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Page Key
| SEER |
Preventative Maintenance |
Warranty |
How A Gas Furnace Works |
How A Heat Pump Works |
How Central AC Works |
SEER
What is SEER?
SEER stands for Season Energy Efficiency Ratio. This is a rating system used by the US Government to establish the efficiency level of cooling equipment. The higher the SEER rating, the less electricity the equipment uses and the more efficient it is. SEER is determined by dividing the cooling capacity, measured in BTUh, of a continuously operating air conditioner by the electric power input, measured in WATTs, of power consumed. The current standard for equipment in the United States is that they must function at a minimum of 10 SEER.
Why does Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. favor higher energy standards and raising the minimum efficiency standards for residential air conditioners to 13 SEER?
At Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P., we believe that having higher energy efficiency standards is the right thing to do. It is right for the consumer, right for the environment and right for energy conservation.
Why is 13 SEER the right thing to do?
Using higher efficiency units saves you more money on monthly electricity bills. The same higher efficiency units reduce harmful pollutants in the environment, and conserving energy is important, especially during an energy crisis.
Is 13 SEER technology already available?
13 SEER air conditioners have been produced for several years. Every manufacturer, large and small, makes 13 SEER units today.
What is the difference in energy efficiency from 10 to 13 SEER?
The 13 SEER unit is 8% more efficient than a 12 SEER unit and 30% more efficient than a 10 SEER unit, the current minimum since 1992.
Did Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. sign the petitions to the Energy Department and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals asking for a review of the new air conditioner efficiency standard?
No, we did not sign the petitions. We believe a higher energy efficiency standard would be good for consumers, good for the environment as a whole and would help cities around the country comply with the new clean air standards.
Some environmental groups are filing a lawsuit against the DOE regarding this issue, is Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. part of the suit?
Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. is not a part of the suit. We believe litigation can be avoided by getting the facts in front of the right people.
The majority of the HVAC industry is advocating 12 SEER, why is Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. going against the industry on this? How could the entire industry be wrong?
Studies show that raising the standard to 13 SEER translates to a 30 percent savings over present standards on consumers' air conditioning bills and would prevent the need to build up to 138 (300 mega watt size) power plants by the year 2020. Moving to 13 SEER is the most cost-effective way to reduce harmful emissions, keep electric bills more affordable and reduce the need for new generating plants - all accomplished with existing technology in use today.
Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. believes the rest of the industry is being shortsighted. We're looking at the many long-term benefits for the consumers, environment, energy conservation and the manufacturers.
Why does Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. believe they are looking longer term than the rest of the industry?
Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. believes that raising the minimum efficiency standard to 13 SEER is not only good for the customer, the environment and energy conservation; it is also good for our industry. We believe consumers will begin replacing older, lower efficiency air conditioning units before they break down in order to save money on their electric bills. When production volumes increase due to market demand for a higher SEER product, consumer prices for those units will come down.
Where does Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. think the standard should be?
We feel strongly that a 13 SEER high efficiency air conditioning standard would play a large part in reducing energy requirements and reducing high energy costs to the consumer. We have also conducted studies that show that high efficiency air conditioning reduces NOX emissions from power plants. NOX is one of the main contributors to ground level ozone that plagues many of our large cities in the U.S. SO2 and CO2 emissions would also be reduced.
Aren't 13 SEER units bigger? What if they're too big for people to install in their homes?
The outside condensing unit of a 13 SEER system is slightly larger than 10 SEER or less efficient system. Our 13 and 12 SEER outside condensing units have the same footprint (length and width) with the 13 SEER unit only 5 inches taller. Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P.'s evaporator coil that is installed inside the house is only 4 inches taller than our 10 SEER coil. This means consumers will not have tremendous added expenses in installation.
What does Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. stand to gain from this?
Everyone stands to gain from adopting 13 SEER as the new standard. Lower electricity bills for the consumer, less electricity consumption relieving some of the pressure on utility companies, our environment gets a break and the HVAC industry has the opportunity to better meet the needs of our customers.
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Preventative Maintenance
Why should I purchase a new heating or air conditioning system?
At Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P., we realize that purchasing a heating or air conditioning 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 can I find the system that’s right for me?
There are many heating and air conditioning systems to choose from today. By contacting a Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. dealer, you have access to a vast degree of heating and air conditioning knowledge and experience to help you decide on the system that best fits your specific needs. The size and age of your home, as well as the number of rooms, climate, local and regional utility costs, degree days and utility incentive rebate programs are all factors that will affect the functionality and, therefore, selection of your system. Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. dealers, utilizing the latest technology, consider all these factors and, most importantly, your input while assisting you in choosing the best system for your home.
Consumers seeking to replace an existing system often choose a new unit with equal or higher efficiency ratings as compared to their previous system. Replacing a unit that is greater than 10 to 15 years old may reduce natural gas or electricity costs from 30 to 50%.
Contacting a Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. Dealer can help you to define your initial cost, warranty protection, service options, maintenance options and operating cost. 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 dwelling, total square footage of your home, the direction your home faces, the number of heat producing appliances in your home, the type of insulation you have and the number of people that live in your residence. A Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. dealer can perform the proper calculations to determine the right size heating or cooling unit for your home and lifestyle.
What goes into installing a new system?
If you install a new system, most of the items from the “What happens when I replace my old system?” will need to be installed as well. Beyond equipment, the most important component installed with a new system is the ductwork.
Ductwork is composed of two parts, supply and return. Supply duct is 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 supply ductwork connecting it to your system. Your dealer will help you determine the size of all the supply ductwork in your home. The second part of the ductwork, the return duct, attaches to the inlet of the new system and draws air out of 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 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 household, a detailed inspection should first be performed by your installation contractor. The inspection by your contractor should include, as a minimum, 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 key role in the lifecycle of a heating or air conditioning 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 change the interior side of the system as well 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 actually be located in several different places. A system with up-flow application might be located in the basement, while a system with a horizontal application may be found in your attic. A self-contained, or single package unit, could be located outside on a slab or on the roof. Your garage could house an up-flow, down-flow or horizontal application system.
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is a device used for either the heating or cooling of a space by transferring hot and cold between two reservoirs. 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 32º Fahrenheit still produces enough heat to warm a space when the air is transferred by heat pump.
What can I do to control 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 service calls 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.
- Make sure the system switch is on the appropriate COOL or HEAT setting
- 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-chlorofluorocarbon (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 R-22 by HVAC manufacturers. At the beginning of 2010, the use of alternate 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.
For more infomation about the Energy Star program, please view their website at www.energystar.gov
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Warranty faq
When it comes to warranties, Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. stands behind its products like no other company in the HVAC industry.
We were the first company among HVAC manufacturers to offer 10-year coverage on all functional parts. In January 2005 we became the only HVAC manufacturer to offer a Lifetime Limited Warranty on the compressor in our air conditioning products and on the heat exchanger in our furnaces. And if the heat exchanger fails in the first 10-years of operation, we’ll provide a new equivalent replacement furnace. Warranties like these can only come from a company that is 100% certain of the quality and reliability of its products. When you choose Goodman not only will you receive exceptional value, you’ll also get guaranteed quality.
“Thank Goodness for Goodman.”
Full details on the standard limited parts warranty are available for each of our featured products. When it comes to worry-free warranties, Goodman Manufacturing stands behind its products equal to any other brand in the indoor comfort industry.
This Warranty must be registered by mail or may be registered online by clicking on the link below:
LIMITED 10-YEAR FURNACE REPLACEMENT WARRANTY REGISTRATION
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How a Gas Furnace Works
Facts:
- A furnace works to keep a home warm in the winter and plays a critical part in the operation of an air conditioning system.
- Furnaces produce heat through the combustion of natural gas in the furnace's burner. The heat produced from this process then passes through a heat exchanger. Air from your home's return air ducts is blown over the heat exchanger, thus warming the air.
- The furnace's blower then blows the warmed air into the ductwork, which carries and disperses the warmed air throughout the home.
- During warmer months, the blower inside a furnace continues to circulate return air throughout the home--only this time, the return air has been cooled by being blown over the indoor coil portion of the home's split-system air conditioning system. The condensing coil is typically installed on top of the furnace.
Benefits:
- Indoor warmth any time it is required.
- Energy efficiency -The efficiency of a furnace can be determined by its AFUE--or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The minimum efficiency level for furnaces currently manufactured in the U.S. is 80% AFUE. A rating of "80% AFUE" means that for every dollar you spend heating your home; 80 cents are actually applied to the generation of warmth. Compared to many of the 60% AFUE furnaces in older homes, 80% AFUE furnaces are a significant improvement. However, for enhanced energy efficiency, you may wish to consider a 95% AFUE furnace, such as Goodman's line of 95% AFUE Furnaces.
- Cleaner air - As your HVAC system draws air out of various rooms in the house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air filter, which removes airborne particles such as dust and lint. Sophisticated filters may remove microscopic pollutants, as well. The filtered air is then routed to air supply ductwork that carries it back to rooms. Whenever the HVAC system is running, this cycle repeats continually, constantly filtering and cleaning the air in your home.
- 1. This cleaning process improves with the installation of a variable-speed furnace. Variable-speed furnaces use variable-speed blowers, which shift between several speeds. These furnaces will run longer at a low speed, which causes them to filter the indoor air more frequently.
- 2. And remember - because the furnace plays an important role in the operation of the air conditioner, its variable-speed blower helps maintain both a consistent indoor temperature and improved air quality year-round.
- Possible Tax Credit - As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. government has made a provision for tax credits of up to $200 for homeowners who install furnaces with an efficiency of 95% or greater between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2007. Goodman encourages consumers to discuss these tax credits with a tax professional to see if they qualify.
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How a Heat Pump Works
Facts:
- Using electricity as its energy source, heat pumps are used for either the heating or cooling of your home by transferring heat between two reservoirs.
- In the warmer months, the heat pump acts like an air conditioner, removing heat from the air inside your home and transferring it outside.
- During colder months, heat from outdoor air is extracted and transferred to the interior of your home. Believe it or not, even a 32º Fahrenheit day produces enough heat to warm a home via a heat pump.
Benefits:
- Year-round, energy-efficient indoor comfort for moderate climates -A central heat pump helps maintain comfortable temperatures inside your home and reduces humidity levels year-round. Homes located in regions with severely cold temperatures may either require supplemental heating or be better served with an air conditioner/furnace combination.
- Cleaner air - As your heat pump system draws air out of various rooms in the house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air filter, which removes airborne particles such as dust and lint. Sophisticated filters may remove microscopic pollutants, as well. The filtered air is then routed to air supply ductwork that carries it back to rooms. Whenever the air conditioner is running, this cycle repeats continually, constantly filtering and cleaning the air in your home.
- Quieter operation - Because the compressor bearing unit of the typical central heat pump system is located outside the home, the indoor noise level from its operation is much lower than that of a free-standing air conditioning unit.
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How Central AC Works
Facts:
- The typical central air conditioning system is a split system, with an outdoor air conditioning, or "compressor bearing unit" and an indoor coil, which is usually installed on top of the furnace in the home.
- Using electricity as its power source, the compressor pumps refrigerant through the system to gather heat and moisture from indoors and remove it from the home.
- Heat and moisture are removed from the home when warm air from inside the home is blown over the cooled indoor coil. The heat in the air transfers to the coil, thereby "cooling" the air.
- The heat that has transferred to the coil is then "pumped" to the exterior of the home, while the cooled air is pumped back inside, helping to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
- Central air conditioning can also be provided through a package unit or a heat pump.
Benefits:
- Indoor comfort during warm weather - Central air conditioning helps keep your home cool and reduces humidity levels.
- Cleaner air - As your central air conditioning system draws air out of various rooms in the house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air filter, which removes airborne particles such as dust and lint. Sophisticated filters may remove microscopic pollutants, as well. The filtered air is then routed to air supply ductwork that carries it back to rooms.
- Quieter operation - Because the compressor bearing unit is located outside the home, the indoor noise level from its operation is much lower than that of a free-standing air conditioning unit.
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