Archives for February 2017

All You Need to Know about Current Home Energy Efficiency Standards

Living with Home Energy Efficiency

Home energy efficiency is essential in today’s eco-conscious world and there is little inside a residential property that does not come into play, toward creating more energy efficient homes. From light bulbs to water heaters, from home appliances to the way a home is insulated, energy savings always start in the home and they always lie in the details. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home uses 42 per cent of its total energy expenditure on space heating, 18 per cent on water heating, 6 per cent for cooling the home, 5 per cent for lighting and refrigeration (each), while the remaining 24 per cent is spent on other uses. This is why regular home energy audits are important and why they can dramatically improve any home’s energy savings standing.

What makes a home energy efficient?

According to the generally accepted energy efficiency definition, a home is efficient in terms of energy expenditure, when its occupants actively manage and maintain energy consumption levels. The more energy efficient a residence, the more performance and services it manages to deliver, for the less energy consumption. The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) with the U.S. Department of Energy designs, improves, and enforces energy-efficient standards and technologies in several aspects that relate to home building and ownership.

Home building efficiency. The EERE runs several research and development plans, as well as a host of market stimulation plans, such as Building America and the ENERGY STAR approach to building homes as a whole. It also awards homes an energy score, which gauges their overall energetic performance, encourages students to develop energy efficiency programs and designs, and enforces residential energy building codes.
Lighting standards. The Office is currently working to promote LED lighting better and to make sure the facts circulated about this technology are accurate. At the same time, it is encouraging the use of SSL (solid state lighting), which may one day cut down nationwide energy consumption levels to half their current values.
Equipment and appliance standards. The Building Technologies Office of the EERE is already enforcing energy savings standards for some 50 discrete categories of equipment and appliances. Thus far, this has resulted in saving some $55 billion on power bills in 2014 alone. The office projects that the amount of money saved from 1987, when the standards first came into effect, until 2030, will surpass $1.7 trillion.

What is energy conservation?

Energy conservation is closely tied in with energy efficiency. It is a concept that stems from physics, as the energy conservation definition illustrates. In terms of the home use of energy, conservation refers to cutting down on the amount of power used, by saving energy, reducing waste, and making sure the energy available is used rationally.

Nowadays, with several programs across the country aimed at improving energy consumption levels in the residential segment, it’s actually not that difficult to create a tailored energy conservation plan for your own home. For instance, best practice recommendations from the University of Colorado state that an occupied house can reach its maximum energy efficiency when its thermostat is set at 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The same recommendations advise against installing a central A/C system, save for the situation in which the whole house requires cooling down. Other tips include recycling old appliances and having them replaced with newer ones, which observe ENERGY STAR standards. Finally, if you’re thinking of building yourself a home, or of purchasing a new residential construction, you shouldn’t underestimate the potential of sun-tempered homes. By using passive solar energy, a super-insulated home of this type stands to cut down your energy consumption levels by up to 40 per cent.

Here are some other useful tips for homeowners interested in devising a customized energy conservation plan:

Thermostats should be set back during the night (by some 8 F) or when the house is not occupied for 24 hours (down to 50-55 F);
Unused rooms can be heat-sealed by keeping their doors, windows, and heat registers closed.
Heating systems need to be regularly cleaned, with filters replaced about once a month during the months when heating systems are in use.
Hot water leaks and other losses can also render a home less energy efficient. As such, owners should make sure none of their faucets are leaking and have low-pressure shower heads installed. Make sure the water temperature on your washing machine is set to an appropriate level and invest in an ENERGY STAR water heater.
Refrigerators should be set to 35-40F, with freezers at 0-5F. Don’t hold fridge doors open for too long and keep ice buildup levels in the freezer down to an absolute minimum.
Reduce the intensity of any gas cooker to the point where the flames are blue instead of yellow.
Only run the dishwasher when it’s full and let them air dry in there. Newer models no longer require that you rinse the dishes before washing them.

Troubleshooting Furnaces: 8 Furnace Repair Parts You Might Need to Buy

Q: Why is my furnace not heating the house?

A: There can be any number of reasons why your furnace is not heating. We’ve collected the most common ones below, but be advised that testing some of these hypotheses will require the aid of a qualified professional, plus the purchase of furnace repair parts. The parts that might be causing you trouble have been listed in order of how commonly they occur, starting with the most troublesome ones. We’ve also added some less than ideal situations in which your furnace might break down to the point where it’s no longer heating your home.

Igniter

The igniter that’s supposed to light up the gas flame is not working properly. All furnace igniters have 120 volts running through them, provided by the main control board of the heating unit. When it does work, it’s lit up to the point where it starts glowing a bright hue of orange. A cracked or faulty igniter will need to be replaced.

Flame sensor

The flame sensor that’s in charge with monitoring the gas burner is failing to properly detect the flame. This, in turn, will cause the control board to stop supplying the gas valve with power, hence bringing ignition to a screeching halt. Try cleaning up the flame sensor with an abrasive material (nothing too harsh) before you consider replacing it. If the problem repeats itself, then you’re definitely going to have to buy a new flame sensor.

Draft induction motor

When it breaks down or malfunctions due to shoddy manufacturing, the draft induction motor of the furnace stops properly drawing air inside the burner unit. Under normal circumstances, the air brought inside the unit would then go out through the flue of the furnace. There’s also a pressure switch inside the burner unit, which this flow of air needs to close down, in order to indicate to the main control board that air is flowing through the heating system the way it’s supposed to. Without auctioning the switch, the ignition process will fail to start or be delayed.

Main furnace control board

Most problems that require furnace repair parts and professional assistance boil down to a single issue: ignition is not occurring the way it should be. If the control board of the furnace is at fault, then you’ll absolutely have to get a new one, since fixing them is a very complicated process. A control board that’s not working well will fail to power all the other components involved in the ignition process with the voltage they require.

Flame rollout switch

There are several switches inside a furnace heater and this one is in charge with making sure the heat around the burners is being properly regulated. Normally, the flames from the burner should be led into the heat exchanger and exhausted out through the flue. When the roll-out switch is malfunctioning, it will fail to properly acknowledge this process, open, and stop the heating process inside the furnace. This is most often caused by the fact that the furnace is placed in a room where there’s not enough air, or because one of its exhaust vents is jammed. Before splurging on furnace repair parts, always check out if your vents and registers aren’t being obstructed by rugs, furniture, or other items.

Thermostat

Make sure that all the contacts inside your wall thermostat are working properly. If they’re not, then there’s no way your furnace could heat your house the way you want it to.

Gas valve

During ignition, the main control board of the furnace sends 24 volts into the gas valve assembly. If that valve isn’t working well, then it won’t open the way it should, hence not allowing gas to flow inside the burners. First off, you will need to make sure the problem doesn’t lie with the control board, as outlined above. But if there’s proper power flowing through the valve, yet it still fails to open, then that’s your culprit right there.

Pressure switch

During draft induction, air flows through the furnace burner; at the end of this process, a pressure switched is flipped, indicating to the main control board that the air is flowing properly through the burner. Subsequently, ignition will be initiated and the furnace will heat up. If the pressure switch won’t close, then there’s no way the furnace can ignite the flame.

Troubleshooting situations unrelated to furnace repair parts

Aside from all the above scenarios, make sure the furnace is being properly supplied with all it needs in order to work well. Here are some of the most common supply-related situations that could be causing your furnace to malfunction:

Insufficient gas supply. Make sure the gas valve is turned on – if it is, then your gas company is to blame for this. Alternatively, if your furnace runs on propane, it’s time check the levels on that.
Insufficient air supply. Always check out the manufacturer’s recommendation on ventilation before you have a furnace installed. Some will simply ‘choke up’ due to a lack of sufficient air, when mounted inside a closet or other small, poorly ventilated space. Also, if your furnace draws air in from outdoors, make sure the inlet is not jammed by any foreign object.
Insufficient power supply. Always check out the circuit breaker or the fuse for your furnace in the proper fuse control panel if it seems like the furnace isn’t getting enough electricity.

Goodman AC Review: Pros, Cons, Performance, Top Picks

This Goodman AC guide provides performance and technical specifications for the five Goodman models, efficiency ratings and the pros and cons of choosing Goodman.

Goodman started making air conditioners in 1982. It quickly gained impressive market share with low prices and excellent warranties. On the other hand, there have always been concerns about Goodman quality, though it’s possible that will change following Daikin Industries’ purchase of Goodman’s purchase in 2012. For now, Goodman remains in the low-cost niche. Japanese company Daikin is the largest manufacturer in the world of HVAC equipment. Goodman is headquartered in Houston, TX and has four US manufacturing plants.

Goodman AC Brand Overview

The five Goodman AC models provide a limited range of efficiency, performance and price for consumers to consider.

Models GSX13, GSX14 and GSX16 are single-stage heat pumps. The number is the SEER rating, or seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The higher the number, the more efficiently the system uses refrigerant to capture heat inside your home and transfer it outside. The Goodman DSXC16 and DSXC18 are two-stage heat pumps. Goodman does not make a modulating heat pump, putting it behind brands like Trane (see our Trane AC review here), Lennox and Carrier.

Goodman AC Technical Specifications

The single-stage ACs cool at full capacity (and full noise) whenever running. Single-stage AC tends to cool past the thermostat set point creating mild temperature fluctuations you might notice. The GSX models use a universal scroll compressor of average quality, at best.
The top Goodman single-stage AC is the Goodman GSX16.
The two-stage Goodman AC models run at about 65% capacity (and noise level) most of the time to deliver gentler, more balanced air conditioning that won’t cool past the set point. They boost capacity to 100% only when you lower the thermostat setting or outside temperatures climb quickly and the AC needs to catch up.
Both the Goodman DSXC16 and DSXC18 use the highly regarded Copeland two-stage Ultratech scroll compressor. These are Goodman’s best overall ACs.
The “C” in the nomenclature of the DSXC16 and DSXC18 means the units are compatible with the Goodman ComfortNet Communications System, an upgrade (about $400) that optimizes efficiency and climate control.
Goodman AC units are available in capacities from 1.5 tons (18,000 BTU) to 5.0 tons (60,000 BTU), though half-ton increments are not offered in all model numbers.

Pros and Cons of Goodman Air Conditioners

Here are the advantages that make Goodman one of the best-selling AC brands along with a few disadvantages which might affect your purchase decision.

Goodman AC Pros

Goodman ACs are the value leaders in the market due to their reasonable quality and low prices;
Most Goodman AC models are backed by an outstanding warranty – Goodman as a brand has the best replacement warranties in the industry;
Goodman 16 SEER and 18 SEER ACs are Energy Star rated and might be eligible for energy company rebates where you live – check here for rebates;
Goodman central air conditioners use R-410A refrigerant which is believed to do less harm to the environment than older refrigerants;
Goodman still makes a 13 SEER AC, the least efficient allowed by law, which is a good choice where the air conditioning is needed infrequently;
Goodman is a national brand, so finding a dealer/installer is easy, and parts for maintenance and repair are readily available – at least in the continental US.

Goodman AC Cons

While making affordable ACs, Goodman’s long-term reliability record is not as good as other top-selling brands like Carrier, Lennox, Trane, Heil and Maytag;
While the parts warranties are excellent, labor is generally not covered beyond one year – the industry standard – so you might face expensive repair bills if your Goodman AC breaks down;
For those in extremely hot climates or who want the most ecofriendly cooling regardless of where they live, there are more efficient ACs available including the Lennox XC25;
(26 SEER), Maytag PSA4BI IQ Drive (25.5 SEER) and many from 19-24 SEER;
Goodman’s best ACs are two-stage models, and they don’t provide the level of indoor comfort, temperature balance and dehumidification for your home as modulating central air conditioners made by several leading brands provide;
Goodman air conditioners have historically been wholesaled to any HVAC installer, and you might get inferior installation if the company you choose isn’t factory-trained to install Goodman.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Goodman AC

The first issue to address is the historically inferior quality of Goodman to other top brands. Among HVAC experts, the consensus is that if you want a decent air conditioner with a 12 to 15-year lifespan, then Goodman offers good value. If you want a dependable, 20-year AC, look elsewhere. Keep in mind that this might change with Goodman in the future. Daikin also bought Amana and upgraded the quality of its entire lineup that had been identical to Goodman’s.

The next issue is your climate and use. Goodman AC models GSX13 and GSX14 are suited to cool climates or locations like vacation homes or guest apartments that don’t get heavy use. Despite paying progressively more for the GSX16, DSXC16 or DSXC18, the higher upfront cost will be paid back pretty quickly in very warm climates. If your summers are extreme, choose the 18 SEER Goodman AC or look at more efficient central air conditioners from other brands.

Goodman AC Reviews Conclusion

Do you know folks that might find this Goodman AC guide useful? If so, please pass it along to your friends and followers. They might also be considering a Goodman air conditioner for their home and will appreciate the information from our Goodman AC reviews.

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Three Best Home Air Purifier Reviews

Before we shop for a product, we shop for reviews. Reports from consumers and advice from specialists help clear the air when you’re in a fog about which features and functionalities you should look for. For example, you’re in the market for a home air purifier. You yearn for that crispy clean air that spreads like an invisible freshly laundered sheet over the room.

Given the potentially overwhelming number of things to consider, though, you’re a bit at a loss. What type of filter or air flow rate should the ideal air cleaning machine exhibit? How does it perform at high speeds comparative to low speeds? Is it stealthy quiet or loud enough to have your neighbors knocking on your doors?

Overselling can be an easy trap to fall into. We’ve filtered through a mass of ratings and accounts and dusted off any traces of biased or irrelevant claims. In the end, we came up with a few winners that will perform best for your needs and improve indoor air quality.

In theory, a home air purifier should remove up to 99.9% of the smallest-sized pollutants and allergens, such as dust, pollen, mold mist, tobacco smoke, viruses, and bacteria. Most people purchase a product of the likes to ease asthma symptoms, alleviate allergies, or even treat contagious diseases such as flu. However, there’s little actual medical evidence that a home air purifier relieves respiratory problems.

So take a deep breath – if it doesn’t make you cough. But first, before we plunge you into the mystifying world of air cleaners, let’s try some of the more conventional and less expensive ways to purify the atmosphere in your home. What can you do to reduce the air pollutants from an enclosed living space?

Prohibit smoking indoors.
Vacuum often using a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filtration, a high-efficiency particulate air machine that traps air irritants in a mesh.
Provide monthly maintenance for your heating and air-conditioning equipment. Change the filters regularly.
Put the kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans to regular use.
Store any chemicals, glues, or pesticides outside the living area.
Candles and crackling wood fire tend are as romantic as they are harmful to the air quality around. Use as rarely as possible.

The Best Home Air Purifier for a Breath of Fresh Air

Things to Consider When Buying an Air Purifier

Following our next tips could simplify the purchase process and reduce the bewildering range of products on the market to a few cherry-picks to give you the sweet taste of a truly competent air purifier. Of course, personal preference will ultimately seal the deal.

Clean Air Delivery Rate

CADR stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate and indicates the volume of filtered air delivered by a home air purifier. AHAM, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, has been conducting tests and measuring the CADR of air cleaners for four decades now.

CADR also stands for an objective standard of the effectiveness of an air cleaning machine. Regardless of the technology in use – HEPA filtration or ionizer, for example, the CADR gives three separate readings of pollutants such as dust, pollen, and smoke.

For example, when it comes to the tobacco ratings, AHAM applies the ‘the two-thirds’ rule. ‘You’ll always want a unit with a tobacco smoke CADR at least 2/3 your room’s area.’

Look for higher ratings since they translate into the air purifier’s ability to filter a pollutant. Scores range from:

Tobacco Smoke: 10 to 450 CADR.
Dust: 10 to 400 CADR.
Pollen: 25 to 450 CADR.

Energy Saving Power and Lower Operating Costs

Your average air purifier will use more than a refrigerator, approximately 550 kWh per year in electricity. If you aim at cutting costs, look for brands that bear the Energy Star seal. It means they are up to 40% more energy-efficient than the standard on the market, a feature that will cut in half your home’s electricity consumption and utility bills.

Maintenance expenses shouldn’t be overlooked either. In a single year, many portable air purifiers will bring the costs higher in replacement parts than their original purchase price. Pay particular attention to filters!

HEPA air purifiers use HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate air filters to remove over 99,97% of the airborne irritants in a size as tiny as 0.3microns. On the other hand, a non-HEPA air cleaning machine doesn’t do battle with more than 85% to 95% of air contaminants.

Filters carry price tags that run from as little as $10 to about $100. However, they don’t last long in the race against time. In many cases, you’ll find yourself with a broken filter every three to six months. One useful feature is a filter change indicator. It will let you know when to switch to another filter so you don’t buy one prematurely.

Another recommendation is to look for a home air purifier equipped with a pre-filter. The added feature offers a longer life span to your air purifier by trapping the larger pollutants before they reach the main filter. If the pre-filter itself is washable or can be vacuumed, you’ve really hit high-quality merchandise.

Are You a Fan of Speed?

However, air flow depends on more than the type of filter in use. The speed of the fan is also worth considering when buying an air purifier. Most models include settings that allow you to control the fan at various air cleaning needs.

For example, choosing a higher speed makes sense if the air purifier’s sensors register an increased level or airborne harmful particles that need to be filtered faster. On the other hand, set your filter on lower gear at night time if the noise of pollutants being exterminated disturbs your peaceful sleep.

Enjoy the Silence – Noise Levels on the Shhh

Quietness counts, especially when we have ourselves surrounded with machines and devices that give out a permanent white noise, undercutting our need for precious silence. If you choose a larger unit and keep it on a lower speed, you won’t have to go to sleep wearing ear plugs.

The World Leaders Among Air Purifiers!

The top selling air purifiers are portables. They can be moved around in order to air out every other room in the house. Let’s see how the next brands fared in the battle against air irritants and pollutants.

1. Germ Guardian AC4825 Home Air Purifier Review

If a brand’s reputation lies in the name, then you can hardly fail with a home air purifier called the Germ Guardian. The model uses a very handy 3-in-1 air cleaning system that is highly intolerant to dirty and smelly air. As it should be.

Its main draw is this superposition of filters:

The pre-filter uses activated carbon to trap dust, lint, and hair.
The HEPA filter deals with the mold spores and pet dander.
The UV-C light layer eliminates any danger of rhinovirus, streptococcus, and E. colispreading through the room.

The unit’s CADR, or Clear Air Delivery Rate is 100+ which makes for an adequately high standard rating. Moreover, put the Germ Guardian AC4825 in any beauty competition and its sleek black silhouette and twinkling blue LED light will win it the big prize.

To welcome the Guardian into your home, take a look at Amazon and see if the very affordable price tag fits nicely with all the other competitive features.

2. IQAir New Edition HealthPro Plus Home Air Purifier Review

Everyone seems to be panting for air to bring to your attention the IQAir New Edition HealthPro Plus air purifier. More so after Frank Hammes, the president of IQAir, apparently tested it himself by entering a chamber where a SEAL team shot poisonous gas through. If you want to be impressed, check it out yourself here.

This sterling model goes beyond absorbing air pollutants as small as 0.3microns with the HEPA filter. It boasts a microparticle retention rate up to 100 times higher than the regular filter. All in all, the IQAir home purifier perceives the Higgs-boson of air contaminants, which are known as VOC, or volatile organic compounds. Basically, these are petrochemical airborne particles that home appliances emit all around your house.

The HealthPro also dwarfs competition when it comes to noise levels. Its six different fan speeds ensure your home air purifier will be as silent as a ninja. You may wish to be the proud owner of a top-notch device such as this, but first, read the price tag on Amazon. Your newfound enthusiasm might end up disappearing into thin air.

3. Airocide APS 200 Home Air Purifier Review

The Airocide really breaks the ranks of modern home air purifiers. Nothing less is to be expected from a piece of technology that NASA developed and implemented. The reason this machine stands out from the crowd is that it removes air pollutants not with the use of a filter – it’s actually filterless – but through the means of a highly reactive catalyst.

Who doesn’t want a piece of NASA’s ingeniousness in their home? The price sure beats the previous competitor on our list.

Are You Still Up in the Air About It?

Listen to the professionals. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, levels of about 12 VOC pollutants are up to five times higher indoors than outside. And the result comes regardless of whether the area is rural or highly industrialized. In this situation, a home air purifier can really make a difference for your lungs and overall health. Take that deep breath and feel inspired with wellbeing!

Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Trane Heat Pump Review: Pros, Cons, Performance, Top Picks

This Trane heat pump guide is designed to assist you in researching this brand and comparing it to others you’re considering. Performance and technical specifications are detailed below for good, better and best models along with Trane heat pump pros and cons.

Trane is a leading heat pump brand for new and replacement HVAC systems. Like most top competitors, Trane’s lineup includes single-stage, two-stage and modulating heat pumps that get progressively more efficient and more expensive. Trane makes eight heat pump models.

Trane Brand Overview

Trane has grown to be a global leader in residential and commercial HVAC systems, a steady climb from its launch by James Trane in Lacrosse, WI in 1885. Today, the Ingersoll-Rand Corporation owns Trane and nearly identical brand American Standard. The best Trane heat pumps are in the top ten in both customer satisfaction and cost. If you’re looking for a budget heat pump, see our Goodman Heat Pump Review for comparison.

Trane Heat Pump Technical Specifications

You’ve got options to fit your climate, budget and how you’ll use the heat pump. The term SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) refers to cooling while HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) refers to heating. The higher the numbers, the more efficiently the unit uses electricity to heat and cool.

Single-stage heat pumps are the most basic and affordable, and they run at 100% capacity (and noise level) resulting in slight overheating and cooling that produces temperature fluctuations;
The most efficient single-stage Trane heat pump is the Trane XR16 with 17 SEER/9.6 HSPF ratings;
Two-stage models run at about 65% capacity (and noise) most of the time to produce quieter, more balanced temperatures, and they run at 100% capacity when you call for more heat/cooling at the thermostat or outside temperatures change quickly;
The best two-stage Trane heat pump is the Trane XL18i with 18 SEER/9.5 HSPF efficiency;
The two Trane heat pumps with variable-speed technology, called modulating and variable-capacity by other brands, adjust from about 40% to 100% capacity (and noise) and run at the lowest capacity required to optimize temperature balance and indoor comfort;
Trane’s most efficient heat pump is the variable-speed XV20i with 20 SEER/10 HSPF efficiency.

Pros and Cons of Trane Heat Pumps

Trane heat pumps offer the advantages and disadvantages listed here.

Trane Heat Pump Pros

Trane heat pumps are durable, and most will last 15-20+ years when properly maintained, and the Climatuff ® compressor used on all models is one of the most reliable in the industry;
Eight Trane models are offered at various price/efficiency levels to give you options to suit your heating, cooling and performance requirements;
Trane makes most heat pumps in capacities from 1.5 tons / 18,000 BTU to 5 ton tons / 60,000 BTU to provide a model properly sized to your home;
Trane Earthwise hybrid heat systems use both a heat pump and a gas furnace, an ideal combination for homes in very cold climates;
Trane Comfort-R technology does a superior job dehumidifying a home during air conditioner cycles;
Complete split systems and package units are made by Trane for coordinated heating and cooling, air quality control and HRV/ERV home ventilation;
Trane has a nationwide network of certified technicians for installation, maintenance and repair, and parts are readily available – however, you should ask for Trane OEM parts to avoid universal parts being installed;
All Trane heat pump models are Energy Star rated, and rebates are offered by many energy companies across the US when you install one of Trane’s more efficient models;
Both standard and Wi-Fi connected thermostats are available from Trane to coordinate system performance, and the Wi-Fi models can be controlled from a smartphone using the Trane app;
Financing from Trane is available to qualified customers.

Trane Heat Pump Cons

Trane’s most efficient heat pump, the XV20i with 20 SEER /10 HSPF efficiency is not as efficient as top competitors like the Carrier Infinity 20 and Bryant Evolution 280A (20.5 SEER/13 HSPF) and the Lennox XP25 (23.5 SEER / 10.2 HSPF).
Trane heat pumps cost more than brands including Goodman, Amana, Aire-Flo and Payne, and part of the higher cost is better quality, though part of it is Trane’s large advertising budget
While Trane warranties on the best models are average for the industry and comparable to those from Lennox and Carrier, Goodman, Amana, Heil, Maytag, Tappan and Tempstar are among brands that have longer warranties and those that include entire product replacement
Trane heat pumps cost more than Trane furnaces, though the extra cost will be recouped over time through lower energy bills

Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Trane Heat Pump

Your climate matters. In hot climates, it makes sense to pay more upfront for a model with a high SEER rating for efficient, environmentally friendly cooling. Your energy costs in the long-term will be much lower, for example, with the 20-SEER XV20i than with the 16 SEER XR15. The longer you intend to live in your current home, the better your savings will be. If you plan to move, having a high-efficiency system in place will be a strong selling point.

If your winters are very cold, installing a gas furnace instead of a heat pump or choosing a hybrid heat system with heat pump and furnace are better choices than a heat pump alone. The reason is that heat pumps lose effectiveness in freezing weather, and you must rely on the unit’s electrical heating – like space heating—which produces high energy costs. The cheapest way to heat your home in cold climates is a hybrid system, though the cost for the system is higher, and the payback time is 8-12 years.

Summing Up

Once you’ve selected the Trane heat pump right for your climate, make sure it is sized properly. Installing a unit with too much or too little capacity creates a range of problems from insufficient heating and cooling to temperature fluctuations to premature mechanical failure. Ask your contractor to do a load test to see what size heat pump you need.

Has this Trane heat pump guide helped you understand your options and decide? If so, your friends might find it useful too. We encourage you to pass it along to be of help to others weighing their heating and cooling options.

Factors When Buying Types Of Air Conditioners: Type, Size, And Price

We always wish that summer would never end. And for some parts of the U.S. it often seems that way due to the scorching temperatures that tend to last well into the Fall season. When it’s miserably hot outdoors, you want to be able to go inside your home and cool off. But if you […]