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Questions and answers
SEER, EER, HPSF, CAP -- WHAT DO THESE MEAN? ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
Yes! These are very important terms. They identify the efficiency of Air Conditioning and Heating equipment. Low SEER efficiency systems mean higher utility bills. Prior to 1992 most Air Conditioning manufacterers just made cooling Boxes, some as low as 6 SEER. In 1992 the DOE enacted the Federal Standard for Air Conditioning systems which mandated that 10 SEER be the minimun that can be sold and installed. As of January 23, 2006, this standard has changed again to 13 SEER minimum. SEER is like miles per gallon in an automobile--The higher the SEER the less it costs to operate. Visit our American Standard website for a comprehensive list of terms and definitions. Also; check these links for additional information EnergyStar and ONCOR.
MY HOME DOESN'T GET COOL ENOUGH; DO I NEED A LARGER AIR CONDITIONER?
Maybe and Maybe not. An Air Conditioning System should be sized correctly for the construction of your home, (windows, ceiling height, doors, ect.) A system that is too large will make the home very cold very quickly and keep it very damp. It will also cycle on and off more frequently which raises the utility costs and it will not have the opportunity to remove the humidity. The proper method of sizing an Air Conditioner is with an ACCA approved Manual J Heat Load Calculation. There are many things to consider including duct sizing, duct installation, routing, duct leakage, home construction, etc.
WHAT ARE LEAKING DUCTS? ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
The air duct system is the way heated and cooled air travels from the heater and evaporator coil to the room registers in your home. It was common and accepted practice to use Duct tape and a plastic tie strap around the ducts where they connect to the ceiling registers and the furnace "plenum". That was until it was discovered that another name for duct tape is actually temporary tape. It is now a code requirement that all ducts must be sealed with a sealant known as "Mastic". (This material is supplied in bucket similar to plaster that used for sheet rock walls.) The (EPA) Environmental Protection Agency, states that heating and cooling losses from leaking duct systems can cause as much as 30% loss of energy. This can equate to as much as a 50% increase in a cooling utility bill. Leaking return ducts will additonally 'suck in' dirt, dust and contaminants from your attic and around the furnace compartment. If this "stuff" gets past the pleated filter, you now need the evaporator coil removed and cleaned. (BIG BUCKS) www. energystar.gov This is something you can check yourself. Turn the thermostat setting for air only to ON, take a trip to your attic and feel around the ducts that supply the room registers, they will be connected to the 'Plenum' attached to the heater, also feel for air where the plenum connects to the heater, do you feel air leaking? While you are in the attic, take notice of any can lighting you have in you ceilings, and notice that there is not any insulation around these fixtures. Can you see through them to the room below? Do you think this may be a loss of cooling and heating energy and possibly an avenue for dust and dirt in your home?
VARIABLE SPEED? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
In your home today you have a heater. It is a Gas Furnace on an Electric Air Handler. In this heater there is a "Blower" that moves the air throughout your home to heat and cool. Lets talk cool. A standard "blower" energizes at 100% speed when your thermostat indicates that the temperature is rising and calls for cool, (there may be a time delay); however, when it comes on it is with a 'jolt' and blows at 100% until the thermostat indicates that your setting has been reached and then the blower stops, again suddenly. (Its like driving your car with the accelerator pressed to the floor when you start and slamming on your brakes when you want to stop, well, almost.) With a Variable Speed "Blower System" at the start of the cooling cycle, the blower is delayed until your Evaporator Coil gets cool, then it starts gradually, not blowing hot air into your home. As the Evaporator Coil gets cooler, the blower gains speed to supply your home with cool air. This blower usually only runs at 80% of its maximum setting can overcome some restrictions in the supply ducts. When the cooling cycle is over the thermostat shuts the system off --- except for the blower. The blower gradually slow down blowing all the cool air out of the evaporator coil. Slow speedalso aids in removing humidity. Did you catch that this is much more efficient? AND QUIET!
HOW DO I KNOW THE PEOPLE ENTERING MY HOME?
Our uniformed technicians are identifiable with legally marked trucks, and a Photo ID badge that emphasizes that he has passed a Texas State DPS background check, is drug free and that we comply with Texas House Rule No. 705 (Section 1) Title 6 (Background check of employees entering private residences.)
WILL MY NEW INSTALLATION BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL AND LOCAL CODE REQUIREMENTS?
Yes! As of April 20, 2004, Fort Worth instituted new code requirement which correspond to the U.S. Environmental Codes, for the SEER ratings of new installations for Air Conditioners and Ducting systems. Our technicians have also attended a voluntary class of instructions in these new code requirements.
WILL MY NEW INSTALLATION BE INSPECTED?
Yes! We are registered in cities throughout the metroplex and we apply for mechanical permits as required by city codes, for all new installations. A city inspector will check our work, for complete system installations. A third party representing TXU/ONCOR may also inspect. This is optional at their discretion and inspection is to verify that the installation meets their requirements for an energy efficient systems and qualifies for the energy efficient rebate program.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I HAVE FREON ADDED TO MY AIR CONDITIONER?
Freon does not get used up in your home air conditioner any more than it does in your car. If you need to add refridgerant (freon) to your system it means you have a leak somewhere. If a pound or two of freon needs to be added once a year, the cost to find the leak may not be worth the cost of a technician's time to find and repair it. If you have to add refridgerant more often than once a year or the amount added is greater than two pounds, it is probable that the leak can be detected with the new electronic equipment available. Are you sure the technician assed two pounds? Did he use a scale to weigh the amount added, or did he claim to know from his guages?
I HAVE BEEN IN THIS HOUSE FOR FIVE YEARS AND NEVER HAD A NEED TO CALL ANYONE TO FIX A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR CONDITIONER UNTIL NOW. WHY IS THE COST SO HIGH?
An air conditioner is a machine, the same as your car and it requires at least annual maintenance. Would you drive your car for 100,000 miles without checking the oil or even changing it? Air conditioners have some parts that require maintanence and replacing periodically. Additonally, there are a few areas of the system that need to be checked for air flow, heat gain/loss, voltage and amp draw. Our Peak Performance Program addresses this maintanence problem.
WHY DO I FEEL LESS AIR FLOW FROM THE REGISTERS AND I HAVE TO TURN THE THERMOSTAT TO A COLDER SETTING TO GET THE HOUSE COOL?
This sounds like an air flow problem; however it could be something else. A technician will have to check the syste, for pressure and temperature, air flow restrictions in the evaporator coil, heater compartment, blower and ducts. There could be other issues including poor duct sealing causing hot attic air to mix with cold air. Our Peak Performance Program addresses this maintanence problem.
I HAVE A HOME WARRANTY COMPANY FOR REPAIRS TO MY HEATING AND COOLING EQUIPMENT. WHY SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT ANY OF THIS?
Home Warranty Companies and a great protection for consumers when they first purchase a new home. We are a Certified Prefered Contractor with many of them. The minimal service fee you pay, in the event of a problem with your system, is well worth the warranty cost if a component in the system fails. However, a component in the system is the key phrase. Most warranties do not cover maintanence issues, air flow restrictions, ducts leakage or energy efficient equipment. In the event that a replacment condensor or heater is required, the warranty does not include City of Environmental Code upgrades. These non-covered costs, can in some instances, be considerable. Our Peak Performance Program is an annual maintenance agreement to address these issues. It is recognized by all Warranty Companies and Equipment Manufacturers as meeting the required system mainteenance. There is also significant saving and priority service included.
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