Author: Kevin

AC Installation in Hutto, TX AC Installation in Hutto, TX

8 Ways Zoning Systems Can Save You Money This Spring

Written by Kevin on March 2, 2023. Posted in HVAC. No Comments on 8 Ways Zoning Systems Can Save You Money This Spring

Spring is the perfect time to start thinking about energy efficiency. As temperatures warm up, it is the ideal time to invest in a zoning system for your home. Zoning systems help you save money on energy bills by ensuring that each room or area of your home has its own climate setting. It creates separate zones with distinct cooling needs and maximizes efficiency by allowing you to target airflow where it’s needed most. Discover why installing a zoning system is essential to save money on air conditioning bills.

1. Selective Heating and Cooling

A zoning system allows you to maintain different temperatures in specific areas throughout your home. This means you don’t have to turn on the central heater or air conditioner whenever you want to adjust the temperature in one area. Instead, you can direct heat or cool air to the zones that need it most while cooler or warmer rooms remain unaffected, helping to reduce energy waste. This way, you benefit from each space in your home being comfortable while saving energy and money. They also allow energy-efficient operation during off-peak hours when rates are lower.

2. Seal Unused Rooms

Sealing unused rooms in your home is one of the most effective ways to leverage a zoning system to save money this spring. By blocking the airflow to an unoccupied room, you can give much less cooling power to those areas and consequently use fewer energy resources. Restricting the air from freely flowing between rooms is easy with a properly installed and maintained zoning system. Plus, you’ll get the added benefits of improved indoor air quality and superior temperature control in parts of your home that need it most. This allows cold air intended for living spaces and essential work or office areas to stay at their desired temperatures while reducing overall cooling costs. An easy way to seal off unused spaces is by using blocking membranes specifically designed for these purposes.

3. Decreased Repair Cost

Reducing repair costs is an excellent way for zoning systems to save money over time. By separating your home into individual zones, you can control the temperature in every area of your home, reducing the workload on your cooling and heating systems which potentially reduces repairs or maintenance since each zone operates independently. Zoning systems also optimize the efficiency of your HVAC system, so there’s less wear and tear on it. That translates into fewer breakdowns and repairs needed in the long run, which means more money back in your pocket.

4. Improved Air Quality

Improving air quality is one of the most critical ways zoning systems can save you money — directly and indirectly. On a direct level, improved air quality can lead to reduced fuel consumption and fewer maintenance costs. For instance, the change in air pressure between the different zones of a building enabled by zoning systems can reduce the energy needed to heat or cool the entire building and allow for longer-lasting heating and cooling systems.

5. Customized Systems

With zoning systems, energy requirements are significantly reduced, meaning that the size and cost of your system can be lowered. You can purchase a smaller HVAC system, making installation simpler and less expensive, but with the added convenience of a central control panel which allows for the management and regulation of all thermostats in the home from one centralized location. Regarding energy efficiency and cost savings, however, the strategic positioning of thermostats cannot be overlooked. Placing them in areas with high ceilings, large windows, or sunrooms can often lead to significant decreases in temperature discrepancies throughout your home.

6. Programmable Thermostats Help Improve Efficiency

Zoning systems allow you to customize your home’s temperature at specific times as well. With the help of these systems, you can create the ultimate cooling and heating schedule that fits perfectly with your lifestyle. For example, if everyone goes to work or school during the day, you can set a lower temperature for those hours to save energy and money. You can also ensure that your home is nice and cozy when you return from work in the evening or when you wake up in the morning. This helps cut energy costs and thus enables you to save money on heating and cooling.

7. Improved Flexibility

One of the real benefits of having a zoning system in your home is that you can easily add or expand new rooms. This flexibility is great, especially if you have a family that needs more space over time or wants to add different areas like an office or theatre space. With a zoning system, there’s no need to worry about reworking your entire HVAC system. It can be configured room-by-room, so you don’t have to sacrifice comfort and convenience when crating different areas in your home. It’s an ideal way to manage temperatures and energy consumption without sacrificing air quality in any part of the house. Ultimately, the cost incurred in reworking the entire HVAC system in traditional systems is eliminated.

8. Energy Rebates for Higher SEER Rating

A great way to help save money on home energy costs is to consider upgrading to a zoning system with a high SEER rating. This rating measures the energy a system uses to produce cooling or heating, and a higher SEER rating denotes more efficient energy usage. Not only do these systems increase the efficiency of the air conditioning and heating for your overall comfort level, but with a higher SEER rating, you could also be eligible for rebates from local governments or utilities, which can dramatically reduce the installation cost.

Rely on the Experts

Installing a zoning system for your home is an excellent way to reduce energy costs and keep user comfort levels high throughout different areas of your house without sacrificing efficiency or increasing maintenance costs over time. By customizing temperature settings based on individual preferences while maintaining an optimal balance throughout other areas of the house, you’ll enjoy significant savings on your monthly utility bills while enjoying greater comfort levels than ever before. Not sure where to start? Reach out to our experts at Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating for assistance in selecting and installing an appropriate zoning system for your unique needs.

Our staff of experienced professionals will answer all your questions about pricing or installation services so that you can make informed decisions about energy efficiency at home. We also offer comprehensive heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services in Bastrop, TX and nearby cities. Some of our services include installing, repairing, and maintaining air conditioners, ductless mini-splits, heat pumps, furnaces, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and air purification systems. Contact Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating today for outstanding HVAC and indoor air quality solutions.

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Why You Need Winter Air Purification

Written by Kevin on February 20, 2023. Posted in Indoor Air Quality. No Comments on Why You Need Winter Air Purification

Staying on top of indoor air quality in the wintertime is especially important. In the colder months, we tend to spend more time indoors, leading to issues with contaminant saturation and poor air circulation. As we breathe in recycled air, it can cause a variety of health problems, including:

Respiratory issues

Skin rashes and allergies

Headaches

Anxiety and depressive symptoms

Poor sleep quality

Nausea

Fatigue

These problems are exacerbated as we close our doors and windows, trapping pollutants inside the house. Taking steps to maintain your HVAC system and adding other means of air purification and filtration will increase your HVAC’s efficiency and improve indoor air quality.

How Winter Affects Your Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air can become saturated with pollutants in the winter due to a number of different factors. Throughout the year, large concentrations of indoor pollutants, such as pet dander, dust, mold, and mildew, build up inside our homes. As we fire up our heating systems, these particles circulate through the HVAC. Exhaust from cooking fumes and cleaning products can also clog indoor air with carcinogens and harmful chemicals.

Adding an Air Purifier to Your Home

Adding an air purifier to your home has significant health and energy benefits, especially in the winter. The difference can be felt almost immediately, with reduced concentrations of pollutants allowing you to regain vitality as you enjoy clean, pure air. Here are some solid reasons why air purification in the winter is the way to go.

1. Reduces Allergy Symptoms

People who suffer from allergies quickly begin singing the praises of air purification after installation. Models designed to filter out the most common allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and pollens can significantly reduce uncomfortable symptoms and provide welcome relief for allergy sufferers. High-tech HEPA filters may eliminate nearly 99.7%of microorganisms that could negatively impact your health.

2. Eliminates Pet Dander

Regardless of how neat and tidy your pets may seem, know that you have invisible pet dander flying through the air in your home. Pet dander is one of the most popular triggers for allergies, and it is why many people cannot handle having a pet in their home. Even if you don’t manifest symptoms of allergies, you could still be at risk of developing health issues from high levels of pet dander in your home. Installing an air purifier will clean up stagnant air and have you and your family breathing easier with pets around.

3. Reduces Cold and Flu Symptoms

Winter is statistically a time when many people suffer from cold and flu symptoms. We carry germs into our homes that become airborne and circulate throughout living spaces, increasing our chances of developing an illness. By running an air purifier in your home, these potentially harmful microorganisms are dealt with via filtration and other means of purification, keeping you and your family healthier all winter long.

4. Improves Respiratory Health

Those with asthma and other respiratory issues must be very careful about exposing themselves to allergens. You may keep a clean house, but an air purification system will keep it as allergen-free as possible.

5. Keeps Children Healthier

Children can be sensitive to changes in indoor air quality. Kids with respiratory issues are the first ones to suffer from the effects of indoor air pollution, developing adverse reactions to viruses and bacteria that may be present in your home. Using an air purifier is one way to ensure that you keep your children as healthy as possible while they grow.

6. Reduces Pollution From Smoking

Regardless of how tolerant you are about the issue of smoking, the smell that lingers in the air after someone smokes can be rather unpleasant. Studies point to the alarming fact that breathing in secondhand smoke is just as dangerous as the act of smoking itself. Choosing an air purifier intended to eliminate smoke particles and stale air from your home will keep harmful tar residue and nicotine from getting into your respiratory system and causing poor health.

7. Reduces and Eliminates Odors

Chemical smells from carpet and paint, fumes from cooking, and other unpleasant odors can quickly overtake your living spaces in the wintertime. Having the proper air filtration system working with your HVAC reduces these unsavory odors, keeping your environment smelling better each time you use it.

8. Reduces Kicked-Up Pollution From Carpets

Your carpet is a final resting place for toxic chemicals, pet dander, and even your own dead skin cells. Even if you vacuum daily, you are at risk of breathing in these particles as they are kicked up and circulated throughout your living spaces. A high-quality air purifier will trap these particles and keep them from resettling on other surfaces in your home.

9. Reduces Dust and Dirt

Do you constantly see dust and dirt on surfaces in your home, regardless of how often you dust them? This could be due to indoor air pollution and a clogged, dirty HVAC system working against you. Clean up your home with the help of a good HEPA filter or ionizer to reduce the number of particulates in the air, and you’ll likely see progress with your dusting efforts as well.

10. Reduces Debris From Fireplace Use

Fireplaces are cozy additions to any home, but they do a thorough job of emitting plenty of smoke and wood debris into your living space! Enjoy those crackling flames a bit longer this winter, knowing that you can fire up your air purifier to take care of odors, smoke residue, and ash that may linger in the air long after the flames have gone out.

Air Filter Options For Your Home

Several types of residential air purification technologies exist for you to select. Mechanical filters use a physical barrier, like a HEPA filter, to trap particles and pull them from circulation. Activated carbon filters are able to absorb odors and chemicals from the air.

More advanced technologies include UV-C ultraviolet light filters, which are able to kill bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms in the air. Ionizers release negatively charged ions into the air that attach to positively charged particles, making them fall to the ground and allowing them to be swept or vacuumed up and out of circulation.

Ozone generators release a highly reactive gas into the air to neutralize odors and kill microorganisms. These are generally not recommended for indoor use because the gas can have harmful health consequences. Even with the most advanced filtration technologies, you may not remove all pollutants from your home. Taking several steps to improve indoor air quality in the wintertime is the best defense against allergies and other health issues that may arise from constant contact with pollutants.

Breathe Free and Clear This Winter and Beyond!

Blue Ribbon Cooling and Heating has HVAC and air quality solutions that work for your home, your family, and your budget. We offer heating and cooling installation, repair, and maintenance; heat pump maintenance and service; and indoor air quality assessment and device installation. Contact Blue Ribbon today for a thorough check of your indoor air quality today!

7 Reasons Why You Need a Humidifier in Your Home This Winter

Written by Kevin on February 10, 2023. Posted in Indoor Air Quality. No Comments on 7 Reasons Why You Need a Humidifier in Your Home This Winter

As temperatures drop during the winter months, you might notice the air in your living space becomes very dry. This is because cold air holds onto less water vapor. A significant drop in humidity levels makes your home uncomfortable and can even worsen your family’s health. A humidifier releases water vapor into the air to increase moisture and comfort levels. Here are seven reasons why you should use a humidifier in your home this winter.

1. Helps Moisturize Dry Skin

Normal humidity levels in your surrounding environment should range from 30% to 50%. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, especially during the cold months. Cold and dry conditions degrade your skin’s moisture barrier and lead to all sorts of issues, including cracking, itching, peeling, and flaking. Since human skin isn’t designed for low-moisture conditions, you may notice the first signs of dry skin on your palms because they have fewer oil glands. Your lips might also chap quickly because they have more tender skin. Other effects of drier air include scaly elbows and bloodshot eyes.

Don’t wait till your skin is in bad shape this winter. Instead, be proactive and get a humidifier. Running a humidifier adds much-needed moisture to the surrounding air. As a result, your skin stays naturally rehydrated, which helps maintain that supple and vibrant look on the outside.

2. May Relieve Allergy Symptoms

In most cases, indoor allergies increase when there are cold weather conditions. As a result, you’ll likely notice an increase in irritants such as dust mites, mold, and animal dander during winter. Since you spend most of the time indoors, the buildup of these unwelcome guests irritates the throat and nose tissues.

Although using a humidifier will not eliminate all the harmful particles, it adds moisture to the air, keeping your nasal passages functioning smoothly. For the newer humidifier models, you can set them at lower levels to prevent adding too much humidity to the air. While breathing in, the extra water vapor helps to calm any allergy-induced inflammation. This also keeps your throat tissues moist, which prevents constant coughing.

3. Make Your Home Feel Warmer

Although humidifiers don’t heat your home like a furnace, they make your space feel warmer and more comfortable. When adequate moisture is in the air, it holds heat closer to your skin, which makes you feel extra warmth. Despite the temperature decline, you and other occupants will still feel comfortable.

Keeping your humidifier running throughout the frigid months can also go a long way in cutting down on your heating costs. This is because you don’t have to put extra strain on your heating unit trying to keep up with the cold and dry air.

4. Prevent Wood Damage

Furniture and wood are highly susceptible to dry air. If you look closely at wooden floors and furniture, you’ll realize they tend to squeak during the winter season, unlike the hot months. This results from dry air pulling out moisture from the wood, leading to shrinking and contracting. In some cases, the arms and legs of wooden chairs in your kitchen and dining area may start to wobble, and wooden doors may change in size and become difficult to close or open. Other wooden items, such as picture frames, may splinter or crack. Also, the joints on wooden floors can easily loosen, making planks pull apart.

Wood needs an environment with adequate moisture to function and look its best. In fact, hardwood floors need about 50% relative humidity to perform at their best. When the air around wood is too dry, dehydration kicks in, negatively affecting its structure. Using a humidifier during cold days will increase the relative humidity, which will help to protect your investments.

5. Stop the Spread of Viruses and Germs

As winter time approaches, you probably get worried about the common cold and flu experienced in many households. Airborne illnesses and respiratory infections spread easily in low-humidity conditions. Increasing moisture levels reduces the capability of viruses and bacteria to cause infections by approximately 85%.

Running a humidifier this winter is an effective way of keeping you and your loved ones healthy. This is because higher moisture levels make it difficult for viruses to survive. When germs get into contact with the moisture in the air, they simply drop to the ground because they become too heavy to float in the air.

6. Improves Sleep

Have you noticed your snoring gets worse as temperatures drop? This is because the low humidity levels during winter significantly affect your sinus passages. It becomes difficult to breathe through the nose and can even cause headaches and sinus pain. When this happens, you’ll start breathing through your mouth while sleeping, which causes your throat to dry out. This leads to disturbed sleep because you may wake up in the middle of the night with an itchy, dry throat

Consider using a humidifier to keep snoring at bay and improve sleep. Adding moisture into the air helps to lubricate the throat tissues. Additionally, moist air encourages mucus to dry out, which is vital in opening nasal passages.

7. Prevent Static

During winter, it’s common to experience static shocks. This shock may come up every time you touch a metallic surface or brush your hair. It gets even more annoying when wearing clothes such as coats that can easily invite sharp static shocks. When there are extremely high static levels, they can damage sensitive electronic gadgets. In some worse cases, the static buildup can create sparks that can easily ignite flammable gas.

Fortunately, you can prevent static charges by restoring moisture in the air. When there is enough moisture in your room, it eliminates the necessary conditions for these shocks. This way, there will be fewer risks of damage caused by static shocks. Also, dressing and making your hair will be much easier and more comfortable.

Your Humidifier Installation Team

As you look for ways to keep your space warm through the winter months, don’t forget to add a humidifier to your shopping list. Running a humidifier maintains relative humidity levels in your home, so you’ll never have to worry about the risk of infections, dry skin, and allergy symptoms. Humidified air also helps you and your family sleep better and prevents wood damage and the buildup of static shocks.

Whenever you are ready to add a humidifier to your home, seek assistance from Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating in Bastrop, TX. Our team of indoor air quality specialists will help you choose the right humidifier and install it correctly. Your comfort is our priority, so we always go the extra mile to ensure we provide exceptional services for every customer. Owing to our commitment to quality services, we have received positive reviews over the years, which are evidence of our hard work. You can also rely on our professionals for other services, including heating and cooling maintenance, repair, and installation for furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, and ductless mini-split systems.

Call Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating to book a service with our team today.

Warmer Weather Is Right Around the Corner!

Written by Kevin on February 8, 2023. Posted in Air Conditioning, Blog. No Comments on Warmer Weather Is Right Around the Corner!

Is Your AC Ready for the Hotter Seasons Ahead?

Are you sick and tired of this winter’s colder weather? If so, we have some great news for you. We’re in the home stretch. February is the final month of chillier temperatures in the Bastrop area.

The average low will climb from 44 degrees in February to 61 degrees in March. And the average high will jump from 66 degrees this month to 74 degrees next month. Aaahhh! Are you ready? And, more importantly, is your air conditioner ready? Because your AC’s busy season starts in March and won’t end until late September.

Here are 7 reasons to schedule an AC tune-up today:

You’ll increase your AC’s efficiency. Clogged filters. A leaky condensate line. Mold growth. Excess dust and dirt. At Blue Ribbon, our technicians are trained to look for these problems and others during our thorough pre-season air conditioning inspections and tune-ups. We’ll make any necessary adjustments so your system operates smoothly and reliably throughout the summer season.
You’ll lower the risk of a breakdown. You don’t want your AC system to break down in the middle of the summer season. Contractors are busier during the warmer months. Parts are harder to find. And it can take longer for a new system to arrive after it’s ordered. A tune-up now will help prevent these types of problems down the road.
You could experience improved indoor air. Adding a new filter, removing pollen, dust and mildew as well as making certain adjustments could result in cleaner, less humid indoor air.
You’ll prevent costly repairs down the line. During our pre-season tune-ups, we often identify (and fix) small problems before they spiral out of control into larger, more expensive issues. (We’ll always get your approval first before making any repairs.)
You’ll help your system last longer. When you take good care of your vehicle, it lasts longer. The same is true for your AC (or heating) system. Plus, regular maintenance helps keep your warranty valid.
You’ll make scheduling easier. The busiest seasons for HVAC contractors are summer and winter. If you schedule your tune-up during the spring for your AC and the fall for your heater, your contractor should have more open slots so you can choose a day and time that works with your schedule.
You’ll make your home safer. A well-maintained cooling or heating system is a safer system. We’ll remove or make you aware of items that can make your system less safe, such as dirt, dust, pests or other materials that can cause electrical outages. We’ll also look for plants, weeds or shrubbery that can grow too close to your outside unit and adversely affect its efficiency.

Some customers ask us if regular tune-ups are worth it or just a way for us to make money. Let us assure you these tune-ups are invaluable. Don’t believe us? Just ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its Energy Star program. The EPA and Energy Star highly recommend regular tune-ups for homeowners to save energy and improve their indoor air quality.

Would you like to schedule your pre-season tune-up? We’ll even check your AC freon. Use our convenient form or call us at 512.308.3515 to get ahead of the game today.

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Ductless Mini Splits: The Secret to Maximum Energy Savings in Every Season

Written by Kevin on February 3, 2023. Posted in Air Conditioning. No Comments on Ductless Mini Splits: The Secret to Maximum Energy Savings in Every Season

A mini-split system is a great way to save time and money on heating and cooling. Mini splits are becoming increasingly popular because of their low maintenance requirements and cost-effective operation. At Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating, we offer affordable installations and service options for mini-split systems throughout Bastrop and Round Rock.

Mini splits are designed to use less energy than traditional systems, resulting in lower costs and less waste. Additionally, they generally require fewer repairs throughout their service cycle.

They’re also flexible. Mini splits can be installed in a variety of locations, including attics, basements, or even outdoors, enabling homeowners to customize their heating and cooling systems to their needs. Moreover, mini splits can be zoned, allowing for different temperatures in different rooms, which helps maximize energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.

How to Measure HVAC Efficiency

The most common way to measure HVAC efficiency is with the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio rating. SEER is a measure of cooling output over energy input, and it’s the HVAC industry’s standard rating for energy efficiency. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the system is. Systems that are certified by Energy Star must have a minimum SEER rating of 14.5. However, many systems, including mini splits, have ratings ranging from 16 to 25 or more.

But the SEER rating is only one factor. Others include the size of the system, the type of equipment, and the quality of the installation. Regular maintenance, such as replacing air filters, can help keep the system working properly and reduce energy use.

About Energy Star

The Energy Star label is a designation of the United States Department of Energy. The label was created in 1992 by the Environmental Protection Agency as a way to help consumers better understand which products are the most energy-efficient.

HVAC systems with an Energy Star label have been tested and certified to meet the EPA’s strict standards for energy efficiency. These systems typically consume less power, help reduce energy costs and keep greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere. In addition to being more efficient, Energy Star-labeled systems often have other benefits, such as better air quality, quieter operation, and improved comfort.

Many HVAC systems have an Energy Star rating, so there’s a wide selection of options to choose from. When considering an Energy Star-labeled system, keep in mind that the DOE requires these systems to be at least 10% more energy-efficient than standard models.

The Energy Star label isn’t limited to HVAC systems. The label can also be found on other energy-consuming products, including electronics and office equipment. The Department of Energy is constantly updating the standards for the Energy Star label, so make sure to check for the latest version when shopping for mini splits or other appliances.

Mini Splits Vs. Conventional HVAC Systems

The most common type of mini split system is the ductless heat pump, which uses a single outdoor condensing unit and one or more indoor air handlers to provide efficient and quiet cooling and heating. The indoor air handlers are connected to the outdoor unit via refrigerant lines and electrical wiring. This type of system offers the highest level of efficiency and can be installed in a variety of locations, including walls and ceilings.

Mini-split systems work by transferring heat energy from one area to another. The outdoor unit takes in outside air, cools it, and then sends it to the indoor air handlers. The indoor air handlers then distribute the cooled air throughout the building. In winter, the system reverses the process and collects heat from indoor air handlers, and sends cold air outside.

The ability to zone with mini-split systems is one of their greatest advantages. With zoning, you can control the temperature in different areas independently rather than attempting to maintain one temperature throughout your home. This enables you to adjust the climate in each room to your liking while still conserving energy and saving money.

Maximizing Your Savings

To get the most savings from your mini split system, you’ll need to keep up with the manufacturer-recommended service schedule. Regularly replacing filters, checking for leaks, and cleaning the condenser coil are all important maintenance tasks. At Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating, our experienced technicians can help you keep up with these tasks year after year, ensuring that your system remains in peak condition.

It’s also important to use your mini-split system properly. By adjusting your thermostat to match the season, setting your thermostat’s timer, and using the energy-saving mode, you can get the best bang for your buck over the lifetime of your system.

Worn-out parts can cause your system to run inefficiently, raising your energy bills without providing better comfort. A technician from Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating can inspect your system each season to ensure that all parts are functioning properly.

The Bottom Line

Mini-split systems are essentially two units connected by tubing and wiring, one outside and one inside. As a result, they can be more efficient than standard air conditioners and heaters that run on ducts.

Moreover, mini splits are designed to work with a home’s insulation, enabling them to run at a lower temperature while using less energy. Additionally, they can run at a specified temperature while in standby mode so that they won’t waste energy when not in use.

Mini-split systems are also easier to maintain than conventional systems. Regular maintenance and cleaning of your mini-split system can help reduce the amount of pollutants in the air you breathe. And because mini splits are built to last, fewer worn-out parts will end up in landfills. Furthermore, mini splits feature simpler designs and are easier to install than standard HVAC systems. This makes mini splits more accessible to those on a budget.

Finding the Best Option for Your Home

At Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating, we know that comfort is important. That’s why we offer fast inspections to identify any issues that may be preventing you from achieving the desired temperature in your home. We’re committed to providing friendly service and knowledgeable advice about all types of HVAC systems.

When you schedule an appointment with us, we’ll fully inspect your current system to determine whether a ductless mini-split system will save you money. Our experienced technicians can assess your system and make recommendations about the best way to improve its efficiency. We’ll take into account your specific needs and budget to provide you with unbiased advice.

At Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating, we offer comprehensive cooling and heating services for folks in Bastrop and Round Rock, TX. From heat pump installations to AC repairs and furnace inspections, our technicians can handle any task you send our way. Whether you’re looking for a new ductless mini split system for your home or a complete air quality check, we’ll get the job done correctly the first time. Call us today to tell us how we can be of service.

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Should I Invest In a Furnace or a Heat Pump?

Written by Kevin on January 19, 2023. Posted in Heating. No Comments on Should I Invest In a Furnace or a Heat Pump?

Furnace vs. Heat Pump: Which Should You Choose?

Purchasing any type of new appliance for your home is always an important decision. A new heating system is no exception, even in a warm area like Bastrop, TX. The Texas winters can get surprisingly chilly, and when the cold weather arrives, having a reliable heating appliance is a must. But how do you decide which type of heating system to buy? Between gas-powered furnaces, electric furnaces, and heat pumps, there are several popular options worth considering. All of these appliances offer certain pros and cons, and there’s not necessarily a wrong answer. However, one type of system may turn out to be a better fit for your household than the others. We’ll take a closer look at the main differences and similarities between heat pumps and furnaces. And with a clearer picture of your available choices, you can make the best possible decision for you and your family.

Creating Heat vs. Absorbing Heat

The first thing that’s important to realize about heat pumps and furnaces is that they’re fundamentally different in how they provide heat. Furnaces create new heat, which they then distribute around the house. Gas-powered furnaces create heat by igniting fuel, whereas electric furnaces blow air over a hot element. Heat pumps, on the other hand, absorb existing heat from outside using coils and refrigerant. Then, they move that warmth around the house. This may seem like a minor distinction, but it can make a pretty huge difference when comparing the performance and efficiency of these two types of heating systems.

The Climate Matters

Before deciding which type of heating system to purchase, it’s always prudent to consider the climate of your area. Particularly when it comes to heat pumps, the environment can have a major impact on the appliance’s effectiveness and energy efficiency. Because heat pumps work by pulling heat from outdoors, they aren’t as reliable in climates with extremely cold temperatures. When there’s less warmth outside, it’s much harder for the heat pump to absorb enough of it to heat an entire home. That leads to subpar comfort. In very cold climates, it’s usually advisable to purchase a furnace instead of a heat pump. Furnaces keep you warm even in freezing temperatures.

In an area like Bastrop, you shouldn’t need to worry about freezing temperatures negatively affecting your heat pump. In fact, because the climate is so warm, a heat pump should be able to run very efficiently all year long.

Which Appliance Is More Efficient?

Typically, one of the most important factors to consider in an HVAC appliance is energy efficiency. If you purchase a heating system with below-average efficiency, it will end up costing you quite a bit of extra money on electricity bills down the road. So, will a heat pump or a furnace provide you with better efficiency? In an area like Bastrop, the answer is almost certainly a heat pump.

Since heat pumps simply absorb heat instead of creating it, they don’t require as much energy to do their jobs. Most electric furnaces are significantly more energy-efficient than gas-powered furnaces. However, the majority of heat pumps still have both of them beat. Over the course of several years, the difference between having a heat pump and a furnace can equal several thousand dollars of money saved. Of course, multiple factors can impact a heating unit’s efficiency. For example, if you don’t take good care of your heat pump, it won’t retain its efficiency. On average, though, your heating bills will be significantly lower with a heat pump than with a furnace.

Which Appliance Costs More?

For most homeowners, the cost of buying a new appliance and having it installed is an important consideration. A brand-new heating unit is a big investment, and saving even a few hundred dollars can feel like a pretty big deal. And although heat pumps and furnaces are often close in price, there can sometimes be a large difference.

For a heat pump, the average price is between $4,000 and $7,500 to purchase one and have it installed. Typically, the models with the best efficiency ratings and the most features will be on the higher end of this range. As for a gas-powered furnace, the average price range is around $2,250 to $4,000. Finally, a furnace powered by electricity will typically cost anywhere from $1,200 to $6,000. As you can tell, the prices of these appliances vary quite a bit depending on their quality and efficiency. In most cases, though, you’ll need to spend more for a quality heat pump. However, there’s a good chance you’ll recoup much of that money through energy savings over time.

What About Cooling?

Heat pumps offer one significant advantage that many homeowners are unaware of. Despite what they’re called, heat pumps are not just heating systems; they can also work as air conditioners. When you have a heat pump, you can easily switch it to cooling mode as soon as the Texas weather starts heating up. That will cause the flow of refrigerant to be reversed within the system. So, instead of pulling in heat from outside, the unit will start taking heat from inside and expelling it from the house. Essentially, it works just like a standard AC unit. This means that if you buy a heat pump, you don’t need to worry about spending more money on a separate air conditioner. Additionally, you only have one system taking up space in your house.

Which System Makes More Noise?

If keeping your home quiet and peaceful is important to you and your family, you may want to consider the noise levels of these different heating systems. Typically, furnaces are very quiet. When a furnace is running smoothly, you usually won’t hear anything aside from the soft sound of whooshing air. And if you do start hearing loud noises, it’s a strong indicator that the appliance needs professional attention. Heat pumps are considerably noisier. Even when your heat pump is in good health, you’ll probably hear clicking and knocking sounds regularly. For some people, this can become extremely annoying. However, other people get used to it quickly. Either way, it’s something you should be aware of before making a purchase.

The Verdict

So, is a heat pump or a furnace the right choice for your Bastrop area home? There’s no denying that a heat pump can offer some significant advantages, and it should function smoothly and efficiently in the Texas climate. However, if you prefer a quiet appliance that you can have installed cheaply, a furnace will be a fine option as well. Ultimately, either system should serve you well; it depends on your priorities.

At Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating, we offer indoor air quality services as well as heating and air conditioning installation, maintenance and repair services in the greater Bastrop area. Our expert technicians can install your brand-new heat pump or furnace. And as the appliance ages, we’ll service and repair it as needed, too! To learn more about our services or schedule an appointment, contact us at Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating today.

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A Guide to Calculating How Much Oil Your Furnace Uses

Written by Kevin on January 16, 2023. Posted in Heating. No Comments on A Guide to Calculating How Much Oil Your Furnace Uses

Although they’re no longer as common as they once were, oil furnaces can still be a good heating option. If you do have an oil furnace, it is always a good idea to occasionally calculate how much oil it is using. Calculating oil usage not only helps you to estimate what your current heating costs are, but it can also make it easier to determine if your furnace is still working effectively or is in need of any repairs. To make things easier, here is a full overview of how to calculate your furnace’s oil usage and also why it’s important.

Determining How Much Oil Your Furnace Uses Per Hour

In order to calculate the amount of oil your furnace typically uses, you first need to determine how many gallons it burns each hour. You should be able to find your furnace’s gallons per hour rating by looking at the manufacturer’s information plate. You can also check the unit’s spray nozzle as this will also have the gallons per hour listed on it as well.

The two main factors that determine this are the size of the unit (i.e., how many BTUs of heat it produces) and the type of oil nozzle it has. Most modern oil furnaces will use anywhere between 0.65 and 1.7 gallons over the course of one hour. However, if your unit is much older, it most likely isn’t nearly as efficient as newer units and could burn more than 2 gallons of oil per hour.

You should note that this gallons-per-hour measurement is based on the furnace running non-stop for a full hour. As a result, this number alone doesn’t tell you all that much since your furnace shouldn’t ever run for an hour straight if it is working correctly and your home is properly insulated. If you do ever find that your furnace runs for this long continuously, you will want to have it inspected since this indicates that there is some issue affecting its performance.

Calculating How Many Hours Your Furnace Runs on an Average Day

Before you can estimate your furnace’s average daily oil usage, you will need to know approximately how many total hours it runs on a normal winter day. To do this, you will need to observe your furnace for an hour both during the warmest and coldest parts of the day. This means making note of how many minutes your furnace runs for during one hour in the mid-afternoon and for one hour around 6 a.m. when the temperature is typically coldest.

To get an accurate estimate, both observations should be made on the same day. You should also make your observations on a day when the temperature range is near the normal winter averages. If you were to make this observation on a much colder or much milder day, your calculation won’t be all that accurate since the outdoor temperature is one of the main factors that influence how much your furnace runs and thus how much oil it uses.

Once you’ve made your observations, you will then need to average the two numbers so you can then estimate the normal hourly run time across an entire day. To find the average, you need to multiply your two observations and then divide this total by two. Multiplying the average minutes by 24 then lets you calculate how many minutes the unit would run over one full day. Finally, you can divide this total by 60 to find the average hours the furnace runs in a full day.

Let’s say that your furnace ran for a total of 35 minutes when you observed it for an hour during the morning and for 15 minutes in the afternoon. This means that averaged out over a full day, the unit would run for around 25 minutes an hour. Based on this, you can then estimate that the unit would run for around 600 minutes, or 10 hours, on a normal day.

Estimating Total Gallons of Oil used Per Day

Now that you know the approximate number of hours your furnace would run on a typical winter day, you can then move on to estimating the total number of gallons of oil it normally uses in a day. All it takes to do this is to multiply how many gallons it uses in an hour by how many hours it typically runs in a day.

Let’s say that your furnace burns 1.5 gallons of oil per hour and runs for an average of 10 hours per day. This means that it will typically burn around 15 gallons of oil on a normal winter day.

Why Knowing How Much Oil Your Furnace Uses is so Important

Knowing how much oil your furnace typically uses in a day is essential for figuring out how often you will need to have your oil tank refilled so that you don’t ever risk running out. The average residential oil tank holds around 250 gallons. If your furnace burns around 15 gallons of oil on an average winter day, this means that a full tank would last you just over 16 full days.

In this case, you’ll want to get your tank refilled approximately every 10 to 12 days. It is important that you never wait too long as otherwise, you’ll run the risk of running out of oil should a sudden cold snap happen and lead to your furnace suddenly running much more.

It is also a good idea to check the gauge on your oil tank daily during the winter so that you always know approximately how much oil you have left. In general, you will always want to call your oil company to schedule a delivery once the gauge shows that the tank is only one-quarter full.

How the Texas Weather Affects Oil Consumption

The fact that Texas has quite mild and warm winters compared to much of the rest of the country means it is unlikely that your furnace would ever actually burn 15 gallons of oil a day. It could happen during one of those rare extreme cold snaps, your oil usage will typically be far below this since your furnace won’t ever need to run that often.

In fact, studies have shown that when the outdoor temperature is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the average furnace will usually burn somewhere between 2 and 4 gallons of oil in a day. As a result, a full tank of oil will typically last for at least two months.

If you find that you’re going through much more oil than this even when the weather is mild, it is likely that either your furnace isn’t working effectively or your home isn’t properly insulated and has lots of air leaks. Either way, this is something you will want to get taken care of so that both your comfort and your bank account don’t suffer.

Your Local HVAC Experts

If you need heating service in the Bastrop area, the team at Blue Ribbon Heating & Cooling has you covered. We specialize in furnace maintenance, repairs, and installation, and we also install, repair, and maintain heat pumps, air conditioners, and ductless mini-splits. Our team offers services for air purifiers, whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and other indoor air quality equipment as well. For more information or to schedule a service call, contact our team today.

New Year, New Efficiency Ratings for AC Systems and Heat Pumps

Written by Kevin on January 13, 2023. Posted in Blog, HVAC. No Comments on New Year, New Efficiency Ratings for AC Systems and Heat Pumps

We’ll Explain What It Means for You and Your Household

Greetings, fellow Texans! As most of us were focused on ringing in the new year in celebration mode, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was focused on ringing in 2023 in regulation mode—new efficiency rules for air conditioners and heat pumps.

That’s right. Under the new rules that took effect Jan. 1, the efficiency of your air conditioner or heat pump will be measured by SEER2. Previously, it was measured by SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). Due to improved technology and testing, the goal of the new standards is to provide HVAC professionals and consumers with even more accurate overall efficiency ratings.

A more accurately rated system, along with a routine HVAC maintenance plan should mean improved comfort and lower monthly energy bills for you.

So, what does this mean for us here in Texas? Well, the DOE has divided the country into three regions—North, Southeast and Southwest—and made the rules slightly different for each region because different areas of the country have different climate and heating/cooling needs.

We’re Part of the Southeast Region

Texas is part of the Southeast region, so here’s how the new rules affect us:

All residential central air systems that are below 45,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs) must have a SEER2 rating of at least 14.3 (previously 15 SEER). (BTUs measure the cooling power of air conditioners.)
All residential central air systems that are 45,000 BTU and above must have a SEER2 rating of 13.8 (previously 14 SEER).
All heat pumps must have a SEER2 rating of at least 14.3 (previously 15 SEER).

Effective Jan., 1, systems that don’t meet these standards cannot be sold or installed in the Southeast region. Be careful! In the North, some of the rules are based on the manufacturing date, which means certain equipment can be installed even if it does not meet the new SEER2 standards. However, that equipment must have been manufactured before Jan. 1, 2023. That is not the case here, where equipment that does not meet the new standards cannot be sold or installed, no matter when it was manufactured.

Confused? We get it! At Blue Ribbon, we’re familiar with all of the ins and outs of these new rules and will make sure the equipment we sell and install for you is 100% compliant. However, not every contractor out there has your best interests at heart, so make sure you are dealing with a company you can trust!

Good News and Bad News

Unfortunately, the bad news is these new rules are expected to create even more disruptions to the HVAC industry supply chain, one that has already been heavily impacted by COVID-19. They also are expected to boost equipment prices. So, if your system is 15 years old or older, we highly recommend you act now. It will put you at the front of the line and could also help you save money before prices climb even further.

The good news is the new equipment will be even more efficient than your old equipment, which will generate more energy savings over time. Of course, another key to efficiency is routine air conditioning and heat pump maintenance.

Ready to update your equipment? Use our convenient form to schedule your appointment today!

Indoor Air Quality testing in Bastrop, TX Indoor Air Quality testing in Bastrop, TX

Does cooking Lower My Homes IAQ?

Written by Kevin on January 11, 2023. Posted in Indoor Air Quality. No Comments on Does cooking Lower My Homes IAQ?

Cooking is something that is not only necessary but also a pastime you may enjoy. However, the unintended impact on your indoor air quality, or IAQ, might hinder that enjoyment.

Keep in mind that airborne contaminants go beyond particulate matter that gets caught by filters. Rather, this category can also include gases and biological substances. Discover exactly how cooking affects your indoor atmosphere, the contaminants it can release, and what you can do to improve your IAQ.

Consider Your Heat Source

The first thing to consider for possible airborne contaminants while cooking is your heat source. Whether you’re using a cooktop or your oven, how it generates heat may add contaminants to the air that may be problematic.

The most obvious example is when you’re burning any sort of fossil fuel, which is most commonly natural gas. Fossil fuels produce gases that become toxic at high enough concentrations.

Electric element stovetops and ovens may seem like cleaner options than their gas-burning counterparts. While they do not produce contaminants every time you turn them on, they will produce them if there’s anything on the element that burns off when it heats up. This is especially true for self-cleaning ovens, whether gas or electric.

Burning Food

Cooking until your food is properly heated through makes it safe to consume, but the cooking process itself also releases a small amount of biological contamination. Actually burning any sort of food while preparing it releases far more airborne contaminants.

Food is considered organic material, and all organic material has carbon as its base. When carbon-based materials get hot enough, they release toxins that contribute to household air pollution. When you burn these materials in a confined space, such as a kitchen, those pollutants can linger, posing problems for extended periods.

Consider Your Ingredients

There is nothing more comforting than walking into a space and smelling some food that has been prepared. On the other hand, the smell of other food cooking may repulse you and even cause problems such as allergies.

Some ingredients are more obvious than others, but the key to remember is that many ingredients can release particles and gases while you’re preparing them. Keep in mind that it’s also not just the smell in your kitchen; airborne contaminants from food will collect on clothing, upholstery, paint, carpeting, and so much more.

This is why you may have aromas that linger for days at a time when you cook with strong ingredients. The more you use those strong ingredients, the more impact they’ll have on your home environment. Residual contaminants can even impact how future foods come out, affecting everything from how sourdough starter ferments to how some foods taste. This is because your olfactory sense is deeply integrated with the gustation sense.

Your Dishes

Your dishes play an integral role in both serving and storing your food; however, they can also contribute toxic contaminants to your air. It’s common knowledge that many dish materials will leach various chemicals into your food when you heat them up, including using them to serve food.

What is not so commonly considered is the release of these chemicals into the air. Plastic products are notorious for off-gassing when they heat up, allowing contaminants to leach into your food and into the air you breathe.

Frying

There’s nothing more comforting to many people than fried foods. Whether you like fried cheese, French fries, or bacon, the frying process can contribute to degrading your air quality.

The oil that’s used for frying becomes hot enough that it releases chemicals into the air. These chemicals can have a number of effects on your body. Further, the oil can become airborne for a short time, most often affecting your range hood and fan. Over time, the buildup of this oil can degrade the exhaust fan’s performance, reducing its ability to effectively ventilate your kitchen.

Air frying is a better alternative to oil frying for many reasons, including not contaminating the air with many of the pollutants released from cooking oil. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t affect your IAQ in any way. While you’re not using additional oil or fat to fry the food, many of the foods you’d normally fry already contain a lot of fat. The high heat used by air fryers can melt that fat, resulting in it becoming airborne and causing some of the same issues as frying with oil.

Your Cookware Is Important Too

The dishes you use to cook are also prone to off-gassing, depending on the kind used. Teflon is especially challenging, off-gassing toxic particulates starting at temperatures of around 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which your pan will reach between the medium and high settings.

Cooking’s Airborne Contaminants

There is a multitude of airborne contaminants your kitchen may produce through your cooking endeavors. Here’s a highlight of some of the more prominent ones you should consider as you think through mitigation options.

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that can lead to asphyxiation and death in high concentrations. This is one of the chief concerns over using a gas stovetop or oven, especially if it’s not burning the fuel as efficiently as it should. Your burner flame should be blue when it’s working correctly. A yellow flame indicates the burner is likely producing carbon monoxide, and you need to have it evaluated before continuing to use it.

Another potential contaminant from using a gas cooktop is nitrogen dioxide, raising NO2 levels an average of 25% to 33% in the summer and 35% to 39% in the winter. Nitrogen dioxide can cause respiratory irritation, lead to bronchitis, and exacerbate asthma.

Formaldehyde is a chemical most people are somewhat familiar with because of its preservative use in biology classes. However, it’s also found in various things around your kitchen, including some very common ones. It occurs naturally in various food like meat, fish, and even produce and coffee. When cooking, or brewing in the case of coffee, you may release formaldehyde into the air as it warms up.

How to Improve Your IAQ and Still Cook at Home

There are several steps you can easily take to control your home’s air quality so that you can continue using your kitchen for whatever it is you enjoy cooking. Start by making sure you have sufficient ventilation in your kitchen. Use your range hood vent fan whenever you’re cooking.

Next, start using an air purification system. You can use a smaller room-sized purification unit; just make sure it’s suitable for the size of your kitchen. Alternatively, you can install a whole-house unit as part of your HVAC system. Activated charcoal is exceptionally effective at removing odors from the air. You’ll also want an efficient filter to remove all of the particles.

Another option is an ultraviolet light purifier, which can work to purify the air moving through your HVAC system. These special purifiers use UV-C light to break the molecular bond of the particles that cause odors, making them inert. The beauty of ultraviolet purification is that it’s also extremely effective on viruses and bacteria.

For more than 20 years, when people around Bastrop wanted to improve their indoor air quality, they’ve turned to our experts at Blue Ribbon Heating & Cooling. Our team provides a full range of IAQ solutions, from humidity control to air purifiers and scrubbers. We also perform IAQ, heating, and cooling equipment installation, repair, and maintenance. Call us today to schedule your consultation with one of our indoor air quality experts.

Can I Heat my Garage with a Mini-Split?

Written by Kevin on December 19, 2022. Posted in Heating. No Comments on Can I Heat my Garage with a Mini-Split?

Keep Your Garage Comfortable With a Ductless Mini-Split

Ductless mini-split systems are perfect for garages and other spaces that are difficult to connect to ducted heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. As the name implies, ductless systems do not require air ducts to distribute conditioned air to heat and cool a living space. Instead, individual air handlers installed in a room or zone provide conditioned air to the space. Depending on the brand and model you choose, a single compressor can run between one and eight indoor air handlers.

Ductless systems are available as both heat pumps that heat and cool with the same unit and as air conditioners that only cool. Ductless systems are more energy efficient than traditional HVAC systems because no energy is lost through the ducts.

Ductless heat pumps are ideal for Central Texas weather, which has wide fluctuations in seasonal temperatures and humidity. Heat pumps are even more energy efficient because they transfer heat from one place to another instead of using energy to generate heated and cooled air. Here, we provide information about how ductless units work, how they are installed, and their benefits.

How Ductless Mini-Split Systems Work

Ductless HVAC systems work on the same principles as traditional air conditioners. The difference is that no air ducts are needed to blow conditioned air into the living space. A ductless system includes an outdoor unit that houses the compressor, expansion valve, and condenser coil. Refrigerant circulates through these components.

Inside, individual air handlers contain evaporator coils and fans. Instead of ducts that distribute air, the air handlers blow conditioned air directly into a room or zone. A conduit that contains electrical lines, tubing containing refrigerant, and a condensate drain connects the indoor and outdoor units. The conduit is routed through a small hole in the wall.

During the refrigeration cycle, gas flows through tubing to the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator coils. As the refrigerant passes through the system, it changes from gas to liquid, absorbs and expels heat, and changes back to gas. Compressing gas converts it to a liquid and releases heat. In the cooling cycle, this heat is released outside.

Heat pumps work on the same principles of refrigeration as standard air conditioners. During the summer, the refrigerant removes heat from indoors and discharges it outdoors. A reversing valve changes the flow of refrigerant. During the winter, refrigerant picks up heat energy from outside and discharges it indoors.

Benefits of Ductless Mini-Split Systems

There are several benefits to ductless systems. Because there are no air ducts, they can be installed virtually anywhere, such as in outbuildings, garages, add-ons, basements, and attics. They work well in older homes that do not have a ducted HVAC system or in spaces where ducts are impractical to install, such as rooms with vaulted ceilings or homes with no attic space.

If your home or office has areas that are difficult to heat and cool with an existing ducted system, adding a ductless unit can even out temperatures in a room or zone. Kitchens, south-facing rooms, sunrooms, and upstairs spaces often overheat during warm weather. In the winter, you may feel cold spots or uneven temperatures. With a ducted system, adjusting the temperature on the thermostat affects each space connected by ducts. In contrast, mini-splits allow individual temperature control of a space without affecting other rooms.

Ductless heating and cooling systems use less energy than standard HVAC systems. Ducts are a major source of energy loss. According to the Department of Energy, air ducts lose as much as 30% of conditioned air in a typical home. Because there are no ducts in a mini-split configuration, there is no energy loss. In addition, each air handler has its own temperature control, allowing precise climate control adjustments in a room without affecting comfort in other rooms. When the space is not in use, the unit can be turned off, unlike ducted systems that blow conditioned air into every connected space.

Heat pumps are even more efficient because they do not require energy to heat and cool. Instead, they transfer heat from one place to another. They do use electricity to run fans within the unit. However, they use less energy than ducted systems because the fans do not have to push air through ducts. In humid climates, such as Central Texas summers, heat pumps efficiently remove humidity and maintain a consistent temperature, which improves indoor comfort.

Ductless mini-splits can improve air quality because air is not distributed between rooms. This is important for spaces like garages and workshops because odors and airborne pollutants are confined to a single space. In contrast, ducted systems distribute air into every room, broadcasting airborne pollutants throughout the living space,

Ductless systems are quiet. The compressor can be placed in a convenient outdoor location. Indoors, the only sound is air blowing from the cassette.

Ductless System Installation

Ductless mini-splits are simple to install. A professional can usually install the outdoor condenser and several indoor air handlers in one day. The outdoor compressor can be placed on a wall, rooftop, or the ground. Your HVAC contractor can help you select an appropriate place. Wall-mounted units require mounting hardware to support the weight. For ground installations, the unit should be placed on a pad in a level location. Whether on the ground, rooftop, or a wall, placement should follow the same guidelines used for central air conditioners. There should be enough clearance so that air circulates around it, and it should be accessible for servicing and repairs.

Indoor air handlers can be mounted on a wall, in the ceiling, or on the floor. Wall-mounted cassettes should be installed on an exterior wall, providing a direct connection to the outdoor condenser and a convenient place to discharge condensate drainage. Cassettes should be at least 6 feet above the floor with adequate clearance to the ceiling. They should not be placed in indirect sunlight or near heat sources, which can affect temperature regulation and performance.

A 3-inch hole will be drilled into the wall for the conduit that connects the indoor and outdoor components. The limiting factor in installation is the distance between the outdoor condenser and the nearest indoor air handler. The standard line length is approximately 25 feet, but longer lines are available; however, longer lines can affect efficiency.

Choosing a Mini-Split System for Your Central Texas Home

Blue Ribbon Cooling and Heating offers a full suite of heating and air conditioning services for residents in the Central Texas area. Our offices in Bastrop and Round Rock make us accessible to residents in Hays, Caldwell, Bastrop, and Travis counties. Our licensed technicians are trained on state-of-the-art equipment to bring superior technical know-how to every job. We are committed to customer satisfaction.

Our experienced technicians can help you select a ductless mini-split that will keep your garage cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Properly sized installations optimize energy efficiency and performance. We look at the size of the garage, the amount of wall and ceiling insulation, and other factors that influence sizing. We install, repair, and service all types and brands of HVAC equipment. We also provide indoor air quality services and are even available 24/7 for emergencies.

For more information about installing a mini-split in your garage or another area of your home, give us a call.