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Why is it important to have regular
maintenance on my home comfort system?
Would you buy a new car, boat,or even
a new home and expect to never have to change the oil and check
out any unusual noises, would you? Well, in the same way it is
important to have regular inspections of your heating and air
conditioning systems by a qualified technician. The better you
take care of your home and all that it contains the longer it
will last and grow in value over the years and thats money in
your pocket.
If not maintained properly, even the
best equipment could cause problems and thats money out
of your pocket.
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What does (BTU) stand for ?
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.
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What does (AFUE) stand for ?
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.
This doesn't mean that you should only
look for a furnace with the highest AFUE rating. The efficiency
rating is just one factor to consider when looking at a new furnace.
Furnaces use electricity to run fans
and motors. The amount of electricity used varies greatly depending
on the type of furnace. Be sure to check electricity usage prior
to making a purchase decision.
There are several important factors
to consider when making a purchase decision. Payback is a big
factor. For instance, if you live in a colder climate, you could
see payback in a few short years. But in a more moderate climate,
it could take longer. In this case you may consider purchasing
a mid-efficiency furnace. Remember, after the payback, you will
continue to save money on your energy bills.
Other considerations are how long you
plan to live in your house, special comfort needs, fuel availability
and fuel cost.
All these factors, plus your lifestyle
and family needs, add up to show you which furnace is best for
you.
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What does S.E.E.R. stand for?
S.E.E.R. is the abbreviation for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating.
This is the method used to rate the efficiency of air conditioning
and heat pump condensing units. The S.E.E.R. system of rating
assigns a number to correspond with the efficiency level of the
unit. The standard efficient unit is rated at 10 S.E.E.R. The
next "step up" in the efficiency rating system would
be a 12 S.E.E.R. unit. This system was developed by the federal
government in cooperation with manufacturers to aid in energy
conservation.
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What does H.S.P.F. stand for?
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.
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What should I know about changes in
refrigerants?
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.
To protect our environment, numerous changes have taken place
with refrigerants used in air conditioning and heat pump systems.
These changes are having and will continue to have a significant
impact on the air conditioning industry.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the Clean
Air Act, is regulating the production and use of refrigerants.
These changes will eventually eliminate air conditioning and
heat pump refrigerants containing chlorine because of the concern
about depletion of the ozone layer.
In response, , Boswell Plumbing & Heating is offering
consumers a choice in environmentally friendlier refrigerants.
The chlorine-free refrigerant R410A will reduce damage to the
ozone. R410A is used by most all manufacturers but is often marketed
under different names.
Providing products that protect the environment and providing
consumers with a total home comfort solution have been and will
continue to be priorities of Boswell Plumbing & Heating.
Our products that use the environmentally friendlier R410A refrigerant
are win-win solutions for consumers wanting high-efficiency products
that are less taxing on our environment.
Although the government has begun phasing out a commonly used
refrigerant, consumers who have cooling systems that use this
product should not worry. The HCFC family of refrigerants, which
include R22, will still be available for many years. Sufficient
quantities of R22 refrigerant will continue to be produced until
the year 2020. After 2020, recycled refrigerants will be available
for many years.
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What is Puron or Prozone refrigerants?
Both Prozone and Puron refrigerant replaces R-22 with proven
efficiency and comfort. R-22 will slowly cease to be produced.
The advent of these gasses were brought on by the environmental
concerns and the effect of R-22 on our environment. Refrigerant
and HVAC equipment manufactures collaborated to produce a refrigerant
that was environmentally friendly. The result was Prozone and
Puron refrigerants. Very soon, you will be faced with a decision
about your comfort. As the costs associated R-22 rise and supplies
of the refrigerant are reduced, you will need to either continue
servicing your current systems, or you can improve your home's
comfort and energy efficiency with a unit using the environmentally
sound refrigerant.
Puron, Prozone are the long-term solution for environmentally
sound heating and cooling. And it's a refrigerant we've been
using quite successfully.
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How does an air conditioner work?
An air conditioner seems as if it cools your home’s air,
but in reality an air conditioner makes your home less warm by
removing heat from the indoor air and transferring that heat
to the outdoor air.
Heat is extracted from the home by passing indoor air across
a refrigerant coil in the indoor unit. Refrigerant lines then
carry the heat to the outdoor unit, where it is released into
the outside air. The cooling cycle continues until the indoor
temperature reaches the thermostat setting.
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What is a heat pump?
Heat pumps are often misunderstood or not understood at all.
Because of this, you may not realize that there may be a better
heating and cooling option than a furnace or air conditioner.
A heat pump is an efficient method of cooling your home in
the summer and warming it in the winter. Although heat pumps
are new to many people, they have been around for over three
decades.
Although its name is a little misleading, a heat pump is an
efficient method of heating a home during the cold winter months
and also cooling it during the blistering summer months.
A heat pump looks like an air conditioner, but that’s
only the outside appearance. It actually has two functions based
on the same principles for both. In warm weather situations,
the heat pump works as a normal air conditioner. It extracts
heat from inside the home and transfers it to the outdoor air.
In colder weather, however, the process reverses, collecting
heat from the outdoor air and transferring it inside your home.
Even when the air outside feels extremely cold, the air still
contains some heat. The heat pump pulls the heat from this cold
outdoor air and sends it inside to warm your home. When there
is not enough heat in the outside air to meet the demand of the
thermostat setting, an electric heater supplements the outdoor
air to warm the home.
While many people find the winter operation of a heat pump
the most difficult to understand, it is during the heating cycle
that the heat pump produces the most savings. Unlike a furnace
that turns fossil fuel or electricity into heat, the heat pump
collects heat that already exists in the outdoor air by means
of its refrigeration cycle. Consequently, a heat pump will produce
two to three times more heat than the energy it uses.
In addition, a heat pump can be an effective add-on option
to use in conjunction with an existing gas furnace. With a dual-fuel
system, the two systems share the heating load but never function
at the same time. Each system operates when it is most cost effective.
The heat pump will be the primary heating and cooling system.
However, when the temperature drops below the heat pump’s
ability to operate as efficiently as the gas furnace, the gas
furnace will take over until the temperature rises enough for
the heat pump to operate more efficiently.
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Why is my system freezing up?
There are several things that can cause your HVAC system to
freeze up. Most need to be corrected by a service professional.
Making sure the filter is clean or replaced and making sure
the airflow is not restricted all vents and dampers in the proper
position, are about the only things you can check or handle yourself.
Low refrigerant:
In some cases, freezing up is caused by a leak in the refrigerant
lines. Weak solder joints, friction from piping rubbing or vibrating
against an object, leaking valves or loose fittings can cause
leaks. The age of the system and the nature and location of the
leak are the determining factors on whether to have the system
repaired or replaced.
Dirty evaporator coil:
Over time, the evaporator coil will become dirty. When this
happens, the results are similar to those of having a dirty filter.
Gradually you will lose airflow, slowly enough that you probably
would not realize it until it freezes up or is not cooling adequately.
You will need to us to correct the problem.
Defective blower motor or relay:
A blower motor not running at the proper speed or not running
at all can cause freezing. It can also be intermittent, starting
at full speed and slowing down after it heats up. Or a relay
could cause it to start one time and not the next. In either
case, you will need to contact us to correct the problem.
Should you find that your system was freezing due to a dirty
filter, after replacing or cleaning the filter, you can speed
up the thawing process by turning the system off and turning
on the fan. If you have a heat pump system, you can try turning
the system to heating mode until the ice has melted. After the
ice has melted, switch the system settings back to normal. If
the system refreezes, Then call for service 229-4890
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If I need service, what will it cost?
Our labor rate is competive in the service industry. We can typically
diagnose and fix many problems with-in the first hour. We provide
pricing before any major repair. Just call 229-4890
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What is Indoor Air Quality?
Air pollution surrounds us daily…car exhaust, smog, indoor
air. Indoor air? Yes, indoor air quality is important to your
health. Your exposure to air pollutants can be up to 100 times
higher indoors than outdoors. The American Lung Association estimates
that most people spend 90 percent of their time indoors. So clean
indoor air is very important
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Should I repair or replace my old system?
Making the decision to either repair your old heating and cooling
system or replace it with a new system is not easy. Understanding
that each situation is different, we encourage homeowners to
consider several questions before making the decision.
How old is the heating and or air conditioning? If your equipment
is more then 10 years old it may be wiser to replace your unit
with a newer, more efficient equipment. The benefit to this is
lower energy costs to operate your equipment.
What is the overall condition of your equipment? If your system
is in great condition and you don't experience frequent breakdowns,
it may be wiser to repair your system. If your system breaks
down often you should consider replacement.
How often is your system operating? If your system has been used
extensively, it may be time to replace it.
Are you planning to move soon? If you are moving in the next
year or so, replacing your old system could add value to the
house.
These are just rough guidelines to aid you in your decision to
repair or replace your existing system. When the time comes to
replace your system we can provide the information you will need
to make an informative choice.
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How do I get pricing to replace my system?
We provide no cost surveys to help you replace your existing
system. I will be pleased to meet with you at your convenience.
Simply call 229-4890 to schedule
a time,
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Have a question that is not shown here?
call 229-4890
and I will be happy to help. |
