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Home Tips

HVAC Home Tips For Atlanta Homeowners

Heating and Cooling Basics

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.

 
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About Self HVAC

1700 Cumberland Point Dr
Marietta, GA. 30067
Phone: (678) 909-6377
Fax: (678) 909-6378

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