License number: 13VH01558600
Office hours: Mon to Fri. 8AM to 5PM
Emergency service: 24/7
Tel: 908.241.6111 Fax: 908.241.6211
E-mail: trvmech@verizon.net
TRV Mechanical is dedicated to providing you information you may want to know about heating, cooling, indoor air quality products, concepts and terms. The more you understand about indoor comfort controls available, the better we can service you. Although we have the experience required to recommend ideal products for your specific needs, you can feel more confident about your decisions when you fully understand your options. From air purification to high efficiency hybrid systems and thermostats with remote dial in, TRV Mechanical has the information and products for all your indoor comfort needs!
FAQs
Below are some of the most common questions homeowners ask about heating and air conditioning systems. Just click on the question that interests you to go directly to the answer.
- Why should I replace my existing heating or air conditioning system?
- How expensive are air conditioning and heat pump systems?
- How do I select the right heating/cooling system?
- What is involved in replacing an old system?
- What is involved in installing a new system?
- How long can I expect a new system to last?
- What are some preventative maintenance things I should be aware of?
- Should I change my indoor coil?
- Where do I get replacement parts?
- What is covered in my warranty?
Q: Why should I replace my existing heating or air conditioning system?
A: You may wish to consider replacing your air conditioning or heating system if it is old, inefficient or in need of repair. Today's systems are as much as 60% more efficient than those systems manufactured as little as ten years ago. In addition, if not properly maintained, wear and tear on a system can reduce the actual or realized efficiency of the system. If you are concerned about utility bills or are faced with an expensive repair, you may want to consider replacing your system rather than enduring another costly season or paying to replace an expensive component. The utility cost savings of a new unit may provide an attractive return on your investment. If you plan on financing the purchase, the monthly savings on your utility bill should be considered when determining the actual monthly cost of replacing a system. The offsetting savings may permit you to purchase a more efficient system.
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Q: How expensive are air conditioning and heat pump systems?
A: Many factors affect the cost of a heating or air conditioning system, including the size of your home, the type and condition of the ductwork installed and accessories you might need such as a thermostat or an electronic air cleaner. We have a complete range of systems and accessories available to meet all your needs, including your financial ones! Your local dealer will be happy to assist you in finding the right system to meet not only your comfort needs but also your household budget.
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Q: How do I select the right heating/cooling system?
A: First, make sure the unit is properly sized. Your York dealer will provide a load calculation for your home. Also ask the dealer to provide an energy analysis to determine operating cost. Next, consider any comfort issues in the home. Some products can reduce air stratification and uneven temperatures from room to room. If you have allergies, an indoor unit with an ECM motor will allow you to circulate the air in your home continuously while filtering the air for about the same cost as operating a standard light bulb. Finally, know your budget parameters and the efficiency of the system being proposed. Does the system offer a payback? In other words, will the monthly savings over time offset the cost of the new unit or efficiency option being considered?
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Q: What is involved in replacing an old system?
A: Aside from the placement of the new equipment, your York dealer will inspect several items and make a determination of whether or not these items need to be supplied or replaced. Some of the items include: ductwork, insulation, refrigerant piping, electrical service, wiring, thermostat, condensate piping, flue piping, flue terminations, chimney liner, slabs, filter, driers, registers, grills, drain pans and evaporator coil.
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Q: What is involved in installing a new system?
A: If a system is being added to the home for the first time, most of the items noted in the previous question and answer may be required to install the new system. Besides the equipment, the most significant component is ductwork. The ductwork can be either metal or fiberglass ductwork. The ductwork needs to be properly sized to deliver the right amount of air to each room. The ductwork consists of supply and return ductwork. The supply duct is attached to the outlet of the furnace or air handler and delivers air to individual zones in your home. Your York dealer will determine the size of the ductwork going into a space by the amount of air that needs to be delivered to the space.
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Q: How long can I expect a new system to last?
A: If you have a qualified technician perform regular preventative maintenance and service suggested for your unit, industry averages suggest that an air conditioner should last 12-15 years (sea coast applications may be less) and a gas furnace should last as many as 20-25 years.
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Q: What are some preventative maintenance things I should be aware of?
A: With the proper attention, heating and cooling systems can keep you comfortable year-round. Heat pumps and oil-fired furnaces and boilers need a yearly professional tune-up. Gas-fired equipment, on the other hand, burns cleaner and can be serviced every other year. A close inspection will uncover leaks, soot, rust, rot, corroded electrical contacts and frayed wires. In furnace (forced-air) and boiler (hot-water) systems, the inspection should also cover the chimney, ductwork or pipes, dampers or valves, blower or pump, registers or radiators, the fuel line and the gas meter or oil tank — as well as every part of the furnace or boiler itself.
Next, the system should be run through a full heating cycle to ensure that it has plenty of combustion air and chimney draft. Finally, cleaning the burner and heat exchanger to remove soot and other gunk will prevent such buildup from impeding smooth operation. For the burner, efficiency hinges on adjusting the flame to the right size and color, adjusting the flow of gas or changing the fuel filter in an oil-fired system. A check of the heat pump should include an inspection of the compressor, fan, indoor and outdoor coils and refrigerant lines. Indoor and outdoor coils should be cleaned, and the refrigerant pressure should be checked.
Blower
Tuning up the distribution side of a forced-air system starts with the blower. The axle should be lubricated, blades cleaned and lower motor checked to insure the unit isn't being overloaded. The fan belt should be adjusted so it deflects no more than an inch when pressed. Every accessible joint in the ductwork should be sealed with mastic or UL-approved duct tapes. Any ducts that run outside the heated space should be insulated. On a hot-water system, the expansion tank should be drained, the circulating pump cleaned and lubricated and air bled out of the radiators.
Thermostat
While thermostats rarely fail outright, they can degrade over time as mechanical parts stick or lose their calibration. Older units will send faulty signals if they've been knocked out of level or have dirty switches. To recalibrate an older unit, use a wrench to adjust the nut on the back of the mercury switch until it turns the system on and, using a room thermometer, set it to the correct temperature. Modern electronic thermostats, sealed at the factory to keep out dust and grime, rarely need adjusting. However, whether your thermostat is old or young, the hole where the thermostat wire comes through the wall needs to be caulked, or a draft could trick it into thinking the room is warmer or colder than it really is.
Humidifier
A neglected in-duct humidifier can breed mildew and bacteria, not to mention add too much moisture to a house. A common mistake with humidifiers is leaving them on after the heating season ends. Don't forget to pull the plug, shut the water valve and drain the unit. A unit with a water reservoir should be drained and cleaned with white vinegar, a mix of one part chlorine bleach to eight parts water or muriatic acid. Mist-type humidifiers also require regular cleaning to remove mineral deposits.
Filters
Most houses with forced-air furnaces have a standard furnace filter made from loosely woven spun-glass fibers designed to keep it and its ductwork clean. Unfortunately, they don't improve indoor air quality. That takes a media filter, which sits in between the main return duct and the blower cabinet. Made of a deeply pleated, paper-like material, media filters are at least seven times better than a standard filter at removing dust and other particles. An upgrade to a pleated media filter will cleanse the air of everything from insecticide dust to flu viruses. Compressed, media filters are usually no wider than six inches, but the pleated material can cover up to 75 square feet when stretched out. This increased area of filtration accounts for the filter's long life, which can exceed two years. The only drawback to a media filter is its tight weave, which can restrict a furnace's ability to blow air through the house. To insure a steady, strong airflow through the house, choose a filter that matches your blower's capacity.
Duct Cleaning
A maze of heating and air conditioning ducts runs inside the walls and floors of 80 percent of American homes. As the supply ducts blow air into the rooms, return ducts inhale airborne dust and suck it back into the blower. Add moisture to this mixture and you've got a breeding ground for allergy-inducing molds, mites and bacteria. Many filters commonly used today can't keep dust and debris from streaming into the air and over time sizable accumulations can form — think dust bunnies, but bigger.
To find out if your ducts need cleaning, pull off some supply and return registers and take a look. If a new furnace is being installed, you should probably invest in a duct cleaning at the same time, because chances are the new blower will be more powerful than the old one and will stir up a lot of dust.
Professional duct cleaners tout such benefits as cleaner indoor air, longer equipment life and lower energy costs. Clean HVAC systems can also perform more efficiently, which may decrease energy costs, and last longer, reducing the need for costly replacement or repairs. Cleaning has little effect on air quality, primarily because most indoor dust drifts in from the outdoors. But it does get rid of the stuff that mold and bacteria grow on, and that means less of it gets airborne, a boon to allergy sufferers.
Q: Should I change my indoor coil?
A: When replacing your air conditioner or heat pump, the answer is most likely yes. The efficiency ratings that are advertised for an air conditioner or heat pump are based on the performance as part of a matched system. If only the outdoor portion is changed, the efficiency and savings could be less than that of a matched system.
Q: Where do I get replacement parts?
A: Contact your York dealer for help obtaining replacement parts.
Q: What is covered in my warranty?
A: All York products come with a written limited warranty on parts. This warranty states that a replacement part will be furnished for any part of the product that fails in normal use and service during the applicable warranty period specified in accordance with the warranty's terms. Your authorized York dealer can review with you the warranty periods for the products you select.
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HVAC Glossary
Commonly used words, terms, acronyms and phrases when describing HVAC systems.
AFUE
Annual Fuel
Utilization Efficiency. Indicated as a percentage, your furnace's AFUE
tells you how much energy is being converted to heat. For example, an
AFUE of 90 means that 90% of the fuel is being used to warm your home,
while the other 10% escapes as exhaust with the combustion gases.
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Advanced Reciprocating Compressor
Type of compressor that uses a more efficient process for compressing refrigerant for better cooling efficiency.
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Air Handler
The portion of your air conditioner or heating system that forces air through your home's ductwork.
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BTU
British Thermal
Unit. Used for both heating and cooling, BTU is a measure of the heat
given off when fuel is combusted. Or for cooling, it's a measure of
heat extracted from your home. (One BTU is approximately equal to the
heat given off by a wooden kitchen match.)
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BTUH
A
British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the unit of heat required to raise 1
pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. BTUH is British Thermal Units
per Hour.
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Beckett Burner
A
burner assembly within your oil furnace, manufactured by Beckett to
exacting specifications. This burner provides good combustion
of heating oil.
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CFM
Stands for Cubic
Feet per Minute. A measurement of airflow that indicates how many cubic
feet of air pass by a stationary point in one minute. The higher the
number, the more air is being forced through the system.
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Capacity
The
ability of a heating or cooling system to heat or cool a given amount
of space. For heating, this is usually expressed in BTUs. For cooling,
it is usually given in tons.
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Carbon Monoxide
A
colorless, odorless, highly poisonous gas produced when carbon-based
fuels, such as natural gas, burns without sufficient air nearby.
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ComfortHeat
Carrier's exclusive ComfortHeat technology accurately predicts the need for heating while cutting temperature swings in half.
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ComfortHeat Pump System
ComfortHeat
Pump System is Carrier's exclusive heat pump system that provides
significantly warmer supply air from the registers for enhanced
occupant comfort.
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Compressor
Part
of a split-system heat pump or air conditioner's outdoor unit that
controls the pressure applied to the refrigerant, necessary for taking
in heat to warm your home with a heat pump or getting rid of heat to
keep your home cool.
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Condenser Coil
Part
of the outdoor portion of a split-system air conditioner or heat pump.
By converting refrigerant that is in a gas form back to a liquid, the
coil sends heat carried by the refrigerant to the outside.
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DB
Decibels (dB) are a unit measuring the intensity of noise.
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Damper
A
type of "valve" used in duct work that opens or closes to control
airflow. Used in zoning to control the amount of warm or cool air
entering certain areas of your home.
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Downflow
A
type of furnace that takes cool air from the top and blows warm air to
the bottom-commonly used where furnaces must be located in a
second-floor closet or utility area.
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Ductwork
Hollow
pipes used to transfer air from the Air Handler to the air vents
throughout your home. Ductwork is one of the most important components
of a home heating and cooling system.
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EER
Energy
Efficiency Ratings (EER) measure the efficiency with which a product
uses energy to function. It is calculated by dividing a product's BTU
output by its wattage.
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Electronic Air Cleaner (EAC)
An
electronic device that filters out large particles and contaminants in
indoor air. It then electronically pulls out tiny particles that have
been magnetized, such as viruses and bacteria, drawing them to a
collector plate.
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Energy Saver Switch
An energy-saver switch causes the air conditioner's fan and compressor to cycle on and off together, reducing energy use.
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Energy Star
Energy
Star is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals
protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Products
with the Energy Star rating will be efficient and save cost on energy
bills.
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Evaporator Coil
Part
of a split-system air conditioner or heat pump located indoors. The
evaporator coil cools and dehumidifies the air by converting liquid
refrigerant into a gas (or vice-versa). A blower moter, typically in a
furnace, then moves air over the coil to either heat or cool your home.
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Fan Coil
An
indoor component of an air conditioner or heat pump system, used in
place of a furnace and evaporator coil, to provide change the
refrigerant from a gas to a liquid (or vice-versa) and blow air over
the coil to cool or heat your home.
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HSPF
The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor is a measure of the heating efficiency of a heat pump. The higher the HSPF number, the more efficiently the heat pump heats your home.
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HVAC
Term used for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.
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Heat Exchanger
The part of a furnace that transfers heat to nearby air.
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Heat Pump
A
product that works just like an air conditioner in cooling mode;
however, in heating mode, the refrigerant flow is reversed and heat is
extrated from the outside air too heat your home.
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Horizontal Flow
A
type of furnace, installed on its "side", that draws in air from one
side, heats it and sends the warm air out the other side. Most often
used for installations in attics or crawl spaces.
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Humidifier
A
piece of equipment that adds water vapor to heated air as it moves out
of the furnace. This adds necessary moisture to protect your
furnishings and reduce static electricity.
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Hybrid Heat
Hybrid
Heat systems deliver exceptional performance by using a heating source
that provides the most energy-efficient comfort during moderate heating
conditions.
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IdealDefrost
IdealDefrost
is Carrier's proprietary defrost management innovation for maintaining
the ideal defrost interval for a heat pump, enhancing comfort and
efficiency.
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IdealHumidity
IdealHumidity™ is Carrier's proprietary humidity management innovation for maintaining the ideal comfort in a home.
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Indoor Coil
see Evaporator Coil
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Load Estimate
A
series of studies performed to determine the heating or cooling
requirements of your home. An energy load analysis uses information
such as the square footage of your home, window or door areas,
insulation quality and local climate to determine the heating and
cooling capacity needed by your furnace, heat pump or air conditioner.
When referring to heating, this is often known as a Heat Loss Analysis,
since a home's heating requirements are determined by the amount of
heat lost through the roof, entry ways and walls.
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Low Boy
Low Boy is a type of furnace configuration in which the furnace is lower in height and occupies more floor space.
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MERV
The Minimum
Efficiency Reporting Value is the standard comparison of the efficiency
of an air filter. The MERV scale ranges from 1 (least efficient) to 16
(most efficient), and measures a filter's ability remove particles from
3 to 10 microns in size.
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Matched System
A
heating and cooling system comprised of products that have been
certified to perform at promised comfort and efficiency levels when
used together, and used according to design and engineering
specifications.
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Operating Cost
The day-to-day cost of running your home comfort equipment, based on energy use.
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Outdoor Coil
see Condenser Coil
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Payback Analysis
Overall
measure of the efficiency and value of your home comfort system. By
combining your purchase price and ongoing operating costs, a payback
analysis determines the number of years required before monthly energy
savings offset the purchase price.
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Puron Refrigerant
Puron®
refrigerant is an environmentally sound refrigerant designed not to
harm the earth's ozone layer. Federal law requires that all
manufacturers phase out ozone depleting refrigerants in the next few
years. Puron refrigerant is approved by the US Environmental Protection
Agency as a replacement from Freon 22*.
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QuieTech
QuieTech™ is a noise reduction system that provides comfortable heat while generating very little noise in the process.
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R-22 refrigerant
R-22
is a single component HCFC refrigerant with low ozone depletion
potential. It has long been used in a variety of air-conditioning and
refrigeration applications in a variety of markets. Per U.S. EPA
regulations, new R-22 cannot be used in new systems effective in 2010,
although service quantities of the refrigerant may be produced until
2020.
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Reciprocating Compressor
A type of compressor used in air conditioners that compresses refrigerant by using a type of "piston" action.
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Reclaiming
Returning used refrigerant to the manufacturer for disposal or reuse.
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Recycling
Removing, cleaning and reusing refrigerant.
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Refrigerant Lines
Two copper lines that connect the Condenser (Outdoor) Coil to the Evaporator (Indoor) Coil.
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Riello Burner
A
burner assembly within your oil furnace, manufactured by Riello to
exact specifications of Carrier. This burner provides a cleaner, higher
quality combustion of heating oil to increase energy efficiency.
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SEER
The Seasonal
Energy Efficiency Ratio is a measure of the cooling efficiency of your
air conditioner or heat pump. The higher the SEER number, the more
efficient the system is at converting electricity into cooling power.
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Scroll Compressor
A specially designed compressor that works in a circular motion vs. an up and down piston action.
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Serpentuff
Carrier's
exclusive Serpentuff™ Heat Exchanger features a patented polypropylene
laminate, so that it extracts nearly all of the heat from the system
and makes the most of the energy used.
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Setback Thermostat
A
state-of-the-art electronic thermostat with a built-in memory that can
be programmed for different temperature settings at different times of
the day.
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Silencer System
Carrier
Silencer System II ensures quiet operation inside and out. Our systems
meet or exceed local and industry sound standards with quiet motor
mounts, a compressor sound blanket, forward swept fan blades, a
laminated sound elimination compressor mounting plate and a a unique
top with integrated silencer airflow baffle.
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Single Package Product
One outdoor unit that contains both a heating and a cooling system.
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SmartRecovery
Smart Recovery starts the system in advance to be sure that each zone reaches
your selected temperature setting at the scheduled time.
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Split System
Refers to an air conditioner or heat pump that has components in two
locations. Usually, one part of the system is located inside
(evaporator coil) and the other is located outside your home (condenser
coil).
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Thermidistat
The
Thermidistat™ Control monitors temperatures both inside and outside, as
well as indoor humidity and adjusts system operation to maintain the
temperature and humidity levels set by the homeowner.
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Thermostat
Unit that monitors and controls your HVAC system products.
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Thermostatic Expansion Valve
A thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) is precision device used to meter
the flow of liquid refrigerant entering the evaporator at a rate that
matches the amount of refrigerant being boiled off in the evaporator.
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Ton
A unit of measure for cooling capacity. One ton = 12,000 BTUs per hour.
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Total Home Comfort System
The ultimate solution to providing you with consistent, customized home comfort, despite the ever-changing weather.
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TrueSense Dirty Filter Detection
TrueSense™ dirty filter detection reminds you when it's time to change your media filter.
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Two Stage Compressor
Two
Stage Compressors are capable of two levels of operation, a low stage
and a high stage. Properly sized equipment will operate 80% of the time
in low stage, enhancing efficiency and comfort with lower humidity
levels and quieter operation. It's like getting two air conditioners or
heat pumps in one system.
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UL
UL is an objective, non-profit organization that tests and rates electrical products for public safety.
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Upflow
A
type of furnace that draws cool air from the bottom and blows the
warmed air out the top into the duct work. This type of furnace is
usually installed in a basement or an out-of-the-way closet.
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Ventilator
A ventilator captures heating or cooling energy from stale indoor air and transfers it to fresh incoming air.
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WeatherArmor
WeatherArmor™ is a Carrier innovation that protects outdoor units from weather and increases durability.
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WeatherShield
WeatherShield™
is a special coating of the outdoor condensing unit coil to resist
corrosion from salt air found mainly in coastal areas.
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Zoning
A way to
increase your home comfort and energy efficiency by controlling when
and where heating and cooling occurs in a home. Programmable
thermostats are used to control operating times of the equipment.
Dampers are used to direct air flow to certain parts or "zones" of the
home.
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© Copyright 2009 TRV Mechanical, LLC | Site designed & maintained by Dan Flint Design | Last updated:14.07.09 10:49 AM