Definitions
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.
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.
Furnace & Heat Pumps
”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 Components )
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.