Dallas Fort Worth Area Homes and Real Estate

I sometimes invite affiliates and vendors that have done good work with me and my clients in the past to send me some information about their products and services to publish on my blog.  Tim Bob owns a local a local air conditioning and heating service in the Dallas and Plano area and has worked with several of my clients in the past and also services the HVAC at my home as well. 

If you need the services of a good HVAC tech in the Dallas and Plano area, call Tim Bob at 214-762-2598.

His article this week is about the three options that Dallas home owners typically have to heat their home.  It is a bit technical, but explains the reasons why some methods are more efficient than others.

Enjoy reading!

Typically, three methods are used to heat homes in Texas.

1. Natural gas - Uses a flame to heat the air.  Flame is safely contained within the furnace. This method is very efficient. 
2. Electric resistance.This is the method used in "all-electric" homes.  The initial cost of electric units is typically less expensive, but can be three to four times the cost to operate as gas or heat-pump.  Obeys the “Thermal law of physics” and cannot be changed. Anything electric must follow “The law”.  Electric resistance furnaces cannot be made more or less efficient. They  heat at the exact efficiency as a hair dryer, light bulb or toaster or even a poorly maintained furnace.  The same “law” states that a burning pound of coal at the generating plant will produce the same amount of heat as if you were to burn it in your home!
3. Heat pump- generally used as an option when you want the efficiency of natural gas, but do not have gas.  But does this violate “the Thermal law of physics?”

It doesn’t.  The heat isn’t produced from electricity or gas.  It is taken from the air outside.  Very tricky.  There is heat outside when it is twenty degrees.  One must agree 20 degrees is warmer than 5 degrees.  This is the heat available from outside.  Just don’t slide that thermostat switch to emergency heat; you just turned on the expensive electric resistance heat function.

One more note. Magazines and television commercials have advertised an “Amish made” heater that plugs in and is supposedly very efficient.  Not so.  They cannot violate the law of physics.  Here is the rationale they use:  You will be heating the one room you are in.  You then turn the heat down in the rest of the house, thus saving money.  If you heat three rooms with these heaters, it may be as cheap to use your heat pump or gas furnace and heat the entire house.

Contact Tim Bob for Air Conditioning and Heating Sales and Service in Plano, TX (214) 762-2598

Beginning January 1, 2010, residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) manufacturers will have to cease production of equipment that runs on R22 freon refrigerant as part of an international agreement signed by the United States.

In 1986, a group of nations signed the Montreal Protocol to gradually phase out CFCs (Chloroflorocarbons) because of their damage to the environment and the ozone layer in the atmosphere.  Initially, R12 freon, the refrigerant that was previously used in automobile air conditioning systems, was phased out.  The continued phase out will now begin to affect residential HVAC units starting in a few weeks.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT HOMEOWNERS?

Homeowners who have HVAC units that run on R22 freon may not be able to find replacement units after January 1, 2010.  However, repair and replacement parts for the units may continue to be available for a long time.  The person I refer my clients to for HVAC repair, Tim Bob (yes, that's his last name) recently mentioned that many of these units are becoming harder to find even at this point.  Tim recommends that all homeowners who may be having issues with their HVAC units attempt to have them serviced and/or repaired as soon as possible.  Tim Bob's number is 214-762-2598 and he provides air conditioning and heating sales and service to the majority of the D/FW area.

HVAC units consist of several components.  The two main components are the evaporator coil (inside unit) and the compressor (outside unit).  In situations where either the inside or outside unit has failed completely and must be totally replaced, the other unit may be retrofitted to run in compliance with the new requirements in many cases. 

What about homeowners who have units that run on R22?  Will they have to upgrade them if they need to have freon added? 

NO because the current phase out only requires companies to cease manufacture of R22 equipment.  The law does not eliminate the manufacture of R22 freon until the year 2020, so current equipment that runs on R22 can still be serviced with new freon.  However, if the unit fails completely and must be entirely replaced, the new unit will have to be one that does not run on R22.

Call Tim Bob today for your heating and air conditioning (HVAC) needs in the Dallas / Fort Worth area.  His number is 214-762-2598.  

I have a past client who lives and works in the Arlington - Tarrant County area that is looking to meet some homeowners and/or real estate agents with clients in need of general home repair work and maintenance.  He is also interested in building up a business of people that may need regular yard and lawn maintenance. 

Here's a list of the type of work he has experience with and prefers to do:

• General lawn care and maintenance
• Building and repairing fences
• Sprinkler system repairs.
• General handyman work. 

If you or any of your clients need some work done, please call Brandon Jeffries at 832-477-4019.