Q. What do rating
numbers mean?
A. To help consumers make informed choices, the U.S. government
requires an efficiency rating of all air conditioning and heating equipment.
The rating is meant to reflect the percentage of energy used efficiently. A
high rating indicates high efficiency. There are various names for the
efficiency ratings of varying types of equipment.
The
efficiency of a furnace is measured in a rating known as AFUE
(Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). A lot like your car’s miles
per gallon rating, AFUE tells you how efficiently the furnace
converts fuel (gas or oil) into heat. An AFUE of 80% means that 80%
of the fuel is used to heat your home, while the other 20% basically
goes up the chimney.
If you have
an older furnace (with an AFUE of about 60%), you could save up to
40% on your heating bills by replacing it with a new high-efficiency
furnace. So the cost to replace your old, inefficient furnace is
paid back through lower utility bills.
Cooling efficiency for air
conditioners and heat pumps is indicated by a SEER (Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio) rating, which tells you how efficiently a unit
uses electricity.
The typical SEER rating of
units manufactured prior to 1992 is about 6.0. Now, the
government mandated minimum is 10.0 SEER. High-efficiency units have
a SEER of at least 12.0; the maximum available is about 17.
Q. Should outdoor units
be covered in winter?
A. Although covering the unit is not necessary, we do recommend it. Air
conditioners are manufactured to withstand climate changes, however
repeated beatings by nature (ice, snow, sleet, salty sea air)
and build-up of debris (leaves, twigs, pine needles, pine cones,
acorns, etc.) in and around your unit decreases efficiency, causes
damage and over the years will lead to the components becoming
rusted and corroded. By protecting that investment not only do
you insure a longer life for your air conditioner, you insure
that it works at its optimal efficiency throughout its entire
lifetime - keeping you cool and saving you money. On the other
hand, because heat pumps run all year long, they should never be
covered.
Q.
But I've heard that you're not suppose to cover your air
conditioner ?
A. This isn't an uncommon thing to be told because if you're
using an improperly designed cover (cheap generic covers, plastic,
garbage bags, etc.) you're actually setting yourself up for
condensation problems, amongst other things, which will do more
damage than not covering your unit at all.
However, a properly designed,
custom fitting cover will protect your air conditioner,
increase it's efficiency and save you money for years.
Q. Why can't I leave my
air conditioner cover on all year round ?
A. Air conditioner covers are specially designed for use when your air
conditioner is not being used. Using your cover while your air
conditioning is running can lead to damage to your air conditioner.
Your cover can be used when the thermostat is set to Heat or Fan.
Q. Should a thermostat be
set to auto or on?
A. When the thermostat is set to auto, the fan operates only when the
temperature requires it. This is the most used setting. However, there are
advantages to using the on setting. First of all, the air in the house
is constantly filtered through the unit’s air filter. Secondly, the
constantly circulating air results in an even temperature throughout the
house.
Q. Can shrubs and flowers
be planted around an outdoor unit?
A. Yes. However, we recommend that plants be no closer than 18 inches from
the unit. This allows plenty of room for air circulation in and out of the
unit. Without this room for air circulation, the unit could overheat,
resulting in a premature need for service.
Q. If an outdoor unit
needs replacing, should the indoor unit be replaced, too?
A. It is a good idea to
replace the entire system when a part of the system fails to operate
correctly. That’s because many air conditioning and heating units are
designed to operate as a complete, matched system. The efficiency rating is
based on the entire system. To gain the maximum benefit of new, highly
efficient technology, the entire system should be replaced together. This
ensures the system is reliable and efficient.
Q. What routine
maintenance do I need help with?
A. Think about how you
take care of your car. Sure, most people can handle the little stuff -
checking and topping off fluids, keeping tires inflated to the correct
pressure, changing the wiper blades. But, to keep your car operating at its
best, you need an occasional tune-up from a trained professional.
Your heating and cooling system is no different. To get the most performance
and longest life from your system, it's a good idea to have a professional
perform routine checks in the spring and in the fall.
Q. What can I do to for environmental progress in the HVAC industry?
A. You can
install two-stage or variable speed 80% or 90% high efficiency gas furnace products or variable speed Air
Handler products with your Matched Comfort System. You can also support the EPA's 'Energy
Star' labeled, highest efficiency products (computers, stoves,
refrigerators, appliances, air conditioning, heating, etc.). The following high-efficiency Carrier
products meet or exceed the requirements of the Energy Star Program.
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