HVAC is an acronym for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning; a home's heating and cooling system.

BTU (British Thermal Unit) is a measurement of the energy in heat. It takes one BTU of heat to warm one pound of water by 1° Fahrenheit. Btu can be used either to define an air conditioner’s cooling capacity (i.e., the number of BTU of heat that can be removed by the system) or a furnace’s heating capacity (i.e., the number of BTU of heat that can be supplied by the system).

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) is a set of universal standards developed by the U.S. government in conjunction with heating and cooling equipment manufacturers. A SEER rating is an energy consumption rating that can be applied to all units and compensates for the wide variety of climates that we have in this country. Basically, the lower the SEER rating, the more energy (electricity) is required to produce the desired effect. The higher the SEER factor, the more energy-efficient the equipment is.

An AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating measures the efficiency with which gas and other fossil-fuel-burning appliance use their primary fuel source over an entire heating season. It does not take into account the efficiency with which any component of the system, such as a furnace fan motor, uses electricity. AFUE is expressed as a percentage that indicates the average number of BTU worth of heating comfort provided by each BTU worth of fuel consumed by the system. For instance, a gas furnace with an AFUE of 80% would provide 0.8 BTU of heat for every BTU of natural gas it burned.

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 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.

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, even changing the wiper blades and filters. 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 from D&R Heating and Cooling perform routine checks in the spring and in the fall.

Yes you can! D&R Heating and Cooling specialists encourage you to perform these simple procedures before calling us:

• Check disconnects and switches (indoors and outdoors 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 home heating system or central air conditioning 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. A D&R Heating and Cooling specialist will make sure your heating and air conditioning system operates safely and gives you the best performance at the lowest cost.

Take any of the products that you look at and rank them in four simple categories: Quality, comfort, energy efficiency and sound levels.

You’ll be happy to know that many of today’s new air conditioners and furnaces cost less to operate than your current unit. And based on government standards, a new heating and air conditioning system adds $14,850 in increased home value. When we make any sort of investment, we always look for something that will “pay for itself” in the long run, and your home comfort system is no different. Installing a new furnace, air conditioner or heat pump in your home will certainly cost you in terms of purchase price. But it will also provide long-term benefits in terms of improved air quality, and savings on your utility bills.

This depends on what you’re looking for. Much like buying a house or a car, there are makes and models and components out there that will suit all needs and budgets. Before you start shopping around, sit down and ask yourself a few key questions:

• Are you looking for a basic system that focuses mainly on temperature control, or are you looking to include some new accessories such as programmable thermostats and humidifiers that will let you have more control over your home’s environment?
• Is repairing an option instead of replacing the system?
• You also have to think about things like your climate, the size and age of your home, what type of system you currently have, and the type of utilities available for heating and cooling in your area (gas, electric or oil?).

Once you’ve come up with a shopping list, give us a call. D&R Heating and Cooling can provide you with sound advice and a free estimate.