FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What
is "SEER"?
A: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating is a method by which
air conditioning systems are rated for their use of energy
versus their output of performance. Much like the mileage rating
on an automobile, the SEER on a given HVAC unit is not an indication
of the size of the system or its output of air, but rather
a relative indication of how it uses energy to do its job.
A SEER of 14 and above indicates a system that uses energy
more efficiently than 12 or below.
What
does "ton" mean in air conditioning?
A: This equals 12,000 BTUHs (British Thermal Units per Hour).
A 3 ton system can remove a load of 36,000 BTUH of combined
humidity per hour.
How does humidity affect temperature in the home?
A: Well,
the temperature is the temperature, but humidity levels can
certainly affect the way you feel it. The moisture
content in the air that you feel is "sensible" humidity and
the rest is "latent" humidity. Combined, this moisture can
conspire to make you feel sticky and uncomfortable even as
an inefficient air conditioning system is burning dollars struggling
to do the best job of cooling it can. Humidity is also a top
contributor to the production and ongoing development of mold,
mildew and other contaminants that can plague a home's comfort
system. Control the humidity and you'll breath easier, pay
less and feel far more comfortable.
How much air conditioning does my house need?
A: Almost
every situation is different in one regard or another. Certainly
there are procedures which we follow on each system
design project, but we always go through a thorough process
to determine the best combination of products and methods to
meet your objectives. If a system is undersized, it cannot
keep up with the demands of our extreme seasonal temperatures.
If it is oversized it will cost more to operate than it is
saving in energy efficiency. If the outdoor unit is not properly
matched to the indoor unit, there won't be a balance of airflow
through your comfort system. We have the solution for comfort
and savings in your home, but in order to accurately arrive
at how to structure your system size, components and distribution,
we need to visit and carefully assess. These consultations
are free and we encourage you to call for an appointment.
What
is a "Heat Pump"?
A: By
reversing the flow of refrigerant in a system, a heat pump
converts itself from a cooling unit to a heating unit too.
When a heat pump unit is cooling, it is actually removing heat
from the air we feel. They use a condenser, and evaporator
and a blower to basically move the heat from one place (inside
the house) to another place (outside). The refrigerant is what
is used to carry the heat along.
A reversing valve in a heat pump allows this system to operate
the other way when in heating mode, switching the roles of
the evaporator and the condenser and bringing heat from outside
into your home.
Even when it is cold outside, there is heat that the unit
can use to pump into your home - but when it gets really cold,
electric heating elements inside the system engage to supplement
the process. Even with the addition of electric heating to
this operation, the heat pump process is far more energy efficient
than electricity alone to produce heat for the home.