Heating and cooling are two of the most important aspects of home ownership. In fact, heating and cooling systems are major factors for those looking to purchase homes, and are a critical part of living comfortably in a home.

You may frequently hear the term HVAC, which is used to describe home heating and cooling systems. The acronym stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning–which are the 3 primary functions of a home system. They control air temperature and humidity, and maintain the quality of the air in the home.

Central Systems

Heating and cooling systems may be classified as central or local. Central heating and cooling is the most standard method, and is defined by a system that produces warm or cool air in one central area and then distributes it throughout the home. There are many types of systems that work as central systems, from traditional split systems to packaged product systems.

Products typically used in central heating and cooling systems include:

* Heat Pumps
* Air Conditioners
* Gas and Oil Furnaces
* Fan Coils
* Evaporator Coils
* Single Packaged Products
* Controls and Thermostats

Local heating and cooling, on the other hand, produces warm or cool air at the location where it is needed and serves small spaces. Room Air Conditioners and Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC) are examples of local heating and cooling.

Heating

Heating systems keep your home warm and comfortable. If you live in a particularly cold climate, the function of your heating system is a high priority.

Most central heating and cooling systems are classified as forced air systems, because they send air through ductwork for distribution. The ductwork can contain products that filter or clean the air. Radiant systems create heat and deliver it using components such as radiators that distribute the heat into the home. Boilers are a traditional radiant heat source.

Typical heating products include:

* Heat Pumps
* Gas and Oil Furnaces
* Fan Coils
* Boilers
* Single Packaged Products

Cooling and Air Conditioning

Whole home air conditioning systems are central systems that rely on ducts to deliver cooled air throughout the home. An air-conditioning system provides cooling, ventilation, humidity control and even heating (if using a heat pump) for a home. Air conditioning units cool refrigerants like Puron Refrigerant and Freon and deliver them to evaporator coils, which dissipate the refrigerant and blow cool air into ducts for delivery throughout the home.

Products such as room air conditioners are local cooling options for smaller areas within homes. Instead of delivering cooled refrigerant to a coil and then to ductwork, a room air conditioner contains all the components in a single unit and blows air directly into a room.

Air conditioned homes often have sealed windows, because open windows would disrupt the attempts of the control system to maintain constant temperature.

Typical air conditioning products include:

* Heat Pumps
* Central Air Conditioners
* Evaporator Coils
* Room Air Conditioners
* Single Packaged Products

Thermostats

The term thermostat commonly refers to any unit that controls the operation of a heating and cooling system. Thermostats are used to turn on heating or cooling systems to bring the home to a set temperature. In addition to basic temperature control, programmable thermostats can be used to manage the timing of the system’s functions, which can control overall energy use and costs.

Learn More

Learn more about the many aspects of heating and cooling, including the types of systems available, how to find the ideal system for your home, how health and air quality impact your home, how energy efficiency can save you money, how heating and cooling impacts the environment, and the many terms and phrases of heating and cooling.

**Article provided by Carrier - Turn to the Experts

Reduce Energy Costs

As your heating and cooling system ages, it can lose its ability to cool or heat your home. If your current heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, or your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old, it may be time to replace it with a more efficient system. Inadequate insulation or equipment installation may be the cause of temperature changes from room to room.

Your new system can help keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter while saving you money on energy bills. Let the professionals at Sears help you determine if your current system needs replacing.

Replacing your current equipment with an ENERGY STAR rated heating and cooling systems can help reduce high energy costs as much as 10-30%.*

Accept No Substitutes!

* Full line of exclusive Kenmore and Carrier heating and cooling systems

* ENERGY STAR qualified systems that can help save up to 25% of your annual heating/cooling costs*

* Sears Heating & Cooling specialist can work with you to determine the right system for your home

* Prevent minor problems from becoming big headaches

* You’re paying for quality

* Cost of utilities is rising, get the most out of your heating and cooling dollars

* A manufacturer’s limited product warranty of up to 10 years*

* A full one year limited warranty on installation*

* Free in-home consultation on a new system

*Article is courtesy of Sears Home Central - for a free estimate, click here
Chris Paulsen
cpaulsen@homerenovationguide.com

While homeowners choose to undertake many kinds of home renovations, installation and/or repair of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment is usually considered an exceptional measure. Yet the heating and cooling system in any structure is a critical factor in occupant comfort and quality of life. The purchase of a furnace, air conditioner or ventilation system is a major investment and deserves careful consideration.Most provinces require the hiring of a licensed or qualified HVAC tradesperson to perform the work because of the safety concerns and consequences involved. However, homeowners frequently do not distinguish among contractors on anything other than price. Consumers should be aware that the lowest price is not always the best value!

There are some obvious red flags to look for when you are shopping around for a contractor. For example, reputable contractors will not quote prices without seeing the job. Reputable contractors will not request large cash advances prior to the delivery of any equipment or materials. And any reputable contractor will readily provide a full business address as well as a telephone number where they can be reached. Apart from these more obvious tip-offs, there are a number of guidelines that a homeowner should keep in mind in order to get the best value when hiring a heating and air conditioning contractor.

1. Finding Reputable Contractors

You may wish to contact neighbours, friends, relatives and co-workers for opinions on work done recently by an HVAC contractor. You can also use the business directory for your area, or newspaper, radio and television ads to identify contractors. In most cases you will be better off selecting contractors that promote the quality of their service and equipment at a reasonable rate, rather than just low prices. It may be best to select experienced firms. If possible, try to visit their offices.

You will want to determine whether the contractor has appropriately certified personnel on staff (sheet metal, refrigeration and air conditioning or electrician journeymen, gas fitters, etc.), whether 24-hour emergency service is available, and whether the contractor offers maintenance and service agreements after the installation and warranty. The warranty policy should be clearly stated for equipment, materials and labour and should indicate who is responsible for honouring the warranty.

2. Getting Estimates

Arrange for the contractor to come and inspect the job site. Some small jobs may be priced out and an estimate written immediately, but larger jobs may require additional time to price properly and to prepare a heat loss and gain calculation for proper sizing of the equipment.

Make sure that each estimate is written on a proper form that is easily read and understood. When comparing the estimates received, the statements about the work to be performed and the materials used should be of comparable quality, or the estimates should make proper allowances for any differences. Be sure that the estimate includes the proper permits and licenses. The warranty policy should be clearly stated for equipment, materials and labour. If the contractor uses sub-contractors for some of the actual work, these should be listed on the proposal and in the contract.

3. The Contract

The contract is the agreement between the homeowner and the contractor that specifies what work will be performed and gives a firm dollar value on that work. It is a legal, binding document when signed by both parties, so be sure you understand and agree with the contents before signing. Any changes or additions in the work to be done should never be made without those alterations being written into the contract and initialed by both parties. If extra billing is to occur, it must be clearly stated and initialled by both parties.

In addition to the name, address and telephone number of the consumer and the contractor, the contract should clearly state the following items:

* required licenses and permits to be purchased by the contractor
* responsibility for removal of old equipment and materials
* warranties and guarantees on materials and labour
* approximate start and completion dates unless specific dates and times are agreed upon
* price and terms of payment

The contractor should also provide orientation regarding operation and maintenance of the equipment, and should leave an operations and maintenance manual with the consumer.

4. Payment Methods

There is no standard method of payment, so the payment schedule will vary from company to company. In any case, the payment schedule should be easy to understand and clearly stated if interest charges are applicable. A nominal deposit may be requested. Get a receipt for your deposit or have the amount shown on the contract and get the salesman to initial it. All payments should be made directly to the company named in the contract.

5. Insurance

It is important that the contractor and any sub-contractors each have public liability and property damage insurance, and be able to produce a certificate of good standing from the Workers Compensation Board. You may wish to ask who the policy is with and follow up to verify that it is current.

6. References

Reputable contractors will be more than willing to give you the names and addresses of customers they’ve done work for in your area. You may wish to contact the Better Business Bureau, which maintains records of consumer complaints about its members. You should also ask whether the contractor is a member of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors of Canada (HRAC-Canada), the industry association for heating and air conditioning contractors in Canada. HRAC requires its members to carry relevant trade, fuel safety and municipal licenses as well as workers compensation. A companies membership in HRAC tells you that the company is properly licensed and that they are committed to continuous improvement through education and training.

Reprinted with permission from the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors of Canada. www.hrac.ca

**Courtesy of Sears Home Central - Home Central

Note: For American contractors, please visit the Air Conditioning Contractors of America at www.acca.org.

Don’t Assume That All Contractors Are “Pretty Much The Same”

The most important part of shopping for a new indoor comfort system is to pick the right contractor. Choose the wrong one and you risk getting a new system that will not keep you comfortable and will not save you much, if anything, on you monthly utility bills.

In order to get the efficiency and comfort you deserve, you must find a contractor who will:

1. select the right size of equipment for your home
2. install the equipment properly
3. uncover and solve any pre-existing problems with your duct systems or house insulation.
4. ask you a lot of questions
5. NOT provide a quote before doing a diagnostic testing - a good contractor will mention this, a bad one won’t.
6. NOT force you to make a rush buying decision - steer clear of pushy sales people
7. explain everything and suggest several options available to you
8. NOT try to sell you a system over the phone

All contractors are certainly not the same. Sad to say, a small minority are downright dishonest. Both NBC’s Dateline (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14346561/) and CBS’s 48 Hours recently aired hidden camera sting operations exposing fraudulent heating and cooling contractors. A number of these companies that they called out either bent the facts, or commited outright fraud on national television. The better business bureau ranks heating and cooling as one of the highest complaint generating industries.

Fortunately, the great majority of contractors are honest. They work hard and mean well. They are ethical, at the leading edge technically and have business and customer service systems in place that ensure high levels of client satisfaction. Invest the time to identify a good contractor, it will be time well spent.

cpaulsen@homerenovationguide.com

Furnace or Air Conditioner Problems:

Please check the following before calling your service provider. These are problems that homeowners tend to overlook and may not be covered by your warranty.

Step 1: Is your thermostat set to the correct function, i.e. heating or cooling?

Step 2: Has the power to the furnace been shut off?
(A) Appropriate breaker in the main electrical panel.
(B) Fuses in older homes.
(C) Power switch located close to furnace. Sometimes it looks like a light switch, which is normally located on the ceiling above your furnace.
(D) Ensure the furnace fan door is on properly. If it is not, there will be no power to the furnace and it will not operate.

Step 3:Is the filter(s) clean? A dirty filter will eventually cause service problems and drastically decrease efficiency of both the furnace and air conditioner.

Step 4:High Efficiency Gas Furnaces have a plastic vent pipe which projects through the outside wall, normally about 12″ above grade level. This can sometimes become plugged with ice and snow and can cause the furnace to shut down. Remove snow or ice carefully and your furnace should restart in a few minutes. (Some systems require to be reset).
If you cannot locate the problem by following these steps and require service, take note of the furnace model and serial number and please contact us.

Excessive Humidity or Dryness:

Excessive humidity or dryness in your home may cause some concerns.
Step 1:Make sure damper on humidifier system is open in winter and closed in summer.
Step 2:The water valve must be opened to provide water for humidifier.
Step 3:Humidifier pad or cell must be cleaned or replaced once or twice per heating season, depending upon local mineral levels in water supply.
Step 4:Make sure humidistat is turned ON and set according to table

Notes:
A.) Humidifier adjustment does not react immediately. It takes anywhere from 4 to 6 hours to stabilize.
B.) If excess condensate is found on windows it may be a result of the humidistat being set too high, it might also be an indication of improper ventilation of combustion gases.

Important: This section outlines tasks that homeowners can perform which may help identify some small, common problems. However, as when dealing with any fuel (combustible), electronics or machinery, you must proceed with caution and be aware that you are performing these tasks at your own risk.

**Article courtesy of Arpi’s Industries Ltd Inc - Arpi’s has been offering home comfort solutions for over 40 years and we are confident we can provide you with the healthy and comfortable indoor environment you are looking for.

A quality heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system integrated with the appropriate controls (your thermostat!) will provide a safe and healthy home. Today’s HVAC products offer high performance and energy efficiency that translates into lower operating costs and greater value for your dollar.

Please contact us, we look forward to learning how we can help you!

Heating and cooling are two of the most important components of home ownership. In fact, heating and cooling systems are major factors for those looking to purchase homes, and a critical part of living comfortably in a home.

You may frequently hear the term HVAC, which is used to describe home heating and cooling systems. The acronym stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, which are the three primary functions of a home system. They control air temperature and humidity, and maintain the quality of air in the home.

Central Systems
Heating and cooling systems may be classified as central or local. Central heating and cooling is the most standard method, and is defined by a system that produces warm or cool air in one central area and then distributes it throughout the home. There are many types of systems that work as central systems, from traditional split systems to packaged product systems.