Valley Heating, Cooling and Electrical |
The Home of Old Fashioned Service™ |
Frequently Asked Questions
The expert service technicians at VALLEY are
committed not only to meeting your heating and cooling needs, but also
to informing you about how the technology of our industry works. So
we put together this comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions section
to make you an expert, too.
What makes my home comfortable?
What kind of system
is right for me?
How can I save money?
What maintenance
can I do myself?
What routine
maintenance do I need help with?
Can I troubleshoot
before Calling Valley?
Should I repair
or replace old equipment?
Helpful Hints
How to prepare for extreme hot spells.
Read our glossary of common HVAC terms.
or Learn More About...
The EPA's Energy Star Program
Puron
Environmentally Sound Refrigerant
Green Seal Program
What makes my home comfortable?
The four biggest factors in your home's comfort
are:
- Temperature
- Cleanliness/freshness
of air
- Humidity
- System Control
For more info scroll ahead…
Temperature
To most people, temperature is both the beginning and the end of any
discussion involving comfort. To VALLEY, simple temperature management
is only the beginning. To achieve superior indoor comfort, you've
got to start with the basics -- heating or cooling -- as the foundation
for your system. We offer four main product families for heating
and cooling:
Cleanliness/Freshness
of Air
Dusty, dirty homes at any temperature can cause feelings of discomfort
to many people, especially allergy sufferers. And, the air in today's
tightly-sealed, well-insulated and energy-efficient homes can become
stale as the same indoor air is circulated and re-circulated. The fact
is, with dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, skin flakes, chemical fumes,
cigarette smoke, Radon gas and more, the air inside your home can be
even more polluted than the air outside. VALLEY can alleviate these
problems and therefore add another level of comfort with the following
products:
Humidity
Humidity is a funny thing. In the winter, dry air can cause static electricity,
itchy skin, damage to home furnishings and more. Adding humidity
is a good thing because it makes the air feel warmer and more comfortable
while minimizing damage to furnishings. In the summer, it is preferable
to remove humidity so indoor air feels cooler and less sticky. Valley’s
answer? Improved comfort through humidity control with:
System Control
Some of the common comfort complaints from homeowners include: inconsistent
temperatures from one room to the next, up and down temperature swings,
constantly adjusting the thermostat, and more. System controls of
varying degrees of sophistication can help with these issues, offering
straight termperature control, programmability that allows setting
a "comfort schedule," temperature and humidity control
combined, and dividing the home into zones which can be controlled
separately. VALLEY provides this kind of control with the following
products:
What kind of system is right for me?
The system that is right for you will depend
on a number of factors: your budget, your comfort expectations, physical
factors such as what type of system currently exists in your home,
the unique features of your home, and more. Below, you can explore
the system options available and some of the key factors that affect
your choice.
- Types of systems
- Key Accessories
- System Control
- Key factors that affect
your choice
For more info scroll ahead, or click above on
the subject of your choice.
Types of systems
For the basics of heating or cooling temperature control, you typically
will have four system options. Below is a list of those options followed
by the approximate percentage of U.S. homes using that particular system.
- Gas Furnace/Air Conditioner
(60% of homes)
- Heat Pump (25% of homes)
- Small Packaged System
(5% of homes)
- Boiler
Key Accessories
Additional comfort comes from having clean, fresh air as well as proper
humidity levels inside. These products will fine-tune your system
to help improve your overall comfort and the efficiency of your indoor
comfort system.
System Control
Most people are familiar with the basic thermostat. But, system control
is more than picking a temperature and walking away. It includes
being able to program a comfort schedule for different times of day,
setting humidity levels, and even setting different temperatures
for different areas of the home. Here's how:
Key factors that affect
your choice
Some of your home comfort decisions will be made for you based on some
of the physical considerations involved, including:
- Your
home
- Your
existing system
- Your
geographical region
- Energy
sources available
Your home
Everybody's home is different. Some are big, some are small. Older homes
are not as tightly sealed as new ones, which means efficiency is
reduced. The number and size of windows, what direction the home
is facing, number of mature trees in the yard and many more factors
can affect your comfort, and may play a part in deciding what type
of system is best for you. Your local heating and cooling contractor
should have the expertise to assess any unusual circumstances surrounding
the specific needs of your home.
Your existing system
If you are replacing an existing system, there are physical and financial
reasons to stay with the same type of system. For example, if you currently
have a boiler, it will be very expensive and physically challenging to
install the ductwork you need for a forced-air furnace or heat pump.
If you want a new type of system because you were dissatisfied with your
comfort, remember that a new system will bring newer comfort technology
and energy efficiency. Also, your comfort problem could be related to
other issues, such as improper ductwork, system balance, cleanliness
or freshness of air, humidity control and system control.
Your geographical
region
Although there are exceptions to every rule, geography can play a role
in what type of system will work best in your home. Here's the general
idea:
- Colder
regions - Furnace or Boiler/Air Conditioner combo
- Warmer
regions - Heat Pump or Air Conditioner w/ supplemental heat
- Regions
with land or space issues - Small Packaged Rooftop systems
Energy sources available
Some systems simply won't work if the proper energy source isn't available
or too expensive to consider. The three most likely energy sources for
your comfort system are electricity, gas or oil.
4.
Electricity
If you have no gas or oil service, you will need to go with an all-electric
system, which means a heat pump or air conditioner. You may be able
to have a gas line installed at your home, but that could be an additional
cost. In some areas, electrical rates are so low that an all-electric
system can still be the best option even if gas or oil are available.
5.
Gas
If natural gas is available, furnaces and boilers become options for
you. You may still opt to have an all-electric system if that suits
your home or your personal preference.
6.
Oil
If natural gas is available, furnaces and boilers become options for
you. You may still opt to have an all-electric system if that suits
your home or your personal preference.
How Can I Save Money?
Shopping for bottom line price is easy. But,
will the lowest priced system end up costing you money in the long
run with higher operating costs or by needing to be replaced sooner?
Will the lowest priced system provide the comfort you expect?
Comparing energy efficiency of different brands of heating and cooling
equipment is relatively easy. Although the rating systems are standardized,
allowing you to make a fair comparison, there are three different rating
systems used. Each rating is used for a specific type of product (in
other words, all furnaces use the same system, heat pumps use a different
system, an so on). They are:
- AFUE
(gas heating)
- SEER
(cooling)
- HSPF
(heat pump heating)
AFUE (gas heating)
The efficiency of a furnace is measured in a rating known as AFUE (Annual
Fuel Utilization Efficiency). A lot like your car’s miles per gallon
rating, AFUE tells you how efficiently the furnace converts fuel (gas
or oil) into heat. An AFUE of 80% means that 80% of the fuel is used
to heat your home, while the other 20% basically goes up the chimney.
The government mandated a minimum AFUE rating for furnaces installed
in new homes is 78%. (In contrast, many furnaces manufactured before
1992 had AFUE ratings as low as 60% — so nearly half the fuel was
being wasted.) Furnaces with AFUE ratings of 78% to 80% are considered "mid-efficiency";
those with ratings of 90% or higher are known as "high efficiency." The
maximum furnace efficiency available is around 96.6%.
In general, a higher efficiency furnace usually means two things:
- higher
price
- lower
monthly operating cost
If you have an older furnace (with an AFUE of
about 60%), you could save up to 60% on your heating bills by replacing
it with a new high-efficiency furnace. So the cost to replace your
old, inefficient furnace is paid back through lower utility bills.
Payback
If you live in a cold climate, you could see a payback in a few short
years. If you live in a moderate climate, it might make more sense to
purchase a mid-efficiency furnace. VALLEY can use heating data from your
area to help you determine about how long it would take you to recover
the additional cost of a high-efficiency model in energy savings. (Of
course, after the payback, you continue to save on your energy bills
for the life of the system.)
SEER (cooling)
Cooling efficiency for air conditioners and heat pumps is indicated by
a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, which tells you how
efficiently a unit uses electricity. The higher the number, the greater
the efficiency.
The typical SEER rating of units manufactured prior to 1992 is about
6.0.Now, the government mandated minimum is 10.0 SEER. High-efficiency
units have a SEER of at least 12.0; the maximum available is about 17.
HSPF (heat pump
heating)
Heat pumps also have heating efficiency ratings, indicated as an HSPF
(Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). In general, the higher the HSPF
rating, the less electricity the unit will use to heat your home.
The government mandated minimum heating efficiency standards for new
heat pumps is 6.8 HSPF. Most heat pumps manufactured before 1992 have
HSPF ratings below 5.0. Today, an HSPF of 7.5 or higher is considered "high-efficiency";
the maximum available is 10.0.
Payback
Higher efficiency in heat pumps and air conditioners usually means higher
cost but lower utility bills. If you live in a warm and/or humid climate,
you will probably see the higher cost of a high-efficiency air conditioner
or heat pump paid back (through lower utility bills) in a few short years.
Ask VALLEY to help you determine about how long it would take you to
recover the additional cost in energy savings. Of course, after the payback,
you continue to save on your energy bills.
Matching Your System
for Optimum Efficiency
There’s one other factor that affects the efficiency of your air
conditioning or heat pump system: the indoor coil. (Your heat pump or
air conditioner is a "split system," which means that there
is an outdoor unit, or condenser, and an indoor unit, or evaporator coil.)
If your condensing unit is not matched with the proper indoor coil, it
may not give you the stated SEER and/or HSPF ratings and could even develop
performance problems. (It’s kind of like putting two new tires
on one side of your car and leaving the old, worn-out ones on the other
side. You’d probably be disappointed with both the performance
and the miles per gallon you get.) When you’re replacing an existing
system, make sure you replace both units so your new condensing unit
will give you optimal performance, efficiency and comfort.
What Maintenance Can
I do Myself?
With the proper maintenance and care, your Carrier
equipment will operate economically and dependably. There are a few
simple, routine maintenance operations you can do to help ensure the
best performance and comfort from your system.
Safety First
Before you perform any kind of maintenance, consider these important
safety precautions.
- Disconnect
all electrical power to the unit before removing access panels to
perform maintenance. Please note that there may be more than one
power connection switch.
- Although
Carrier takes special care to prevent sharp edges in the construction
of our equipment, it's best to be very careful when you handle parts
or reach into units.
Routine Maintenance
Check the air filter in your furnace or fan coil every 3 to 4
weeks. A dirty filter will cause excessive strain on your furnace,
air conditioner or heat pump. Replace your filter when necessary,
or clean it if you have the reusable type. (If you have a reusable
filter, make sure it's completely dry before you re-install it.)
The prefilter and collection cells of an electronic air cleaner should
be cleaned at least two or three times per year.
Clean dust off of your indoor coil.
With a vacuum cleaner and soft-brush attachment,
you can remove any dust from the top and
underside of the coil. Make sure you only
do this when the coil is dry. If you can't
get the coil clean this way, call us for
service.
Keep your outdoor condensing unit free
of debris. If you keep grass clippings,
leaves, shrubbery and debris away from your
outdoor unit, it should only require minimal
care to operate properly. Check the base
pan (under the unit) occasionally and remove
debris, to help the unit drain correctly.
If the outdoor coil becomes dirty, use a
brush or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush
attachment to clean the surface. To clean
dirt that is deep in the coil, contact VALLEY.
Take special care of outdoor condensing
units in ocean environments. If your
unit is located near a sea coast, you can
help preserve its optimal condition with
a little extra care. Ocean mist and sea breezes
carry salt, which is corrosive to most metals.
Although new Carrier units are made out of
galvanized metal and are protected by top-grade
paint, you can add life to your unit by washing
all exposed surfaces and the coil approximately
every three months. (Ask your installing
contractor about the appropriate interval
in your area.)
Make sure your outdoor unit stays in a
level position. If the support for your
split-system outdoor unit shifts or settles
and the unit is no longer level, re-level
it promptly to make sure moisture drains
properly out of the unit. If you notice that
water or ice collects beneath the unit, arrange
for it to be drained away from the equipment.
Inspect your furnace's combustion area
and vent system before each heating season.
If you find dirt, soot or rust, your system
may not operate properly or at its peak efficiency.
Call VALLEY and do not operate your furnace
until it is professionally inspected and/or
repaired.
Have oil-fired boilers inspected annually.
Call VALLEY before each heating season to
replace your oil filter cartridge and conduct
a thorough inspection of the unit's operation.
Clean your humidifier at the beginning
of every heating season. Review your
owner's manual for the proper procedure to
clean the external and internal components
of your unit. The evaporator pad should also
be replaced before each heating season. If
the water in your area is hard or has high
mineral content, you may need to clean or
service your humidifier more frequently.
Clean the core and air filters on a ventilator
at least every three months. You can
vacuum the core of an energy recovery ventilator
as long as it is dry and the outdoor temperature
is between 60 F (16 C) and 75 F (24 C). Heat
recovery ventilator cores can be soaked for
three hours in a solution of warm water and
mild soap and then rinsed. Ventilator air
filters are washable: just use a vacuum to
remove the heaviest accumulation of dust
and then wash them in lukewarm water. Replace
them after they are completely dry.
What Routine Maintenance
do I Need Help With?
Think about how you take care of your car. Sure,
most people can handle the little stuff - checking and topping off
fluids, keeping tires inflated to the correct pressure, changing the
wiper blades. But, to keep your car operating at its best, you need
an occasional tune-up from a trained professional.
Your heating and cooling system is no different. To get the most performance
and longest life from your system, it's a good idea to have a professional
perform routine checks in the spring and in the fall.
Spring maintenance
In the spring, VALLEY can typically check a heat pump or air conditioner
for all or some of the following:
- operating
pressures
- refrigerant
charge
- filter
condition
- compressor
- fan
motor
- capacitors
- belts
- crankcase
heaters
- coils
cleaning
- lubrication
of moving parts
Fall maintenance
In the fall, you can expect VALLEY to check your furnace in the following
areas:
- burner
and pilot assemblies
- cracks
in the heat exchanger
- check
the pilot thermocouple
- examine
the filter and check vent piping
- test
the electronic ignition
- test
the fan
- test
the limit switch
- burner
adjustments
- measure
manifold gas pressure
- measure
temperature rise
- carbon
monoxide test
- set
the heat anticipator
- check
and adjust belt tension
- examine
the draft diverter
- lubricate
the fan motor
Can I Troubleshoot Before Calling VALLEY?
The answer is, "Yes." Here are some
simple procedures you can perform before going to the expense of a
service call:
- Check
disconnect switches (indoor and outdoor if you have a split system).
Make sure that circuit breakers are ON or that fuses have not blown.
- Check
for sufficient airflow. Make sure air filters are clean and that supply-air
and return-air grilles are open and unobstructed.
- Check
the settings on your thermostat. If you want cooling, make
sure the temperature control selector is set below room temperature
and the SYSTEM switch is on the COOL or AUTO position. If you want
heat, make sure the temperature control selector is set above room
temperature and the SYSTEM switch is at HEAT or AUTO. The FAN switch
should be set at ON for continuous blower operation or AUTO if
you want the blower to function only while the unit is operating.
In addition to the routine maintenance you perform,
your home comfort system should be inspected at least once a year by
a properly trained service technician. VALLEY can make sure your system
operates safely and gives you the best performance at the lowest cost.
You may also want to ask us about an economical service contract that
covers seasonal inspections for a flat fee.
Should I Repair or Replace Old Equipment?
Three main factors to consider are:
- Life
expectancy
- Operating
cost
- Looking
at the big picture
Life Expectancy of
Current System
When you’re frustrated with an equipment break-down, it can be
tempting to find the least expensive
"quick fix" to get on with your life in relative comfort.
That "quick fix"
may be the least expensive now, but it may not give you the most value — or
cost you the least
— in the long run.
Paying for repairs to an old or inefficient system often simply prolongs
the inevitable. It’s almost like putting a bandage on a serious
injury. An older system that breaks down once is likely to break down
again ... and again. That means more emergency service calls or, worse
yet, the risk of damage to your home or to other components of your
heating and cooling system.
Operating Cost
There’s also an ongoing cost factor to consider. Restoring your
old system will only bring it back to its current level of energy efficiency.
After you’ve recovered from the repair bills and the frustration
of system breakdowns, you still won’t save on your energy bills.
Even six-year-old heat pumps and air conditioners are considered grossly
inefficient by today’s energy efficiency standards. So are most
furnaces built before 1980. So you could save up to 60% on your energy
bills with new high-efficiency equipment. That’s why installing
a new heating and cooling system can actually pay for itself in energy
savings within a relatively short time.
Looking at the
Big Picture
When one component of your system breaks down unexpectedly, it’s
easy to just focus on repairing or replacing that component. But each
part of your system works with the others to boost efficiency and reliability,
so it helps to keep the big picture in mind.
Replacing your old furnace with a new higher-efficiency model but leaving
your old mechanical thermostat in place, for example, won’t allow
you to enjoy all the efficiency advantages the furnace has to offer.
Likewise, if you install a new furnace but don’t get a humidifier,
the air may seem cooler, forcing you to operate your new system at
a higher temperature to be comfortable. Plus, you can often save on
installation costs if you have several components of your system (for
example, a furnace and an air conditioner) replaced at the same time.
Hot Weather Preparation
Things a homeowner can do during extreme hot
spells:
- Keep
grass clippings and leaves away from the outdoor unit. This keeps
dirt and debris from getting into the system. It also keeps the airflow
path clear.
- Keep
furniture and carpeting away from grills and ductwork. If you block
your air conditioning system’s ability to deliver air, you
rob yourself of the cooling necessary to keep your home comfortable.
- Keep
the west-facing drapes, shades or blinds drawn in the afternoon.
Keeping the sun out will keep your home cooler.
- Run
your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer in the evening hours.
- Don’t
use your oven.
- Keep
your fan running. It helps to keep the air moving.
- Don’t
overrun an exhaust fan. It pulls the air conditioning out of the
home.
- Use
a programmable thermostat. This allows you to cool your home only
when you need it.
- Zone
your heating and cooling system. If you spend most of your time in
one part of your home or if different people in your home want the
temperature at different settings, then zoning can help you be more
comfortable and save money on your utility bills.
- Use
an attic ventilator. By pulling hot air out of your home, you keep
your home cooler in the summer.
- Have
your cooling system checked at least once per year by an ACCA member
contractor. Your equipment works more efficiently when it is clean
and running properly.
Going on Vacation?
- DO
NOT turn off your air conditioning unit!
- Set
your thermostat at 85 degrees. This keeps the air circulating in
your home. High temperatures and humidity can cause damage to your
home, your workplace and your health! Humidity can cause wallpaper
to peel, floorboards to warp, and most importantly, mold and fungus
to form in bathrooms, on furniture and in your air conditioning ducts.
HVAC Glossary
Aeroseal - A patented sealing process; the most effective, affordable, and
viable method of sealing the central heating and cooling ductwork in
your home.
AFUE - Annual
Fuel Utilization Efficiency, a rating that
reflects the efficiency of a gas furnace
in converting fuel to energy. A rating of
80 means that approximately 80 percent of
the fuel is utilized to provide warmth to
your home, while the remaining 10 percent
escapes as exhaust.
BTU - British
Thermal Unit. In scientific terms, it represents
the amount of energy required to raise one
pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. One
BTU is the equivalent of the heat given off
by a single wooden kitchen match. 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.
CFM - Cubic
feet per minute, a standard of airflow measurement.
A typical system produces 400 CFM per ton
of air conditioning.
Capacity -
The output or producing capability of a piece
of cooling or heating equipment. Cooling
and heating capacity are normally referred
to in BTUs.
Compressor -
The heart of an air conditioning or heat
pump system. It is part of the outdoor unit
that pumps refrigerant. The compressor maintains
adequate pressure to cause refrigerant to
flow in sufficient quantities in order to
meet the cooling requirements of the system.
Condenser Coil
or Outdoor Coil - Located in the outdoor
unit, the coil dissipates heat from the refrigerant,
changing the refrigerant from vapor to liquid.
Damper -
Found in ductwork, this movable plate opens
and closes to control airflow. Dampers are
used effectively in zoning to regulate airflow
to certain rooms.
Downflow Furnace -
A furnace that pulls in return air from the
top and expels warm air at the bottom.
Ductwork -
Pipes or channels that carry air throughout
your home.
Evaporator Coil -
The coil that is inside your house in a split
system. In the evaporator, refrigerant evaporates
and absorbs heat from air passed over the
coil.
Heat Exchanger -
A device for the transfer of heat energy
from the source to the conveying medium.
Horizontal Furnace -
A furnace that lies on its side, pulling
in return air from one side and expelling
warm air from the other.
Humidifier -
A device that injects water vapor into heated
air as the air is expelled from the furnace.
Humidity -
The amount of moisture in the air. Air conditioners
remove moisture for added comfort.
HSPF - Heating
Seasonal Performance Factor. Refers to the
efficiency of the heating mode of heat pumps
over an entire heating season. The higher
the number, the more efficient the unit.
HVAC - Heating,
ventilation and air conditioning.
ICM - Integrally
Controlled Motor. A specially engineered,
variable-speed motor used in top-of-the-line
indoor units. ICM motors are more than 90
percent efficient versus 60 percent efficiency
for conventional motors. Continuous comfort,
quiet operation and ultimate system efficiency
are the benefits of the indoor products graced
with the ICM motor.
Packaged System -
A piece of air conditioning and heating equipment
in which all components are located in one
cabinet. Used occasionally in residential
applications, the packaged unit is installed
either beside or on top of the home.
Refrigerant -
A substance that produces a refrigerating
effect while expanding or vaporizing.
Refrigerant Lines -
Set of two copper lines connecting the outdoor
unit and the indoor unit.
SEER - Seasonal
Energy Efficiency Ratio, a rating that measures
the cooling efficiency of a heat pump or
air conditioner. The higher the number, the
more efficient the unit.
Split System -
Refers to a comfort system configuration
consisting of components in two locations.
Common examples include an outside unit,
such as an air conditioner, and an indoor
unit, such as a furnace and coil.
Switchover Valve -
A device in a heat pump that reverses the
flow of refrigerant as the system is switched
from cooling to heating. Also called a reversing
valve or four-way valve.
Thermostat -
A temperature control device, typically found
on a wall inside the home. It consists of
a series of sensors and relays that monitor
and control the functions of a heating and
cooling system. Programmable thermostats
allow you to program different levels of
comfort for different times of the day.
Ton - A
unit of measurement used for determining
cooling capacity. One ton is the equivalent
of 12,000 BTUs per hour.
Upflow Furnace -
A furnace that pulls return air in from the
bottom and expels warm air from the top.
Zoning -
A method of dividing a home into zones, which
enables you to control the amount of comfort
provided to each.
Puron® Environmentally
Sound Refrigerant
Puron is the refrigerant of the future, and VALLEY is prepared to
help homeowners like you enjoy improved comfort right now with a full
line of products utilizing this performance-enhancing refrigerant.
You may not realize it, but your existing indoor weather system is
an endangered species. That's the result of the 1990 Clean Air Act
and the internationally binding Montreal Protocol. These documents
call for an international phase out on future manufacturing of the
refrigerant R-22, which is currently used in most air conditioning
and heat pump systems. In response to this phase out, Carrier has been
hard at work assisting in the development of a replacement refrigerant.
Extensive testing and a full two years of use in the market place have
helped us determine that Puron is superior in performance and energy
efficiency in addition to being environmentally sound. These outstanding
results have made Puron refrigerant the universally accepted, long-term
refrigerant for the heating and cooling industry.
Carrier is the first manufacturer to develop
indoor weather products using Puron, the
chlorine-free replacement refrigerant for
R-22. As companies worldwide race to
switch over to chlorine-free refrigerants,
Carrier offers the experience of having introduced
the first air conditioners with the alternative
refrigerant back in 1996. Now, Carrier is
expanding its line to offer a wide range
of environmentally sound products. Carrier's
superior technology enables you to begin
investing in your future today with custom
made indoor weather systems that are environmentally
sound.
A Carrier indoor weather system with Puron refrigerant delivers
enhanced energy efficiency, quieter operation and outstanding reliability
today while meeting the environmental standards of the future. Puron
refrigerant has a proven record of outstanding reliability and has been
approved by the EPA for use in the United States. European and Japanese
markets are also introducing products using this high-performance, chlorine-free
refrigerant.
Carrier's initial central
air conditioner using Puron refrigerant shows exceptional reliability,
having the lowest incidence of service of Carrier's entire product
line. The improved energy efficiency of our line of indoor weather products
with Puron refrigerant will result in a reduction of your heating
or cooling costs. And, by making the switch to a system utilizing
Puron refrigerant now, you may avoid the potentially rising costs
associated with servicing or replacing R-22 based systems.
Carrier Indoor Weather
Experts have been specially trained and are certified to install
and service Carrier products using Puron refrigerant. As you become more aware of the inevitable switch to products with
Puron refrigerant, Carrier's Indoor Weather Experts will be able
to help you make the right choice for the future: Carrier products
with Puron refrigerant.
Is Puron® right
for you?
If you are thinking about replacing your air conditioner or heat pump,
keep in mind that Carrier's Puron-based products offer several homeowner
benefits, including:
- Energy
Efficiency - Most of our Puron air conditioners and heat
pumps offer higher efficiency ratings. Keep in mind that the ratings
don't change simply because they are Puron-based products - a 12
SEER rated air conditioner will deliver 12 SEER no matter what's
in it. However, Puron's heat transfer properties lend themselves
to higher efficiency performance.
- Future
cost of service savings - Because of U.S. government
restrictions on future production refrigerants with ozone-harming
CFCs, the refrigerant used ion most of today's heat pumps and air
conditioners will become harder to find and eventually more expensive.
Switching to Puron now can help you avoid the potential rising
cost of servicing most of today's air conditioners and heat pumps.
- Reliability -
Carrier's air conditioners and heat pumps with Puron refrigerant
have become the most reliable products in our entire line.
- Quiet
Operation - Many of the air conditioners and heat pumps with
Puron refrigerant also offer Carrier's Silencer System for quieter
operation.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Strategies to provide Indoor Air Quality in
a Home
Control -
Control Humidity in the home with Humidifiers
provided by VALLEY. Humidifiers come in fan
powered or bypass type with up to 25 gallons
per day performance on some models
Filter -
Air filtration is very important to proactive
IAQ strategies. VALLEY offers a Mechanical
Filter add on for higher performance application
vs. the standard 1" filter at the furnace
an expandable mechanical filter and an electronic
air cleaner. Multiple sizes of each of the
filter products are available to collect
unwanted particles in the air stream
Refresh -
VALLEY offers a full line of ventilators,
which are designed to bring in fresh outside
air and expel unwanted indoor air while recovering
energy from the indoor air. Products range
from 150 cfm units up to 330 cfm units.
Maintenance
- Have
your HVAC system cleaned professionally to provide a cleaner living
environment.
- Prolong
the life of your filtration system by changing HVAC filters regularly:
May – September: every month
October – April: every other month - Follow
an annual maintenance program.
Air Cleaners
If you thought air pollution was just an outdoor
concern, think again. The particles you see in a beam of afternoon
sunlight streaming through the window only represent about 1% of the
millions of airborne contaminants in your indoor air. Most standard
fiber glass-mesh furnace filters only trap about 15% of these particles,
leaving the other 85% to pollute your air, your furnishings, even your
lungs.
Mechanical Air
Cleaner
A Carrier MECHANICAL AIR CLEANER has a heavy-duty media filter that can
trap up to 28 times as many particles as a standard fiber glass filter,
including animal dander and plant spores.
Electronic Air
Cleaner
A Carrier ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANER can capture up to 95% of all airborne
particles -- smoke, grease, bacteria and even many viruses. An electronic
model works as a sort of magnet for undesirable pollutants. An aluminum
mesh filter catches most of the large particles. The smaller particles
pass through an ionizing section, where they receive an electrical charge
so they are attracted like magnets to grounded metal plates. The collected
particles are cleaned off the plates every few months with a garden hose
or by popping the filter in the dishwasher. While the process may sound
complicated, electronic air cleaners only use about as much electricity
as a 30-watt light bulb.
Air cleaners can improve your health, keep your entire home cleaner,
protect your valuable investments and save you the time and aggravation
of constant dusting.
Air Conditioning
In Dallas, air conditioning is a must. With
the Texas summer heat, you need the best air conditioning system available.
So how do air conditioners work?
Air conditioners look and operate very much like heat pumps with the
notable exception that they provide cooling only. While air conditioners
and heat pumps do require the use of some different components, they
both operate on the same basic principles. This section will explore
five topics to consider when you are looking at air conditioners.
- How
They Work
- Quality
- Comfort
- Energy
Efficiency
- Tips
on matching indoor & outdoor coils
For more info scroll ahead, or click above on
the subject of your choice.
How They Work
Heat pumps and central air conditioners are
"split systems," which means that there is an outdoor unit
and an indoor unit. The job of the heat pump or air conditioner is to
transport heat either into or out of your home. The "vehicle" your
system uses to carry the heat is called refrigerant.
For cooling operation, air from your home passes through the indoor coil.
Heat is absorbed from the indoor air and the resulting cooler air is
circulated back into your home through your duct system. Heat from your
home exits through the outdoor coil.
While it’s keeping you cool, your air conditioner or heat pump
also works as an effective dehumidifier. The process is similar to what
happens when moisture condenses on the outside of a glass of ice water
on a hot, humid day.
For heating, a heat pump basically reverses the cooling process to warm
your home during cold weather.
Where does a heat pump get the heat to warm your home when it’s
cold outside? Even though 35 F air may feel cold to humans, it actually
contains a great deal of heat. A heat pump’s heat exchanger can
squeeze heat out of cold air, then transfer that heat into your home
with the help of a fan coil or a furnace, which circulates the warm air
through your ducts.
Heat pumps are often installed with back-up electric resistance heat
or a furnace to handle heating requirements when more heat is needed
than the heat pump can efficiently extract from the air. Carrier also
offers a Smart Heat accessory package that provides back-up electrical
heat in stages. This option allows homeowners to enjoy the energy-saving
benefits of a heat pump and still maintain comfortable indoor temperatures
as outdoor temperatures gradually drop.
Quality
Purchasing a brand name that has a reputation for quality and reliability
can save you headaches and extra expense down the road.
New Carrier air conditioners and heat pumps, for example, undergo 34
quality tests and checks during production, with more than 20 of these
being performed on every unit not just on random samples. Ask us about
limited and extended warranties.
Comfort
Some air conditioners and heat pumps offer additional features that provide
greater comfort (as well as additional energy savings).
Two-Speed Units
Two-speed units can run on low speed (using 50% of the energy) up to
80% of the time, so they operate more quietly and run for longer
periods of time than single-speed models. Longer operating periods
translate into fewer on/off cycles, fewer drafts and much smaller
temperature swings -- only two or three degrees instead of the four-degree
swings common with single-speed units. Plus, better air circulation
helps prevent air "stratification" warm air rising to the
ceiling and cold air settling on the floor. In short, you get consistent,
even cooling throughout your home.
Multi-Speed Indoor Unit
If you purchase a multi-speed or variable-capacity furnace or fan coil
with your unit, you will enhance both the comfort and the efficiency
of your air conditioning or heat pump system even further.
Energy Efficiency
- Cooling efficiency
for air conditioners and heat pumps is indicated by a SEER (Seasonal
Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, which tells you how efficiently
the unit uses electricity.
- Heat pumps also have
heating efficiency ratings, indicated as an HSPF (Heating Seasonal
Performance Factor).
In general, the higher the SEER or HSPF rating,
the less electricity the unit will use to cool (or heat) your home.
The government-mandated minimum efficiency standards for units installed
in new homes at 10.0 SEER and 6.8 HSPF. Most air conditioners and heat
pumps manufactured before 1992 had SEER ratings below 7.0 and HSPF
ratings below 5.0.
Air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured today have SEER ratings
that range from 10.0 to about 17. Heat pumps are available with HSPF
ratings from about 6.8 to 10.0.
Payback
Usually, the higher the efficiency, the more expensive the unit. In Dallas,
air conditioning efficiency costs are higher than other regions,
but you will probably see the higher cost of a high-efficiency air
conditioner paid back (through lower utility bills) in a few short
years. VALLEY can use cooling data from your area to help you determine
about how long it would take you to recover the additional cost in
energy savings. Of course, after the payback, you continue to save
on your energy bills for the life of the system.
Tips On Matching
Indoor
& Outdoor Coils
Your central air conditioning or heat pump system is a split system.
That means it consists of two parts: an indoor unit (coil) and outdoor
(condensing) unit. Both components are necessary for a working system.
So if you install a new outdoor unit, be sure to include a new, equally
efficient "matched" indoor unit.
If you don’t replace both your indoor and outdoor units, you won’t
be getting what you paid for. In fact, your system could be up to 15%
less efficient than stated — and you’ll be less comfortable,
too. That's why simply replacing just the outdoor unit isn't a bargain
in the long run.
Replacing the outdoor unit but leaving the old indoor unit may offer
you the lowest price, but it won’t give you the best value. When
your air conditioning or heat pump components don’t match, you’ll
be sacrificing comfort. The system may still "work," but it
won’t perform up to the promised energy efficiency. Over time,
this will cost you more money. When the components aren’t matched,
it could create undue stress on your cooling system, resulting in unnecessary,
premature failure.
Fan Coils
The Indoor Component of Air Conditioners.
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To demonstrate the superior water drainage
of the Carrier design, we're pouring 2 cups of water into the
drain pan
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In 11 seconds, all but 1 teaspoon has drained
out of the coil and would go down the drain in your home.
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ComfortHeat™
Homeowner Reports a Heat Pump Never Felt Warmer
One of the complaints with standard furnaces is that you're either
too warm or too cold. That's because a standard furnace warms your
home with a series of full-speed-ahead blasts of warm air. When the
furnace isn't running, the temperature drops about four degrees before
the next heating cycle. ComfortHeat™ Technology maintains temperatures
consistently close to your desired setting and can accurately predict
the need for
additional heating.
Carrier’s ComfortHeat Pump System also delivers exceptional
comfort when you cool your home by controlling the humidity as well
as the temperature. The results are astounding! It can remove up to
30 times more moisture from your home than a typical cooling system,
which will allow you to set the temperature in your home another four
to five degrees higher. If you live in a humid area of the country,
these higher thermostat settings can save you up to an additional 10
to 15 percent on your cooling bills.
With a fixed capacity furnace, your indoor temperature can fluctuate
from your desired setting. ComfortHeat™
Technology cuts temperature swings in half.
Gas furnaces with ComfortHeat™ Technology operate at low heating
capacity up to ninety percent of the time. In low capacity, the furnace
is quieter and much more energy efficient. Ordinary furnaces can only
operate at full capacity, which increases noise and energy usage.
Furnaces
Gas and oil furnaces provide warm, even heat
throughout your home by circulating heated air through ducts. This
section will provide insight on four main furnace topics:
- How
They Work
- Quality
- Comfort
- Energy
Efficiency
For more info scroll ahead, or click above on
the subject of your choice.
How They Work
The heat is created by burning gas or oil inside your furnace. Hot gases
that are created pass through curved metal tubing called a heat exchanger
and then out of your home through a metal or plastic vent pipe. At the
same time, the air that circulates through your home passes over the
outside of the heat exchanger and takes on the heat from the hot metal.
The warm air is then circulated through your home.
Quality
Purchasing a brand name that has a reputation for quality and reliability
can save you headaches and extra expense down the road.
- New
Carrier furnaces, for example, undergo a rigorous series of quality
tests and checks, during production, with many of the tests being
performed on every unit - not just random samples.
- We
back every furnace in writing, with a 20-year or more limited warranty
on the heat exchanger (the heart of the furnace) and a one-year limited
warranty on the entire unit. Ask us about extended warranties.
Comfort
Some mid- and high-efficiency furnaces offer additional features that
provide greater comfort, as well as additional energy savings.
Two-speed furnaces
Two-speed furnaces can run on low speed up to 90% of the time, so they
operate more quietly and run for longer periods of time than single-speed
furnaces. Longer operating periods translate into fewer on/off cycles,
fewer drafts and much smaller temperature swings -- only one or two degrees
instead of the four-degree swings common with single-speed furnaces.
Plus, better air circulation helps prevent air "stratification"
— warm air rising to the ceiling and cold air settling on the floor.
In short, you get consistent, even heat throughout your home.
Variable-capacity furnaces
Variable-capacity furnaces provide the ultimate combination of comfort,
efficiency and quiet performance. In addition to the benefits of two-speed
furnaces, they offer "smart"
motors than can monitor your home’s comfort needs and automatically
adjust the volume and speed of air to provide the most efficient heating
or cooling. They offer added electrical efficiency as well: the "smart" fan
motors on Carrier’s variable-capacity furnaces use less electricity
than a 100-watt light bulb. They operate so efficiently that they can
actually increase the efficiency rating of your central air conditioning
system and offer you added energy savings when you use continuous fan
operation in any season.
Energy Efficiency
A furnace’s efficiency rating, or AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization
Efficiency), tells you how efficiently the furnace uses fuel (gas or
oil). In general, higher efficiency furnaces mean lower monthly operating
costs for heating.
The government-mandated minimum AFUE rating for furnaces installed in
new homes is 78%. In contrast, many furnaces manufactured before 1992
had AFUE ratings as low as 60%.
Higher efficiency furnaces offering AFUE ratings of 80%, 90%, or up to
96% are also available to help reduce monthly heating costs.
Payback
Usually, the higher the efficiency, the more expensive the initial cost
of the furnace. If you live in a cold climate, you will probably see
the higher cost of a high-efficiency furnace paid back through lower
utility bills in a few short years. VALLEY can use heating data from
your area to help you determine about how long it would take you to recover
the additional cost in energy savings. Of course, after the payback,
you continue to save on your energy bills for the life of the system.
Green Seal Program
-
Green Seal is an independent organization that sets environmental
standards for a variety of consumer products, from light bulbs and engine oil
to air conditioning and heating systems. Green Seal establishes standards in
order to:
- help consumers understand
how they can help reduce air and water pollution
- cut the waste of natural
resources
- slow ozone depletion
and the risk of global warming
- prevent toxic contamination
and protect fish and wildlife in their habitat
Products must earn
the right to carry the Green Seal logo, which is a national, independent,
third-party certification that cannot be bought; it must be earned.
The standards established by Green Seal incorporate a product's entire
life cycle, and cover the following areas, among others:
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VALLEY offers a complete family of air conditioners and heat pumps which
use Puron® refrigerant. This product family has earned
the Green Seal designation.
Carrier is continuing to develop new equipment designs to take advantage
of innovations in refrigerants and other earth-friendly technologies.
We are currently working directly with refrigerant manufacturers and
other suppliers to provide homeowners with the ultimate combination of
environmental benefits, efficiency and value.
For more information on the Green Seal program, contact Green Seal directly
at (202) 331-7337.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps look and operate very much like air
conditioners with the notable exception that they provide both heating
and cooling. While heat pumps and air conditioners do require the use
of some different components, they both operate on the same basic principles.
This section will explore five topics to consider when you are looking
at heat pumps:
- How
They Work
- Quality
- Comfort
- Energy
Efficiency
- Tips
on matching indoor & outdoor coils
For more info scroll ahead, or click above on
the subject of your choice.
How They Work
Heat pumps and central air conditioners are
"split systems," which means that there is an outdoor unit
and an indoor unit. The job of the heat pump or air conditioner is to
transport heat either into or out of your home. The "vehicle" your
system uses to carry the heat is called refrigerant.
For cooling operation, air from your home passes through the indoor coil.
Heat is absorbed from the indoor air and the resulting cooler air is
circulated back into your home through your duct system. Heat from your
home exits through the outdoor coil.
While it’s keeping you cool, your air conditioner or heat pump
also works as an effective dehumidifier. The process is similar to what
happens when moisture condenses on the outside of a glass of ice water
on a hot, humid day.
For heating, a heat pump basically reverses the cooling process to warm
your home during cold weather.
Where does a heat pump get the heat to warm your home when it’s
cold outside? Even though 35 F air may feel cold to humans, it actually
contains a great deal of heat. A heat pump’s heat exchanger can
squeeze heat out of cold air, then transfer that heat into your home
with the help of a fan coil or a furnace, which circulates the warm air
through your ducts.
Heat pumps are often installed with back-up electric resistance heat
or a furnace to handle heating requirements when more heat is needed
than the heat pump can efficiently extract from the air. Carrier also
offers a Smart Heat accessory package that provides back-up electrical
heat in stages. This option allows homeowners to enjoy the energy-saving
benefits of a heat pump and still maintain comfortable indoor temperatures
as outdoor temperatures gradually drop.
Quality
Purchasing a brand name that has a reputation for quality and reliability
can save you headaches and extra expense down the road.
New Carrier air conditioners and heat pumps, for example, undergo 34
quality tests and checks during production, with more than 20 of these
being performed on every unit not just on random samples. Ask us about
limited and extended warranties.
Comfort
Some air conditioners and heat pumps offer additional features that provide
greater comfort (as well as additional energy savings).
Two-Speed Units
Two-speed units can run on low speed (using 50% of the energy) up to
80% of the time, so they operate more quietly and run for longer
periods of time than single-speed models. Longer operating periods
translate into fewer on/off cycles, fewer drafts and much smaller
temperature swings -- only two or three degrees instead of the four-degree
swings common with single-speed units. Plus, better air circulation
helps prevent air "stratification" warm air rising to the
ceiling and cold air settling on the floor. In short, you get consistent,
even cooling throughout your home.
Multi-Speed Indoor Unit
If you purchase a multi-speed or variable-capacity furnace or fan coil
with your unit, you will enhance both the comfort and the efficiency
of your air conditioning or heat pump system even further.
Energy Efficiency
- Cooling efficiency
for air conditioners and heat pumps is indicated by a SEER (Seasonal
Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, which tells you how efficiently
the unit uses electricity.
- Heat pumps also have
heating efficiency ratings, indicated as an HSPF (Heating Seasonal
Performance Factor).
In general, the higher the SEER or HSPF rating,
the less electricity the unit will use to cool (or heat) your home.
The government-mandated minimum efficiency standards for units installed
in new homes at 10.0 SEER and 6.8 HSPF. Most air conditioners and heat
pumps manufactured before 1992 had SEER ratings below 7.0 and HSPF
ratings below 5.0.
Air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured today have SEER ratings
that range from 10.0 to about 17. Heat pumps are available with HSPF
ratings from about 6.8 to 10.0.
Payback
Usually, the higher the efficiency, the more expensive the unit. If you
live in a warm and/or humid climate, you will probably see the higher
cost of a high-efficiency air conditioner or heat pump paid back (through
lower utility bills) in a few short years. VALLEY can use cooling data
from your area to help you determine about how long it would take you
to recover the additional cost in energy savings. Of course, after the
payback, you continue to save on your energy bills for the life of the
system.
Tips On Matching
Indoor
& Outdoor Coils
Your central air conditioning or heat pump system is a split system.
That means it consists of two parts: an indoor unit (coil) and outdoor
(condensing) unit. Both components are necessary for a working system.
So if you install a new outdoor unit, be sure to include a new, equally
efficient "matched" indoor unit.
If you don’t replace both your indoor and outdoor units, you won’t
be getting what you paid for. In fact, your system could be up to 15%
less efficient than stated — and you’ll be less comfortable,
too. That's why simply replacing just the outdoor unit isn't a bargain
in the long run.
Replacing the outdoor unit but leaving the old indoor unit may offer
you the lowest price, but it won’t give you the best value. When
your air conditioning or heat pump components don’t match, you’ll
be sacrificing comfort. The system may still "work," but it
won’t perform up to the promised energy efficiency. Over time,
this will cost you more money. When the components aren’t matched,
it could create undue stress on your cooling system, resulting in unnecessary,
premature failure.
Humidifiers
Controlling humidity cannot only affect how
comfortable you feel, it can actually save you money on your monthly
energy bills.
Our bodies "feel" heat as a combination of temperature and
humidity. In other words, the more humid the air, the warmer it feels.
So if you add humidity to dry, heated air in the winter with a Carrier
humidifier, you can set your thermostat lower and still be comfortable
-- while you save money on your utility bills.
A humidifier can also help prevent dry, cracked skin, make it easier
to breathe, protect your woodwork and reduce static electricity. It can
even make you less susceptible to sore throats and winter colds.
Carrier humidifiers operate on the basis of a simple concept. Air heated
by your furnace or heat pump passes through a ceramic-coated pad in your
humidifier, called an evaporator pad. The air absorbs moisture from the
water-soaked pad and becomes water vapor that humidifies the heated air
that is circulated throughout your home. Most humidifiers feature an
adjustable humidistat so you can control the exact amount of moisture
in the air. The proper amount of moisture depends on the outdoor temperature
and other factors; your owner’s manual has recommendations for
the best settings for your conditions.
ThermidistatTM Control
Like a thermostat, Carrier's ThermidistatTM Control helps your heating and cooling
equipment maintain the optimal temperature setting with the maximum
energy efficiency. In addition, the Thermidistat Control monitors and
controls humidity inside your home.
Programmability
The Thermidistat Control offers seven-day programmability, allowing you
to select a different temperature for different times of day. Just program
your Thermidistat Control once, then relax and enjoy comfort, convenience,
and energy savings, automatically, day after day. Reprogramming is only
necessary if you wish to change your comfort schedule.
Humidity Control
During the warmer months, the Thermidistat Control monitors humidity
levels both inside and outside your home, then works with your air conditioning
system to remove moisture that can leave you feeling hot and sticky.
When working with a Carrier humidifier, the Thermidistat Control can
tell your system when it's time to add moisture to dry, heated air during
the colder months.
Energy Savings
One of the most important ways that a Thermidistat Control saves energy
is with its setback feature. There are many times in your home when you
don't need a normal level of heating or cooling -- when you are at work,
or at night when everybody is in bed. You can program the Thermidistat
Control to tell our system when it's time to set the temperature back
for energy savings, and when it's time to return your home to normal
temperatures for comfort. For example, setting the temperature back to
63°F on cold winter nights, you can save as much as 15% on your heating
costs. You can save even more by programming your system to "setback" the
temperature when your family is away at work, at school, or on vacation.
These same "setback"
principles apply for summer savings.
Thermostats
Thermostats help your heating and cooling equipment
maintain the optimal temperature setting with the maximum energy efficiency.
Today’s electronic models are a vast departure from earlier mechanical
styles.
Dring offers two styles of thermostats to meet your needs.
- Electronic Thermostats
- Programmable Thermostats
Electronic Thermostats
Electronic thermostats work in much the same way as older, manual thermostats
did. A microprocessor inside compares the thermometer reading of
a room’s temperature to the desired temperature you select.
Then, it gives start and stop commands to the heating or cooling
system to bring the temperature to a level that makes you comfortable.
It's up to you to change the settings when you need move comfort.
Programmable Thermostats
Programmable thermostats basically work the same as electronic thermostats
with more features for comfort, efficiency and convenience. Simply program
the temperatures you need, and the times of day you need them, to stay
comfortable and save energy all season. You only need to program it once
-- until the season or your lifestyle changes.
Energy Savings
The most important way that a programmable thermostat saves energy is
in its setback feature. When you don’t need a normal level of heating
or cooling, you can program the thermostat to set the temperature back
until the next pre-programmed time when you want normal temperatures.
Programming temperatures around 63 F on cold winter nights, when you’re
snuggled under blankets, can help you save as much as 15% on your heating
costs. You can save even more by programming your system to "setback" the
temperature when your family is away at work, at school, or on vacation.
In summer, setbacks work much the same way for central air conditioning.
Ventilators
Every home contains a certain amount of unhealthy
gases from a variety of sources — building materials, the earth
under your home, your heating and cooling system, and even people,
who breathe out carbon dioxide.
While today’s energy-efficient homes do a great job of keeping
heated or cooled air in, they also seal in stale, recirculated air. A
ventilating system solves the problem of stale air by bringing fresh
air into tightly constructed homes without wasting precious energy. HEAT
RECOVERY VENTILATORS recover heat energy during the heating season; ENERGY
RECOVERY VENTILATORS recover both heating and cooling energy year-round.
Making a ventilator part of your home comfort system is like being able
to open a window in every room even on the hottest or coldest days...without
the drafts, the humidity or the high energy costs. It’s literally
a breath of fresh air.
Here's How They Work
Fresh air is drawn through a pre-filter and into the core. Heating or
cooling is transferred into the fresh air which is then distributed throughout
the home. Indoor air stays heated or cooled while stale air and humidity,
particularly from areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms,
are exhausted.
VALLEY ventilators are controlled by a convenient wall-mounted control
unit, and have three comfort modes.
- The
recirculation mode recycles indoor air continuously and exchanges
air only when humidity exceeds the desired level. This setting allows
homeowners with baseboard heat to enjoy the advantages of a forced-air
heating system.
- The
continuous mode, replaces indoor air with fresh outdoor air 24 hours
a day.
- The
intermittent mode provides the greatest economy, with the unit turning
on only when humidity levels exceed the desired level.
Zoning System
With a zoning system, you can actually divide
your home into two, three or four separate "zones"
with similar comfort needs. Then, a system of electronic thermostats
and electronically controlled dampers automatically adjusts the level
of comfort in each of those zones.
A zoning system gives you the same kind of flexibility in controlling
heating and cooling that you have with light switches in your home. It
doesn’t make sense to waste energy to light a room no one’s
using, so you turn off the light switch, right? With zoning you can basically
do the same thing with heating and cooling, while increasing your comfort
and saving on your energy bills.
Comfort
Zoning is especially beneficial if you have certain rooms or areas that
are always warmer or cooler than the rest of the home. You can direct
your system to automatically provide more heating or cooling to that
area without wasting energy to heat or cool your entire home.
Efficiency
In many cases, proper zoning can result in operating cost savings of
as much as 30%. While zoning does not actually increase the efficiency
of your furnace, heat pump or air conditioner, it does increase the overall
efficiency of your system by directing heating or cooling only where
you need it. Plus, since you don’t need extra capacity to heat
or cool areas you’re not using, zoning may allow you to install
a smaller unit. Smaller-capacity equipment costs less to install and
to operate. That translates into even more savings!
Specials & Advertised Offers
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What Our Customers Say
On
a scale of
1-10, I give
Valley Heating
& Cooling
an 11!
We would recommend them to anyone. Unlike other companies, Valley really took
the time to listen, and worked hard to design exactly what we wanted - with no
extra charges. They really do provide old fashioned service. More>>>
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