FAQs about Air Conditioning and Furnaces
Why should I purchase a new heating or air conditioning system?
- At Direct Energy, we realize that purchasing a heating or air conditioning system is no small matter. However, if your existing system is old, in need of repair or simply inefficient, purchasing a new unit, one which can be as much as 60% more efficient than a system purchased just 10 years ago, can offer long-term benefits.
- Rather than continuing to pay for costly repairs and costly monthly bills, invest in a new system today that will help save you money for years to come.
How can I find the system that’s right for me?
- There are many heating and air conditioning systems to choose from today. Direct Energy can draw on our vast degree of heating and air conditioning knowledge and experience to help you decide on the system that best fits your specific needs. The size and age of your home, as well as the number of rooms, climate, local and regional utility costs, and utility incentive/rebate programs are all factors that will affect the functionality and, therefore, selection of your system. Utilizing the latest technology, we consider all these factors while assisting you in choosing the best system for your home.
- Consumers seeking to replace an existing system often choose a new unit with equal or higher efficiency ratings compared to their previous system. Replacing a unit that is 10 to 15 years old may reduce natural gas or electricity costs by 30 to 50%.
How do I determine the size, or capacity, of my HVAC system?
- Factors affecting the size of your new system include the climate in your region, humidity levels, the number of windows in your dwelling, total square footage of your home, the direction your home faces, the number of heat-producing appliances in your home, the type of insulation you have and the number of people that live in your residence.
- An Energy Management Consultant can perform the proper calculations to determine the appropriate heating or cooling unit for your home and lifestyle.
What happens when I replace my old system?
Start with a detailed inspection
- To install the most efficient HVAC system in your household, a detailed inspection should first be performed by your Energy Management Consultant.
- The inspection by your Energy Management Consultant should include, a minimum, the inspection of your home’s ductwork, insulation, refrigerant piping, electrical service, wiring, thermostat, condensate piping, flue piping, flue terminations, chimney liner, slabs, filter, driers, registers, grills, drain pans and evaporator coil.
How long will my system last?
Proper maintenance is key
- Maintenance and service play a key role in the lifecycle of a heating or air conditioning system. If all recommended maintenance and service actions are taken, an air conditioner can last 12 to 15 years and a gas furnace 15 to 20 years.
Do I need to change my indoor coil?
It depends…
- It is generally a good idea to replace the indoor coil if you are also replacing your air conditioner. There is a correlation between the efficiency of your heating or cooling system and the performance of the indoor coil and changing out the current indoor coil for a new one may be critical to optimizing the performance, the efficiency and the savings potential of your new system.
What can I do to control the humidity levels in my home?
It’s all about variability
- Humidity levels can be reduced by using a variable-speed furnace as part of your HVAC system. Variable speed units run longer, at lower speeds, allowing air to constantly circulate against the cooling coil and remove more moisture.
- Variable-speed motors also use less electricity than regular motors, reducing your energy costs.
What can I do before calling someone to service my system?
Do the basics
- HVAC systems are complicated networks of machinery that should be serviced by a certified professional from Direct Energy. However, if your HVAC system seems to be malfunctioning, you can try a few basic steps, which may correct your problem, prior to calling a service professional. If you do not feel comfortable performing any of these tasks, however, do not hesitate to call an HVAC contractor.
- Disconnect and reconnect your indoor and outdoor switches.
- Make sure your circuit breakers are in the ON position.
- Make sure your filters are clean.
- Open supply and return vents and make sure they are unobstructed.
- Check the settings on your thermostat.
- Make sure the system switch is on the appropriate COOL or HEAT setting
What is AFUE?
- AFUE is the abbreviation for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio. AFUE is used to rate furnace efficiencies by dividing the ratio of heat output by heat input. This measurement describes how well fuel, gas or oil is consumed to produce heat by a furnace. As the AFUE rate increases, the efficiency of your furnace also increases, lowering your fuel costs.
What is Freon R-22?
- R-22 is the common name for hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). R-22 has been used as a refrigerant by HVAC manufacturers for over 40 years, but studies in the past decade have shown that HCFCs contain chlorine, an ozone-depleting agent. For this reason HVAC manufacturers must cease the production of products that use R-22 as of January 1, 2010.
What is R-410A?
- R-410A is the common name for an emerging hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) that is being used as a refrigerant in the HVAC industry. R-410A is more environmentally friendly than R-22 and is being seen as the most likely replacement for R-22 by HVAC manufacturers. At the beginning of 2010, the use of alternate refrigerant will be required in HVAC manufacturing.
You can rest assured that whether it’s replacing, repairing or managing your furnace or air conditioner — Direct Energy is a partner you can depend on for all your heating and cooling needs.
