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Heating 101
To help you better understand the home heating process, please look over the material below. This is general information that you will find helpful when working with a dealer.
Furnaces
A Residential Furnace keeps your home warm during the cold months, and can be an integral part of a central air conditioning and/or indoor air quality system.
The basic components of a furnace system are:
- A burner, through which gas (natural or propane) or oil is delivered and burned.
- A heat exchanger, where the heat produced from the burning gas is transferred to the air distribution system.
- Ductwork to transfer the heated air throughout the home.
- A flue or vent pipe, to exhaust byproducts of combustion (such as water vapor and carbon dioxide) to the outside.
The efficiency of a furnace is rated using a percent of AFUE.
A gas furnace uses natural gas, although some models can be converted to utilize propane. An oil furnace uses heating oil. An electricity source is required to run the control systems, blower and some accessories.
Single Packages
Residential Single Package System is a year 'round comfort system in which all equipment is self-contained in one unit and installed outdoors, typically on a concrete slab or other platform.
In the summer, a single package system provides the comfort of central air conditioning. During the colder months, the unit provides heat. Essentially, it is an air conditioner and heating unit in a single package, hence the name.
Models are available using:
- Electricity for resistance heating and cooling.
- Gas for heating and electricity for cooling.
- Heat pump models using electricity.
The efficiency of single packages are rated using SEER (for cooling efficiency), AFUE% (for gas heating efficiency) and HSPF (for heat pump efficiency). Ductwork is required to transfer the heated or cooled air throughout the home.
Terms:
AFUE - Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, a rating that reflects the efficiency of a gas furnace in converting fuel to energy. A rating of 90 means that approximately 90% of the fuel is utilized to provide warmth to your home, while the remaining 10% escapes as exhaust.
BTU - British Thermal Unit. In scientific terms, it represents the amount of energy required to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. One BTU is the equivalent of the heat given off by a single wooden kitchen match. For your home, it represents the measure of heat given off when fuel is burned for heating or the measure of heat extracted from your home for cooling.
CFM - A standard of airflow measurement. Cubic feet per minute. A typical system produces 400 CFM per ton of air conditioning.
Capacity - The output or producing ability of a piece of cooling or heating equipment. Cooling and heating capacity are normally referred to in BTUs.
Compressor - The heart of an air conditioning or heat pump system. It is part of the outdoor unit that pumps refrigerant. The compressor maintains adequate pressure to cause refrigerant to flow in sufficient quantities to meet the cooling requirements of the system.
Damper - Found in duct work, this movable plate opens and closes to control airflow. Dampers are used effectively in zoning to regulate airflow to certain rooms.
Evaporator Coil - The coil that is inside your house in a split system. In the evaporator, refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat from air passed over the coil.
HSPF - Heat Pump Heating Efficiency. It stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. The higher the HSPF rating, the more efficient a heat pump is at heating your home. There is no legislated minimum rating.
SEER - Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, a rating that measures the cooling efficiency of a heat pump or air conditioner. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit.
Split System - Refers to a comfort system configuration consisting of components in two locations. Common examples include an outside unit, such as an air conditioner and an indoor unit, such as a furnace and coil.
Thermostat - A temperature control device, typically found on a wall inside the home, that consists of a series of sensors and relays that monitor and control the functions of a heating and cooling system. American Standard's programmable thermostats allow you to program different levels of comfort for different times of the day.
Ton - A unit of measurement used for determining cooling capacity. One ton is the equivalent of 12,000 BTUs per hour.
SEASONAL TIPS
Getting the most comfort and highest efficiency from your HVAC system.
Maintenance
- Follow manufacturer's routine maintenance directions.
- Have entire system checked once a year by a qualified service technician.
What Homeowners Can Do:
Check Filters
- Permanent - Clean with mild detergent, per manufacturer's recommendations, every 30 to 60 days.
- Replaceable - Replace every 30 to 60 days.
Windows and Doors
- Keep closed when system is running.
- Caulk and weatherstrip to close air gaps.
- Open drapes and shades over windows facing sun.
Activities
- During cooling season, don't wash/dry clothes during warmest times of day (late morning and afternoon).
- When cooking, use exhaust fan only as needed.
- Keep thermostat at desired setting.
Cooling 101
To help you better understand the cooling process, please look over the material below. This is general information that you will find helpful when working with a dealer.
Central Air Conditioning
A Residential Split System Central Air Conditioning system keeps your entire home cool in the warmer months, while it helps lower indoor humidity levels.
System elements include a compressor, a fan, condenser coil, evaporator coil, and a refrigerant. The unit extracts heat from indoor air and transfers it outside, leaving the cooled indoor air to be re-circulated. The efficiency of central air conditioning systems is shown using SEER ratios (see below).
Three elements make up a central air conditioning system with electricity as its power source. They are:
- An outdoor section (the condensing unit).
- A matching indoor gas or oil furnace with coil, or air handler.
- Ductwork to transfer the cooled air throughout the home.
Electric Heat Pumps
A Residential Split System Heat Pump is a year 'round comfort system. In the summer it draws heat out of your home to keep it cool, and in the winter it draws heat from outside air into your home to keep it warm. Many heat pump installations have a booster electrical resistance heater that automatically supplements heat brought in from the outside. Outside air always has heat in it - even at very low outdoor temperatures.
Just the central air conditioning system, an electric heat pump includes a compressor, a fan, outdoor coil, indoor coil, and a refrigerant.
The efficiency of Heat Pumps is rated using SEER (for cooling efficiency) and HSPF (for heating efficiency).
A Heat Pump uses electricity as its power source, and requires:
- An outdoor Heat Pump section.
- A matching indoor gas (natural or propane) or oil furnace with coil, or air handler.
- Ductwork to transfer the heated or cooled air throughout the home.
Air Cleaners and Other Accessories
Home comfort is more than just heating and air conditioning. It also depends on regulating the flow of heat, eliminating drafts, and improving the quality of the air you breathe.
Electronic and Media Air Filters
Electronic air cleaners can remove up to 95% of airborne dust, pollen, odors, tobacco, and cooking particles. Advanced passive media filters are up to five times better at cleaning than typical furnace filters. Both are installed in your home's ductwork, typically adjacent to a furnace or air handler. Effective filtration systems can help maintain or improve the operating efficiency of heating and cooling equipment. Operating costs savings have been projected as high as 15% over the life of the system.
Getting the most comfort and highest efficiency from your HVAC system.
Maintenance
- Follow manufacturer's routine maintenance directions.
- Have entire system checked once a year by a qualified service technician.
What Homeowners Can Do:
Check Filters
- Permanent - Clean with mild detergent, per manufacturer's recommendations, every 30 to 60 days.
- Replaceable - Replace every 30 to 60 days.
Windows and Doors
- Keep closed when system is running.
- Caulk and weatherstrip to close air gaps.
- Close drapes and shades over windows facing sun.
Activities
- During cooling season, don't wash/dry clothes during warmest times of day (late morning and afternoon).
- When cooking, use exhaust fan only as needed.
- Keep thermostat at desired setting.
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