What Should I Consider When Purchasing Replacement Equipment?

Just like purchasing a new car, there are many things to consider when purchasing replacement heating and cooling equipment. Some of the key points to consider are:

Efficiency-Maximizing the systems efficiency will result in lower utility bills

• SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)-Similar to gas mileage on a car, the SEER indicates a system's cooling efficiency. Therefore, the higher the SEER rating, the better the energy performance. If the system takes less energy, this results in lower utility costs for you! The Department of Energy's established minimum SEER rating is 13.00.
• AFUE (Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency)-Similar to the air conditioner's SEER Rating, the AFUE rating measures your furnace's heating efficiency. The higher the AFUE percentage, the more efficient the furnace and the lower your utility cost will be. The minimum percentage established by the Department of Energy for furnaces is 78%.
• HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor)-Heat pumps are rated in two ways: by the SEER rating for cooling efficiency and by the HSPF for the heating efficiency. The higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump. The minimum is regulated at 7.7 HSPF.
• Dual Fuel systems offer the perfect combination of efficiency and comfort with two energy sources-an electric heat pump and a gas furnace. Installing a heat pump in lieu of an air conditioner is a great way to improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. When the temperatures are too cold outside for a heat pump to operate efficiently, the gas furnace comes on to provide you with warm, reliable heat.

Comfort-To maximize your comfort, there are many options to consider.

• Two-Stage-Two-stage equipment provides you with a “2 for 1” deal. A two-stage furnace will run at maximum capacity to keep you warm during extremely cold outdoor temperatures. It will also run at a lower capacity during milder temperatures in order to give you greater temperature control and more even heat throughout the home. A two-stage air conditioner is similar in that it operates at two different capacities, using only the energy necessary to keep you comfortable.
• Variable Speed-A furnace with a variable speed motor has many features that are advantageous for your home. The gradual acceleration and deceleration provides you with quiet operation, increased temperature and humidity control, and improved filtration. It will increase the overall efficiency of the system even during the air conditioning season. In addition to these features, a variable speed furnace has two-stage capability built right in.
• Zoning-A zoning system helps to eliminate the “thermostat wars” going on in your home. By dividing your home into separate areas or “zones” you will have more control over varying temperature requirements in those zones. You can expect improved comfort throughout your home as well as increased efficiency and control. Combining a zoned system with variable speed, two-stage equipment will maximize your comfort as well as minimize your utility bills.

Health-Proper humidity control and filtration can help improve your health.

• Humidification-A humidifier works together with your heating and cooling system to increase humidity levels inside the home during those dry winter months. Dry indoor air can cause respiratory problems and skin irritations. A humidifier will help to control these problems as well as help to protect your wood floors, trim and furniture from cracking.
• Filtration-The air inside your home is up to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air. Airborne pollutants such as dust, pet dander and pollen can aggravate allergies and other respiratory tract issues. Hoff Heating & A/C has a variety of solutions to remove these airborne pollutants before they can adversely affect your health. Another added benefit to filtration is the prolonged life of the equipment due to the protection a high-efficiency filter provides.
• Ventilation-Adding mechanical ventilation to your system enhances the indoor air quality in your home. As homes become more and more efficient, the need for mechanical ventilation increases. Polluted air is trapped in the house and the fresh, clean outside air remains outside. A ventilation system brings in the proper amount of fresh air from the outside, filters it and then introduces it into the home. Your indoor air quality is maximized when a ventilation system is installed in combination with a high-efficiency filtration system

Size

• Properly sized equipment will result in increased comfort, reduced utility bills, and prolonged equipment life.

Warranty

• Equipment that is installed by Hoff Heating & A/C is backed by our solid warranties and our commitment to quality. In addition to our warranty and the manufacturer's standard warranty, extended warranties are available for that additional peace of mind.

Refrigerant

• For residential units, there are two types of commonly used refrigerant for cooling: R-22 and R-410A. R-410A refrigerant meets the EPA's newest, most stringent environmental guidelines and will be the only option after the R-22 refrigerant is phased out starting in 2010.