If you want a new system because you are dissatisfied with your comfort, remember that a new system will bring newer comfort technology and energy efficiency. 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. Everyone'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 you home.
The four biggest factors in your home's comfort are:
Your geographical region can play a role in what type of system will work best in your home. Here is the general idea:
Some systems won't work if the proper energy isn't available or is too expensive to consider. The three most likely energy sources for your comfort system are electricity, gas or oil. A properly installed HVAC system in an older home involves more than a new unit to be most effective. Duct Sealing and Insulation All ducts running through exterior spaces, such as attics and crawl spaces, should be thoroughly sealed and insulated. Improperly sealed ducts can penalize a system up to 30%. Most energy codes require minimum duct insulation levels of R-6. Duct insulation can have a major impact on the comfort of your home by keeping the air in the ducts much closer to the temperature that the system is designed to supply. Southeastern HVAC uses sheet metal with short flex connections for ducting. Eliminating air leaks in the ductwork for central heating and cooling systems can help maintain proper humidity. Humidity is a funny thing. In 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 furniture. In summer, it is preferable to remove humidity so indoor air feels cooler and less sticky, but the correct amount of humidity in the summer creates an environment whereby you will feel comfortable at a higher temperature.
Dusty, dirty homes at any temperature can cause feelings of discomfort to many people, especially allergy sufferers. In today's tightly sealed homes, the air can become stale as the same indoor air is circulated and re-circulated. With dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, skin flakes, chemical fumes, cigarette smoke, and more, the air inside your home can be more polluted than the air outside. Air Cleaners and ventilators can add/improve comfort and IAQ (Indoor Air Quality). Call Southeastern for all of your heating and air conditioning needs: troubleshooting, repair, and installation. Frequently asked question: How do I compare the efficiency of different brands of heating and cooling equipment? The efficiency of heating and cooling equipment measures how much energy is effectively converted by the equipment into heated or cooled air distributed throughout your home. The efficiency measures are much like the miles per gallon rating for your car's fuel economy. The rating systems are standardized, there are three different rating systems used. Each rating is used for a specific type of product (furnaces used the same system, heat pumps use a different system, etc.) They are:
AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) 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 20% is wasted. The government mandated a minimum AFUE rating for furnace installations in new homes is 78%. Many furnaces installed before 1992 had AFUE ratings as low as 60%. 78%-80% are considered mid-efficiency while 90% or more is high efficiency. A higher efficiency rating means two things:
SEER (cooling) SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating tells 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. Currently, the government mandated minimum is SEER is 10.0 SEER. Effective January 06, the Department of Energy has mandated 13 SEER as the new standard. High efficiency units have a SEER of at least 12.0. The maximum available is about 17. If your annual cooling costs were $1000. with a 10 SEER system, they could be reduced to $710. with a 14 SEER system. 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. Other Energy Efficiency Factors The efficiency of your cooling and heating equipment will have the greatest impact on your energy usage, however, other factors will also help reduce energy costs.
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