Air Conditioning & Heating Information

Air Conditioner A ventilator replaces a portion of stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air, reducing energy loss in the process. Air exchangers will let users manually or automatically adjust the fresh air flow. The units retain energy used to heat or cool the home, saving the homeowner money on utility bills.

In a split system design, the air conditioner sits outside the home, with small copper tubing running back inside. An air condenser compresses refrigerant which chills it. It then sends the chilled refrigerant back inside to either the evaporator coil or fan coil.

• The efficiency of an air conditioner is measured by a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER).
• A two-stage compressor has different sized motors for more efficient operation.
• An air conditioner requires an inside fan to work. Typically the furnace fan is used. If there is no furnace, then the air handler is responsible for air circulation.

Gas Furnace: A gas furnace sites indoors, and is responsible for not only heating indoor air, but the furnace fan works year round to pull air from the home and move it through your HVAC system.

• The efficiency of a gas furnace is measured with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the furnace.
• A variable speed fan is the best choice for a furnace. Variable speed fans are quieter, and more efficient while also keeping air flow more consistent in your home for increased comfort.
• A furnace dries out your indoor air. Using a whole house humidifier can replenish needed moisture to protect your home and stay more comfortable as proper humidity feels warmer.

Evaporator Coil: The evaporator coil sits inside, adjacent (or on top of) the furnace. An evaporator coil contains copper tubing, and is a key component to cooling your home. When the air condenser compresses and chills refrigerant, the ice cold refrigerant is sent inside to the evaporator coil. Then air from the home is forced through the maze of chilled piping which not only cools the air, but dehumidifies it as well.

• The efficiency of your home air conditioning system is affected by the evaporator coil.
• Evaporator coils are dark and damp which is an ideal place for mold to grow. Installing a UV light will kill the mold, keeping it out of your home air, and keeping your evaporator coil clean, for efficient operation.

The Split System Air Conditioning Process:

• Refrigerant is cooled. Once the thermostat registers that indoor air is too warm, the air conditioner (or heat pump) kicks in and compresses refrigerant. Compressing refrigerant releases the heat and chills it. The chilled refrigerant is sent back inside to the indoor coil, typically called an evaporator coil. The efficiency of an air conditioner or heat pump (cooling) is measured with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER).
  
  
• Fan pulls air from the home. The furnace fan or fan coil (air handler) pulls air from the home through the return air duct. Yes, even in the cooling season, your furnace is used. A variable speed fan offers quieter, more efficient operation.
  
  
• Air is filtered. Return air is filtered before entering the air conditioning system. Advanced air cleaners can filter microscopic particles and viruses out of the air keeping your home healthy and your system very clean which helps with efficiency and reliability.
  
  
• Air is cooled. The filtered air is then pushed through the coil system by the fan motor. The cold refrigerant in the evaporator coil absorbs heat and causes moisture to condense, thus cooling and dehumidifying the air. This conditioned air is pushed on by the fan while the heated refrigerant is sent back outside to the air conditioner (or heat pump). The heated refrigerant is pressurized again to remove the heat.
  
  
• Mold is killed & coil efficiency kept high. In the damp interior of an evaporator coil, mold will grow which affects not only the health of your family (mold spores in the air), but the efficiency of your system. In the example layout above, a UV lamp is mounted within the coils to prevent this. UV light kills mold keeping your system efficient and healthy.
  
  
• Cooled air sent back into the home. After leaving the evaporator coil, the cool, dehumidified air is pushed back into the home. In extremely humid climates, a separate whole house dehumidifier can be installed to further remove humidity from the conditioned air.
  
  
• Air is exchanged. At the top left of the above system layout sits a ventilator. Ventilators are part of complete indoor air quality solutions. They exchange fresh outdoor air for stale indoor air. A ventilator is able to do this with minimal loss of energy, retaining the cooled and dehumidifed air your HVAC system worked hard to produce!
  
  

The Split System Heating Process:

• Heat exchanger is heated. A heat exchanger is a type of metal grid that air passes through, and it is heated by the gas powered flames once the thermostat registers indoor air as being too cold.
  
  
• Fan pulls air from the home. The fan in your system pulls air from the home through the return air duct. A variable speed fan is quieter, more efficient and provides a more comfortable climate.
  
  
• Air is filtered. Return air is filtered before entering the system. Advanced air cleaners can filter microscopic particles and viruses out of the air keeping your home healthy and your HVAC system very clean which helps with system life and efficiency.
  
  
• Air is heated. The air is then pushed over the heat exchanger by the fan motor.
  
  
• Humidity is added back. A heat exchanger dries out winter air even more. A whole home humidifier replenishes needed moisture for a healthier home. Restored humidity also helps the air feel warmer, thus decreasing the energy needed during the winter to feel warm and comfortable.
  
  
• Heated air sent back into the home. The fan forces the heated air back into the home via installed ductwork.
  
  
• Air is exchanged. At the top left of the above system layout sits a ventilator. Ventilators are part of complete indoor air quality solutions as they exchange fresh outdoor air for stale indoor air. A ventilator is able to do this with minimal loss of energy, retaining the warm, humidified air your system worked hard to produce!
  
  

• Heat Pump is engaged: When the thermostat registers the need for warm air the heat pump turns on and begins extracting heat energy from the outside air. Even when it is cold outside, air contains a certain amount of heat energy. A heat pump absorbs this energy into the refrigerant, and then sends the heated refrigerant back inside.
  
  
• Fan pulls air from the home. The fan in your fan coil (air handler) pulls air from the home through the return air duct.
  
  
• The air is filtered. As with the first method, an advanced air cleaner filters out micro scopic dust and organisms.
  
  
*Coil difference: When using a furnace and air conditioner, the indoor coil is separate, and called an evaporator coil. When using a heat pump only, the indoor coil is called a fan coil, and is basically a combination of the furnace fan and the evaporator coil.


• Air is heated. The air is then pushed through the coil system by the fan motor. The heated refrigerant warms the passing air and then is cycled back outside to the heat pump.
  
  
• Mold is killed & coil efficiency kept high. In the damp interior of an evaporator coil, mold will grow which affects not only the health of your family (mold spores in the air), but the efficiency of your system. In the example layout above, a UV lamp is mounted within the coils to prevent this. UV light kills mold keeping your system efficient and healthy.
  
  
• Heated air sent back into the home. After leaving the indoor coil, warm air is pushed back into the home. In dry winter climates, a separate whole house humidifier can be installed to replenish the humidity in indoor air.
  
  
• Air is exchanged. At the top left of the above system layout sits a ventilator. Ventilators are part of complete indoor air quality solutions. They exchange fresh outdoor air for stale indoor air. A ventilator is able to do this with minimal loss of energy, retaining the cooled and dehumidifed air your system worked hard to produce!
  
  

• A hybrid system uses both a furnace and a heat pump. Heat pumps can be more efficient than a gas furnace at certain temperatures in areas where fuel prices are high. Heat pumps cannot provide adequate heat however in extreme cold, and their efficiency drops substantially at that point.
  
  
• A smart thermostat is used to control a hybrid heating setup. It intelligently switches between units for the highest energy efficiency available depending on the outside temperature.

Energy Information:

Energy Guide label: Manufacturers of HVAC equipment are required to display the Energy Guide label. This label estimates how much energy the equipment uses, compares energy use of similar products, and gives approximate annual operating costs. Your exact costs will depend on local utility rates and the type and source of your energy.

ENERGY STAR® certification: ENERGY STAR® is a voluntary energy awareness program developed by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Our high-efficiency systems have the Energy Star label to identify products that are at least 15% more efficient than standard products.