DESCO Energy for over 34 years has provided thousands of homeowners like yourself in successful do it yourself heating and air conditioning systems. Over this period of time we've realized and fined tuned our technical support so that we can assist you at almost any level. What motivates anyone to take on a do it yourself heating and air conditioning installation? Skyrocketing energy costs coupled with the challenge of doing a project not normally undertaken by the average homeowner. Homeowners typically find the challenge and accomplishment of installing their own heating and air conditioning systems a major milestone. Many homeowners cite lack of confidence in HVAC contractors as another factor. Most customers of DESCO Energy cite their lack of confidence was a result of previous bad experiences ranging from shoddy workmanship, lack of response or repeated service calls accompanied with incorrect or deceitful information. Quite often price gouging was mentioned as another factor. Most homeowners say they gained the confidence to do their own installations as a result of the information, education, technical support and testimonials provide by DESCO Energy and SEER Solutions for Energy Efficient Results.
Packaged System Installation/Replacement
Typical applications of packaged system installations occur in the southwest part of the country. During the building boom that had launched areas such as Phoenix and Las Vegas during the 1980s and 1990s there was a severe shortage of HVAC
Earlier we talked about the need for proper filtration for the new hi efficiency heat pumps and the need for proper air filtration. When installing any new hi efficiency heat pump a high media filter should be installed. Any dirt bypassing fiberglass filters will catch and build up on the surface of the indoor coil. Hold up any fiberglass filter to light and you will see how easy dirt can bypass the filter. Perhaps in one month this amount of dirt may not seem significant but after a few years this cumulative dirt becomes excessive. Also look at the air registers or diffusers and see the dirt that has collected. This is dirt reflective of a poor filtration system. Eventually this dirt will completely destroy the heat pump. First it will block the air flow, diminish the efficiency of the heat pump and if left unchecked will destroy the compressor. SEER strongly recommends installing a new high media filter for any new heat pump replacement or installation.
Furnace Installation/Replacement
Humidifiers should be considered an essential part of every furnace installation for comfort and energy savings. No other single item provides more benefits for such a small investment. Winter air is dry air in all parts of the country. Dry air causes drying of skin and respiratory systems. Dry air also supports viruses and related other bacterial growth. For this reason the flu and other respiratory ailments increase substantially in winter months. Dry air dries out hardwood floors and other furniture and construction materials. As well dry air increases static electricity causing computer and other electronic problems and is shocking when walking across carpeted floors. A humidifier increase indoor air quality and comfort eliminating or reducing the problems cause by dry air. A humidifier can allow you to lower the room thermostat setting 3 or 4 degrees without any noticeable comfort change. Even if a humidifier increased your health to the point you were fortunate to avoid catching the flu or a bad
Geothermal Systems
Geothermal heat pumps are similar in principle to the standard heat pumps outlined above with one exception. Heat pumps described above are air to air. A geothermal heat pump derives and rejects it's energy to and from the earth using water. A geothermal heat pump is a water to air heat pump. Geothermal heat pumps employ either tubing serpentines in the earth in loops or using wells to provide a constant source to reject heat for cooling and absorb heat for heating. By using a constant earth temperature of 50 to 55 degrees the geothermal heat pump uses less energy than any other source. A typical 2,000 square foot house can be heated in the coldest of climates for $100 a month or less. Although geothermal heat pumps are the most efficient and least costly to operate they are the most expensive types of heating and cooling systems to purchase and install. Unfortunately the cost for this type of system exceeds any reasonable payback. Typical payback periods are 13 to 18 years at which time the equipment needs replaced. Typically a contractor installation of a geothermal heat pump is $14k to $25k. As an effective do it yourself project we don't recommend this type of system. The high cost of geothermal heat pumps, associated components, complexity and the need for professional assistance don't allow significant cost savings to make this a cost effective do it yourself project. SEER Solutions for Energy Efficient Results makes recommendations based on reasonable payback periods. SEER recommends projects that achieve substantial savings as a do it yourselfer. Geothermal systems don't provide a reasonable solution for energy efficient results at this time. DESCO Energy continuously reviews the geothermal market and due to the lack of interest by homeowners and insufficient payback periods we no longer stock geothermal heat pumps. You won't find geothermal products listed in or Products section. If you have a large body of water close to you such as a large pond or two wells separated by at least 40 to 50 feet, geothermal may be effective to you as a more cost effective solution. If you are so inclined to find geothermal heat pumps of interest you may also want to consider electric generation products. You will find more information about his new concept below which is expected to be a leading source of heating and cooling in the not too distant future.
Heating System Installation/Replacement
Boiler Installation/Replacement
For boiler installations you will need to find a technician skilled in the installation of boiler installations and set ups. There are strict requirements for setting the carbon monoxide and O2 levels as well as gas pressure. Preferably the technician should have a plumbing background and regular experience with hydronic boilers and heating systems. An HVAC technician with experience only in the forced air systems will most likely not be qualified nor properly trained or have the proper test equipment to set up high efficiency condensing boilers which are substantially more involved and complex than furnaces. Remember DESCO Energy is the only online source authorized by the manufacturer to sell boilers online and provide warranty and technical support. We reserve the right to limit sales to homeowners with the intent to complete an installation without a qualified technician for final start up and hook up.
1. Plan ahead to optimize the home's envelope and mechanical systems. Consider from the start of the design the framing and insulation, windows, air leakage control, heating and cooling equipment, ductwork, ventilation systems, water heating equipment and fixtures, lighting, and appliances. (EEP)