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What does SEER mean?
What does AFUE mean?
How frequently
should I maintain my equipment?
Are there benefits to
better air filters?
Should I have my ducts
cleaned? How often?
What do zoning controls
do in your home?
What should I
check before calling for service?
What does SEER mean?
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The total cooling of an
air conditioner or heat pump in BTUs during its normal annual usage period
for cooling divided by the total electrical energy input in watt-hours
during the same period. This is a good guide for comparing air conditioners.
Generally speaking, for each point improvement in SEER, you will receive
5-10% improvement in electric usage for that air conditioner.
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What does AFUE mean?
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The annualized average efficiency of a
fuel-fired appliance, taking into account the effect of on-off operation. In
a practical sense, this percent tells you what percent of the gas is used to
produce heat. For example, a 90% AFUE gas furnace uses 90% of the fuel to
heat your home with only 10% waste.
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How
frequently should I maintain my equipment?
You should have a thorough inspection and cleaning of your
system each pre-season. Monthly filter changes are recommended unless you
have an air cleaner.
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Are there
benefits to better air filters?
Yes. High efficiency air cleaners do a much better job of removing airborne
particulate. This is especially useful if you or someone in your home has
allergies. To get maximum benefit from an air cleaner, you should run your
fan continuously.
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Should I
have my ducts cleaned? How often?
Properly sealed ducts along with regular maintenance is usually sufficient
and requires little cleaning. Duct cleaning is recommended if the duct
system is old and leaking. All leaks need to be sealed after cleaning. It is
also a good idea to have ducts cleaned after a major renovation to remove
debris.
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What do
zoning controls do in your home?
Zoning helps to maintain even temperatures throughout a home by
independently controlling each zone. This is accomplished by using zone
dampers to regulate air flow to each zone.
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What should I check before calling for service?
Always check your thermostat settings and make sure the proper mode is
selected. Many thermostats have batteries that should be replaced at
least once a year. Check to make sure you have power to each piece of
equipment. Check breakers, switches, and disconnects. Inspect around your
furnace and air conditioner. Look for anything unusual.
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