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. 

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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. 

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Running out of hot water while you shower can occur any time of year, but it’s most common in the winter when Western Michigan temperatures plummet. If you’ve recently suffered from no hot water while taking a shower, try these simple water heater troubleshooting tips before you call in the pros.

• Assess the water heater’s surroundings: Perhaps the reason your water heater is having a hard time is because of its surroundings. Is it located in a cold room? Is there a draft? See if you can perform maintenance around the area, such as caulking the windows and sealing other air leaks.
• Add insulation: Water heater insulation, sometimes called a “jacket,” can be installed to help reduce standby heat loss. It’s also wise to wrap foam insulation around any length of accessible piping. These efforts keep water hotter for longer and with less energy consumption to prevent the unpleasantness of no hot water in the shower. Insulation may also allow you to turn down the temperature, saving you money without decreasing the hot water supply.
• Replace the dip tube: This plastic tube runs incoming cold water to the bottom of the tank. That way, it doesn’t disturb the heated water near the top. If this tube is damaged, cold water can leak into the heated section of the tank and cool off the water there. The dip tube is an inexpensive part and can be easily replaced by a heating and cooling technician.

If you don’t see enough of an improvement after completing these water heater troubleshooting tips, call in the pros. After all, these efforts can improve the rate of hot-water delivery, but they can’t reverse serious problems. Have a technician inspect the heating element or pilot light, depending on your water heater’s fuel source, along with the temperature gauge. Any of these could be causing the issue of no hot water in the winter.

For more information, or to learn more about operating your hot water heater efficiently, please contact Mast Heating & Cooling today. We serve residents of Holland, Zeeland and the surrounding areas in Western Michigan.

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Sealing leaks and weatherstripping your doors and windows are good ways of keeping the cold out during a Michigan winter, but there's another precaution that's even more important. You need to protect your pipes against freezing.

Frozen pipes are usually caused by rapid drops in temperature. Water expands. So if the water gets down to below-freezing temperatures, your pipes can burst, which can cause flooding and water damage, and lead to mold and other dangerous and expensive problems. Because of this, avoiding frozen pipes in the winter is essential.

Prevention
There are a number of steps you can take to avoid frozen pipes. First, it's necessary to know which pipes are most susceptible to freezing. They include:

• Exposed and uninsulated pipes
• Pipes along the exterior wall of the house
• Pipes that go through attics, basements, garages and other uninsulated spaces

To keep your pipes from freezing, one of the best things you can do is insulate them. You can use insulation tubing, heat tape or heated wiring. In an emergency, wrap your pipes with socks or other available cloth. Then, seal any air leaks nearby to keep cold air from making the pipes colder. Also, disconnect your garden hose and drain any water out of your outdoor pipes.

Emergency procedures
During a sudden cold spell, keeping a small trickle of water going can help you in avoiding frozen pipes. Your thermostat plays a part in pipe freezing as well. Never let it go below 55 degrees, or the house may become cold enough for water to freeze. 

Be sure to know where the main shutoff valve is in case your pipes do freeze. Turn the valve off and all the faucets on, allowing the water in your pipes to drain safely. You may be able to thaw your pipes using a hair dryer, but don't use it in standing water, and never use any kind of fire or open flame. Call a plumber as soon as possible to assess the damage.

For more tips on avoiding frozen pipes and other advice about winterizing your home, contact our experts at Mast Heating & Cooling. We've been Holland and Zeeland's source for home comfort solutions since 1954.

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Home maintenance tasks like a furnace inspection ensure that you and your family have access to a reliable, efficient heating source over the winter. Your home maintenance checklist should include your plumbing system, too.

To perform a do-it-yourself inspection of your home's plumbing components, here's what to do:

• Look for any obvious damage to pipes such as a crack, bulge or dent. Make sure the pipes are free of corrosion. Copper pipes should look like a clean penny, not one that has been left outside. 
• Check the drain, which should have a smooth, steady flow of water -- without bubbling. Slow drains are often a sign of a blockage, and bubbling can also indicate a leak where air is seeping into the line.
• Inspect toilets by flushing them. While the tank is refilling with water, open the lid and check for any obviously damaged internal parts. Once the tank fills back up with water, if the toilet runs water, it may have a slow leak. 
• Maintain the water heater.  First, drain the unit to flush sediment from the bottom of the tank. If the unit is powered by gas and utilizes a pilot light, check the flame: It should be blue. A yellow flame indicates problems. Finally, check the burner assembly for rust. Consider adding insulation to an (older) water heater to further improve its efficiency.

If you have any concerns or want detailed answers to heating questions, contact the pros in the Holland and Zeeland area at Mast Heating & Cooling today.

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You can have the most efficient furnace on the market, but if your ductwork isn't designed efficiently, you won't realize any savings.

Your furnace and your ductwork are a team. Optimally, they work together to maximize heating efficiency. But if your ductwork is crippled by a poor layout or other problems, your furnace won't be able to do the job it's meant to do. Here are the elements of efficient ductwork design.

• Sizing matters: Ducts must be properly sized for optimal heating system performance. Whether you're building a home or getting a new furnace, your heating load must be calculated by a qualified heating and cooling contractor. He will use the industry-standard Manual J. Then he will use another standard, Manual D, to determine ductwork size.  
• Duct layout should be planned sooner, rather than later: If you're building a home, your ductwork should be incorporated in the plans at the beginning of the process. The layout will be affected by a number of factors, including the placement of your walls and ceilings and the type of insulation you're using. Planning early will minimize the risk of making ductwork installation mistakes along the way. 
• Ductwork should run in insulated spaces. Running ductwork through an uninsulated attic or crawl space invites heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Insulate that attic or crawl space, and for good measure, insulate the ductwork. 
• Every room in your home should have a return-air register. If a room in your home doesn't have a return-air register, try to keep your interior doors open. Alternatively, consider installing a room-to-room register.
• Supply runs should be straight and short. Ductwork that's full of twists and turns can compromise your air delivery. Shorter supply runs also have fewer connections, which minimize the risk of leakage.
• A duct system should be balanced, delivering and returning the same amount of air. 

With a well-planned duct system, you can take charge of your energy costs and ensure a comfortable home. For more information about ductwork or heating and cooling systems, contact Mast Heating & Cooling in Holland and Zeeland.

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Because you live in Michigan. you know full well that a tight home is an energy-efficient home. That's why you insulated your attic and perhaps your walls. It's also why you sealed the spots where air was infiltrating your home. But there's one major source of heat loss that you probably haven't even thought about. The rim joists in your basement could be costing you -- big time. Fortunately, you can easily insulate those rim joists for a significant payoff in energy savings. Here's how to go about the job:

• First, contact your town's building department. Find out if you have to cover the insulation with drywall for fire-safety reasons. You may also want to leave certain areas uncovered to allow for access during termite inspections.
• Make sure you have the right material. The best material for this purpose is rigid foam board made of extruded polyurethane. Do not use less-effective polyurethane.
• Cut your insulation to size. Carefully measure the rim joists, and use a saw to cut the foam board into strips that are 8 feet long and 1/8 inch less than the height of the rim joists. Now use a box cutter to make the strips for sections that fit between each of the rim joists.
• Install the foam board. Snug the foam board into position, and seal around the edges with expanding foam from a can or caulk from a caulking gun. Use expanding foam to seal the gaps around the insulation where pipes, vents and other objects pass through the rim joists.

Properly insulating around the rim joists will make your home more comfortable and save you a lot of money over the years. Have any questions about insulating and air sealing your home? Contact Mast Heating and Cooling. We have proudly served the area for more than 50 years, and our staff of trained and courteous professionals is more than happy to answer your questions and address your home-efficiency concerns.

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Winter is just around the corner. If you haven't gotten to your fall home-maintenance checklist, now's the time to get started. In addition to changing the batteries in your smoke alarms and CO detectors and replenishing your emergency weather supplies, you should make sure your home is as weathertight as possible. Here are three important steps you can take to boost your home's energy efficiency. 

Maintain your HVAC system

• Schedule an HVAC-system tune-up. Preventive maintenance will not only extend the life of your furnace, but also help to keep down your energy bills. Your qualified HVAC professional will check your system, make sure all the parts are clean and lubricated, the connections are tight and no dangerous gases are leaking into your home. 
• The filter in your furnace helps to keep your indoor air clean and your furnace working properly. Dust can build up in your system and ultimately lead to expensive repairs. Check your furnace filter regularly and change it as soon as it looks dirty.

Seal air leaks

• Use caulk and weatherstripping to seal air leaks in your home. Look for leaks around window and door frames, at spots where wires, cables and plumbing penetrate exterior walls and where different construction materials meet outside your home.
• Check your ducts for loose joints, tears and holes, and seal them with metal tape or mastic.
• Check your fireplace damper for proper operation.

Insulate

• Check your attic insulation. If you have less than 7 inches of insulation, consider adding 5 or 6 more inches.  
• Insulate your ductwork. Although you can do part of this job yourself, you may want to hire a contractor to reach the hard-to-access ductwork. 
• Insulate the hot and cold water pipes For even more savings, insulate the heater itself. You can find water-heater blankets at most home improvement stores. 

Mast Heating & Cooling has served the Holland and Zeeland areas of western Michigan since 1956. Contact us for more expert advice on improving your home energy efficiency.

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Bats in the attic -- that's something you don't want. But insulating batts in your attic -- that's something else entirely. Most attics can stand more insulation. And if your attic is one of those attics, adding that insulation -- whether it's batts or another form -- can help you optimize your year-round energy savings and comfort. If you've decided to make this a do-it-yourself project, assemble the correct clothing, tools and know-how to do the job right.

Choose the right clothing
Your safety is the No. 1 priority for any home-improvement project. It’s wise to be thoroughly prepared with the right clothing and protective wear.

• Loose-fitting long pants and long sleeves protect your skin as you work with the insulation. 
• Protect your hands by wearing work gloves, preferably a pair with tacky palms so that you can grip more easily. 
• Cover your nose and mouth with a paper respirator mask to protect your nose and lungs from the batt fibers.
• Plastic goggles protect your eyes. Choose a pair approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration with a comfortable fit.
• Cover your hair with a hat or bandanna to keep the batt fibers out of your hair.
• Don’t think that you’re going overboard if you wear a hard hat. Protruding nails are common and very dangerous.

Assemble the right tools
You only need a few basic tools to lay batts.

• A felt pen to mark cuts
• A retractable tape measure
• A utility knife with a sharp blade
• A straight-edge to make straight cuts
• A putty knife or slat to push insulation into cracks, cavities and other hard-to-reach areas

Put down the batts 
Use these tips to make your job easier and safer.

• Choose your insulation carefully. Read the label so that you are aware of possible health issues and flammability of the insulation.
• If you're putting down two layers, make sure the bottom layer is the denser one. Otherwise, the top layer could compress the bottom layer.  
• When you're cutting, place the foil/paper side face-down on the board. Press very hard on the straight edge for a smooth cut.

Ready to tackle those batts in the attic? If you have any questions -- about insulation or other ways to make your home more energy efficient, contact Mast Heating & Cooling in Holland and Zeeland. 

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If you own a historic Michigan home, you certainly want to preserve its charming features. But that doesn't mean your lovely home can't be energy efficient, too. By going about the work of upgrading your home's efficiency systematically and choosing your contractor with care, you can have the best of both worlds -- a beautiful historic home and energy efficiency.

Home energy audit

Before you do anything, have a qualified HVAC contractor do an energy audit of your home. The audit will reveal the problem areas. Try to hire a contractor who is familiar with and experienced in doing audits of older homes. He'll understand that you want to preserve the important features of your home, and he won't treat your home the same way he would treat a newer house. He'll make recommendations that are appropriate for your specific situation.   

Three important areas

Your home differs significantly from newer homes, of course. But any home -- regardless of its age -- can benefit from a focus on three areas: efficient heating and cooling, insulation and air sealing. What you do in these three areas will differ in some respects from what the owner of a newer home does.

Your HVAC system: It may very well be that your heating system (and cooling system, if you have one) is very old and inefficient -- it may have been neglected over the years, as well. An upgrade to a high-efficiency furnace could help to lower your energy bills. But first, do what you can to lower your heating load without significantly altering your home. Insulating and air sealing can go a long way toward improving your energy efficiency. Adding air conditioning in some older homes can be tricky, as the ductwork on the second floor is often insufficient. Replacing that ductwork could mean tearing out the walls. Many homeowners find that window air conditioners do an adequate job. Alternatively, consider a ductless mini split in the area that absolutely must be kept cool.

Insulation: Many older homes have little, if any, insulation. Trying to heat or cool these homes wastes enormous amounts of energy dollars. Although you might be reluctant to tear out your prized plaster walls to add insulation, at least consider insulating the attic. That will keep warm air from escaping through the ceiling in the winter, and it will keep hot air from the attic radiating into your living space in the summer. 

Air leaks: Air leaks around your exterior doors and window frames can be sealed with caulk and weatherstripping without significantly altering the appearance of your home. Also find and fix air leaks in spots where cable and wires penetrate exterior walls and places where two construction materials meet on the outside of your home. Last, inspect your ductwork, and seal any leaks that you find.

If you do it right, your historic Michigan home can be energy efficient. If you have any questions, contact Mast Heating and Cooling. Our team of highly trained and courteous professionals is more than happy to help you.

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Western Michigan homeowners see their fair share of extreme winter weather each year. Generous snowfall and cold temperatures can be a dangerous mix when winter storms roll through. Prepare for the worst with these winter emergency preparedness tips.

Address these factors before a storm:

• The home's structure -- Make sure your home is properly insulated ahead of time, which will help keep existing heat inside. Caulking and weatherstripping around, as well as applying plastic coverings over, windows will keep heat inside. Also, apply weatherstripping around doors.
• Frozen pipes -- To help prevent your plumbing pipes from freezing, let faucets drip slightly. Before harsh weather sets in, insulate your pipes or wrap newspapers or towels around them.
• Supplies -- Stock up on bottled water, nonperishable food items and batteries. A weather radio is an important item to have, along with flashlights.
• Emergency heating equipment -- A gas or wood fireplace, or a wood-burning stove, can keep at least one room warm during an outage. Have plenty of firewood close by, and be sure to keep the room well ventilated when in use. Alternatively, consider purchasing a standby generator to power your home's main systems should you lose power.

Here's what you should do during an outage:

• Dress right -- Wear several layers of light, warm-weather clothing instead of one heavy layer. Tightly-woven outer layers will help keep body heat in. Wear a hat and mittens to stay warm.
• Keep your family safe -- Be aware of signs indicating frostbite, which include loss of feeling in fingers, toes, ears, and nose, as well as loss of color in these areas. Hypothermia is also a concern. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, disorientation, slurred speech, drowsiness and exhaustion. If you notice these symptoms, get the person to a warm area, remove wet clothing and warm the center of their body. In both cases, seek medical help immediately.
• Food -- Keep perishable food in your fridge and freezer from spoiling. Only open the doors when necessary so food will keep longer. Use a food thermometer to check that food is a healthy 40 degrees before consuming it.

If you have any questions on winter emergency preparedness, contact Mast Heating & Cooling. We serve the Holland and Zeeland area of Michigan.

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With winter just around the corner, now is a great time to consider making a few energy-saving investments to make sure your house stays as warm as it should this winter, without costing you a bundle. Below are some tips on what you need to check and repair. While you can do some steps yourself, getting a thorough home energy evaluation from your trusted professional is always a great idea.

• Fix air leaks -- Homes lose some heat through leaky doors, windows and ducts. You can fix drafty windows yourself with weatherstripping and caulk, or by covering them with plastic. Doors can also benefit from weatherstripping, or you can use door stops. Sealing leaky ducts is crucial to a comfortable home, as leaks allow heated air to escape from the ductwork. This project can be somewhat more difficult for homeowners to do properly, so it's a good idea to let a contractor handle this job.
• Adjust the temperature -- Use a programmable thermostat to set back the temperature in your home while you're sleeping or when it's unoccupied, and maintain comfortable temperatures when you're home. Scheduling eight-hour setbacks is critical for ensuring energy savings.
• Maintain your heating system -- Even if your furnace worked well last winter, annual maintenance is necessary to ensure it operates efficiently and saves you money on energy bills this winter. Regular maintenance also increases the life span of your HVAC system, and gives you the peace of mind that comes from being properly prepared for another western Michigan winter.
• Make sure your home has adequate insulation -- Adding insulation is one of the simplest and most cost-effective steps you can take to make your home more comfortable this winter, and add value to its worth. Talk to your local HVAC professional to determine the most effective locations to upgrade insulation and what type to use.
• Lower water-heating costs -- Turning the system's thermostat down to 120 degrees instantly saves you money, and like your furnace, water heaters run better when checked and tuned up on a regular basis by properly trained technicians.

Mast Heating & Cooling has been helping western Michigan homeowners make energy-saving investments since 1956, and we can help you ensure that your winter's as comfortable as possible.

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Did you know that you can save up to 20 percent of your cooling costs by making one simple change? Sealing your ductwork is one of the easiest ways you can lower your utility bills.

Sealed ducts allow the cool air generated by your air conditioner to feed directly into the rooms of your home. Gaps and holes in your ductwork cause the cool air to leak into a crawl space, attic and even the walls of your home. The more leaks you have in your ductwork, the more energy you are wasting each month.

Use the following methods to seal the ductwork in your home and improve the energy efficiency of your HVAC equipment:

• Registers: Make sure your conditioned air reaches each room in the right amount by sealing leaks around your registers. This is an easy job, requiring just a few tools and a little time. Remove each register by loosening the screws. Check for spots where the wall and the metal register don't have a snug fit. Apply a heat-resistant caulk or mastic around the rim of the duct box. After making sure you have a a good bond, return the register to its spot. 
• Ducts: Holes, rips, cracks and gaps in your ductwork can cause significant energy loss. Visually inspect all of the ductwork you can easily access, paying special attention to connections. Using heat-resistant mesh and mastic, seal the gaps that you can find. At this point you may want to have your contractor work on the ductwork that you can't get at. He will have the equipment to test and the seal hard-to-reach ductwork.
• Insulation: Making sure your ductwork is well insulated is the last step. Although you can do some of this job yourself, you may want to work in tandem with your contractor to ensure that the job is thorough. The insulation you use should match the recommended R-value for your region. 

To learn more about sealing ducts and other energy-saving measures you can implement in your home, contact Mast Heating & Cooling. We provide the Holland and Zeeland area with professional HVAC service and can help you save money this summer and throughout the rest of the year.

Though your house may seem to cool and heat properly, you may not be aware of ways that your home may be "leaking" energy. But taking the necessary steps to improve problematic areas is relatively easy, and the resulting energy savings are invaluable.

A large part of your energy bill goes towards heating and cooling, as these are the most energy-intensive utilities. So it makes sense that reducing how much heating and cooling your home requires will create the potential for energy savings.

Here's what you can do:

• Make preventive maintenance a priority. Schedule a tune-up annually to keep your system working as efficiently as possible.
• When installing new equipment, make sure that your contractor sizes the system. If an air conditioner is too big, for instance, it will short cycle, consume more electricity, and be unable to properly dehumidify your home. 
• If you're buying new appliances or HVAC equipment, look for Energy Star-rated ones. These ratings are only given to equipment that meets stringent regulations for reducing energy consumption, and they outperform systems that only meet minimum efficiency standards set forth by the government.
• Consider using a programmable or smart thermostat for more efficient heating and cooling, which will help to generate energy savings by regulating home temperatures, and save you money by reducing operating costs.  
• Check your home for air leaks, and seal them with caulk or weather stripping. The most common areas that leak are generally around the home's exterior, such as windows, door frames, electrical wiring and ductwork protrusions.
• Add the right insulation, designed to stop the movement of heat, and you will once again effect energy savings. Insulation will keep more heated air inside during winter, and keep hot outside air from penetrating your home during summer.

You don't have to endure high energy costs. So don’t wait. Take on a few of the projects listed above, and boost your energy savings. For a free consultation, contact Mast Heating & Cooling. Serving the Holland and Zeeland areas of Michigan.

The more hot water your household uses, the more energy your water heater must consume to supply it. While conserving water is always helpful to save energy, here are three additional ways to improve your water heater efficiency -- saving you money on your utility bill and helping to protect your equipment:

• Turn down the temperature. Most residential water heaters can be turned up to about 160 degrees. But for most households, water that hot just boosts the risk that someone will get scalded and needlessly pumps up your energy use. The typical home can get by with the water heater's thermostat set no higher than 120 degrees. Reducing the temperature also slows down mineral buildup and corrosion of both your appliance and your water pipes.
• Insulate the tank. Most of the heat lost in the transfer of hot water from the tank to your faucet is in the first 6 feet of pipe leaving the tank. By insulating at least 3 feet of this pipe with foam pipe wrap, you can significantly reduce this energy loss. During the winter months, consider putting an insulating blanket on the tank. This ensures that the water in the tank remains hot. To determine if your unit would benefit from an insulating jacket, touch the tank. If it is warm, it is losing heat. If it is cool, then you probably don’t need to insulate.
• Clean it out. By cleaning the tank out every three months, you help prevent sediment buildup. You also prolong the service life of your water heater. If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, your HVAC technician can clean your hot water tank during your heating and cooling system’s regular preventive maintenance visit.

If you live in Western Michigan and would like more advice on making your water heater more efficient, contact Mast Heating & Cooling today. Serving customers throughout the Holland and Zeeland area, we're always happy to answer questions.

Our goal at Mast Heating & Cooling is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Air-source heat pumps are some of the most efficient systems available to heat and cool your home. As long as the unit is properly installed, charged with the correct amount of refrigerant and blowing through adequate ductwork, you can experience heat-pump performance to deliver better than 100 percent efficiency. Heat pumps are a wise investment, since they move heat instead of generating it from fuel -- resulting in astounding energy efficiency.

Here are three areas to address if you want the highest level of heat-pump performance possible:

• Airflow: A correctly installed heat pump should blow air through the ductwork at 400 to 500 feet per minute for every ton of cooling capacity the system possesses. Airflow can be affected by a dirty evaporator coil or low fan speed. The most likely cause of inadequate airflow, however, is the ductwork.
• Ductwork: If the ducts are outdated, they may be sized too large, which slows down the flow of air. If there are too many twists and turns, this decreases airflow and negatively impacts heat-pump performance as well. Modifications may need to be made in the design to improve airflow. To save even more energy, ductwork should have its joints sealed to prevent leaks and insulated to prevent heat conductivity in areas where the ducts flow through the attic, garage and crawl space.
• Refrigerant charge: Leaks in the refrigeration systems can become very expensive. Leaks should be repaired as quickly as possible, and the refrigerant should be kept at the ideal level. Too little or too much refrigerant reduces heat-pump performance, even if the charge is off by more than a few ounces. A technician should check the charge every time a service call is performed on the heat pump.

For more information about getting the most out of your heat pump this winter, please contact Mast Heating & Cooling for your Holland area home. You can also schedule a service call with one of our experienced technicians if you suspect your heat pump is operating below its potential.

Our goal at Mast Heating & Cooling is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Ice dams are caused by uneven temperatures throughout your roof. A dam forms when water and snow on the top of the roof warm from sunlight and the internal heat of the house. When the water melts, it runs to the base of the roof, where it freezes once more.

This creates ice dams, which can cause serious problems, including rotting rafters, leaks in the attic, a leaking roof and other issues.

Are you at risk for ice dams? If you have any of the following three warning signs in your home, you have a greater risk of damming or other problems:

• Poor insulation in the attic and ceiling of your home.
• Air leaks in the attic.
• Cathedral ceilings and other hard-to-insulate roofs.

The best way to avoid ice dams is to repair these problems. Add the amount of insulation recommended by the Department of Energy. Insulate your entire attic, including the attic ceiling, for maximum protection.

Plug any air leaks inside the attic, ceilings and walls of your home. An energy evaluation can help determine where dangerous leaks exist. Check the flashing around vents, chimneys and other holes leading into the attic for signs of leaks and water damage. Add additional flashing or waterproofing to prevent leaks in these areas.

Improve ventilation inside your attic to provide even air circulation throughout the attic and roof of your home. Adding ridge vents and other ventilation to your attic will help air circulate more evenly.

For more information about preventing ice dams, sealing air leaks, or other ways to make your home more energy efficient, contact us at Mast Heating and Cooling. We provide Holland-area residents with expert HVAC service and advice, and we're always happy to help you improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Our goal at Mast Heating & Cooling is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Installing insulation image via Shutterstock

If you're looking to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system, check out your insulation. Chances are, there are places in your home that could use some insulation -- or at least improved insulation.

And, just as important as having insulation and having the right amount, is deciding on the kind you need for the particular job you have in mind. Here's a quick rundown of four types of insulation and where they work best.

• Roll insulation. Insulation rolls -- or batts -- come in strips of compacted fibers that are sized to fit in walls, floors and ceilings. They also come in various thicknesses and R-values.
• Loose-fill insulation. Loose fill is usually in loose fiber or pellet form. It is best used in areas that you cannot reach easily with roll insulation, such as between finished walls and smaller spaces in the attic or basement. To apply this type of insulation, you need a special blower. You may also be able to pour it between walls.
• Rigid insulation. Rigid insulation is thicker and made of a denser material than rolls. This makes it a more effective, but more expensive, type of insulation. This type is best used in areas that require additional protection, such as exterior walls and attics. It is also effective in narrow locations because it is thinner than insulation rolls.
• Spray foam. Spray foam is commonly used in existing walls. Although it is available in small spray containers for very small areas, it generally requires professional installation.

For help in determining which insulation type you should use, contact Mast Heating & Cooling in Holland. Our experts can answer your questions about insulation, and about all aspects of heating and cooling. Give us a call. Serving the Holland and Zeeland areas, we're always happy to help.

Our goal at Mast Heating & Cooling is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about home insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

The term heating load refers to the amount of heat energy needed to keep your home comfortable. If you don't have one of the latest high-efficiency furnaces (or even if you do) you can save energy and lower your utility bills significantly by reducing your home's heating load.

Below you'll find useful tips to help lighten your heating load, while increasing the performance (and extending the life) of your heating system. Many of these projects are fairly quick, easy fixes for homeowners here in the Holland area. Some tasks may require the expertise of an HVAC professional, though.

• Seal drafts and air leaks in your home's living space: Leaks are common around doors, windows, electrical outlets, plumbing pipes and vents. Add weather stripping or door sweeps as needed, and fill small leaks or holes with caulk.
• Have your duct system sealed: Large leaks and tears can occur over time, and ductwork can even become disconnected at the joints. Correct these problems for a greatly reduced heating load.
• Seal up the attic: The attic is often a big source of air leaks and energy loss in the winter, as heated air  goes up through the house and escapes outdoors. Leaks to the outside, as well as leaks between the living space and the attic, must be sealed.
• Insulate (or add more insulation to) your walls, crawl space, attic, basement and ductwork: Get professional guidance about proper format and efficiency ratings for each location.
• Install high-efficiency windows: Look for the Energy Star label identifying these and many other types of energy-efficient products.

These steps will help seal your home's envelope so that heat loss is minimized. With a reduced heating load, your equipment no longer has to work as hard to maintain your desired indoor temperature. You’ll notice increased comfort almost immediately, along with the energy and monetary savings.

Questions? Contact the professionals at Mast Heating & Cooling for more information about heating load and furnace systems. Serving the Zeeland and Holland areas, we're happy to answer your questions and provide full-service HVAC repair, maintenance and installation. Visit our website for details, or give us a call.

Our goal at Mast Heating & Cooling is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Sealing air leaks image via Shutterstock

It’s almost winter in West Michigan. Bundle up, and insulate your water heater tank for easy energy savings this season.

Your water heater alone accounts for up to 25 percent of your energy costs. An easy way to cut into those high energy bills is to install high-quality insulation. Do a simple touch test. If your insulated tank is warm to the touch, perhaps you need new insulation.

• Which insulation should you use? There are two basic methods for insulating water heaters: an insulating blanket and an insulating jacket. Blanket insulation is generally one size fits all. Jacket insulation is generally model-specific and slides over the tank.
• How important is insulation rating? The rating of your water heater tank’s insulation is very important. Insulation with an R-value of at least 25 prevents idle heat loss of as much as 45 percent.
• Is there a difference between gas and electric water heater insulation? Yes. Installing insulation for an electric water heater is, for the most part, straightforward. It is safer and simpler than installing insulation for a gas water heater. You may want to consult a professional heating and cooling technician regarding gas water heaters.
• What else can you do to save money? Two quick fixes for energy savings are lowering the water temperature and adding insulation to the hot water pipes. In addition, place an insulating board under the tank to prevent heat transfer to the floor. This is good for electric water heaters only. Install a timer to cut back on use. Installing heat traps can also save extra dollars, though it may require professional installation. However, if you've decided on a new water heater, many new Energy Star-qualified water heaters can be ordered with heat traps installed.

Following these tips is a great place to get started for energy savings. We would be happy to help with additional money-saving tips for your entire home. To save energy this winter, contact Mast Heating & Cooling, serving Holland, Zeeland and all of West Michigan.

Our goal at Mast Heating & Cooling is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about water tank insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.