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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Why is it important to have regular maintenance on my HVAC system?Properly maintained HVAC systems can provide increased durability and prevent sudden problems like losing air in the middle of a hot night or your furnace dying on a cold day. Regular maintenance will ensure that your HAVE system continues to operate at peak performance.2. How can I save money in the summer?To help reduce air conditioning costs in the hot Florida months, 1) Raise the thermostat by 2 degrees, 2) Consider a programmable thermostat so you have the option of changing the temperature setting automatically when no one is home, 3) Install an energy star programmable digital thermostat, 4) Keep your air conditioner in the shade: an air conditioner exposed to direct sunlight will use five percent more energy than a shaded one, 5) Turn up your temperature when you go out and shut down your system when you are away for extended periods, 6) Leave your furnace fan on continuously to circulate cooler air from the basement up to other floors. 3. How can I save money in the winter?There are a few things you can do to help save on energy costs in the winter. 1) Set your thermostat back 3 degrees at night time, 2) Install an energy star programmable digital thermostat and/or 3) Consider installing an energy efficient furnace.4. How can Zoning help reduce energy costs?Zoning can drastically lower your heating costs. With zoning, you no longer have to pay to heat or cool areas of your home that are rarely used. You won't have to heat or cool the whole house just to make one room comfortable. Zoning divides your home into separate comfort areas, which are heated or cooled based on your needs.5. How do air filters compare?When it comes to air filters, they differ in their capacity to effectively remove airborne particles, allow airflow, general type and cost. MERV ratings ((Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) should be a top consideration. The higher a MERV rating, the higher the filter efficiency. Regarding air flow, filters with higher efficiency allow more airflow and thus, are easier on your energy costs. Regarding type, there are disposable and reusable filters, electrostatic, HEPA (High-efficiency Particulate Air) and EAC (electronic air cleaner), as well as activated carbon and microbiocide-treated filters. For more details and to get help choosing a filter, contact Castellano A/C Services.6. What do EER, SEER, HSPF, AFUE & BTU ratings mean?EEREnergy Efficiency Ratio of a cooling system, measures how efficiently the system will operate when the outdoor temperature is at a specific level (usually 95°F). A higher EER means a higher efficiency.SEERSEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is a system for rating the efficiency of cooling equipment. The higher the SEER rating, the less your unit will cost to operate.HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) is a measurement similar to SEER, but it measures the efficiency of the heating portion of a heat pump.AFUEAnnual Fuel Utilization Efficiency: a higher AFUE rating means a higher efficiency unit. It measures the amount of heat actually delivered to your house compared to the amount of fuel that you must supply to the furnace. Thus, a furnace that has an 80% AFUE rating converts 80% of the fuel that you supply to heat -- the other 20% is lost out the chimney. BTUA British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree F. This is the standard measurement used to state the amount of energy that a fuel has as well as the amount of output of any heat generating device.7. How does an air conditioner work?An air conditioner seems as if it cools your home's air, but in reality an air conditioner makes your home less warm by removing heat from the indoor air and transferring that heat to the outdoor air.Heat is extracted from the home by passing indoor air across a refrigerant coil in the indoor unit. Refrigerant lines then carry the heat to the outdoor unit, where it is released into the outside air. The cooling cycle continues until the indoor temperature reaches the thermostat setting.8. When is the best time to replace a furnace?Although there are several factors involved in determining the best time to replace a furnace, the general rule-of-thumb is every 10 years. However, many well-maintained furnaces may last much longer while less quality models may only last a few years. The only way to really know the status of your furnace is to have an HVAC inspection and energy analysis performed on your heating and cooling system. Castellano A/C Services offers this service as part of any appointment. It is a good idea to keep in mind that a new furnace can often bring utility savings due to increased energy efficiencies.9. Will my new furnace work differently than my old one?A new furnace may not operate exactly the same as an older one. When you install a new indoor heating system in your home, you'll probably notice it operates differently than your old system. Due to continual improvements in technology, you may experience higher efficiency, reduced energy costs and possibly new sounds.
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