Faq

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio. Air conditioners are rated according to their SEER.The higher the SEER rating of your air conditioner, the more you save on electricity. The U.S. DOE (Department of Energy) revised its energy conservation rules in 2006 requiring all new products to have a 13.0 SEER rating or higher. Manufacturers of air conditioners can offer SEER ratings of 13.0 to 21 or higher. (energy.gov)

AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A higher AFUE means higher efficiency. AFUE is used to measure furnace or boiler heating efficiency. AFUE measures the amount of actual heat delivered to your house compared to the amount of fuel being supplied to the appliance. A furnace that has an 80% AFUE rating means it converts 80% of the fuel that heats your house and the other 20% is lost going up your chimney. Manufacturer’s furnaces can offer AFUE ratings of 80% to 98.5%.

British Thermal Unit. BTU is a basic measure of energy.

”Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)systems require proper and regular maintenance in order to work efficiently, but even in the best case scenarios most components of such systems only last 15 to 25 years. Furnaces on average last 15-20 years, heat pumps 16 years, and air conditioning units 10-15 years. Tankless water heaters last more than 20 years, while an electric or gas water heater has a life expectancy of about 10 years. Thermostats usually are replaced before the end of their 35-year lifespan due to technological improvements.” (National Association of Home Builders/ Bank of America Home Equity Study of Life Expectancy of Housing Componentsm )

We believe it is important to check your air filters monthly. Depending on what type of air filter you have will greatly determine the health. If you have a disposable type filter and you start to notice it is dirty, we recommend you just throw it away and replace it with a new one. Non-reusable ones can last months, but it is still important to check them monthly to make sure they are up to code.

Cleaning your air filter every other month would help the air filters last longer. When you start to notice a lot of buildup, we recommend you take them off and clean them. Almost all air filters are directional, meaning the air flows through the filter in only one direction. Look for the arrow symbol indicating the direction of the air flow. You can use a hose and spray the filter clean. Once the filter dries off you can put it back

How often you should change your furnace filter will depend on many factors. “Check the filter and change it if it’s dirty, or according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. Regularly changing the filter keeps dust from collecting on the evaporator coil fins. Keeping your filter clean also can cut energy consumption 5 percent to 15 percent. Turn off the power to the furnace before pulling the filter out so the blower doesn’t come on and blow dust throughout the system. Be sure to position the filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.” (AHRI)

Changing your air filter regularly helps your heating and cooling system operate at peak levels and improves indoor air quality. If you do not change your filters you will not see your heating and cooling system properly working at 100%. Changing the air filters regularly will ensure proper air flow and to keep your home free from dust, allergens and germs.

“A residential load calculation procedure, based on an accepted industry standard (approved by the American National Standards Institute) used for the proper sizing and selection of HVAC equipment in residential homes.” (AHRI)

The temperature settings of your thermostat depend mainly on the time of year and your personal preferences. If it is during the summer time, the average temperature setting is 75°-80°. During winter, we recommend that you keep it between 68°-72°.

A two-stage heating system means that a furnace has two levels of heat output. There are both; high for cold winter days and low for milder days. Having a two-stage means that the furnaces swill tart in the first stage, and will not reach full capacity all at once. Because of this, you will not see a sudden blast of air. When in the low setting, it will meet the household heating demands 80% of the time, allowing a two-stage unit to run for longer periods and provide more even distribution of heated air.

Most important factor you want to be on the lookout for is the manufacture. You want to make sure you are getting a good reputable grand with high quality and durability.

When shopping, look for a brand that has high ratings and positive reviews. Picking a brand that is on sale doesn’t mean that it is a quality product.

Make sure you choose a model with high efficiency rating. This will ensure to lower your seasonal energy bill.

When you have too much humidity in your house, condensation will occur on windows and can be the main factor in breeding mold. When this happens it can lead to allergies and respiratory problems.

You want to have a company with a long lasting track record that has proved to have a good reputation. I Want Smart has the highest trained technicians who get the job done correctly, efficiently, and safely. Smart makes sure all of their customers are 100% happy and satisfied with their installation.

Yes. Any noise coming from either your air conditioning or heater may pose a threat to your units. The best solution would be to call and schedule an appointment to have the noise looked at. Don’t wait! What could have been a simple fix may turn into a major problem.

Yes. An air conditioner and heater are a must when it comes to maintaining. Just like your car, you have to service and have regular upkeeps on the units to make sure the engine, mechanical devices, and electrical components are all working.

This will change depending on the size of your unit and the square footage of your home. On average, a humidifier may use anywhere from 1.5 to 12 gallons per day when the furnace is running. While this does seem like a high number, it is just enough water to raise the humidity to the proper level, but not so much water that you will see a dramatic difference in your water bill

A split unit uses both indoor and outdoor components. A package unit doesn’t require external heating units, coils, or air handlers.

Unit sizes vary completely by the size of your house, insulation, how many people live in the house, the number of windows, major heat producing equipment and personal preference.

HSPF stands for Heat Seasonal Performance Factor. This is what measures the heat pump and the heating efficiency.

EER is the Energy Efficiency Ratio. This measures the efficiently of a cooling system and how it will operate when the outdoor temperature is at a certain level.

A heat pump is an all-in-one cooling and heating system. A heat pump is different because it is all in one, unlike having two separate units (air conditioner & heating system).

All external HVAC equipment is made to withstand harsh weather conditions and varying temperature extremes. By covering your outside unit you may be creating a shelter for rodents and other insects that may cause real damage to your unit.

Units’ lifespan will vary greatly. If you are taking care of the units and giving proper maintenance, then your air conditioner can last anywhere from 12-15 years and a gas furnace anywhere from 20-25 years.

The bullets below may help with your decision:

•  Old air conditioning equipment becomes expensive to repair and offers no guarantee that additional problems are not close behind.
•  If you plan on moving soon, you may not get your investment price from a replacement air conditioning unit when you sell.
•  A replacement that involves other trades may be cost prohibitive. In rare situations, a new air conditioning system can require significant remodeling.
•  The system has been trouble free thus far and looks to be mechanically sound still.

The bullets below may help with your decision:

•  If the equipment has reached 6 years old be careful not to throw good money after bad with repairs. The average life span of an air conditioning unit is 6 to 12 years.
  
  
•  If the system is older than 12 years, major improvements in efficiency could be saving you BIG money. Super efficient, modern equipment can save $1,000 or more per year.
  
  
•  If you are not comfortable. Today's modern air conditioning comfort systems can virtually eliminate hot and cold areas, high and low humidity, bad air quality, high utility bills, noisy indoor and outdoor equipment, and much more.
  
  
•  If your system does not have variable air flow. Variable air flow is the key to comfort. New systems keep the air moving, adding to comfort and helping save money.
  
  
•  If you are concerned about break downs. When an old system fails under the intense summer heat, a replacement heat pump can easily be a week to 10 days away.
  
  
•  If family members have allergies, asthma or other air quality health concerns. Indoor air quality can be improved throughout the whole house by 100 times with today's high tech IAQ technology and air conditioning products.

The right size system is paramount in your home. Too large and your system will short cycle and not control humidity correctly. Too small and it will run continuously. We will be happy to configure just the right system for your needs.

No it is not. Bigger is not always better in the HVAC industry. A larger heat pump uses more electricity and costs more to purchase, install and upkeep. A properly sized unit will provide the most efficient energy use and most comfort in your home. When buying a home comfort system, selecting the right size is crucial. For instance, an air conditioner that is too large will cool your home quickly but you still may not feel comfortable. It will satisfy the thermostat before it can remove sufficient moisture from the air. However, a system that is too small just cannot get the job done. As Trane Comfort Specialists, we can help you determine the right size system for your home comfort needs.

Yes we offer financing with approved credit for all types of situations. Call us to ask about your specific needs.

If you have a 15 year old unit it could be as little as 6 SEER. Most people set their thermostat around 78 degrees in the summer to save costs and with a new Trane high efficiency heat pump you could save as much as $600 per summer on a typical 4 ton unit while having your thermostat set a few degrees colder.

A Programmable thermostat is programmed for when you leave your house and then return home. The thermostat turns of the furnace during the hours you are not home so that energy is not used to keep the house warm while you are at work. The thermostat will then turn back on 30 minutes before you come home so your house is at the perfect temperature when you are home. These thermostats save up to 15% on your energy bills during the winter and 10% in the summer.

They are not noisy if you install new Trane components in your system. Old units were not built with the quality materials that are used today. Trane also installs sound insulators on the compressor as well as a weather guard top that not only reduces noise but increases the life of the unit by not letting debris get into the system.

Common settings is 85 degrees in the summer if you have air conditioning and 60 in the winter if you will be gone for a couple of days. These settings will keep most plants alive and will keep pipes from freezing and bursting in the winter.

YES! If a bid comes in 5-10% lower than other companies it is because they are using inferior products, do not do a quality installation or are leaving something out of their bid. Many companies will not pay for permits or schedule the inspector to come to your house. We do all the work for you, you just need to relax and enjoy the comfort and energy efficiency of your new system.