Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does an air conditioner work?

A: 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.

Q: What do all those air conditioner and heat pump ratings mean?

A: Efficiency Ratings:

SEER (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.

Q: What is a heat pump?

A: Heat pumps are often misunderstood or not understood at all. Because of this, you may not realize that there may be a better heating and cooling option than a furnace or air conditioner.

A heat pump is an efficient method of cooling your home in the summer and warming it in the winter. Although heat pumps are new to many people, they have been around for over three decades.

Although its name is a little misleading, a heat pump is an efficient method of heating a home during the cold winter months and also cooling it during the blistering summer months.

A heat pump looks like an air conditioner, but that’s only the outside appearance. It actually has two functions based on the same principles for both. In warm weather situations, the heat pump works as a normal air conditioner. It extracts heat from inside the home and transfers it to the outdoor air. In colder weather, however, the process reverses, collecting heat from the outdoor air and transferring it inside your home.

Even when the air outside feels extremely cold, the air still contains some heat. The heat pump pulls the heat from this cold outdoor air and sends it inside to warm your home. When there is not enough heat in the outside air to meet the demand of the thermostat setting, an electric heater supplements the outdoor air to warm the home.

While many people find the winter operation of a heat pump the most difficult to understand, it is during the heating cycle that the heat pump produces the most savings. Unlike a furnace that turns fossil fuel or electricity into heat, the heat pump collects heat that already exists in the outdoor air by means of its refrigeration cycle. Consequently, a heat pump will produce two to three times more heat than the energy it uses.

In addition, a heat pump can be an effective add-on option to use in conjunction with an existing gas furnace. With a dual-fuel system, the two systems share the heating load but never function at the same time. Each system operates when it is most cost effective. The heat pump will be the primary heating and cooling system. However, when the temperature drops below the heat pump’s ability to operate as efficiently as the gas furnace, the gas furnace will take over until the temperature rises enough for the heat pump to operate more efficiently.

Let your local service experts, sales, and service center show you additional benefits of owning a heat pump and find out if a dual-fuel system is right for your home.

Q: Will my new furnace work differently than my old one?

A: A new furnace may not operate exactly the same as an older one. When you install a new indoor comfort system in your home, you’ll probably notice it operates differently than your old system. Radical changes have taken place in the technology of the comfort industry in recent years. These changes will affect how your system operates and may also affect what you notice about your system.

Higher efficiencies in furnaces and air conditioners have become increasingly important over the past few years. Consumers, government agencies and manufacturers all see higher efficiency as a way to conserve our natural resources while reducing consumer energy costs. Today, furnaces are designed with high efficiency in mind.

To achieve higher efficiencies, new gas furnaces must move more air over the heat exchanger than older furnaces so that as much heat as possible can be sent throughout the house.

The air that comes out of your furnace registers may not seem as warm as the air was from your old furnace, but it will heat your house just as well. In fact, better airflow can improve overall comfort by reducing air temperature differences from the ceiling to the floor throughout your entire home.

Modern furnaces are designed to handle high-efficiency air conditioners and must have blowers that are efficient yet powerful enough to accommodate the add-on cooling. Since cold air is much heavier than warm air, your system needs an extra boost from the blower to get cool air throughout your home to provide you with efficient total comfort during the summer.

Higher airflow required for cooling operation could contribute to unfamiliar sound levels when your new furnace is operating because older homes’ air duct systems were designed for heating only. Collins Comfort Masters offers products with multiple speed settings to allow for the varying air needs of both heating and cooling cycles.

Q: What is two-stage heating?

A: Thanks to the innovation of two-stage heating, it is possible for your home to be cozier than ever while saving you money on your energy bill in the process. Two-stage heating can be a tremendous help when looking for that just-right temperature during the cold winter months.

Traditional furnaces are designed to heat your home and keep you warm during the coldest weather in your climate. Therefore, when they are operating, they are heating at their full capacity. Unlike those furnaces, two-stage furnaces are designed to operate like two separate furnaces, maintaining more consistent comfort levels throughout the home.

The first stage consists of the furnace running at about 68% of its heating capacity. A two-stage furnace will always start in the first stage and attempt to meet the heating demand. This reduced capacity is enough to warm a home on mild winter days. When temperatures drop, the furnace adjusts itself and enters the second stage to meet the demand for heat within the home. With two-stage heating, a homeowner has no need to keep adjusting the thermostat.

Two-stage heating has many advantages:

Consistent comfort: Thanks to two-stage technology, the temperature inside your home should vary only a couple of degrees versus the larger temperature swings that are common with traditional furnaces.

Quiet comfort: Because a two-stage furnace starts in its first stage, when the amount of heat required is lower, and runs in this stage about 80 percent of the time, it greatly reduces the noise associated with furnaces that turn on and run full blast. Two-stage technology means quiet comfort.

Improved air filtration: A two-stage furnace provides more consistent airflow and with more consistent airflow comes improved air filtration, which means you ’ ll breathe easier with two-stage heating.

Efficient operation: Because the furnace spends the majority of its time operating in its lower-capacity first stage, it burns less fuel than a traditional furnace that always runs at full capacity and then shuts off when the heating demand has been met.

Although you can’t see the air and temperature within your home, you can certainly feel them. A two-stage furnace can provide preferred comfort within your home despite the changes in weather outside your home.

Collins Comfort Masters can show you additional benefits of owning a two-stage system.

Q: What is a variable-speed unit?

A: The term “variable speed” refers to the furnace’s indoor air blower motor. The blower motor is the component that determines the amount of air the blower is required to deliver to your home.

When your furnace is installed, the speed and airflow for your home are set depending upon your specific situation, such as the size of your home, etc. However, there are situations that can occur within the household to restrict this airflow, such as ductwork design, unit location, zoning and dirty filters, to name just a few. Think of variable-speed technology as your insurance for home comfort the way you prefer it. Variable-speed technology ensures that your home receives the amount of air required to keep you and your family comfortable. Variable-speed motors have intelligent technology that monitor incoming data from the blower and adjust accordingly so you can feel confident that your system is working to keep you comfortable. Having the technology of variable speed in your furnace offers many benefits:

Q: What are furnace ratings?

A: Furnaces are rated by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratio, which is the percent of heat produced for every dollar of fuel consumed.

Like the miles per gallon rating on your automobile, the higher the AFUE rating, the lower your fuel costs. All furnaces manufactured must meet at least 78 percent AFUE. If your furnace is 10 to 15 years old, it very well may fall below the current furnace minimum and waste energy.

This doesn’t mean that you should only look for a furnace with the highest AFUE rating. The efficiency rating is just one factor to consider when looking at a new furnace.

Furnaces use electricity to run fans and motors. The amount of electricity used varies greatly depending on the type of furnace. Be sure to check electricity usage prior to making a purchase decision.

There are several important factors to consider when making a purchase decision. Payback is a big factor. For instance, if you live in a colder climate, you could see payback in a few short years. But in a more moderate climate, it could take longer. In this case you may consider purchasing a mid-efficiency furnace. Remember, after the payback, you will continue to save money on your energy bills.

Other considerations are how long you plan to live in your house, special comfort needs, fuel availability and fuel cost.

All these factors, plus your lifestyle and family needs, add up to show you which furnace is best for you.

Collins Comfort Masters can assist you with finding the best furnace for your home.

Q: What should I know about changes in refrigerants?

A: To protect our environment, numerous changes have taken place with refrigerants used in air conditioning and heat pump systems. These changes are having and will continue to have a significant impact on the air conditioning industry.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the Clean Air Act, is regulating the production and use of refrigerants. These changes will eventually eliminate air conditioning and heat pump refrigerants containing chlorine because of the concern about depletion of the ozone layer.

In response, Service Experts is offering consumers a choice in environmentally friendlier refrigerants. The chlorine-free refrigerant R410A will reduce damage to the ozone. R410A is used by all manufacturers but is often marketed under different names.

Providing products that protect the environment and providing consumers with a total home comfort solution have been and will continue to be priorities of Collins Comfort Masters. Our products that use the environmentally friendlier R410A refrigerant are win-win solutions for consumers wanting high-efficiency products that are less taxing on our environment.

Although the government has begun phasing out a commonly used refrigerant, consumers who have cooling systems that use this product should not worry. The HCFC family of refrigerants, which include R22, will still be available for many years. Sufficient quantities of R22 refrigerant will continue to be produced until the year 2020. After 2020, recycled refrigerants will be available for many years.

Q: Is sound an issue?

A: The louder the better doesn’t necessarily hold true for heating and cooling equipment. Heating and cooling equipment should offer maximum comfort with minimum noise. Fortunately, today’s technology has enabled manufacturers to produce air conditioners and heat pumps that are not only highly efficient, but also exceptionally quiet. Although no financial savings are tied to lower sound levels, the sound rating of a cooling system can have a considerable effect on comfort. The sound level of an air conditioner or heat pump depends on a variety of factors. The age of the unit and whether the compressor is insulated or not can contribute to the amount of noise it makes.

Although most heating and cooling systems manufactured today are quieter than ever before, it ’ s a good idea to compare sound ratings when shopping for a new air conditioner or heat pump. Great differences in the sound levels of products on the market today can make all the difference in just how comfortable you can be at home.

Q: Why is it important to have regular maintenance on my home comfort system?

A: You wouldn’t buy a brand-new car and expect to never have to put air in the tires, change the oil and check out any unusual noises, would you? Well, in the same way it is important to have regular inspections of your home comfort system by a the experts at Collins Comfort Masters.

If not maintained properly, even the best equipment could cause problems.

Q: Why should I zone my house?

A: Zoning divides your home into separate comfort areas and makes your comfort equipment cool or heat only areas that need conditioning. For example, a living room with large windows may stay too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. A zoning system will send more conditioned air to the living room to make up for the heat gained or lost through the windows.

Why zone?

Today’s families have different lifestyles and comfort needs. Maybe you have a home office that needs extra conditioning during the day and none at night. Or you only use the upstairs or back bedrooms when guests visit. Whatever your needs, zoning can keep each area of your house at the perfect temperature for you and each family member.

When should I install zoning? If you are replacing your air conditioner, furnace or heat pump, it is an excellent time to install a zoning system. When you new comfort equipment is matched with a zoning system, you will have precise control in each zone. Houses that had been nearly impossible to keep comfortable are a thing of the past. Zoning is also excellent for new homes since it is installed during construction. If you are buying a new home, check with your builder about a zoning system. It could make the difference between just enjoying your new house and being truly comfortable in it.

Q: When replacing the outdoor unit, should the indoor unit also be replaced?

A: The answer is almost always yes, and here are the reasons why:

Matched System Design: All air conditioner and heat pump outdoor units are specifically designed to work with matched indoor units for optimum efficiency and performance. The result of this matched system is a coordinated, top-performance team that ensures dependability and efficiency. Air conditioner and heat pump outdoor units may “work” with indoor units other than those for which they have been specifically designed; however, the result is a definite compromise in system performance.

Design Advances: Through the years, indoor blower coil units have undergone numerous design advances especially in the areas of air handling performance, filtering efficiency and operating sound levels. A new outdoor unit will also include the latest design advances.

Higher Cooling and Heating Efficiency: The cooling and/or heating efficiency ratings that are advertised for an air conditioner or heat pump are based on their performance as matched systems. While changing only the outdoor unit may result in improved efficiency compared to the old system, it will not be as efficient as it was designed to be and your savings will be lower than with a matched system.

Equipment Age: If an air conditioner or heat pump outdoor unit is 10 years old and needs to be replaced, the indoor unit is just as old and has been subjected to the same amount of wear and tear. Replacing both units means you won’t have to replace the indoor unit in a short time you’ll have years of service from both units.

New Warranty: A new unit also gives you a new product warranty. Replacing the indoor unit at the same time as the outdoor unit results in peace of mind, knowing the new warranty covers the entire system.

A Bargain: At first glance, replacing only an air conditioner or heat pump outdoor unit may appear to be a bargain. But when you consider the lower cooling and heating efficiencies, decreased reliability and high cost of ownership that results, it’s not such a bargain. Replacing an entire system costs more, but you get more efficiency, reliability and comfort.

Q: Why is my system freezing up?

A: There are several things that can cause your HVAC system to freeze up. Most need to be corrected by your Collins Comfort Masters technician.

Dirty or clogged filter: Making sure the filter is clean or replaced and making sure the airflow is not restricted are about the only things you can check or handle yourself.

Low refrigerant: In some cases, freezing up is caused by a leak in the refrigerant lines. Weak solder joints; friction from piping rubbing or vibrating against an object, leaking valves or loose fittings can cause leaks. The age of the system and the nature and location of the leak are the determining factors on whether to have the system repaired or replaced.

Dirty evaporator coil: Over time, the evaporator coil will become dirty. When this happens, the results are similar to those of having a dirty filter. Gradually you will lose airflow, slowly enough that you probably would not realize it until it freezes up or is not cooling adequately. You will need to Collins Comfort Masters to correct the problem.

Defective blower motor or relay: A blower motor not running at the proper speed or not running at all can cause freezing. It can also be intermittent, starting at full speed and slowing down after it heats up. Or a relay could cause it to start one time and not the next. In either case, you will need to contact Collins Comfort Masters to correct the problem.

Should you find that your system was freezing due to a dirty filter, after replacing or cleaning the filter, you can speed up the thawing process by turning the system off and turning on the fan. If you have a heat pump system, you can try turning the system to heating mode until the ice has melted. After the ice has melted, switch the system settings back to normal. If the system refreezes, contact Collins Comfort Masters to correct the problem.

Q: How can I control energy costs?

A: With energy costs soaring, there are a variety of steps you can take to cut the expenses of cooling your home.

Cooling and heating equipment use more energy than any other appliance. This inevitably shows up every month on the energy bill, but it’s important to remember that energy costs can be controlled.

Maintenance: One step to control energy costs is to schedule annual maintenance checks to make sure your unit is running properly and efficiently. Most home comfort systems require very little owner maintenance. However, operating dirty heating or cooling equipment can result in unnecessary loss of efficiency and can damage the unit. You play a vital role in making sure your system continues to operate at peak performance.

High Efficiency: If you are in the market for a new home comfort system, consider purchasing a high-efficiency system. They can help reduce your energy costs as well as conserve our natural resources. When selecting a new home comfort system, pay close attention to the SEER rating of the air conditioner and the AFUE of the furnace. The higher the SEER or AFUE, the higher the savings.

Zoning: 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.

Programmable Thermostats: Programmable thermostats can make a big difference in energy consumption. These thermostats deliver maximum comfort, efficiency and energy savings. Programmable thermostats are used to achieve the temperature you want throughout your home. For example, if you’re going to be away, you can set the whole house at an energy-saving temperature to avoid heating or cooling an empty house. You can then program them to have your living areas comfortable by the time you arrive back home.

Collins Comfort Masters can help you select the best solutions for conserving energy dollars in your home.

Q: How can I ventilate my home and still be energy efficient?

A: It is now possible to exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air without compromising the energy efficiency of your home. With heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs), it’s out with the bad air and in with the good all without wasting energy. HRVs and ERVs are electronically powered units that circulate air throughout your home using the existing forced air system or specially installed ducts. The units pump stale air out of your home and replace it with an equal volume of fresh outside air. An HRV is a compact unit that conditions the temperature of the outside air, while an ERV is a packaged unit that conditions both the temperature and humidity of the outside air. Because these units condition the air before it enters the home, your energy costs remain stable.