As homeowners in Roswell look to maintain year-round comfort and efficiency in their homes, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems have become more essential than ever. One of the most effective ways to enhance home comfort and reduce energy costs is by exploring advances in heat pump technology. Modern heat pumps offer an array of energy-saving features that make them an attractive choice for homeowners seeking to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining ideal indoor temperatures.
Preparing for a new air conditioning system involves more than just buying the unit. Making sure your home is ready for the installation is a crucial step to ensure everything goes smoothly on the big day. Proper preparation can enhance the efficiency of your new system and prevent any hitches during the installation. For Woodstock residents, understanding what needs to be done before the professionals arrive can make a significant difference in the longevity and performance of the new AC system.
Heat pumps are an essential component of many homes in Woodstock, providing effective climate control throughout the year. These systems are designed to deliver reliable heating and cooling by transferring heat instead of generating it, making them both energy-efficient and versatile for various weather conditions. However, like all appliances, heat pumps can experience performance issues. Whether it's a reduction in heating output during a chilly winter night or a fluctuating cooling performance on a hot summer day, addressing these problems promptly can prevent further damage and ensure continuous comfort in your home.
Heating and Cooling Basics
There’s a lot to know when it comes to heating and cooling and with all the abbreviations and acronyms, the alphabet soup can seem too much to swallow. We hope this glossary of terms makes it all a bit easier to digest.
Repair Or Replace
Older furnaces are, unsurprisingly, less efficient. The average lifespan of a furnace is about 20 years. Depending on how much fuel your furnace wastes, you can calculate how much money you’re unnecessarily spending every month. The AFUE number describes the percentage of fuel consumed and how much is wasted. If you don’t know your furnace’s AFUE rating, you can call the manufacturer with your serial number to find out. The significantly lower energy bills that come with a newer, more efficient furnace can help you recoup the expense of replacing your system.
The EPA recommends that you replace your air conditioner if it’s over 10 years old. A newer system will operate more efficiently and, in turn, can save you money on your energy bill.
It might be time for a replacement if your old system:
- Needs frequent repairs
- Makes lots of noise
- Scores below five on the EPA’s home assessment
Whether you decide to repair or replace, Self Heating and Cooling can help.
System Types
SPLIT SYSTEM
A split system includes products that reside both inside and outside your home. This could include a furnace, evaporator coil and an air conditioner or a fan coil and heat pump system.
HYBRID-HEAT SPLIT SYSTEM
A system that consists of both a gas furnace and an electric heat pump. A hybrid-heat system gauges the outside air temperature and selects the fuel source that’s most cost-effective for the conditions. Despite its name, the heat pump can also work to cool the air.
DUCTLESS SPLIT SYSTEM
This specialty system is designed to heat or cool room additions or other places that may lack ductwork, such as home theaters, exercise rooms, garages or any other area where the existing system doesn’t quite cut it.
PACKAGED SYSTEMS
Some homes just don’t have space inside for a furnace or the coil needed for cooling. Packaged systems combine multiple components in a single unit that sits outside your home.
GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMP SYSTEM
Geothermal heat pumps tap into the consistent, moderate temperatures of the earth to heat or cool your home. Geothermal systems are among the most energy-efficient, cost-effective home comfort systems available today.
Energy Efficiency
Despite the higher initial price, energy-efficient units invariably come with lower utility bills, helping you pay back your investment in only a few short years.
Basically, the higher the number, the higher the efficiency and the lower your long-term energy costs will be.
In January 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy enacted new minimum efficiency rating guidelines for split and packaged air conditioners, which vary by region (North, Southeast and Southwest). Please refer to the map and chart below, or talk to your local Carrier expert.
SEER
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) indicates the cooling efficiency of air conditioner and heat pump systems. The higher the SEER number, the greater the efficiency and the greater the energy savings. All new products have a 13.0 SEER rating or better. At Carrier, we offer air conditioner and heat pump systems that can achieve SEER ratings of over 20.
AFUE
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) tells you how much of the fuel consumed by your furnace is used to heat your home and how much is wasted. The higher the AFUE number, the greater the efficiency. For example, a 90% rating means that 90% of the heat a furnace creates is used directly by the home while 10% is lost (usually through venting).
HSPF
Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) measures the heating efficiency of heat pumps. The higher the number, the greater the efficiency and the greater the cost savings. Today’s heat pumps must have a minimum rating of 7.7 HSPF.
EER
Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) measures cooling efficiency and is calculated by dividing a product’s BTU output by the watts of power it uses. Generally, higher is better. (Noticing a trend here?)
COP
The Coefficient of Performance (COP) is used to measure certain heat pumps’ efficiencies while in heating mode. You’ll commonly see this measure applied to geothermal products. Like other efficiency ratings, higher is better.
Change in Flame Appearance
A faulty heat exchanger will produce a strong and unpleasant odor that smells similar to formaldehyde. This odor alone can cause severe headaches and other physical symptoms in humans. If you smell a formaldehyde-like odor, you should immediately call a professional for a furnace inspection.
Combustion gases leaking from a cracked heat exchanger can cause frequent headaches as well as flu-like symptoms. Combustion pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, can cause eye and nose irritation, disorientation, sleepiness and nausea. If you experience these symptoms only when you're at home and the symptoms abate when you leave your home, or if you share these symptoms with other people in your home, have the air quality of your home inspected immediately. Although these symptoms can have other sources, persistent symptoms may suggest a cracked heat exchanger.
