When should I repair older equipment and when do I need to replace it ? When you're frustrated with an equipment break-down, it can be tempting to find the least expensive "quick fix" to get on with your life in relative comfort. That "quick fix" may be the least expensive now, but it may not give you the most value - or cost you the least - in the long run.  Paying for repairs to an old or inefficient system often simply prolongs the inevitable. It's almost like putting a bandage on a serious injury. An older system that breaks down once is likely to break down again ... and again. That means more emergency service calls or, worse yet, the risk of damage to your home or to other components of your heating and cooling system.  There's also an ongoing cost factor to consider. Restoring your old system will only bring it back to its current level of energy efficiency. After you've recovered from the repair bills and the frustration of system breakdowns, you still won't save on your energy bills.  Even six-year-old heat pumps and air conditioners are considered grossly inefficient by today's energy efficiency standards. So are most furnaces built before 1980. So you could save up to 60% on your energy bills with new high-efficiency equipment. That's why installing a new heating and cooling system can actually pay for itself in energy savings within a relatively short time. Looking at the Big Picture.  When one component of your system breaks down unexpectedly, it's easy to just focus on repairing or replacing that component. But each part of your system works with the others to boost efficiency and reliability, so it helps to keep the big picture in mind.  Replacing your old furnace with a new higher-efficiency model but leaving your old mechanical thermostat in place, for example, won't allow you to enjoy all the efficiency advantages the furnace has to offer. Likewise, if you install a new furnace but don't get a humidifier, the air will seem cooler, forcing you to operate your new system at a higher temperature to be comfortable. Plus, you can often save on installation costs if you have several components of your system (for example, a furnace and an air conditioner) replaced at the same time. When Replacing The Outdoor Unit Of An Air Conditioner, Should The Indoor Unit Also Be Replaced? 
The answer is most likely YES, and here are the reasons why! Matched System Design, Design Advances, Higher Cooling And Heating Efficiency, Equipment Age, New Warranty, You may find it cheaper... Matched System Design All air conditioner outdoor units are specifically designed to work with matched indoor units for optimum efficiency and performance. The result of this matched system is a coordinated, top-performance team that ensures the dependability and high efficiency today’s applications require.  Air conditioner outdoor units may "work" with indoor units other than those for which they have been specifically designed... however, the result is a definite compromise in system performance. Design Advances Through the years, indoor blower coil units have undergone numerous design advances – especially in the areas of air handling performance, filtering efficiency and operating sound levels. A new outdoor unit will also include the latest design advances. Higher Cooling and Heating Efficiency The cooling and/or heating efficiency ratings that are advertised for an air conditioner are based on their performance as matched systems.  While changing only the outdoor unit may result in improved efficiency compared to the old system, it will not be as efficient as it was designed to be and your savings will be lower than with a matched system. Equipment Age If an air conditioner outdoor unit is 10 years old and needs to be replaced, the indoor unit is just as old and has been subjected to the same amount of wear and tear.  Replacing both units means you won’t have to replace the indoor unit in a short time...you’ll have years of service from both units. New Warranty A new unit also gives you a new product warranty. Replacing the indoor unit at the same time as the outdoor unit results in peace of mind, knowing the new warranty covers the entire system. A Bargain? At first glance, replacing only an air conditioner outdoor unit may appear to be a bargain. But when you consider the lower cooling and heating efficiencies, decreased reliability and the high cost of ownership that results, it’s not such a bargain after all! Replacing an entire air conditioner system costs more, but you get more...efficiency, reliability and comfort. How does a humidifier work? Controlling humidity can not only affect how comfortable you feel, it can actually save you money on your monthly energy bills.  Our bodies "feel" heat as a combination of temperature and humidity. In other words, the more humid the air, the warmer it feels. So if you add humidity to dry, heated air in the winter with an April-Air humidifier, you can set your thermostat lower and still be comfortable - while you save money on your utility bills.  A humidifier can also help prevent dry, cracked skin, make it easier to breathe, protect your woodwork and reduce static electricity. It can even make you less susceptible to sore throats and winter colds.  Humidifiers operate on the basis of a simple concept. Air heated by your furnace or heat pump passes through a ceramic-coated pad in your humidifier, called an evaporator pad. The air absorbs moisture from the water-soaked pad and becomes water vapor that humidifies the heated air that is circulated throughout your home. Most humidifiers feature an adjustable humidistat so you can control the exact amount of moisture in the air. The proper amount of moisture depends on the outdoor temperature and other factors; your owner's manual has recommendations for the best settings for your conditions.  Click here for more information. What kind of system do I need to keep my home comfortable? Since most of us spend the majority of our time indoors, it makes sense to have an indoor environment that's healthy and comfortable.  While your home may have unique needs, the best way to insure your comfort and health is to have your heating and cooling system provide the right balance of heating, air conditioning, air cleaning and humidification. No other single system plays a larger part in how much you enjoy your time at home or in how much you pay out to utility companies each month. Hot News, Cool Stuff For most of us, comfort starts with keeping our home the right temperature, whether that's toasty warm on bone-chilling winter nights, or pleasantly cool in the dog days of summer. Maintaining the perfect temperature is the job of your heating and cooling equipment.  Today's heating systems are more efficient and reliable than ever, but heating is still the single largest energy expense in most homes. In northern climates, it may account for up to two-thirds of the energy budget. So it's important to understand what kind of system will give you both comfort and affordability.   Gas-fired furnaces provide warm, even heat throughout your home by circulating heated air through ducts. Today's furnaces are far more efficient than they were even a decade ago.  On those sweltering days of summer, air conditioners provide cooling relief by taking heat from inside your home and moving it outside. In the process, they remove humidity from the air so you feel even cooler. New technology has made today's air conditioners quieter, more reliable and more efficient than ever before. Right on the Money Thermostats help your heating and cooling equipment maintain the optimal temperature setting with the utmost energy efficiency. Today's electronic models are a vast departure from earlier mechanical styles. Microprocessors allow you to program your home temperatures to suit your lifestyle, so you can keep things comfortable while you're home and automatically set back your temperatures to save energy when you're away or sleeping. That keeps you comfortable all the way to the bank. Breathe Easier Today's "tighter" homes are built to be more energy-efficient, and many seal in air as effectively as they keep the weather out. That may sound good at first, but it also means that air quickly gets stale. Plus, dust and other pollutants circulate throughout your home, settling on furniture, drapes, your heating and cooling equipment or, worse yet, your lungs. Today's high-efficiency air cleaners offer trouble-free, low-maintenance cleaning that will remove up to 95% of all airborne particles and make your home environment healthier and more comfortable. How Dry I Am Winter takes its toll on your indoor environment. The warm, dry air from your furnace can damage wood moldings and furniture and sap your skin of its natural moisture. It even makes you feel colder because your body senses heat as a combination of temperature and humidity. If you add humidity with a humidifier, you can actually set your thermostat a few degrees lower. You'll feel just as warm, but you'll notice the difference on your utility bills! Plus, you'll replenish much-needed moisture to your home, making it a healthier, more comfortable place to spend your time.  No matter what climate you live in, you'll find the best combination of comfort and energy savings with a complete indoor comfort system.  Today's energy-efficient components work together to give you precise temperature control, healthy air and the right level of humidity - and the savings on your utility bill might just make you the most comfortable of all.  Click here for more information. What should I look for in a new furnace? The three most important factors to evaluate when you're considering purchasing a new furnace are: Quality
 Efficiency
 Comfort features Quality When you buy a new car, the quality of it helps determine how well it will perform and for how long. A furnace is really no different. Purchasing a brand name that has a reputation for quality and reliability can save you headaches and extra expense down the road.  New furnaces by LENNOX, for example, undergo a rigorous series of quality tests and checks during production, with many of the tests being performed on every unit - not just on random samples. Plus, we back every furnace in writing, with a written warranty on the heat exchanger (the heart of the furnace) and the entire unit. Furnace Efficiency A furnace's efficiency rating, or AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency), tells you how efficiently the furnace uses fuel. In general, the higher the efficiency, the less fuel the furnace will use to heat your home. In 1992, the government established a minimum AFUE rating for furnaces installed in new homes at 78%. In contrast, many furnaces manufactured before 1992 had AFUE ratings as low as 60%.   Mid-efficiency furnaces, also known as non-condensing or induced draft furnaces, offer efficiencies from 78% to about 80%. High-efficiency furnaces, also called condensing or sealed combustion furnaces, offer AFUE ratings from 90% to about 96%.  Usually, the higher the efficiency, the more expensive the furnace. Paitson professionals can use heating data from our area to help us determine about how long it would take you to recover the additional cost in energy savings. Of course, after the payback, you continue to save on your energy bills for the life of the system. Heating Comfort Features Some mid- and high-efficiency furnaces offer additional features that provide greater comfort (as well as additional energy savings). Two-speed furnaces can run on low speed up to 90% of the time, so they operate more quietly and run for longer periods of time than single-speed furnaces. Longer operating periods translate into fewer on/off cycles, fewer drafts and much smaller temperature swings -- only one or two degrees instead of the four-degree swings common with single-speed furnaces. Plus, better air circulation helps prevent air "stratification" - warm air rising to the ceiling and cold air settling on the floor. In short, you get consistent, even heat throughout your home.  Variable-capacity furnaces provide the ultimate combination of comfort, efficiency and quiet performance. In addition to the benefits of two-speed furnaces, they offer "smart" motors than can monitor your home's comfort needs and automatically adjust the volume and speed of air to provide the most efficient heating or cooling. They offer added electrical efficiency as well: the "smart" fan motors on some models sold by Paitson Bros. use less electricity than a 100-watt light bulb. They operate so efficiently that they can actually increase the efficiency rating of your central air conditioning system and offer you added energy savings when you use continuous fan operation in any season. What should I look for in a new air conditioner? While air conditioners require the use of some different components in your heating and cooling system, the three most important factors you should evaluate are essentially the same: quality, efficiency, and comfort features. Quality and Efficiency When you purchase a new car, the quality of it helps determine how well it will perform and for how long. An air conditioner is really no different. Purchasing a brand name that has a reputation for quality and reliability can save you headaches and extra expense down the road.  New LENNOX air conditioners and split systems, for example, undergo 34 quality tests and checks during production, with more than 20 of these being performed on every unit - not just on random samples. Plus, we back every air conditioner in writing, with a 5-year limited warranty on the compressor (some deluxe models have 10) and a one-year limited warranty on the parts.  Efficiency Cooling efficiency for air conditioners is indicated by a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, which tells you how efficiently the unit uses electricity. In general, the higher the SEER, the less electricity the unit will use to cool your home. In 1992, the government established minimum efficiency standards for units installed in new homes at 10.0 SEER. Most air conditioners manufactured before 1992 had SEER ratings below 7.0.   Air conditioners manufactured today have SEER ratings that range from 10.0 to about 17.  Usually, the higher the efficiency, the more expensive the unit. Your Paitson professional can use cooling data from our area to help you determine about how long it would take you to recover the additional cost in energy savings. Of course, after the payback, you continue to save on your energy bills for the life of the system.  One other point to keep in mind is that your air conditioner is a "split system," which means that there is an outdoor unit (condenser) and an indoor unit (coil). If you're replacing an existing system, both units should be replaced to make sure your new condensing unit gives you optimal performance, efficiency and comfort. Cooling Comfort Features Some air conditioners offer additional features that provide greater comfort (as well as additional energy savings). Two-speed units can run on low speed (using 50% of the energy) up to 80% of the time, so they operate more quietly and run for longer periods of time than single-speed models. Longer operating periods translate into fewer on/off cycles, fewer drafts and much smaller temperature swings -- only two or three degrees instead of the four-degree swings common with single-speed units. Plus, better air circulation helps prevent air "stratification" - warm air rising to the ceiling and cold air settling on the floor. In short, you get consistent, even cooling throughout your home.  If you purchase a multi-speed or variable-capacity furnace or fan coil with your unit, you will enhance both the comfort and the efficiency of your air conditioning system even further. How do I compare the performance of heating and cooling products? There are basically three ways you can compare the performance of different models and brands by:

 How much energy they use to heat or cool your home (Efficiency)
 How much you notice their presence (Sound Levels)
 How they make you feel (Comfort). Efficiency and Furnaces The efficiency of a furnace is measured in a rating known as AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). A lot like your car's miles per gallon rating, AFUE tells you how efficiently the furnace converts fuel into heat. An AFUE of 80% means that 80% of the fuel is used to heat your home, while the other 20% basically goes up the chimney.  In 1992, the government established a minimum AFUE rating for furnaces installed in new homes at 78%. (In contrast, many furnaces manufactured before 1992 had AFUE ratings as low as 60% - so nearly half the fuel was being wasted.) Furnaces with AFUE ratings of 78% to 80% are considered "mid-efficiency"; those with ratings of 90% or higher are known as "high efficiency." The maximum furnace efficiency available is around 96.6%.  In general, the higher the efficiency of the furnace, the more it will cost but the less fuel it will use to heat your home. If you have an older furnace (with an AFUE of about 60%), you could save up to 60% on your heating bills by replacing it with a new high-efficiency furnace. So the cost to replace your old, inefficient furnace is paid back through lower utility bills.  If you live in a cold climate, you could see a payback in a few short years. If you live in a moderate climate, it might make more sense to purchase a mid-efficiency furnace. Your Paitson professional can use heating data from our area to help us determine about how long it would take you to recover the additional cost of a high-efficiency model in energy savings. (Of course, after the payback, you continue to save on your energy bills for the life of the system.) Efficiency of Air Conditioners Cooling efficiency for air conditioners is indicated by a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, which tells you how efficiently a unit uses electricity. The higher the number, the greater the efficiency.  The typical SEER rating of units manufactured prior to 1992 is about 6.0. In 1992, the government established the minimum cooling efficiency standard for units installed in new homes at 10.0 SEER. High-efficiency units have a SEER of at least 12.0; the maximum available is about 17.  As with furnaces, higher efficiency in air conditioners usually means higher cost but lower utility bills. Ask your Paitson professional to help you determine about how long it would take you to recover the additional cost in energy savings. Of course, after the payback, you continue to save on your energy bills.  There's one other factor that affects the efficiency of your air conditioning system: the indoor coil. (Your air conditioner is a "split system," which means that there is an outdoor unit, or condenser, and an indoor unit, or evaporator coil.) If your condensing unit is not matched with the proper indoor coil, it may not give you the stated SEER ratings and could even develop performance problems. (It's kind of like putting two new tires on one side of your car and leaving the old, worn-out ones on the other side. You'd probably be disappointed with both the performance and the miles per gallon you get.)  When you're replacing an existing system, make sure you replace both units so your new condensing unit will give you optimal performance, efficiency and comfort.  Air Conditioner Sound Levels There's a good chance you won't ever think about the sound level of your air conditioner... until, that is, you try to enjoy a quiet conversation with some friends in your back yard. Sometimes noise from condensing (outdoor) units even interferes with your peace and quiet indoors, so it's a factor you should at least look at when you're comparing different models.  The sound level of outdoor units is measured in bels (similar to decibels), on a scale from 0 (barely perceptible sound) to 13 (the threshold of pain). Most air conditioners operate at 8 to 9 bels; some units' ratings are as low as 6.8. That may not sound like a wide range, but consider this: 9 bels sounds 10 times louder than 8 bels. That means one 9-bel air conditioner is as loud as 10 units rated at 8 bels. So we think taking the time to compare bel ratings is pretty sound advice. Furnace Sound Levels There isn't a standard sound rating system for furnaces like the bel system for condensing units, so it's difficult to compare models.  However, models that have two-speed or variable-speed operation typically also offer lower operating sound levels, because there is less noise from the blower motor and from air turbulence at lower speeds. Some of LENNOX’s variable-capacity models even have a "ramp-up" feature that gradually introduces warm air into your ducts, helping prevent the "creaking" noises that come from ducts expanding and contracting.  Since two-speed and variable-capacity models normally run on "low" speed up to 90% of the time, you'll find they're a sound solution when you want to enjoy peace and quiet. Comfort Features For furnaces, the same features of multi-capacity models that provide lower sound levels also enhance your comfort. By operating on low speed up to 90% of the time, two-speed furnaces run for longer periods of time than single-speed furnaces. That means fewer on/off cycles, fewer drafts (from the blower kicking on) and much smaller temperature swings only one or two degrees instead of the four-degree swings common with single-speed furnaces. Plus, better air circulation helps prevent air "stratification" - warm air rising to the ceiling and cold air settling on the floor. In short, you get consistent, even heat throughout your home.   Variable-capacity furnaces also offer "smart" motors than can monitor your home's comfort needs and automatically adjust the volume and speed of air to provide the greatest comfort and the most efficient heating or cooling. They provide the ultimate combination of comfort, efficiency and quiet performance. Some air conditioners offer additional features that provide greater comfort.  Two-speed units can run on low speed (using 50% of the energy) up to 80% of the time, so they offer the same benefits as multi-capacity furnaces - fewer on/off cycles, fewer drafts and much smaller temperature swings. You also get better air circulation, for even, consistent cooling and/or heating throughout your home. Plus, if you purchase a multi-speed or variable-capacity furnace or fan coil with your unit, you will enhance both the comfort and the efficiency of your air conditioning system even further. Why do I need to "match" my condensing unit and outdoor coil? Imagine you have four old, worn-out tires on your car and you decide you only want to replace two of them. You can still drive your car, but you'll soon be disappointed with the inconsistent handling and the poor mileage you get. The unmatched tires simply aren't capable of the same level of performance. You could have these same kinds of problems with comfort and efficiency if the components of your central air conditioning system are not properly matched. It Takes Teamwork Your central air conditioning system is a split system. That means it consist of two parts:  and indoor unit (coil) and outdoor (condensing) unit. These two parts are specifically designed to work together as a coordinated "team" to provide top performance and maximum efficiency and comfort. Plus, since both components are necessary for a working system, both parts of your existing system were originally installed at the same time - which means they both wear out at the same time. So if you install a new outdoor unit, be sure to include a new, equally efficient "matched" indoor unit. When a Bargain's Not a Bargain If you don't replace your indoor unit, you won't be getting what you paid for. In fact, your system could be up to 15% less efficient than stated - and you'll be less comfortable, too. That's why simply replacing just the outdoor unit isn't a bargain in the long run.  Replacing the outdoor unit but leaving the old indoor unit may offer you the lowest price, but it won't give you the best value. At best, when your air conditioning components don't match, you'll be sacrificing comfort. The system may still "work," but it won't perform up to the promised energy efficiency. Over time, this will also cost you more money. At worst, when the components aren't matched, it could create undue stress on your cooling system, resulting in unnecessary, premature failure. Matched Systems Mean Maximum Satisfaction When you consider the sacrifices and the added costs of repairing or replacing these unmatched units, installing a matched system the first time around makes good sense. You'll get higher efficiencies, greater reliability and more comfort. And that's a real bargain. What should I ask before I purchase a system? Quality & Reliability When you buy a new car, the quality of it helps determine how well it will perform and for how long. A heating and cooling system is really no different. Purchasing a brand name that has a reputation for quality and reliability can save you headaches and extra expense down the road. Efficiency Ratings Make sure you ask your us about the efficiency rating for the furnace, or air conditioner.  It will tell you how efficiently the unit uses fuel(gas or electricity). Furnace efficiency is measured as AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency), and ratings range from 78% to about 96.6%. Furnaces with AFUE ratings from 78% to 80% are considered mid-efficiency; ones with AFUE ratings above 90% are considered high-efficiency.  Air conditioners have cooling efficiency ratings from 10 to 17 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio).  One other point to keep in mind is that your air conditioner is a "split system," which means that there is an outdoor unit (condenser) and an indoor unit (evaporator coil). If you're replacing an existing system, both units should be replaced to make sure your new condensing unit gives you optimal performance, efficiency and comfort.  In general, the higher the efficiency of the unit, the more it will cost but the less fuel it will use to heat or cool your home. So the cost to replace your old, inefficient unit (or to move up to a higher efficiency model) is paid back through lower utility bills. The Right System for Comfort For the optimal combination of comfort and efficiency, a total comfort system is your best bet. By matching a furnace and air conditioner with the right products for air cleaning, ventilation, humidity and system control, you can make your home a much more comfortable place to spend your time and save money on your energy bills. Warranties  For your peace of mind, be sure to ask your us about the manufacturer's warranty that comes with your new heating and cooling system. You should particularly ask about the length of time your equipment is covered and what specific components are included under the warranty.  You may also want to ask your us about the availability of service agreements and maintenance agreements, two ways to keep your equipment in peak operating condition and provide insurance against unforeseen repair costs. 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