving your home's overall comfort level.

Zoned heating and cooling lowers your bills

Comfort isn't the only advantage. You'll also save money by utilizing a zoned system. The reason for this is quite simple. By concentrating your heating or cooling efforts in a handful of specific areas rather than your entire home, less energy will be used to achieve the same result. This can mean considerable energy and money savings for your home.

If you'd like further assistance with zoned heating and cooling, or for questions regarding home comfort, contact the experts at Mast Heating & Cooling. We've been serving the HVAC needs of western Michigan since 1956. 

Image via Shutterstock.com