- What is two-stage cooling?
Two-stage cooling utilizes a multi-, or two-speed compressor. A high-stage demand from the thermostat will cause the compressor and circulating fan to operate at 100% cooling capacity and the indoor fan to operate at the high-speed setting designated at the furnace or air handler. A low-stage demand from the thermostat will result in up to 35% speed reduction at both the compressor and indoor unit circulating fan. Two-stage cooling generally results in extend operation at low speed, providing more comfort and using less electricity than single-stage systems.
- What is modulating heating?
A high-efficiency gas furnace with modulating gas valve and variable-speed blower provides outstanding efficient and economical heating performance. Unlike single-stage gas furnaces that operate 'all ON' or 'all OFF,' a modulating, variable-speed gas furnace minimizes energy use by running at the lowest possible fan speed, and producing just the right amount of heat to keep a steady, comfortable temperature in your home.
- Should I zone my house?
In many applications it's too much to expect one thermostat to provide perfect conditions to every room in your home. What is comfortable for the sleeping area may be uncomfortable for the living area and vice versa. Zoning divides your home into areas with common heating and cooling requirements by the use of additional thermostats and zone dampers installed in the duct system. Zoning allows you the ability to leave unoccupied areas without heating or cooling, in some cases saving money on energy costs. A properly designed zoning system allows you to simply set the temperature in each zone to your desired comfort level and the equipment and zone dampers will do the rest.
- Where can I locate my air handler or furnace system?
You may have options based on your home’s design. The system can actually be located in several different places. A system with up-flow application might be located in the basement, while a system with a horizontal application may be found in your attic. A self-contained, or single package unit, could be located outside on a slab or on the roof. Your garage could house an up-flow, down-flow or horizontal application system.
- What is AFUE?
AFUE is the abbreviation for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio. AFUE is used to rate furnace efficiencies by dividing the ratio of heat output by heat input. This measurement describes how well fuel, gas or oil is consumed to produce heat by a furnace. As the AFUE rate increases, the efficiency of your furnace also increases, lowering your fuel costs. Furnaces manufactured in the United States are required to have at least an 80% AFUE.
- What is HSPF?
HSPF is the abbreviation for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, which is a rating of the efficiency level of the heating operation of a heat pump. The higher the HSPF, the more efficient the heating performance of a heat pump. New units in the United States have HSPF ratings from 7.0 to 9.4.
- What is R-22?
R-22 is the common name for hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). R-22 has been used as a refrigerant by HVAC manufacturers for over 40 years, but studies in the past decade have shown that HCFCs contain chlorine.
- What is R-410A?
R-410A is the common name for an emerging hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) that is being used as a refrigerant in the HVAC industry. R-410A does not contain chlorine and is being seen as the most likely replacement for R-22 by HVAC manufacturers.
- What do all those air conditioner and heat pump ratings mean?
The AHRI directory contains rated values for air conditioners and heat pumps. These explain how a “split system”, which is an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, perform as a paired set. This is a more precise measure for the equipment that you are considering for your home. Please click here to see definitions of EER, SEER and HSPF, the most common measures of a units efficiency. Note that the AHRI data include information for all models still being sold, including those currently in production (“active”) and those which are no longer currently in production but are still available (“discontinued”).
- What is a “properly matched” system?
Because of a variety of factors, for split systems, not every pairing of outdoor unit and indoor unit will work adequately. Our engineering team spends extensive time ensuring that the combinations we certify performance will work correctly in your home.
For more information see, “What is an AHRI-matched system?”
- What Is AHRI?
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is the trade association representing manufacturers of heating, cooling, water heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment. AHRI is an internationally recognized advocate for the industry, and develops standards for and certifies the performance of many products, including the ones sold by Goodman. For more information AHRI, visit www.ahrinet.org.
- What Is an AHRI-matched system?
In the case of a “split system” air conditioner or heat pump, an AHRI-matched system represents a combination of a given outdoor unit, indoor unit, and/or furnace listed on the AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance. AHRI’s voluntary certification programs conduct third-party laboratory testing to confirm manufacturers’ claimed performance ratings. The ratings associated with such combination are certified in the form of an AHRI Certificate of Product Ratings. For more information, visit www.ahridirectory.org.
- What is the difference between an ARI and AHRI?
ARI stands for “Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.” The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) was formed in 2008 after a merger of ARI and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA). All former ARI Performance Certified marks have been replaced by AHRI Certified marks. All standards developed by AHRI are now known as AHRI standards.
- What is the difference between R-22 and R-410A refrigerants?
R-22 is a pure HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) refrigerant which has properties that make it a good heat transfer medium. The EPA barred this refrigerant from being used in new systems effective January 1, 2010. Production in the United States shifted to R-410A refrigerant, which is a binary blend HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) that also has good heat transfer properties.
- What is the minimum energy efficiency standard for air conditioners in my state?
Effective 1/1/2015, the U.S. Department of Energy changed from a national standard for air conditioning, to regional standards. As a result, the required SEER of an air conditioning system differs by Region. Specifically:
- The minimum SEER for Northern states is 13 SEER for split system air conditioners and 14 SEER for single package air conditioners.
- Northern states consist of AK, CO, CT, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT,NE, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT,WA, WV, WI and WY, as well as the U.S. Territories.
- The minimum SEER for Southeastern states is 14 SEER for both split system air conditioners and single package air conditioners.
- Southeastern states consist of AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, HI, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA and the District of Columbia
- The minimum SEER for Southwestern states is 14 SEER for all air conditioners with a minimum EER of 12.2 for split system air conditioners with capacity less than 45,000 BTU/hr, a minimum EER of 11.7 for split system air conditioners with capacity greater than or equal to 45,000 Btu/hr, or a minimum EER of 11.0 for single package air conditioners.
- Southwestern states are AZ, CA, NM and NV.
Heat pumps are a national standard, with a minimum 14 SEER and 8.2 HSPF for split system heat pumps and 14 SEER and 8.0 HSPF for single package heat pumps. Full information on Regional Standards can be found here. Definitions of SEER and EER can be found here.
- What should I know about changes in refrigerants?
Different refrigerants have different properties, are matched with different oils and require different components in the system. It is very important to have proper oils and components in the system for peak performance and good reliability.
- Why should I choose an ENERGY STAR® product for my home?
ENERGY STAR® certified products have higher efficiency ratings than standard models, will cost less money to operate and are generally better for the environment. ENERGY STAR products are third-party certified by an EPA-recognized Certification Body. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For more information, visit www.energystar.gov/.