| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
Why should I purchase a new heating or air conditioning system?
Purchasing a heating or cooling system is no small matter. However, if your existing system is old, in
need of repair or simply inefficient, purchasing a new unit, one which can be as much as 60% more
efficient than a system purchased just 10 years ago, can turn into a long term benefit. Rather than
continuing to pay for ongoing maintenance and costly monthly bills, invest in a new system today that
will save you money for years to come.
How do I find the system that's right for me?
There are many heating and cooling systems to choose from today. By contacting Harding Heating &
Cooling, you have access to a vast array of heating and cooling knowledge and experience to help
you decide which system best suits your specific needs. The size and age of your home, as well as
the number of rooms, climate, local and regional costs, degree days and utility incentive programs
are all factors that will effect selection of your system. Harding Heating & Cooling, utilizing the latest
technology, considers all of these factors along with your input to assist you in choosing the most
efficient system for your home and life style.
Consumers seeking to replace an existing system should choose a new unit with a higher efficiency
rating than their old system. Replacing a unit that is older than 10 to 15 years old may reduce gas and
electricity costs from 30 to 50%.
Contacting Harding Heating & Cooling can help you to define your initial cost, warranty protection,
service options, maintenance options and operating costs. Once you have chosen a system, it is
important to remember that proper installation is a major factor in maximizing its operating efficiency
and your comfort level.
How do I determine the size, or capacity, of my HVAC system?
Factors affecting the size of your new system include:
calculation) to determine the right size heating or cooling system for your home.
What goes into installing a new system?
Beyond the new equipment being installed, the ductwork is the most important component. Ductwork
is composed of two parts, supply and return. Supply ducts are attached to the outflow of the new
system, delivering air to each zone in a home. The amount of air reaching each zone is determined
by the size of the supply ductwork connecting it to your system. Harding can determine the size of all
the supply ductwork in your home. The second part of the ductwork, the return duct, attachés to the
inlet side of the new system and draws back from the spaces to be heated or cooled. Attached to the
return duct is the filter. The filter should be placed as near to the furnace or air handler as possible.
Ductwork can be either fiberglass material or metal and must be properly sized in order to evenly
distribute the proper amount of air to each room.
What happens when I replace my old system?
To install the most efficient HVAC system in your home, a detailed inspection should first be
performed by your installation contractor. The inspection by your contractor should include, at least,
the inspection of your home's 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.
How long will my system last?
Maintenance and service play a huge role in the life cycle of a heating or cooling system. If all
recommended maintenance and service actions are taken, it is believed that an air conditioner
should last 12-15 years and a gas furnace should last from 20 to 25 years.
Do I need to change my indoor coil?
It is generally a good idea to replace the indoor coil if you are also replacing your air conditioner or
heat pump. There is a correlation between the efficiency of your heating or cooling system and the
performance of the indoor coil. So when you change the outdoor side of the system, you should also
replace the indoor side of the system in order to maximize the efficiency and savings potential of the
total system.
Where can I locate my air handler or furnace system?
The system can be located in several different places. A system with up-flow application might be
located in a basement, while a system with a horizontal application might be found in the attic. A self-
contained, or single package unit, could be located on a slab or on the roof. A garage could house an
up-flow, down-flow or horizontal system.
What is an air to air heat pump?
An air to air heat pump is a device used for either heating or cooling by transferring hot and cold
between outside air and inside air. A heat pump can act like an air conditioner, transferring heat from
inside to out, or like a heater as it transfers exterior heat to the interior. A winter day with a
temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit still produces enough heat to warm a space when the air is
transferred by heat pump.
What is a geothermal heat pump?
A geothermal heat pump acts the same as the above air to air except it uses a water solution to
transfer energy at a more constant differential temperature which make it much more efficient.
What can I do to reduce the humidity levels in my home?
Humidity levels can be reduced by operating a variable speed air handling system in your home.
Variable speed units run longer, at lower speeds, allowing air to constantly circulate against the
cooling coil and remove more moisture. Variable speed motors also use less electricity than regular
motors, reducing your energy costs.
What can I do before calling someone to service my system?
Professional services can be costly, but there are some things you can do before hiring a
professional to inspect your system:
Have the FAN switch on for a continuous vent
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. This factor rates the efficient
operation of the heating portion of the heat pump.As the HSPF increases, the unit functions at a more
efficient level. New units in the United States have HSPF ratings from 7.0 to 9.4.
What is Freon R-22?
R-22 is the common name for hydro-fluorocarbon (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, an ozone-depleting agent. For this reason, the United States Clean Air Act has set a
target date for January 1, 2010, on which HVAC manufacturers must cease the production of
products that use R-22.
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 is more environmentally friendly than R-22 and is being
seen as the most likely replacement for HVAC manufacturers. At the beginning of 2010, the use of
alternative refrigerant will be required in HVAC manufacturing.
What is ENERGY STAR?
ENERGY STAR is a program that was created by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
help businesses and individuals make energy efficient purchases. This program places the ENERGY
STAR label, a small blue and white logo, on items that meet superior energy efficiency standards.
This label provides an easy way for consumers to identify quality, high efficiency products.
Purchasing a heating or cooling system is no small matter. However, if your existing system is old, in
need of repair or simply inefficient, purchasing a new unit, one which can be as much as 60% more
efficient than a system purchased just 10 years ago, can turn into a long term benefit. Rather than
continuing to pay for ongoing maintenance and costly monthly bills, invest in a new system today that
will save you money for years to come.
How do I find the system that's right for me?
There are many heating and cooling systems to choose from today. By contacting Harding Heating &
Cooling, you have access to a vast array of heating and cooling knowledge and experience to help
you decide which system best suits your specific needs. The size and age of your home, as well as
the number of rooms, climate, local and regional costs, degree days and utility incentive programs
are all factors that will effect selection of your system. Harding Heating & Cooling, utilizing the latest
technology, considers all of these factors along with your input to assist you in choosing the most
efficient system for your home and life style.
Consumers seeking to replace an existing system should choose a new unit with a higher efficiency
rating than their old system. Replacing a unit that is older than 10 to 15 years old may reduce gas and
electricity costs from 30 to 50%.
Contacting Harding Heating & Cooling can help you to define your initial cost, warranty protection,
service options, maintenance options and operating costs. Once you have chosen a system, it is
important to remember that proper installation is a major factor in maximizing its operating efficiency
and your comfort level.
How do I determine the size, or capacity, of my HVAC system?
Factors affecting the size of your new system include:
- The climate in your region
- Humidity levels
- The number of windows in your home
- The number of heat producing appliances in your home
- The type of insulation you have
- The number of people that live in your home
calculation) to determine the right size heating or cooling system for your home.
What goes into installing a new system?
Beyond the new equipment being installed, the ductwork is the most important component. Ductwork
is composed of two parts, supply and return. Supply ducts are attached to the outflow of the new
system, delivering air to each zone in a home. The amount of air reaching each zone is determined
by the size of the supply ductwork connecting it to your system. Harding can determine the size of all
the supply ductwork in your home. The second part of the ductwork, the return duct, attachés to the
inlet side of the new system and draws back from the spaces to be heated or cooled. Attached to the
return duct is the filter. The filter should be placed as near to the furnace or air handler as possible.
Ductwork can be either fiberglass material or metal and must be properly sized in order to evenly
distribute the proper amount of air to each room.
What happens when I replace my old system?
To install the most efficient HVAC system in your home, a detailed inspection should first be
performed by your installation contractor. The inspection by your contractor should include, at least,
the inspection of your home's 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.
How long will my system last?
Maintenance and service play a huge role in the life cycle of a heating or cooling system. If all
recommended maintenance and service actions are taken, it is believed that an air conditioner
should last 12-15 years and a gas furnace should last from 20 to 25 years.
Do I need to change my indoor coil?
It is generally a good idea to replace the indoor coil if you are also replacing your air conditioner or
heat pump. There is a correlation between the efficiency of your heating or cooling system and the
performance of the indoor coil. So when you change the outdoor side of the system, you should also
replace the indoor side of the system in order to maximize the efficiency and savings potential of the
total system.
Where can I locate my air handler or furnace system?
The system can be located in several different places. A system with up-flow application might be
located in a basement, while a system with a horizontal application might be found in the attic. A self-
contained, or single package unit, could be located on a slab or on the roof. A garage could house an
up-flow, down-flow or horizontal system.
What is an air to air heat pump?
An air to air heat pump is a device used for either heating or cooling by transferring hot and cold
between outside air and inside air. A heat pump can act like an air conditioner, transferring heat from
inside to out, or like a heater as it transfers exterior heat to the interior. A winter day with a
temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit still produces enough heat to warm a space when the air is
transferred by heat pump.
What is a geothermal heat pump?
A geothermal heat pump acts the same as the above air to air except it uses a water solution to
transfer energy at a more constant differential temperature which make it much more efficient.
What can I do to reduce the humidity levels in my home?
Humidity levels can be reduced by operating a variable speed air handling system in your home.
Variable speed units run longer, at lower speeds, allowing air to constantly circulate against the
cooling coil and remove more moisture. Variable speed motors also use less electricity than regular
motors, reducing your energy costs.
What can I do before calling someone to service my system?
Professional services can be costly, but there are some things you can do before hiring a
professional to inspect your system:
- Disconnect your indoor and outdoor switches
- Make sure your circuit breakers are in the ON position
- Make sure your filters are clean
- Open supply and return vents and make sure they are unobstructed
- Double check both indoor and outdoor disconnect switches
- Check the settings on your thermostat
Have the FAN switch on for a continuous vent
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. This factor rates the efficient
operation of the heating portion of the heat pump.As the HSPF increases, the unit functions at a more
efficient level. New units in the United States have HSPF ratings from 7.0 to 9.4.
What is Freon R-22?
R-22 is the common name for hydro-fluorocarbon (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, an ozone-depleting agent. For this reason, the United States Clean Air Act has set a
target date for January 1, 2010, on which HVAC manufacturers must cease the production of
products that use R-22.
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 is more environmentally friendly than R-22 and is being
seen as the most likely replacement for HVAC manufacturers. At the beginning of 2010, the use of
alternative refrigerant will be required in HVAC manufacturing.
What is ENERGY STAR?
ENERGY STAR is a program that was created by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
help businesses and individuals make energy efficient purchases. This program places the ENERGY
STAR label, a small blue and white logo, on items that meet superior energy efficiency standards.
This label provides an easy way for consumers to identify quality, high efficiency products.
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| Larry Harding "Captain of Comfort" |
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| 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE e-mail: harding-heat-cool@sbcglobal.net LOCAL NUMBERS: 330-823-8461__ 330-332-4688__ 330-455-4321__ 330-298-9000 |
