Heating & Air
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Why should I be worried about my air indoors when I thought pollution was outside?
Today’s airtight, efficient homes are wonderful at conserving energy, but that makes them better at trapping potentially irritating particles inside the home. Indoor air quality has become more and more important to our general health due to the rise of allergy and asthma sufferers in recent years.
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What kinds of things could be in the air?
Dust,Lint, Mold Spores, Smoke, Pollen, Animal Hair and Dander, Bacteria, Cooking Grease.
These are all examples of particles that could be floating in the air in your home that you are unaware of.
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What does CADR mean?
It stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate; this gives the number of cubic feet of clean air a unit delivers each minute. The higher the CADR the greater amount of clean air is being delivered to your home.
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How is the Trane CleanEffects™ filter different from the other air cleaners I’ve seen advertised?
It produces a minimal amount of ozone, less than 5 ppb, and there is no noise since the unit is not placed in any living areas like other units are. It is installed and operated through the same duct work that your furnace or air conditioner may use.
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What is important about a matched system?
A matched system is important because when all your components are sized to your home you can control exactly how much heating or cooling you need for your comfort level. A matched system also allows each component to perform most efficiently.
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What are the advantages of variable speed fans?
They are able to spin at different speeds depending on the needs of your home. Usually, they spin at a lower speed delivering a reliable stream of warm or cool air to your home to help control humidity levels, utility costs and system noise. When conditions change, the fan speed increases so the system can meet higher demands even on hotter days or colder nights.
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What is a SEER rating?
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and gives an idea of the performance of the system. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit and the lower the operating costs.
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What do all the rating numbers mean?
The federal government requires all heating and air conditioning equipment to be rated for efficiency. The more efficient the model, the higher the rating.
Gas furnaces are rated AFUE: Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
Heat pumps are rated SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
And by HSPF: Heating Seasonal Performance Factor
Air conditioners are also rated SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
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Why is load calculation important and what is it?
Load calculation decides the correct size system for your specific home. It is based on a number of factors such as square footage, number of windows, and year-round weather concerns. Without this calculation you may the incorrect size unit and suffer from uneven temperatures in your home an inability to control humidity. A correct size system based on a correct load calculation can help ensure you enjoy long-lasting, reliable comfort whatever the season.
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Why does the air coming out of the registers feel cool when the heat pump is set for heating?
The air is heated to about 90 to 95 degrees which is approximately 20 to 25 degrees warmer than the indoor air temperature (depending on the outdoor temperature) and will warm your house. It is, however, below body temperature, 98.6 degrees, and can feel cool to the touch.
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What is a hot surface igniter?
It is part of the electronic ignition system used to ignite the burners in many of today’s furnace models. When there is a need for heat, the igniter receives electrical current in order to heat its surface and ignite the burners in the furnace. Sometimes it is referred to as a glow stick or a glow plug.
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What is an air handler?
The air handler is sometimes called a fan coil. It is made up of the blower and motor, controls, heater compartment, and an evaporator coil. The variable speed air handlers allow the coil to cool down quickly and the blower to slowly ramp up and ramp down when cooling. This provides quieter operation, greater humidity control, temperature distribution, air filtration and circulation.
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How often should I change or clean my filters?
Filters should be replaced every month when the system is running. Make sure you use the same size and kind as the original filter. If it is not disposable follow the manufacturer instructions for the cleaning of your filter.
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Where is my filter located?
The filter should be located in either the blower compartment of the furnace, in an attached filter case, or in a return air grille in a wall of your home.
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What kind of maintenance does my equipment need?
There are service/maintenance agreements offered by Trane dealers that can take of preventative maintenance before the winter heating season and before the summer cooling season. These services check such things like electrical connections, the refrigerant charge, cleaning the blower wheel and motor as well as several other checks to keep your system running smoothly.
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How close to the outdoor unit may I plant shrubs or flowers?
Most manufacturers agree that plants should not be closer than 18 inches. Air conditioners need exhaust and intake air to operate correctly, and if the air cannot circulate, the unit could build up heat and require service.
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How long can I expect the equipment to last?
The average expected life of an air conditioner is about 15 years. The average expected life of a heat pump is about 10 to 12 years since it runs year round. A gas furnace or air handler may be longer. Those units in corrosive environments such as a coastal installation will tend to have a shorter life.
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Is there any advantage to setting the thermostat fan to the ON setting so the fan runs constantly?
Yes. One is the constant filtering of the air in the home, and two you have more even temperature throughout the home due to the constant air flow. However, when it is uncomfortably humid it is recommended that the fan be used in the AUTO mode.
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