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We accept:
   
Class "A" State Certified
CAC1814552 & CAC042743 |
Glossary of Terms
AFUE– Annual
Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A measure of a gas furnace's efficiency in
converting fuel to energy the higher the rating, the more efficient the
unit. For example: A rating of 90 means that approximately 90 percent of the
fuel is used to provide warmth to your home, while the remaining 10 percent
escapes as exhaust.
BTU– British
Thermal Unit. This is the amount of heat it takes to raise one pound of
water one degree Fahrenheit. For your home, it represents the measure of
heat given off when fuel is burned for heating or the measure of heat
extracted from your home for cooling.
CFM– Cubic Feet
Per Minute. A standard measurement of airflow. A typical system requires 400
CFM per ton of air conditioning.
Capacity– The
output or producing ability of a piece of cooling or heating equipment.
Cooling and heating capacities are referred to on BTUs.
Comfort-R™
Airflow System– An exclusive feature of a high efficiency home
comfort system from Trane. This method of ramping airflow gives you greater
humidity control in cooling and provides warmer air during heating start up.
Compressor– The
heart of an air conditioning or heat pump system. It is part of the outdoor
unit and pumps refrigerant in order to meet the cooling requirements of the
system.
Condensor Coil or
Outdoor Coil– In an air conditioner, the coil dissipates heat from the
refrigerant, changing the refrigerant from vapor to liquid. In a heat pump
system, it absorbs heat from the outdoors.
Damper– Found
in ductwork, this movable plate opens and closes to control airflow. Dampers
can be used to balance airflow in a duct system. They are also used in
zoning to regulate airflow to certain rooms.
Ductwork– Pipes
or channels that carry air throughout your home. In a home comfort system,
ductwork is critical to performance in fact, it's as critical as the
equipment.
Evaporator Coil or
Indoor Coil– The other half of your air conditioning system located
inside your home in the indoor unit. This is where the refrigerant
evaporates as it absorbs heat from the air that passes over the coil.
Gas Furnace Heat
Exchanger– Located in the furnace, the heat exchanger transfers heat to
the surrounding air, which is then pumped throughout your home.
HSPF– Heating
Seasonal Performance Factor. This rating is used in measuring the heating
efficiency of a heat pump. The higher the number, the more efficient the
unit.
Package Unit– A
heating and cooling system contained in one outdoor unit. A package unit is
typically installed either beside, on top of the home, or sometimes in the
attic.
Refrigerant– A
chemical that produces a refrigerating effect while expanding and
vaporizing. Most residential air conditioning systems contain R-22
refrigerant. R-22 is regulated by international controls under the Montreal
Protocol and in the United States by the Environmental Protection Agency. It
is scheduled to be in production until the year 2020. It's used in
approximately 95 percent of air conditioning equipment manufactured in the
U.S. today.
SEER– Seasonal
Energy Efficiency Ratio. A measure of cooling efficiency for air
conditioners and heat pumps. The higher the seer, the more energy efficient
the unit. The government's minimum SEER rating is 10. (It's similar to
comparing miles per gallon in automobiles.)
SEET– Seasonal
Extreme Environmental Test Lab. This is Trane's torture chamber for heating
and air conditioning systems, where five years of service are condensed into
16 torturous weeks. If a product doesn't make it through our SEET lab, it's
not manufactured. We push our equipment to extremes because we'd rather test
them in our lab than in your home.
Split System–
The combination of an outdoor unit (air conditioner or heat pump) with an
indoor unit (furnace or air handler). Split systems must be matched for
optimum efficiency.
Thermostat– A
thermostat consists of a series of sensors and relays that monitor and
control the functions of a heating and cooling system.
Ton– A unit of
measurement used for determining cooling capacity. One ton is the equivalent
of 12,000 BTUs per hour.
Zoning– A
method of dividing a home into different comfort zones so each zone can be
independently controlled depending on use and need.
Ten
Time-Proven Tips For Selecting A Dealer
1. Check
credentials. Before making your selection, call the Better Business Bureau
to make sure the dealer is reputable. Also, find out if the dealer is a
member of a local or national association such as the Air Conditioning
Contractors Association of America.
2. Make sure
the dealer is affiliated with a nationally known manufacturer. Dealers
should be taking advantage of factory training offered by their
manufacturer. As a result, when they make recommendations, you can be more
assured that they've selected the right size system for your home, and that
they've been trained in installation and service.
3. Ask for
references. Former customers are an excellent source of information. Also,
ask to see installation photos. A dealer that is proud of their work will be
more than happy to show it to you.
4. Expect an
on-site evaluation of your home. A good dealer will take a thorough look at
your home, ask questions and evaluate your overall comfort needs before
making a recommendation. Beware of a dealer that simply takes information
over the phone. A good dealer will also look the part. While he's evaluating
your home, you should be evaluating him. Not only should he dress
professionally, but his truck and printed materials should look professional
as well.
5. Check local
licenses. Depending on where you live, dealers may have to comply with
certain local or state regulations, so ask to see proof of these licenses as
well as insurance forms for liability and workmen's compensation.
6. Don't be
afraid to ask questions. Ask for details about the firm's experience and the
expertise of its staff. This is particularly important if you're also adding
or changing ductwork in this case, experience is definitely a factor in
getting the job done correctly.
7. Get a
written proposal. To make a fair comparison, make sure the proposals you
receive are all based on the same efficiency and equipment. You'll also want
to evaluate each dealer's personal business standards and policies. For
example, will he remove old equipment? Will he relocate equipment if you
want your new system installed in a different location? What are his clean
up and care policies during installation? How will he handle emergency
repair? These are just a few of the additional elements a good proposal will
include.
8. Inquire
about equipment and labor warranties. Limited warranties vary according to
the manufacturer, so make sure you fully understand what you're getting.
Also, don't forget to inquire about manufacturer's extended warranties at
the time of purchase and other warranties provided by the dealer.
9. Ask about
preventive maintenance service contracts. Many dealers offer service
contracts that call for periodic maintenance of equipment, and if needed
repairs. The fee for such contracts is usually well worth it in terms of
obtaining optimum efficiency and performance for your system.
10. Finally
insist on a written contract. Commit your agreement to writing and have the
dealer sign it.
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