Frequently Asked Questions
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim HVAC is short for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. We often use this abbreviation to refer to your whole heating and cooling system.
AFUE is the abbreviation for ‘Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency’ ratio. AFUE is the percentage assigned to rate furnace efficiencies by dividing the ratio of heat output by heat input. This measurement describes how well fuel, natural gas or propane is consumed to produce heat by a furnace. As the AFUE percentage rate increases, the efficiency of your furnace also increases, which can help to lower your fuel costs.
HSPF is the abbreviation for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. The HSPF number identifies the heating efficiency of a heat pump. The higher the HSPF number, the more efficient the heating performance of the heat pump.
Two-stage cooling uses a two-speed compressor which allows for two levels of operation depending on your cooling needs — full capacity or high speed for the hottest summer days or partial capacity or low speed for all the other days of the year. It can be a great energy-efficient option when compared to a traditional, single-stage or single-speed unit.
Two-stage cooling generally results in longer operational cycles, but at a low speed. This may help to remove more moisture or humidity from the indoor air in your home, providing more comfort. The lower speed uses less electricity than single-stage systems which operate only at full on or full off modes. For better indoor comfort, two can be better than one.
Variable-speed cooling (and heating with heat pump models) is driven by a variable-speed compressor. It provides high-efficiency cooling performance, which can result in lower energy bills and improved indoor comfort compared to air conditioners and heat pumps with a single-stage compressor. Now you have some variables to think about.
A high-efficiency gas furnace with modulating gas valve and variable-speed blower provides outstanding efficiency and economical heating performance. Unlike single-stage gas furnaces that operate ‘all ON’ or ‘all OFF,’ a modulating, variable-speed gas furnace is designed to minimize energy use by running at its low fan speed setting to meet the temperature you selected at the thermostat or control system. It produces the right amount of heat to help maintain a steady, comfortable temperature inside your home.
In ducted systems, zoning divides your home into areas with common heating and cooling requirements by using secondary thermostats and zone dampers installed in the duct system. Zoning allows you to adjust heating and cooling in parts of your home when they are not used, helping to save money on energy costs. A properly designed zoning system allows you to simply set the temperature in each zone to your desired comfort level. The equipment and zone dampers do the rest.
Sizing the equipment load requires the consideration of several factors. Ceiling height, construction, window size and placement and dozens of other variables all need to be considered to properly size a heating and/or cooling system. A professionally conducted load calculation is the foundation of an effective system.
When it comes to energy efficiency, all ENERGY STAR® certified products shine. They have higher efficiency ratings than standard models and will likely cost less money to operate. ENERGY STAR® and the ENERGY STAR® mark are registered trademarks owned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 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).
Proper sizing and installation of equipment is critical to achieve optimal performance. Split system air conditioners and heat pumps must be matched with appropriate coil components to meet ENERGY STAR® criteria.
AHRI is the abbreviation for the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, a 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 and certifies the performance of many products, including the ones sold by Goodman.
In the case of an air conditioner or heat pump, an AHRI-certified system confirms the performance ratings of specific combinations of the outdoor unit, indoor unit, and/or furnace listed in the AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance. AHRI’s voluntary certification programs conduct third-party laboratory testing to confirm performance ratings. The ratings associated with such combination are certified in the form of an AHRI Certificate of Product Ratings.