The best way to know what size you will need is to have an accurate “load analysis” done on your home/building by a qualified Comfort Sales Consultant.

What will a Heat Loss/Heat Gain tell me?

A Heat loss/Heat Gain calculates the amount of heat loss or heat gain that occurs in the structure. Heat loss is then used to figure how large a heating appliance you will need to heat the area. Heat gain is used to figure how much air conditioning will be required to cool the area.

How does proper humidification help me keep warm?

When the cold air is too dry we feel the effects of the cold more easily. During the heating season, the action of the hot air blowing from your furnace dries the air in a home or building. Adding some moisture to the heated air flow will make you feel more comfortable. The recommended level of humidity should be between 30-40%.

Why do I need a drain for my air conditioner?

An air conditioner is thought to be cooling the air but in reality it is removing moisture from the air which in turn makes the air feel cooler. This moisture that the air conditioner pulls from the air is piped into a drain for disposal.

What is furnace efficiency and how does it affect me?

The more efficient that your furnace operates the more energy savings you have and hence the lower your fuel bills. Much like your car, the more miles it can go on a tank of gas the less your gas consumption. Furnaces of 10 to 20 years ago were only about 50 to 60% efficient in that about ½ of the heat they generated went up the chimney and not into the home. New methods and technologies have changed furnaces so that this heat loss is now kept at a minimum. Furnaces today can be found that are in a range of 80 to 90% efficient so that only 10 to 20% of the heat they produce is lost as part of the exhaust process. The more heat you keep in the building, the less fuel costs.

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What furnace efficiencies are available?

Currently manufacturers offer furnace efficiencies of 80% (actual is 82.5%) and 90% (actual is 92.5%). This means that 80% (or 90%) of the rated input capacity heats the home.

What are the differences between single stage, two-stage and two-stage variable air flow furnaces?

When sizing new equipment a complete evaluation of the home is performed. This is referred to as a heat loss/heat gain or more simply a “load calculation”. The load calculation provides the heating and air conditioning capacity requirements for a home when considering worst case scenario. A correctly preformed load calculation will provide whole home comfort even in the toughest climate conditions for your geographic area and directs the correct equipment selection. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to determine the load for the correct sizing of equipment for your home.
Single stage furnaces are the simplest furnaces available today. These are offered in both 82% and 92% efficiencies. A single stage furnace is much like a light switch. When the temperature drops in the home the furnace comes on and warms the space to the desired temperature. Most furnaces replaced today are existing single stage furnaces. A common problem of the single stage furnace is the creation of temperature swings in the home. This is caused when the outdoor weather is at worse case. It can be said that this is probably the majority of the time. When the weather is mild the single stage furnace is essentially too large for the home and cycles briefly. This type of operation can lower its efficiency, cause cold spots, and can cause large temperature swings.
Two-Stage furnaces are slightly more complex. These are also offered in both 82% and 92% efficiencies. They have a unique ability to operate at lower capacities to help accommodate mild weather conditions and provide a more accurate level of comfort. Two-stage operating furnaces have nearly eliminated the problems of the single stage furnaces listed above.
The two-stage variable airflow furnaces take this technology a step further and add one very important feature…variable airflow. This feature has revolutionized the way we can heat, cool, and maintain a level of very high air quality in a home. Variable airflow allows less electrical consumption, constant air circulation, purification, higher levels of dehumidification, and the ability to use very high efficient air conditioning systems. This is all made possible by the furnace constantly monitoring and altering the speed and airflow that is produced by the blower motor and assembly.

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What is an air conditioning Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) rating?

This is a rating by the Department of Energy to indicate the efficiency of the unit. The higher the SEER rating number indicates a higher operating efficiency of the unit and the more energy savings for you.

What is the minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) rating?

As of January 1, 2006 the minimum SEER rating that may be installed by a licensed mechanical contractor is 13 SEER.

What are the benefits of variable air flow?