HVAC Terminology

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If you have ever talked with a technician in the HVAC industry, it can seem like they are speaking an entirely different language. Like most fields, there are plenty of terms and expressions used in HVAC that might not be recognized by the general public. To help you understand what is being said, this quick glossary will highlight some of the main HVAC terms.

 

When the time comes for AC repair or furnace repair in the Triad area, simply get in touch with the team at Berico for the assistance you need.

 

Air Handler

A central air system or heat pump always needs a way to distribute the air that it warms or cools around the house, and that is the job of the air handler. If your system seems to be struggling to move air through the ducts, a problem with the air handler may be to blame.

 

Indoor Coil

This is the part of an AC system or heat pump that lives inside the building and is where the air moving through the ducts is actually heated or cooled. The coil will be warmer or cooler than the air being moved, depending on which system is running, and some of that energy will be transferred to the air.

 

Outdoor Coil

As the name suggests, this part lives outside and is the most noticeable component of your air conditioning system or heat pump. When running in AC mode, the outdoor coil dumps heat energy from inside to outside. Alternatively, when in heating mode, the outdoor coil can gather up heat energy from the outdoors for use inside.

 

Energy Efficiency Ratio

This ratio is an easy way to demonstrate how efficiently a system is able to turn energy into cooling power. The math is done by dividing the BTUs per hour offered by the unit by the overall input in watts. That equation leaves the system with a rating that is BTUs per hour per watt.

 

British Thermal Unit

Almost always referred to simply as a BTU, this is a unit of measure that is defined by the amount of heat needed to elevate a pound of water by a single degree Fahrenheit. When looking at HVAC equipment, capacity is often measured in BTUs, with a higher number indicating a more powerful unit or system.

 

I.A.Q. or iWave System

I.A.Q., or indoor air quality, is extremely important.  The iWave System is an excellent way to cut down on indoor pollution and is one of the I.A.Q solutions offered by Berico. That pollution can come from pet dander, dust, and many other factors. The installation of iWave is quick and easy, and once installed, it can cut down on allergens while making the air smell better at the same time.

 

Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat is a modern piece of equipment that is able to intelligently manage the operation of an HVAC system. Using a smart thermostat may allow you to control the system from your phone, establish detailed schedules to make sure you are using your HVAC efficiently, and much more.

 

While the glossary above should help, you still don’t need to be an expert in HVAC repair to have your system running at optimum efficiency. For that, all you need to do is call Berico and the talented and experienced team will jump into action. Call now to learn more or to get started.

Is My HVAC Thermostat Bad?

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The thermostat is the “brains” of your HVAC system. There are plenty of other components needed for the system to work and effectively heat and cool your home, but if the thermostat isn’t working, the other components just don’t matter. So, this article will take a look at some of the signs that your thermostat needs to be fixed or replaced.

 

If you would like to work with the leading AC repair company in North Carolina, simply reach out to Berico today to get more information or to schedule an appointment. Berico can complete any type of HVAC service in a timely manner and for an excellent price. You are sure to be impressed with the quality of workmanship and people.

 

Start with the Basics

You don’t need to be an HVAC technician to notice when something is wrong with your thermostat. In fact, if you just pay a bit of attention to how it is operating, you should be able to spot signs of trouble so you can reach out for help.

 

As an obvious starting point, if your system simply won’t turn on, it might be that the thermostat is to blame. You should hear the system kick on with the clicking noise when it needs to either heat or cool the room. You’ll know it should be running because the temperature reading for the room is higher or lower than the temperature you have set on the thermostat. If the system just won’t come on even though it looks like it should, your thermostat is one of the first things to check.

 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, it can also be a sign of a faulty thermostat if your HVAC system won’t turn off when it should. The system should not just run and run without stopping – it should get to the desired temperature and then turn off for a period of time. The calibration may be off when it won’t shut down at the right time, so this is another reason to reach out to Berico for help.

 

Watch for Short-Cycling

A short cycle in an HVAC system is when the system comes on for just a little bit but then turns back off again. It should run for a little while, even when only a modest temperature adjustment is needed, before turning off again. If you hear it coming on and off excessively, have a professional look at the system to see if the thermostat or another component is causing the problem.

 

Your Settings Are Lost

One of the nice things about a modern thermostat is that it can remember the settings you want to use for your system and use them over and over again. If you have taken the time to program your thermostat, and then those settings just disappear, something may be going wrong with the unit. It might be possible to reset it and restore proper function, or the thermostat may need to be replaced.

 

Upgrading your Thermostat

Even if you are not having any problems, updating thermostat can pay for itself.  The industry has come a long way since dial thermostats.  Today you can control your thermostats from your phone, set schedules, and program specific settings all which  help you reduce the cost of operating your heating and cooling systems.  Furthermore, some thermostats are able to help diagnose or prevent problems by notifying your HVAC company.  Similar to your “check engine light” in your vehicle, your thermostat will let you (and your HVAC contractor) know if an issue occurs.

 

Whether it’s furnace repair, new equipment installation, or any of a number of other important tasks related to your HVAC system, you can trust the team at Berico to be up to the challenge. Call Berico right away to get the help you need.

Understanding HVAC Efficiency Ratings: What You Need to Know

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It’s easy enough to understand that an efficient HVAC system is better than an inefficient system. When your HVAC equipment operates efficiently, it tends to deliver better results, and it saves you money by consuming less energy. Also, there is the added benefit of reducing the impact of the system on the environment. But how do you know what the ratings mean and what to look for when shopping for an HVAC system? The article below has the details.

 

For an HVAC company you can trust to deliver outstanding results over and over again, Berico is the only name you need to know. Simply pick up the phone, call Berico to schedule an appointment, and you will be well on your way.

 

Starting with Cooling

If you are looking at the efficiency of your cooling system, the metric that is relevant to the discussion is SEER. This stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and it is a number that demonstrates the energy efficiency of a piece of equipment that was designed to cool an indoor space. It can be applied to either an air conditioner or a heat pump.

 

This scale is designed to be simple for everyone to understand, so what you need to know is this – the higher the number, the more efficient the system. Current standards dictate that all new cooling equipment be rated with a SEER of at least 14 in the warmer states in the U.S. So if you buy a new system, it will be rated at least at a 14, but you could shop for a unit with a higher rating for even better efficiency. Plus 14 SEER may be today’s minimum, but manufacturers now produce HVAC equipment up to 21+ SEER.  Call a Berico representative today who can help you better understand your system’s SEER rating and the potential return on investment for a higher efficiency system.

 

Remember that if you are using a rather old air conditioner currently, it could be operating with an effective SEER number of well under 10. So, by installing any type of new equipment, even if it only meets the standard of 14, you’ll be dramatically improving the efficiency of the setup.

 

A Couple of Heating Measures

Things are a little more complicated when it comes to the measurement of heating equipment, but it’s still simple enough to understand. If measuring a furnace that uses oil or gas to heat an indoor space, its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, or AFUE, should be checked. Again here you want a higher number, as the percentage reflected in this measurement shows how much of the fuel is actually converted to heat. Modern equipment can actually perform at a level of 95% or above, which is incredible efficiency, while older units might barely surpass the 50% mark.

 

There is a separate measure to track the performance of the heating side of a heat pump system. That number is HSPF, or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, and the minimum rating is 8.2, although you can find products up to 10 on this scale if you want to be as efficient as possible.

 

Is it time for HVAC repair at your home or business? Do you need HVAC maintenance completed so you can avoid costly repairs later? Whatever the case may be, you are only one phone call away from getting the help you need for a fair price. Reach out to Berico and get started today.

Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality with Your HVAC System

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Breathing clean air is an experience that everyone deserves in their home. When the air in your home is fresh, it makes it easier to relax and enjoy your time with family – and, of course, that clean air will help everyone stay healthier. If you’d like to take some steps toward cleaner air in your home, the tips below should be helpful.

 

Working with a trustworthy partner on this project is also important, which is why Berico needs to be at the top of your list for all heating and air conditioning projects. You can quickly and easily elevate your indoor air quality with Berico on your side!

 

The Essential Starting Point

There are plenty of advanced techniques you can use to improve the air quality in your home, and we will get to some of those in a moment. However, the only place to start this discussion is with the air filter that is serving your HVAC system. If the air filter isn’t doing its job, you’ll struggle to maintain clean air, even if you take some other steps.

 

Fortunately, this is an easy point to check off your list. You need to do just two things – buy a good quality air filter – which won’t be very expensive – and change it out regularly. By switching out the air filter as soon as the old one gets too dirty to function properly any longer, you’ll not only be improving your air quality, but you will also be helping the whole HVAC system function more efficiently.

 

Berico has teamed up with FilterFetch to simplify your HVAC maintenance routine. With FilterFetch, you can say goodbye to the hassle of remembering to purchase and replace your HVAC filters. As a trusted Berico partner, FilterFetch delivers high-quality, professional-grade filters right to your doorstep. If you’re ready to streamline your filter replacement process and ensure optimal air quality in your home, check out our HVAC Filter Service through FilterFetch today. Here’s the link:  HVAC filter delivery service.

 

Add a Purifying Device

You’ll be at a good starting point when you have a clean, quality air filter within your system. As a next step, consider adding an air purifier, such as the iWave, a product Berico is proud to install. This type of device produces ions actively to counteract a variety of particles in the air, such as pathogens and allergens. This is important, as some airborne particles are too small to be caught by a standard air filter, so they will flow freely unless you take an additional step. The installation of an iWave device is an affordable investment that will pay off in the form of cleaner air for years to come.

 

 

For the best Greensboro HVAC team available today, just call Berico and set up your first appointment. With a century of experience in the heating and air business, you’ll always be impressed by the service and pricing that Berico can deliver. Don’t wait any longer to get started!

What Our Customers Say

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Who Makes the Best Commercial Air Conditioner?

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Berico is a leader in commercial HVAC services throughout the greater Greensboro area. When you turn to us for your commercial HVAC service, you’ll be working with an experienced team that understands the challenges that come along with commercial installations or repairs. Knowing that their 100 years of experience is on your side, you can rest assured that the project will be completed successfully and in a timely manner.

 

As you think about adding a new commercial air conditioner to your building, or as you work on constructing a new building and need A/C, you might be wondering who makes the best system on the market today. The article below will tackle that question to help you make an informed choice.

 

Sticking with Known Brands

As a good starting point when looking for a commercial air conditioner that you can trust, shop among some of the known brands on the market. You don’t necessarily have to buy from the one or two top names, but you also don’t want to invest your money into a system that hasn’t yet proven its worth. Remember, this air conditioning equipment will need to perform well for years if you are going to get good value out of the purchase, so stick with brand names that your commercial HVAC contractor has worked with for years and knows to be trustworthy. Saving a small percentage on the purchase by going with an unfamiliar brand is not going to pay off in the long run.

 

Getting the Sizing Right

Just as important as getting the “best” commercial air conditioner is finding a system that is the appropriate size for your building and the spaces that need to be cooled. Even the best brand in the world is going to offer disappointing performance if it isn’t the right size unit for how much space you need to cool during the middle of a hot North Carolina summer. Not only will an undersized unit struggle to keep the building comfortable, but it will also be likely to wear out prematurely because it will have to work so hard to keep up.

 

Work with Trusted HVAC Pros

The most important single piece of this puzzle is to work with a known HVAC contractor like Berico with an excellent reputation in the local area. Berico will provide you with quality commercial air conditioning equipment, and that equipment will be selected after a careful review of your specific needs. This is the best way to come away with a system that is ideal for your building and what it will require out of the air conditioner moving forward. Instead of guessing as to the brand and size that will give you the desired results, you can simply work with Berico and you’ll know that you have gotten it right the first time.

 

To get started right away, just contact Berico and explain your situation. The Berico team is always happy to answer questions and will provide you with an estimate for your job right away.

The Importance of Whole Home Surge Protection

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Most of the time, the power grid is pretty reliable, and you can just allow your various pieces of equipment to run without any worries. There are issues that come up, however, and sometimes a surge of power may rush through the system and put your gear in danger. This is why you probably have a surge protector protecting your computer – but what about everything else? A whole home surge protector is the answer.

 

Berico is the right choice for all furnace repair and other projects in the Triad. Take a moment to call today to get more information about your upcoming project.

 

What is Whole Home Surge Protection?

This type of system is exactly as it sounds – it provides an additional layer of protection for everything in your house if more electrical current than expected flows through the building. Rather than needing to plug everything into different surge protectors, you can offer coverage to even things that you wouldn’t be able to connect to a standard strip, such as your HVAC system or your refrigerator. Not only that, but you get much better protection from a quality whole home system than you would ever get from a simple plug-in model.

 

A Great Value

When you compare the cost of having whole home surge protection added to your property against the potential expenses you could incur if equipment is damaged, it’s an easy choice. This type of protection is going to keep some of your most expensive pieces of equipment safe, meaning you won’t be forced to go out and buy a replacement sometime soon after a power event that wasn’t your fault.

 

Ideally, you would like to get the longest possible useful life out of all of your major pieces of equipment. Nothing lasts forever, of course, but getting even a few more years out of these major home components is a big financial win. With only a modest cost required to have the surge protection installed, you will have gotten great value for your money, and you can sleep a little better at night as a result.

 

More and More Technology to Protect

Even if all you needed a whole home surge protector for was to keep your big pieces of equipment like HVAC equipment and a refrigerator safe, it would be worth it. But these days, many homes have a list of smart features integrated into the design, and those components need to be protected, as well. You might have a security system that is connected to the electrical grid, along with a smart thermostat and many other pieces including your entertainment equipment. Keeping all of these parts safe is in your best interest, and a surge protection system can do just that.

 

Whether you need AC repair, furnace installation, or maybe the installation of a whole home surge protection system, Berico should be your first choice. With one hundred years in business and a reputation that speaks for itself, you’ll certainly be in good hands with this team.

Berico Celebrates 100 Years

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In February, and all of 2024, Berico will be celebrating it’s 100-year anniversary in the triad community.  Evolving from what was originally “Berry Coal” company in 1924, today Berico has expanded in the fuel, propane, lubricant, and HVAC industries.  Over the years Berico has grown their portfolio through organic growth as well as multiple acquisitions.  Today, Berico’s 113 employees help serve the triad from three locations in Greensboro, Burlington, and Eden.  Additionally, Berico’s wholesale fuel company, Gateco Oil Co., maintains a terminal position at Greensboro’s fuel terminals.

Berico upholds William N. Berry’s motto of “Always Dependable” as proven by it’s multiple Reader’s Choice Awards, BBB Torch Award for Ethics, and it’s generosity to the community.  Particularly Berico’s “Gift of Warmth” program helps raise (and match) donations to help support those in need of heat each winter.

Founded by William N. Berry, the company has successfully transitioned into its 4th generation of family ownership.  After William N. Berry, the company was owned and operated by Joseph L. Berry, who was succeeded by the late John F. Fuquay and current CEO, Thomas A. Berry.  In 2011, current President, Will Berry joined as a 4th generation Berry leader.

“We are extremely proud to enter our 100th year supporting customers in the triad. I give credit to our great staff over the years, previous leadership, and dedication to our community for helping us reach this great milestone!” – Will Berry, President

Submitted by: Will Berry, President and Thomas A. Berry, CEO

 

 

How Do I Know if My Furnace Flame Sensor is Bad?

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There are many individual components within your gas furnace that have to be working properly in order for the whole unit to function as it should. One of the key components is called a flame sensor, and you will quickly find yourself left in the cold if it stops working. This article will explain what this part does and how you can determine if it might be causing problems with your furnace.

 

Managing the heating and air system in your home doesn’t have to be complicated – or unnecessarily expensive. By turning to Berico for HVAC service in Greensboro, you can be sure that you’ll be in good hands from start to finish on any upcoming project. Reach out today to get started.

 

What is a Flame Sensor?

Your Furnace would not be able to operate properly – and safely – without the inclusion of a flame sensor. This device is designed to detect a flame when the gas valve is open and gas is being allowed to flow into the furnace. If this sensor doesn’t detect an active flame, the gas supply will be shut off as a safety feature.

 

This is a creative way for furnace manufacturers to avoid creating a dangerous situation in which the gas flows into a furnace that doesn’t have the flame needed to combust the gas. The only problem is that over time, the flame sensor can get dirty or develop other problems, and it might stop working correctly. In other words, it may not detect a flame when one actually is present, and the furnace will struggle to work properly as a result.

 

Some Signs of Trouble

You don’t need to be a furnace repair professional to notice some issues that could point to a bad flame sensor. For example, if the furnace is cycling on and off way more often than it should, that could be the fault of this sensor. As the sensor thinks that the flame is out, it will shut off the furnace until the thermostat tries to kick it on again. A properly functioning furnace will run for a while before it shuts back off – if that isn’t happening, you should at least consider the possibility of the sensor being at fault.

 

Also, if your furnace isn’t creating heat as it should, you may again have a flame sensor problem. In this case, the sensor isn’t doing its job of detecting that the flame has gone out, and it’s allowing the furnace to run without any flame burning. That’s not only a problem in terms of not getting any hot air, but it can also be dangerous because gas will be flowing and not getting combusted.

 

Whether a faulty flame sensor leads to a repair of your furnace, or you decide on a new furnace installation, the team at Berico is the easy choice to take the lead on this job. Take a moment today to get in touch with Berico at (336) 273-8663 to learn more about what’s available and to schedule your first appointment.

Why is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

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When you hear your furnace kick on in the background while going about your normal life, you naturally expect to feel warm air blowing through the house a few moments later. If that doesn’t happen – and cold air comes out of the vents instead – you’ll immediately know that something is wrong. This article will take a look at some possible causes of your furnace failing to produce the warm air you need to stay comfortable all winter long.

 

Should you wind up needing furnace repair in Greensboro NC, there is no better option than the professionals at Berico. With a century of experience as a trusted HVAC company in this region, you can be sure you’ll be treated fairly and get the results you deserve. Call today to schedule an appointment.

 

Faulty Ignition Leading to No Fire

There needs to be a flame within your furnace to heat the air that is being run through the system. If you don’t have a flame due to an ignition problem, you won’t have the warm air you expect while the furnace is on. Fortunately, this is a problem that is a pretty easy issue to fix for a professional technician, so if this is the only issue with the furnace, it could be back up and running rather quickly.

 

Problems with the Control Board

It is the job of the control board to act as the brain for the furnace and send out the right signals to trigger proper operation. That usually goes fine, but if something goes wrong with the control board, it could send out signals that aren’t in line with what the system should be doing. If a faulty control board is diagnosed by your technician, having it replaced is another pretty simple fix.

 

A Clogged Air Filter

One of your most important jobs as a homeowner is to make sure the air filter that serves your heating and cooling system is replaced regularly. Through ongoing use, the air filter is going to gradually clog up, and less and less air will be able to make it through the filter. That restricted airflow will make it harder to efficiently distribute heat around the home, and the furnace will struggle to keep up with what the thermostat is demanding. Swap out your air filter frequently to avoid running into this problem.

 

The Vents Are Closed

This isn’t an instance of a furnace blowing cold air, but it happens enough to warrant mentioning: Did you or someone else in the home close some or all of the vents recently? This is an easy mistake to make, and if you forget that the vents are closed, you won’t be getting the airflow or the warming that you expect. Of course, you won’t need a technician to come in to solve this problem – just get all of the vents opened back up and you should be all set.

 

Don’t live in a cold home for long without calling for HVAC repair from Berico. The fair rates and excellent service that Berico offers make it easy to get back up and running right away. Reach out now to get the warm air flowing once again!