Consumer’s Guide to Home Comfort · 2013-05-10 · • Uneven temperatures — now too hot / then too cool. • Heat pumps that delivered cool uncomfortable air. • Rooms that

Consumer’s Guide to Home Comfort

#2: Choosing the Right Replacement

for Your Home Comfort System

• Which new system can best solve your heating/cooling problems? • Which technologies are best for your family’s health? • Which new system is best for your family budget? • What should you look for — and look out for? • How much should you spend? • These answers and more.

Understand your options BEFORE meeting with our salesman.

Call or visit us online for these additional Consumer Decision Guides: • 33 Ways We Professionals Lower Energy Use in Our Own Homes • Contractor Standards Guide—How to Choose the Right Contractor • Indoor Air Quality Solutions for Your Family

Licensed in DE: 1409 • PA: 46659 • MD: 67493

8 6 6 - P E R K O S K I

Trust The Family That Has Served Over 43,000 DE, PA, & MD Families & Businesses Since1969.

Stan Perkoski’s Guide #2 – Choosing a Replacement System Page 2 of 15

©2007-2009, Strategic Edge, LLC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Choosing a Heating/Cooling System is No Simple Task. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Last Thing You Want is to Regret Your Choice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

To Make Matters Worse, Our Industry Has a Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Our Solution: Arm Yourself with Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Fundamentals

1. Which is right for you — furnace/ac, heat pump, hybrid? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. Which refrigerant is the best choice?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. What’s the difference between a one-stage and two stage system? . . . . . . . . . .

4. What’s the difference between variable speed, single & multi-speed?. . . . . . . .

5. Get more from your boiler with continuously adjusting controls . . . . . . . . . . . .

6. What about noise? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7. What about safety?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8. Affordable zoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9. How much should you spend? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10. How long should your new system last? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11. How can you tell if the right system is being recommended?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Understand Your Choices Today and Be Comfortable for Years to Come . . . . . . . . .

Appendix 1: Comparison Table—Furnace Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Appendix 2: Comparison Table—A/C Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Appendix 3: Comparison Table—Heat Pump Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Choosing a heating/cooling system is no longer a simple task.

The choices are dizzying — more styles, more technologies, more options. The old “one-size-fits-all” philosophy and “rule-of-thumb sizing methods” no longer apply. Installed correctly, today’s high-tech systems are quieter, cleaner, less prone to break-down and far more efficient than those on the market even ten years ago. But these benefits depend on making the right choices now.

In general, the news is good. Today’s minimum standards far exceed what was considered ultra high-efficient just ten years ago. And yesterday’s annoying problems are now being solved, things like:

• Uneven temperatures — now too hot / then too cool. • Heat pumps that delivered cool uncomfortable air. • Rooms that never heat or cool properly. • Noisy heating/cooling systems.

The last thing you want is to regret your choice of a system that will be in your home for the next 12-25 years. The more you understand your choices, the better you will be served.

To make matters worse, our industry has a problem that can pick your pocket and steal your comfort.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, oversizing,* the “most common mistake” contractors make will result in:

• Installations Costing as Much as 30% More, • Shorter Life and More Breakdowns. • Years of Wasted Energy Dollars. • Excessive Noise. • Less Comfort for Your Family, v Wide Temperature Swings. v Cold “Clammy” Air Conditioning. v Unhealthy Mold Growth.

*Under-sizing results in insufficient air movement which will also compromise economy & comfort.

Our Solution: Arm yourself with knowledge.

We understand the frustration many feel when doing business with our industry. There are so many sales people and so much literature saying so many things – it’s hard to sort it all out. How can you tell what’s important. How can you compare one proposal to another? How do you know what’s right for you

Our purpose here is to help you understand your options. If you spend a little time now, we will be better able to help you when we do meet.

And you will be better able to recognize when someone is “selling” you and when someone is truly trying to help you reach the best possible decision for your family.

“well over half of all HVAC contractors do not size heating and cooling systems correctly.”

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)



First, some fundamentals — What’s the difference between a furnace/air conditioner & a heat pump?

The most common form of heating, the furnace or boiler, is pretty easy to understand. It heats air, steam, or water that is then circulated throughout the home. Key differences are in how efficiently they produce and distribute that heat and minimize loss. (More to follow.)

Like your home refrigerator, air conditioners and heat pumps don’t so much as heat or cool air as transfer heat from one place to another. The heart of these systems is the compressor. Its purpose

is to compress and thus condense vaporized refrigerant back into a liquid state. As refrigerant vaporizes, it picks up heat from its surroundings. When it condenses back into liquid, that heat is released.

In a standard split furnace/air conditioning system, the air conditioner’s heat transfer goes in one direction. In a heat pump system, this flow may be reversed by means of a reversing valve. During most of the heating season, the heat pump can gather heat from outside air because while cool, it is still warmer than the refrigerant.

1. Which is right for you — a heat pump, a furnace/AC combination or a hybrid?

Today’s high-efficiency heat pump provides year-round comfort without the problems associated with early models. It has improvements such as increased heat exchanger coil sizes, variable-speed blower, two stage compressors, thermostatic expansion valves, and sophisticated electronic controls. What was once known as a breakdown-prone noisy heating system that blew cold air has now become a reliable workhorse known for its comfortable heat, and economical operation.

For most of the heating season, the heat generated by today’s air source heat pump exceeds — by 2.5 to 4 times — the energy it consumes! In mild southern regions, the heat pump is ideal. However, until recently, even in our relatively moderate climate, the high costs of supplemental electric resistance heating quickly overwhelmed the super-efficiency of heat pump operation. So, if you already had a fuel-burning system, your best choice was stick with a similar replacement.

Recent dramatic increases in fossil fuel prices, make heat pump technology worthy of a second look, especially for those with existing forced hot-air furnace systems. If you are considering changing your central air conditioner, you should give serious thought replacing it with a heat pump. This “hybrid” system will rely on the economical heat pump for cooling and for heating during most of the Mid-Atlantic’s relatively mild heating season. It will turn to fuel burning only during those rare extra cold days. The additional installation costs which include new controls and possible duct work modifications in most cases will return to you in energy savings within the first three years. Then for the remaining 12 or more years of the heat pump’s life, those extra savings will fall right into your pocket!

Whether you are replacing a heat pump or split furnace/air conditioning system, the advanced technologies discussed in the following pages offer today’s home owner choices that will deliver far greater energy savings and more consistent home comfort than ever before.



$589 $670$874

$1,065

$0

$500

$1,000

$1,500

High EfficiencyHeat Pump

Standard HeatPump

High EfficiencyGas Furnace

Standard GasFurnace

Estimated Annual Operating Costs2000 area square foot single family home

with typical insulation levels

2. Your choice of refrigerant can affect the environment AND your pocketbook.

Two types of refrigerant are widely used in our industry. R-22 had been the manufacturers’ refrigerant of choice since the 1970s. Under the 1990 Clean Air Act, R-22, an ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), is due to be phased out by 2010.

Environmentally-friendly chlorine-free R410-A has met the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s most rigid standard and is widely accepted as the industry’s choice for the future. It is used in the most energy-efficient and quietest systems on the market today.

Although contractors will be able to continue to service units using R-22, homeowners may well consider the possibility of increasing service costs as the refrigerant is phased out. That’s exactly what happened when R-22’s predecessor Freon was phased out in the 1990s.

3. A two-stage system will cost you more today but will return far more in savings and comfort every year you operate your system.

Perhaps the greatest advances in home comfort are the result of two-stage technologies. Standard one-stage systems are either on or off — with no in between. Having a two-stage is like owning two systems: 1) a more modest economical system for more moderate days and 2) a high powered system for those really hot summer and really cold winter days. In our relatively mild climate (with extreme degree days only making up about 10-15% of our seasons), the savings from such a system can really mount.

Air conditioners and heat pumps accomplish two-stage operation with a two-speed compressor — or in some cases, with two separate compressors, one high speed and one low-speed. A two-stage furnace burns fuels at different rates by means of a two-position burner. With a single-stage furnace, it’s not unusual to feel too cold one minute and too warm the next. With a two-stage furnace, the first stage will start at approximately 60% capacity. This lower rate allows the house to warm up gradually. Then only on those rare days that more heating is called for, the burner switches to a 100% burn rate.

Two-stage heating and cooling combined with today’s variable speed blowers creates better air circulation, more even temperatures throughout the home, better humidity control and lower temperatures swings. (In some ultra-efficient systems, temperatures never vary more than 1° F from the thermostat setting).



4. A variable speed blower will deliver greater comfort and significant savings.

Variable speed saves money:

Variable speed systems have the same features as a two-stage system with the added benefit of a variable speed blower. These utilize a direct current (DC) motor which is much more economical than the typical system’s alternating current (AC) motor.

A variable speed blower will operate at minimum speed approximately 90% of a normal heating season using only as much energy as an 80 watt light bulb. Compare this with a standard “fixed capacity” furnace which uses 600 watts or more. That’s like six 100 watt light bulbs burning away.

Variable speed delivers quieter operation:

The electronically-controlled variable speed motor is much quieter. It operates like a dimmer switch. Rather than the on-off of single-speed blowers, the variable speed motor will gently modulate between high and low air flow depending on demand. 90% of the time, it will operate at the lowest — quietest setting. As demand increases, the speed increases circulating more air (and heat) throughout the home.

Variable speed delivers greater comfort: • Temperature swings will be smaller, • Air circulates rather than pooling (warm on the ceilings, cold at floor level), • Rooms will heat more evenly (even between the first and second floors), • Air quality will improve (due to longer or continuous filtering cycles), and • Humidity control is enhanced (especially during the summer making it more comfortable at

higher, less costly thermostat settings!) • Noise is reduced (no more sudden fan whoosh—no more cracks as cold ducts heat up.)

Some of the comfort benefits of the variable speed fan can be had with lower cost multi-speed fans. These are available as an options with both single-stage and two-stage systems. But both the operating costs and noise levels will considerably higher.

5. Get More From Your Boiler With Continuously Adjusting Controls.

Energy efficiency for a boiler is realized in much the same way as for a hot air furnace — by the ratio of fuel consumed to the amount of heat delivered to your home. Ultra high efficiency and maximum comfort are achieved by the degree to which your boiler is able to adjust to demand. A standard boiler works like a car that alternates between full throttle and coasting—you will get to your destination, but the ride far from smooth. Today’s ultra-efficient boilers communicate with sensors inside and outside your home to continually adjust boiler performance to match conditions, adjusting fuel burning and hence water temperatures to keep water warm during the off-peak days and hotter on those really cold days when demand is high. The result is more efficient fuel consumption, reduced heat loss from pipes during off-peak periods, and more consistent even comfort throughout your home.

This type of continuous monitoring and communication is not only available in today’s ultra-efficient replacement boilers but in many cases can be added to an existing boiler that is in otherwise good condition for up to 15% in energy savings.



6. Today’s systems are far quieter than ever before. Just how quiet depends on the choices you make now.

Air Conditioners/Heat Pumps & Noise:

Among the greatest joys of the summer season is outdoor living. And nothing is more irritating to you or to your neighbors than having a summer nap or deck entertaining interrupted by the sudden onset of a noisy air conditioner compressor and fan.

Today’s high efficiency air conditioners and heat pumps are far quieter. Older single-stage air conditioners can have decibel ratings as high as 80-85 db (80 is the sound of a vacuum cleaner from a distance of 3 feet; 85 is a level the government considers dangerous to hearing). Today’s high efficiency air conditioners have decibel ratings anywhere from the mid-60s to the low 70s (60 is the sound of a normal conversation, 70 the sound of traffic on a busy street from about 10 feet from the curb).

Two-speed compressors operate at slower, quieter speeds 80% of the time. In addition, modern engineering has also contributed to lower sound levels. Among the innovations are:

• Sound dampening insulation in the compressor unit, and

• Design changes to fan blades and vents that reduce the sound of air movement.

Still other sound reductions have come as a result of the reengineering for the new ozone-friendly refrigerant which requires higher pressure levels. Among the changes required were:

• The use of scroll compressors with fewer moving parts than the reciprocating type, and • Stronger tubing and materials which lower the sound frequencies of the system.

7. Today’s furnaces are safer than their predecessors, but some are safer still.

Heat pumps are the safest form of heating available. Fuel burning appliances can be safe if properly installed and maintained. However, carbon monoxide (CO) is always a concern.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless but deadly byproduct of fuel combustion. CO molecules attach themselves to our red blood cells’ hemoglobin preventing it from carrying critical oxygen to our organs and cells.

CO poisoning kills hundreds every year and sends an estimated 5,000 more to US emergency rooms. But fewer than 5% of all cases are being reported.

Although not lethal, even low exposures affect the health of millions of Americans every day. And



because symptoms are so similar to those of winter colds, flu, and allergy/sinus conditions, they often escape diagnosis by medical professionals.

Unfortunately, the CO alarms sold in stores fail to detect low levels that may be affecting your family’s health and sound only when exposure reaches potentially lethal doses of 70 ppm (parts per million) or greater for over 3-1/2 hours. Detectors available from Stan Perkoski’s sound their alarm at levels down to 35 ppm, a level most international health agencies including the US Occupational Health and Safety Agency (OSHA) and the World Health Organization (OSHA) cite as a serious risk to health.

Regular annual maintenance that includes proper testing with a calibrated combustion analyzer is the only way to assure the safe operation of your heating and other fuel-burning appliances. We include this vital testing for all of your fuel-burning appliances with every annual maintenance service. Most heating and cooling companies do not.

There are additional safety features built into some of today’s modern fuel-burning furnaces. These include such features as:

• Filter door safety switch — which prevents burner operation when the filter compartment door panel is not in place. Many older furnaces do not have this feature.

• Corrosion-resistant heat exchanger design — The use of such metals as stainless steel or aluminized steel and welding rather than crimping insures against heat exchanger failure (not only dangerous, but also the most expensive repair for a furnace).

• Sealed combustion and venting —

With conventional furnaces, exhaust gases are collected by a hood and vented up the chimney. Air needed for combustion is drawn directly from the living space. Lint and dust from the home or objects stored around the furnace may obstruct airflow and interfere with efficient combustion and exhaust.

With a high-efficiency furnace, exhaust gases are cooler and must be accelerated by a fan to vent up the chimney. (If you are converting from a conventional to the high-efficiency furnace, you may have to install a stainless steel liner to prevent chimney damage from condensate in the cooler gases).

The safest (and quietest and most efficient) method is available with the ultra high efficiency condensing furnaces (AFUE 90+). In these systems, air piped from the outside is brought directly into a sealed combustion chamber. The exhaust gases are so cooled with the use of the secondary condensing heat exchanger (to less than 100° F), they are vented directly to the outside through plastic pipe.

8. Some rooms too warm — some to cool? Finally an affordable zoning solution.

What if each time you turned on a light switch, every electrical device in your home turned on. . . or every faucet, shower, tub and toilet opened up whenever you went to wash your hands.

Sounds crazy, but that’s about what happens when you need to heat or cool an area of your home.

Zoned heating and cooling gives you control you never thought possible. However, until recently, zoning required extensive duct-work modifications and two forced-air systems.

With new advances in technology, affordable zoning is now possible with a single forced-air system using your existing ductwork. Several thermostats can now be linked to a series of pneumatic duct work



dampers through a sophisticated central controller.

Now you can get your temperatures just right EVERYWHERE in your home. • Set your family room and kitchen to 70 degrees, your sleeping rooms to 65 degrees. • Never again have the upstairs too hot in summer / too cold in winter. • Never again pay to heat or cool unoccupied rooms. • Never again have one kid demand more heat while her sibling cries out for cool. • Finally get just the right temperature in that hard-to-heat addition you paid a fortune to build.

The cost of this revolutionary zoning system is dependent on the size and layout of your home, as well as the comfort choices you and family members make. It is an added expense, but on average, these systems will shave about 30% from your annual energy costs.

9. How much should you spend on your new system?

The best system for your needs AND for your budget, is often NOT the one with the lowest price, but it may not be the highest priced either. What’s important is both the level of comfort you want for your family and how much money will stay in your pocket at the end of the day. With the rising cost of fuel, you must consider the projected lifetime costs of your new system. Up to 50% and sometimes even more savings from your current energy bills are possible when you replace older systems with today’s technologies. Our heating/cooling professionals can help you calculate estimated payback for every option.

If you plan on moving soon, you probably won’t want to invest in a high efficiency system. If you are renting, and your tenants will be paying utilities, again, you may not want to invest. But, if you plan to be staying in your home for any time, your investment today in a more efficient system will likely not only be repaid but will be followed by years of additional savings and comfort.

The place to start is with the posted yellow sticker mandated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). All heating/cooling systems now have these standardized efficiency ratings posted on every product:

• For heating, it’s AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) for furnaces and boilers, and HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) for heat pumps.

• For cooling, the efficiency of both air conditioners and heat pumps is measured by SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio).

With each of these measures, the higher the rating, the more efficient the operation. Let us know if we can assist you in determining the ratings of your existing systems. Even if you can’t find the original sticker, we can tell you the ratings for your unit’s model number.

New Minimum Standards mandated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) save the planet — and save you dollars. • 13 SEER for air conditioners and heat

pump cooling — effective in January 2006, a 30% increase from the previous standard.

• 7.7 HSRP for heat pump heating — a typical 1970’s installation had a rating of 6. Today’s higher efficiencies have ratings between 8 and 10.

• 78% AFUE — for gas furnaces — most furnaces between 10 to 15 years old have ratios in the range of 56% to 60%. High efficiency models have ratings as high as 98% — meaning all but 2% of heat produced stays in the home.



*AFUE if your heating system is a

gas furnace †HSPF if you will heat with a heat

pump. As noted previously, even greater savings may be available by replacing your air conditioner with a hybrid heat pump system.

A tight budget does not necessarily keep you from enjoying the benefits of the latest technologies. Our heating/cooling professionals will help you calculate the payback from energy savings over the life of your new system as well as help you understand your financing options. When you’re ready to talk, give us a call at (866) PERKOSKI 866-737-5675.

10. How long your new system will last depends on choices you make today.

Proper installation and annual service are the best ways to insure the long life and reliability of your equipment. But there are also features to consider when you purchase your new system.

The most expensive components to replace are:

• The compressor in an air conditioner or heat pump, and • The heat exchanger in a fuel-burning furnace.

The length of manufacturer’s warranties is largely dependent on the expected life of these two critical components. Air conditioner and heat pump warranties run anywhere from one year to ten years. Furnace heat exchangers may range anywhere from a 15-year to a limited lifetime warranty.

A key factor in any system’s life is general wear-and-tear. Here, two-stage technologies and variable speed fans really help.

Think of a standard single-stage system as a car driven by a heavy-footed teenager. He stomps on the gas, hits the desired speed and backs off. When the car begins to slow, he stomps on the pedal again.

On the other hand, the two-stage variable speed system is like the car driven by an

experienced driver. He maintains a steady speed using only the gas he needs except for those rare times he needs a boost of extra power, like when passing or climbing. His car will get better mileage. It will need fewer repairs. It will last far longer.

In our climate area, two-stage systems will run at slower speeds and lower levels 80% of the time. Not only will mechanical parts wear longer, but metal parts will be less subject to extreme heating and cooling and thus, less expansion and contraction.

Estimated Savings for Every $100 in Energy Spending By Replacing a Typical 10-12 Year-Old System

With a More Efficient System

COOLING SEER 13 16 19 21

8 $38 $49 $59 $61

HEATING

AFUE* 80% 85% 90% 95%

65% $31 $35 $39 $42

HSPF† 7.8 8.6 9.2 9.6

6.8 $21 $24 $27 $29

Standard one-stage technology — like having a heavy-footed teen at the wheel.

Two-stage variable speed technology—like hiring a professional driver.



Other factors to consider in overall air conditioning and heat pump life include:

• R410-A refrigerant can absorb and release heat more efficiently than R-22, so compressors run cooler, reducing risk of overheating and burnout.

• Because higher pressures are required with R-410 refrigerant, tubing and materials are engineered heavier making the unit more durable (and quieter).

The most critical component of furnace life is the heat exchanger (sometimes called the combustion chamber). These are either metal tubes or sheet metal pressed into a serpentine design. The heated gases generated by combustion pass through this structure. As house air circulates around its coils, it absorbs heat from the hot metal surface.

Ultra high-efficiency furnaces employ an additional (secondary) heat exchanger. This second unit condenses the water vapor produced in the combustion process, transferring additional heat to the home in the process. The resulting exhaust is so cool (less than 100°F), it can be vented through a plastic pipe, directly through the wall of the home. Heat exchangers constructed with non-corrosive metals and with welding rather than crimping have a much longer life expectancy.

11. How can you tell a contractor is recommending the right system for your home?

One of our customers called in five area companies to quote a new heating and cooling system for her home. Of the five salesman who visited, only one — ours — conducted a comfort survey and performed a thorough home and system evaluation.

Our industry has a name for them: “Box Swappers.” These guys take a quick look at the system they are asked to replace and recommend a replacement of similar size. This is a formula for a decade or more of inefficiency, poor performance and premature systems failure.

The right recommendation requires an evaluation that should take one and a half hours or more. It should include a thorough examination and measurement of your entire home. It should include an evaluation of your ductwork, your windows, doors and insulation, your appliances, your window treatments and more. It should include a detailed interview with you. The box swapper usually quotes low. By neglecting work that may be necessary for proper ductwork and system balance, he’s in and out fast which keeps his margins high.

A professional system designer will NEVER assume the current system was the right choice in the first place. After all, the U.S, Department of Energy reports “well over half of all HVAC contractors do not size heating and cooling systems correctly.” New home builders, for example, negotiate for one system for an entire development. But in reality, no two homes’ needs are the same. One may be protected from winds down in a valley while another may be exposed to them on the top of a hill.

And even if the system was once right, a lot may have changed in the ten to twenty years since it was installed. You may have added insulation, changed windows or doors, changed or added heat-generating appliances. Your family’s size or schedule may have changed. All these should be considered when designing a system.



At the time he makes his recommendations, the heating/cooling professional should show you the completed worksheet and calculations (according to the industry recommended “Manual J”) that led him to his recommendations. If he does not or can not, find someone who will.

Understand your choices today, and be comfortable with your decision for years to come.

The system you buy today will serve your family for more than a decade. Take the time now to study your choices. The convenient summary tables that follow will help you compare the available options so that you can make the right choices for your home and for your family.

Check out these additional FREE companion decision guides at LEAKSNHEAT.com:

• A Checklist for Choosing the Right Contractor: What to look for & what to look out for.

• Healthy Home Solutions: Your guide to indoor air quality and better family health. • 33 Energy-saving Tips: Energy-saving secrets we professionals use in our own homes.

Download yours today or call (866) PERKOSKI 866– 737-5675 with your request or questions.

Then, when you’re ready to talk, call for your FREE home comfort design consultation.



1818 Marsh Rd. Wilmington, DE 19810 (302) 529-1220

10141 Third Point Rd. Chestertown, MD 21620 (410) 810-7510

In PA Call: 610-444-2280 Toll-Free: 866-PERKOSKI / 866-737-5675

Licensed in DE: 1409 • PA: 46659 • MD: 67493

Best Better

AFUE Rating /Energy Efficiency The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the furnace. For example, with an 80 AFUE furnace, only 20% of generated heat escapes up the chimney, with 97 AFUE, only 3% escapes.

Up to 93% to 96.9%

80%

Up to 92% to 94.1%

80%

Up to 92%

80%

2nd heat exchanger transfers up to 15% more heat into home. ü ü ü

Burner Type A one-stage furnace has only one burner setting-either on full or off. A two-stage burner has two positions. When demand is low (about 90% of the time), it operates at a lower burn. When outside temperatures fall, it switches to a higher burn rate.

Two-Stage

Two-Stage

Two-Stage

Two-Stage

One-Stage

One-Stage

Blower Type Rather than the full on or off of a standard, the variable speed blower acts like a dimmer switch, gently modulating between low and high. 90% of the time, its energy-saving DC motor will operate at the lowest & quietest speed (80 watts vs. a standard blower's 600+ watts). Variable speed blowers also can be set for a constant ultra-low setting for greatest savings. Benefits of multi-speed fans are similar - particularly when matched with the heating level. However, its AC motor is noisier, burns more electricity and does not offer the constant ultra-low setting.

Variable Speed with

ultra-low constant

fan setting

Variable Speed

with ultra-low

constant fan

setting

Multi-Speed

Some multi-speed, some

standard

Multi-Speed

Some multi-speed, some

standard

Enhanced Comfort Variable or multi-speed fans when linked with two-stage burners deliver greater comfort during low speed operation (90% of the time). Temperature swings (up to 7ºF with standard systems) drop to as little as 1ºF. Warm air circulates rather than pools at ceilings, rooms heat more evenly (even between 1st and 2nd floors).

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Enhanced Air Cleaning Longer cycles filter more particles from air. Can be significantly enhanced with installation of optional air purification systems. ü ü ü

Energy Star® products have met strict guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy for low energy use and fewer harmful power plant emissions.

ü

ü

Some

Quiet Blower At lowest speed 90% of the time, quiet DC variable speed motor gently transitions to higher speed as demand grows. ü ü

Quiet (sealed) Combustion draws air from outside-not heated air from home, minimizes burner sounds, and vents directly to outside through plastic pipe. ü ü

On-Board Diagnostics Electronic checkpoints help technicians spot problems. ü ü ü

Some

Some

Longer Life Two-speed systems operate up to 90% of time at lowest setting and with fewer on/off cycles and less wear-and-tear on system. ü ü ü ü

Durability Heavy Gauge Steel Cabinet with powder-coated baked-on paint. ü ü ü ü ü ü Hot surface ignition eliminates pilot fuel waste and failure. ü ü ü ü ü ü

Parts Warranty Limited 5 year

Limited 5 year

Limited 5 year

Limited 5 year

Limited 5 year

Limited 5 year

Heat Exchanger Warranty Limited Lifetime

Limited 20 year

Limited Lifetime

Limited 20 year

Limited Lifetime

Limited 20 year

Eligibility for $1,500 Tax Credit

*Qualification varies with particular unit installed — we’ll help you determine the specific rebate for which the equipment you consider may qualify.

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ü*

ü*

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Good

Stan Perkoski’s installs a range of models from leading manufacturers. Our purpose here is to help you understand that range. Which brand or model we recommend will depend on the conditions we find in your home, your existing system, and your goals.

Gas Furnace Options



Best Better Good

SEER Rating / Energy Efficiency The higher the SEER rating, the lower your energy costs. A 15 to 20 SEER is 40-50% more efficient than a 10 Seer and up to 70% more efficient than a 6 SEER unit.

16-21

14-16.25

13

Two-Stage System Two-stage systems operate at low speed about 80% of the time. Bryant and Lennox and one Trane model accomplish this with a two-speed scroll compressor, other Trane models with two separate reciprocating compressors.

ü

Enhanced Comfort A two-speed system delivers two levels of cooling depending on demand. Cycles are longer, cooling more even. ü

Enhanced Humidity Control Especially when two-stage is combined with variable speed furnace blower, humidity removal is more than double that of a single-stage system.

ü

Enhanced Air Cleaning Longer cycles filter more particles from air. Can be significantly enhanced with installation of optional air purification systems. ü

Quiet Operation A typical 1990’s unit operates at 80 decibels (dB), the sound of a vacuum cleaner. It would take 13 units operating at 69 dB to equal the sound of an 80db air conditioner. 70 dB is the sound of a typical dishwasher.

67-74 dB

67-74 dB

74-76 dB

Refrigerant: R-22 Due to be phased out in 2010. R-410A meets EPA standards as a non-ozone depleting substance. More efficient absorbing and releasing heat. Compressors are therefore less subject to overheating.

Because of coming phase-out, make sure you’re getting

R-410


R-410


R-410

Energy Star® products have met strict guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) for low energy use and fewer harmful power plant emissions.

ü

ü

Some

On-Board Diagnostics Electronic checkpoints help technicians spot problems. ü ü

Longer Life Two-speed systems operate with up to 60% fewer on/off cycles than single-speed systems reducing stress on the compressor and other system components.

ü

Durability Heavy gauge steel cabinet with powder-coated baked-on paint. ü ü

Parts Warranty Limited: 10 yrs

Trane Limited: 10 yrs

Trane

Limited: 5 yrs

Compressor Warranty Limited: Lifetime

Trane Limited: 10 yrs Limited: 5yrs

Eligibility for $1,500 Tax Credit ü


Air Conditioning Options



Best Better Good

SEER Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (Air Conditioning); HSPF Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (Heating). The higher the rating, the more efficient the system.

16-18 SEER 8-9.85 HSPF

14-17.5 SEER 7.7-8.9 HSPF

13-14 SEER 7.7-8.5 HSPF

Two-Stage System Two-stage systems operate at low speed about 80% of the time. Bryant and Lennox and one Trane model accomplish this with a two-speed scroll compressor, other Trane models with two separate reciprocating compressors.

ü

Enhanced Comfort A two-speed system delivers two levels of cooling depending on demand. Cycles are longer, cooling more even. ü

Enhanced Humidity Control Especially when two-stage is combined with variable speed furnace blower, humidity removal is more than double that of a single-stage system.

ü

Enhanced Air Cleaning Longer cycles filter more particles from air. Can be significantly enhanced with installation of optional air purification systems. ü

Quiet Operation A typical 1990’s unit operates at 80 decibels (dB), the sound of a vacuum cleaner. It would take 13 units operating at 69 dB to equal the sound of an 80db air conditioner. 70 dB is the sound of a typical dishwasher.

67-74 dB

67-74 dB

74-76 dB

Refrigerant: R-22 Due to be phased out in 2010. R-410A meets EPA standards as a non-ozone depleting substance. More efficient absorbing and releasing heat. Compressors are therefore less subject to overheating.


R-410


R-410


R-410

Energy Star® products have met strict guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) for low energy use and fewer harmful power plant emissions.

ü

ü

Some

On-Board Diagnostics Electronic checkpoints help technicians spot problems. ü ü

Longer Life Two-speed systems operate with up to 60% fewer on/off cycles than single-speed systems reducing stress on the compressor and other system components.

ü

Durability Heavy gauge steel cabinet with powder-coated baked-on paint. ü ü

Parts Warranty Limited: 10 yrs



Compressor Warranty Limited: Lifetime

Trane Limited: 10 yrs Limited: 5yrs

Eligibility for $1,500 Tax Credit ü


Heat Pump Options



Documents

Consumer’s Guide to Home Comfort · 2013-05-10 · • Uneven temperatures — now too hot / then too cool. • Heat pumps that delivered cool uncomfortable air. • Rooms that