⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️

Home Comfort | Home Performance | Charlottesville, Richmond, Central VA | HVAC Contractor | Electrify Everything | Heat pumps

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

A classic "mixed brand" electrification from us...always trying to find the best equipment for the particular job at hand.

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

We just wrapped up HVAC installation on a 48-unit, all-electric, new apartment building in Fishersville, VA...our largest project to-date!

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

Recent electrification work:
"Getting things back on track"

This house in RVA used to be all-electric, but the folks who flipped it had fossil gas installed, along w/ a new furnace!🤦‍♂️

The new owners were *not* on board + had us install new heat pumps. Gas meter removal next..

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

Glad we could help!
⚡️⚡️⚡️
#electrifyeverything

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@ScottFarbman @jbsties @JesseTayRiver Design + air-barrier details by @jbsties, execution by https://t.co/03huWjcZOy

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@JesseTayRiver @ScottFarbman @jbsties Largely agree...though I suspect it's easier to fake a manometer pic than to fake a computer/app-controlled multi-point test.

In this case, we're required to do the multi-point test for the HERS rating...so we didn't also do a single-point test.

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@ScottFarbman @jbsties @JesseTayRiver Enclosure area is 9,676sf. CFM50/sf enclosure is 0.05

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@mtgillikin Thank you!

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@MagnaLeonel 78F / 25.5C

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

While delivering superior comfort, nearly silent indoor/outdoor operation, + more than 3x improved air filtration, this heat pump system our squad recently installed is an energy efficiency beast, compared to the straight cooling system it replaced.
1/4

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@EfficiencyLast ...setup thermostat for 2-stage airflow operation (400/800cfm)...system runs most of the time in stage 1, so outdoor unit ramps down as needed.

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@EfficiencyLast Likely small reductions in duct leakage (not measured), but no other changes in the envelope.

Big reduction in air handler fan energy.

Big reduction in outdoor unit energy from: more efficient outdoor unit, limit outdoor unit to nominal 2-ton output...

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@energysmartwv Yes...and reduced airflow via lower capacity equipment and staging on the thermostat. The new air handler is ~115W at 800cfm (stage 2), but only ~30W at 400cfm (stage 1). System runs 80%+ of the time in stage 1.

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@rosstret @neil_comparetto @JohnSemmelhack Not enough horizontal space.

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@energysmartwv Also note that ~20% of overall savings are from indoor air side alone. Very efficient, variable speed air handler + reduced airflow (was ~1,200cfm nominal...now typically operates at 400cfm w/ boost to 800cfm as need)...along w/ simple but important duct + filter improvements.

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@energysmartwv 60% energy use reduction (not 70%).

We wouldn't be surprised if there was something wrong with the old system, but detailed diagnostics of the old one was outside of our scope. At the same time, it was able to keep the house cool the previous year.

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@energysmartwv @neil_comparetto @JohnSemmelhack That work was done by others in past years...not sure why they insulated the floor, rather than the foundation walls.

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

@BordenEric @Negawatt_Nate FWIW: both months had more or less the same average outdoor temperature, about 78F.

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

Even more impressive, the new air handler used about the same amount of energy in July as the old, cooling-only model used during each of the Fall/Winter months!....when it was doing *NOTHING*, but was powered on.
4/4

[⚡️The Comfort Squad⚡️ @comfortsquadva]

In particular, the new air handler + nearby ductwork we installed are absolute winners, saving 86% of the fan energy compared to the old system, despite increasing filter performance from MERV-4 to MERV-13.
3/4