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What do all those rating numbers
mean?
The federal government requires all air conditioning and heating
equipment to be rated for efficiency. The higher the rating, the
more efficient the model.
Gas furnaces are rated for AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization
Efficiency). This defines the amount of heat used to warm your home
from the burned fuel. A 90% furnace will use 90% of the available
heat to heat your home. 10% of the heat is vented outdoors. Many
older gas furnaces are only 60% efficient. The other 40% is vented
outdoors. You can see that anew high-efficiency furnace will require
much less fuel to heat your home.
For air conditioning, the rating is SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency
Ratio). This rating is based on general design criteria such as the
compressor and outdoor coil. Seer ratings are for comparison
purposes only, so that homeowners will know how they can compare
different brands of products with similar efficiency ratings. The
rating for the outdoor unit will reference a general efficiency
range, such as 14 SEER. The actual efficiency rating for a specific
system will depend on the combination of the outdoor unit and the
indoor coil. A variable-speed indoor blower unit will increase the
efficiency rating of the system, as well.
Heat pumps are rated by SEER for cooling efficiency and by HSPF
(Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) for heating efficiency. As
with other ratings, the higher the HSPF, the less energy it will
take to warm your home.
Will anything help control the humidity in my house?
Humidity can be a problem in the
Midwest. The best way to control excessive humidity is to have a
system that runs longer at lower speeds. Variable speed air
handling equipment runs at very low speeds, which keeps the air
circulating against the cooling coil & removes much more moisture
than conventional systems. At these low speeds, the variable speed
motor uses much less electricity.
How much will a new heating and cooling system cost?
There are many factors that must be considered, including:
Our comfort consultants will do a thorough comfort needs analysis
and load calculation specific to your home and family to determine
the system that will best provide your year-round comfort.
What size system do I need for my home?
It is important that new or replacement equipment is not sized by
“rule of thumb” or by duplicating the existing equipment capacity.
The only accurate way to determine the correct capacity of heating
and air conditioning equipment for your home is to have a load
calculation performed on your home. There is a specific method
available to do this calculation. This will give us the heat gain
and heat loss design data for your home. These figures can then be
used to select the appropriately sized air conditioning our heating
system for your home, based on equipment-performance data.
Many factors determine the size (capacity) system your home
requires. Some of these are:
-
Square feet to be cooled and
heated
-
Climate
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Humidity
-
Number of windows
-
Insulation factors
-
Which direction your home faces
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Heat producing appliances, and
-
The number of people who will be
in the home
Oversized air conditioning systems
will not remove adequate moisture from the indoor air due to short
cycling. Oversized systems quickly cool the indoor air temperature,
but they do not run long enough to remove the humidity. That leaves
you feeling stuffy and uncomfortable. Control of your home’s climate
is rarely achieved with oversized systems and electricity
consumption is higher than with a properly sized system.
An oversized furnace is similar to an oversized air conditioning
system. The furnace run time is short, creating uncomfortable air
stratification and less air filtration. Also, the frequent cycling
of the unit on and off an cause undue wear and tear on internal
working components.
An undersized air conditioning system will not adequately cool your
home on the hottest days and an undersized furnace will not
adequately heat your house on the coldest days.
An A.B. May Comfort Consultant will perform a thorough comfort needs
analysis and load calculation specific to your home and family.
There is no cost for this service and no obligation.
What is a heat pump?
The heat pump is an air conditioner that reverses the process of
removing heat from the inside of the house in summer to absorbing
the heat from outside air and moving it inside in winter. It is
effective by itself down to temperatures around 25 to 30 degrees
Fahrenheit. At that point, either a gas furnace or an air handler
with supplemental electric heat will kick in and help heat your
home.
How often should I have my heating and cooling system maintained?
Heating and Air Conditioning equipment should be serviced at least
once a year. The best scenario is to have the heating system checked
in the Fall and the air conditioning checked in the Spring.
Why should I have my equipment serviced?
Annual servicing includes cleaning the system, checking for any
problems or potential problems and adjusting for peak efficiency.
The benefits include:
-
Increased dependability
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Find potential problems and fix
them quickly
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Provide maximum efficiency which
lowers energy costs
-
Prolongs the life-span of the
equipment
-
Maintains safe and healthy
operation
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Can help to protect the
environment
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Drastically reduces the chance of
a break-down which usually happens at night or on weekends when
repair rates are higher.
How often should we
replace the HVAC system filter?
How often you change your furnace filter will depend on the type of
filter you use, and how you operate your furnace. Select the type of
filter you use from the list below to find out what you should be
doing?
Disposable Filters - Disposable filters should be changed every 6 to
8 weeks. A lot of people try cleaning these filters but they are not
really meant to be cleaned and may actually become even less
efficient. Disposable filters are not very efficient and provide
only a basic amount of air cleaning. If you run your furnace fan
continuously, cleaning should be performed every 3 to 4 weeks.
Washable Filters - Washable filters should be cleaned every 6 to 8
weeks for normal use. If you run your furnace fan continuously, wash
filters every 3 to 4 weeks. When you wash your filter be sure to
inspect it for wear and tear.
Hammock - Hammock filters are not meant to be washed and should be
replaced every 8 to 10 weeks. When you purchase a replacement
hammock filter it may be a little larger than the metal frame it’s
attached to. Install the filter on the frame and then trim off the
excess.
Electrostatic Air Cleaner - Electrostatic air cleaners must be
cleaned monthly. To clean them first vacuum the nylon media and then
rinse the filter with water. Be sure to rise the filter in the
opposite direction from the air flow. Electrostatic air cleaners are
very difficult to get very clean so as your filter gets older, clean
it even more often. When cleaning inspect it for damage and wear and
tear.
Electronic Air Cleaner (EAC) - The most important thing to remember
about electronic air cleaners is to keep them clean. EACs are very
efficient until the cells get dirty and then lose a lot of their
efficiency. When cleaning the cells be careful not to break any of
the thin wires that run along the outside of the cells. If one of
these wires break, the cell current will be broken and will not
work. Do not forget to clean the small prescreens as well.
Large Pleated Media Filter - This is the easiest filter to clean.
All you have to do is replace the media cartridge semi-annually.
Arrange to have your cartridge replaced at the same time as you have
your annual heating and cooling maintenance performed.
How can I check for carbon monoxide in my home?
It's a good idea to have a carbon monoxide detector. It's also
important to have your furnace checked every year. A qualified
service tech can check your heating system for a cracked heat
exchanger, inadequate fresh air, or blocked chimney's and flues.
How do I know where to set my humidistat?
The average settings for this area are between 30 & 35% humidity.
The colder it gets outside, the dryer the air. Too much humidity can
cause condensation damage to your home. Adjust accordingly if you
see condensation of water on inside windows.
Should I put a cover on my air conditioner?
It is not necessary to put a winter cover on your outside unit.
Moisture can build up under the cover and lead to premature rusting.
A/C units were made to sit outside. A coat of car wax put on in the
fall will prevent paint from fading.
How long should my furnace last?
The average life expectancy of a furnace is approximately 15-20
years. Most heat exchangers are warrantied for 20 years or more.
Proper maintenance can extend the life of most furnaces.
What does it mean to have a cracked heat exchanger?
The heat exchanger is the main component of the furnace. It
distributes warm air to the ducts and exhausts the combustibles
(like carbon monoxide). Heat exchangers can develop cracks with age.
If they exist, there is a risk of illness from the toxic fumes
emitted.
What is the most important thing to look for when I buy a new
heating and cooling system?
The most important thing to look for when purchasing a new heating
and cooling system, has nothing to do with the actual equipment and
everything to do with the contractor you choose.
The best piece of equipment, if installed incorrectly, will not give
you the comfort you deserve.
HVAC equipment, and cooling equipment in particular, requires that
great skill and care be taken during the installation process. If
just one braze or shoulder joint is not correct it could lead to
leaks of refrigerant in to the atmosphere, and potential
contamination in the refrigerant system. These items could be costly
to repair, not to mention time consuming and an aggravation for you.
Should the thermostat settings be positioned to the "auto" or the
"on" position?
When you place the thermostat to the auto position, the fan will
cycle on when the heat or cool mode comes on. When the fan is placed
in the on position, the fan runs continuously. This is beneficial
when an even temperature throughout the house is desired and it also
reduces airborne dust and pollen.
How long should an air conditioner last?
The average life of an air conditioner/ heat pump should be from ten
to fifteen years, depending on a variety of particulars such as,
care, usage, and probably the most important, a correct installation
at the beginning.
I have a very old air conditioner, but it still runs well. When is
the best time to replace it?
A new air conditioner can save you as much as 50%-60% of the energy
consumed by your old unit. You as the home owner must make the final
decision. The new units are designed to remove humidity as well as
perform quietly and efficiently.
What is a tankless water system?
Tankless water heating systems are revolutionizing the way modern
homes meet their water heating needs. These compact units can
produce and supply endless streams of hot water to multiple outlets
at once without any fluctuation in temperature.
What type of fuel does a tankless water heater use?
Currently available models of tankless water heaters use either LP
or natural gas.
How does a tankless system work?
Conventional water tanks heat and store hot water around the clock.
Because of this you are heating and re-heating water, and constantly
losing energy up your vent and through the walls of the tank. A
tankless water heater only comes on when you start to use hot water,
and immediately shuts off when you are done, so you are not wasting
energy when you do not need hot water.
Tankless water heaters have much more effective heat exchanger and
burner systems than conventional tanks. This allows you to utilize a
much higher percentage of your energy dollar rather than wasting it
up the vent stack of a conventional tank water heater.
How much does a tankless water heater cost?
In general most tankless units cost 2 to 2 ˝ times as much as
conventional tank type water heaters. However, the energy saved
typically results in paybacks of a few years or less for a family of
four. Tankless units cost more than tanks, but are a better value.
They save money every day, provide a high level of performance and
safety, and last twice as long as a normal tank type heater. |
