|
|
Cooling & Heating
No matter what type of heating or cooling system
you have, your home's overall climate is unique. The function
of these systems is to maintain comfortable levels of temperature
and humidity (moisture control). How well they do this depends
on the house's insulation, ventilation and exposure as well as how
efficiently the system is sized and maintained.
It is best to learn as much about the care and
maintenance of your new home's heating and cooling system as
possible. You should have a qualified heating and cooling contractor
clean and check your system yearly. This will insure your
system will perform at peak efficiency and keep unexpected repairs
at a minimum.
 Your system has a built-in-filter which removes
dust and dirt from your home. This filter should be cleaned or
changed whenever necessary. A dirty air filter can reduce your
equipment's performance and cause it to work harder to produce the
same amount of energy. Your service person can show you where
it is located.
There are several ways to increase the efficiency
of your heating and cooling system. Make sure your thermostat
is working properly and that all of your ducting system is properly
sealed. Clean and vacuum air registers to allow for the best
possible circulation in the room. Allow for adequate
ventilation in the attic to let excess heat escape and insulate it
to reduce the amount of heat that enters living areas below.
 If your home has an older furnace, you may save
significantly on fuel costs by installing new equipment. New
energy efficient heating systems utilize the latest in modern
technology, such as condensing gas furnaces, which can achieve up to
97% AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). These units are
built with advanced heating technology and can pay for themselves in
energy savings alone
Today, more and more people want year-round
comfort. Whole house air conditioning has become very popular.
Central air conditioning can virtually be installed in all homes.
New technology, such as the scroll compressor, has allowed
manufacturers to produce air conditioners that use less electricity.
With fewer moving parts, the scroll is quieter to operate and will
last longer than conventional piston compressors.
Shade trees, awnings, windows treatments and low
E replacement windows all coordinate to block the sun's rays and
keep your home from gaining radiant heat. Higher temperatures
are easier to take if the humidity level is lower than 60 percent.
If a central air conditioning system is sized properly, it will
reduce humidity to a comfortable level.
For comfort and health in wintertime, your home's
humidity should be between 30 and 50 percent. If your home is
not equipped with a humidifier, the amount of moisture in the air is
likely to be 2/3 less than the proper amount needed to be
comfortable. This low moisture level can cause the home to
feel colder. If you add moisture to the air, you can be
comfortable at a lower temperature.
By installing a humidifier you will not only keep
your home energy efficient by using your furnace less, you can also
correct the condition that causes dry skin and problems with
furniture and other household furnishings. If your furnace has
an evaporate-plate humidifier, it may need occasional cleaning to
prevent a build-up of mineral deposits.
- It's Environmentally Friendlier.
If your system ever leaks, the escaping refrigerant won't
contribute to ozone depletion!
-
You Avoid the Risk that R-22 Could Become
Expensive or Difficult to Get When Your System Needs to be
Replaced in a Few Years
The old refrigerant R-22 will be phased out along with other
ozone depleting chemicals, and both supply and demand of this
chemical will be significantly affected by current and upcoming
regulations. By selecting an air conditioner or heat pump
that uses R-410A, you will avoid the risk associated with
purchasing a product that is destined to become obsolete.
-
R-410A Systems can be More Reliable than
R-22 Systems
R-410A air conditioning and heat pump are today's "state of the
art" systems, and utilize the most current technology available
for efficient and reliable operation. The heart of every
air conditioner or heat pump is the compressor, and newer
systems are specifically designed to use R-410A refrigerant.
They often incorporate smaller, heavier-duty "scroll-type"
compressors that are quieter and operate with less damaging
vibration than older compressors that operate on R-22.
Since R-410A can absorb and release heat more efficiently than
R-22 ever could, compressors with R-410A run cooler than R-22
systems, reducing the risk of burnout due to overheating.
-
It Uses a Synthetic Lubricant that Help to
Keep the System Operating Smoothly
All air-conditioning systems use an oil that circulates through
the inside of the system to keep all the parts well lubricated,
just like the engine of your car. R-22 air conditioners
use an oil known as "mineral oil" that has been used for
decades. R-410A air conditioners use newer synthetic
lubricants that are usually more soluble with the R-410A than
the old mineral oils are with the older R-22 refrigerants.
This means the synthetic lubricants and R-410A can mix and
circulate more efficiently to keep the compressor and other
moving parts lubricated, reducing wear and extending their life.
Also, just as many new cars use synthetic oils because they are
less likely to break down under high stress and heat, the new
synthetic oils used in R-410A air conditioners are less likely
to break down under extreme conditions.
|
What You Need to Know to Buy an Energy-Efficient Central Air |
| Conditioner |
|
back to top |
You don't need to understand everything about
an air conditioner to make an informed decision about the type to
buy and who to buy it from. However, it does help
to understand the basics to aid in your decision-making process.
The background and steps listed below will assist you in finding the
right central air conditioner for your home.
Selecting Equipment and Services
-
Understanding energy efficient ratings
All Central air conditioners have a Seasonal Energy Efficient
Ratio (SEER) rating, which measures the average efficiency over
the summer. The Energy Efficient Ratio (EER) rating
measures the system's efficiency during the hottest days of the
summer. In both cases, the higher the rating, the higher
the level of efficiency. Although an energy-efficient unit
usually costs more than a standard efficiency unit, it should
more than pay for itself in annual energy savings. Look
for an energy-efficient unit featuring a SEER between 13 and
13.99, with an EER of 11 or higher. Or, a SEER of 14 or
more with an EER of 12 or higher.
-
Make sure that you have matching indoor
and outdoor components
Most central air conditioners have an outdoor component (the
condensing unit) and indoor components (evaporator coils and
blowers). Some contractors may suggest that you replace
only the condensing unit, however, the two components are
designed by manufacturers to work together. Therefore,
your old indoor evaporator coil is unlikely to be a proper match
for a new indoor unit. You should replace both to achieve
the highest level of energy efficiency for your home. Be
sure to purchase an environmentally safe refrigerant, such as
Puron/410A. The refrigerant R-22 that is contained in the
current systems will be phased out in 2006.
-
Check that your contractor takes the time
to properly size the equipment.
The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) have
developed guidelines known as "Manual J" to help your contractor
to determine the size of the central air conditioner that will
correctly fit your home's needs. The goal is to keep your home
cool and comfortable while your system operates efficiently.
However, studies in New Jersey and elsewhere show that new
systems are often sized one-ton larger than Manual J
recommendation. You can pay a high price for such over
sizing.
In addition, an oversized system will repeatedly turn itself
"on" and "off", which lowers efficiency and increases energy
bills. This action can make your home feel clammy because the
indoor coil does not get cold enough to remove humidity from the
air in your home. It can put added stress on the outdoor
condensing unit and lead to higher maintenance costs and shorter
equipment life. Finally, oversized systems are noisier
because they force air to rush through the ducts and grills
faster.
You may get the wrong size equipment if your contractor simply
installs the same size unit you already have without an adequate
inspection, or estimates the size needed based solely on square
footage of your home.
|
