AC Heating 101
Furnaces
A Residential Furnace keeps your home warm during the cold months, and can be an integral part of a central air conditioning and/or indoor air quality system. The basic components of a furnace system are: A burner, through which gas (natural or propane) or oil is delivered and burned. A heat exchanger, where the heat produced from the burning gas is transferred to the air distribution system. Ductwork to transfer the heated air throughout the home. A flue or vent pipe, to exhaust by-products of combustion (such as water vapor and carbon dioxide) to the outside.AFUE%:
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A measure of a furnace's heating efficiency. The higher the AFUE%, the more efficient the product. The government's established minimum AFUE rating for furnaces is 78%. Single Packages A Residential Single Package System is a year 'round comfort system in which all equipment is self-contained in one unit and installed outdoors, typically on a concrete slab or other platform. In the summer, a single package system provides the comfort of central air conditioning. During the colder months, the unit provides heat. Essentially, it is an air conditioner and heating unit in a single package, hence the name. Models are available using:- Electricity for resistance heating and cooling.
- Gas for heating and electricity for cooling.
- Heat pump models using electricity.
Cooling 101
To help you better understand the cooling process, please look over the material below. This is general information that you will find helpful when working with a dealer.Central Air Conditioning
A Residential Split System Central Air Conditioning system keeps your entire home cool in the warmer months, while it helps lower indoor humidity levels. System elements include a compressor, a fan, condenser coil, evaporator coil, and a refrigerant. The unit extracts heat from indoor air and transfers it outside, leaving the cooled indoor air to be re-circulated. The efficiency of central air conditioning systems is measured by its SEER. Three elements make up a central air conditioning system with electricity as its power source. They are:- An outdoor section (the condensing unit).
- A matching indoor gas or oil furnace with coil, or air handler.
- Ductwork to transfer the cooled air throughout the home.
Heat Pumps
A Residential Split System Heat Pump is a year 'round comfort system. In the summer it draws heat out of your home to keep it cool, and in the winter it draws heat from outside air into your home to keep it warm. Many heat pump installations have electrical resistance heater that automatically supplements heat brought in from the outside. Outside air always has heat in it - even at very low outdoor temperatures.
The efficiency of Heat Pumps is rated using SEER (for cooling efficiency) and HSPF (for heating efficiency). A Heat Pump uses electricity as its power source, and requires:- An outdoor Heat Pump section.
- A matching indoor gas (natural or propane) or oil furnace with coil, or air handler.
- Ductwork to transfer the heated or cooled air throughout the home.
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