Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most common questions homeowners ask about heating and
air conditioning systems. Just click on the question that interests you to
go directly to the answer.
Q: Why should I replace my existing heating or air conditioning
system?
A: You may wish to consider replacing your air
conditioning or heating system if it is old, inefficient or in
need of repair. Today's systems are as much as 60% more efficient
than those systems manufactured as little as ten years ago. In
addition, if not properly maintained, wear and tear on a system
can reduce the actual or realized efficiency of the system. If
you are concerned about utility bills or are faced with an expensive
repair, you may want to consider replacing your system rather than
enduring another costly season or paying to replace an expensive
component. The utility cost savings of a new unit may provide an
attractive return on your investment. If you plan on financing
the purchase, the monthly savings on your utility bill should be
considered when determining the actual monthly cost of replacing
a system. The offsetting savings may permit you to purchase a more
efficient system.
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Q: How expensive are air conditioning and heat pump systems?
A: Many factors affect the cost of a heating or air conditioning
system, including the size of your home, the type and condition of the ductwork
installed and accessories you might need such as a thermostat or an electronic
air cleaner. We have a complete range of systems and accessories available
to meet all your needs, including your financial ones! Your local dealer will
be happy to assist you in finding the right system to meet not only your comfort
needs but also your household budget.
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Q: How do I select the right heating/cooling system?
A: First, make sure the unit is properly sized. Your York
dealer will provide a load calculation for your home. Also ask the dealer to
provide an energy analysis to determine operating cost. Next, consider any
comfort issues in the home. Some products can reduce air stratification and
uneven temperatures from room to room. If you have allergies, an indoor unit
with an ECM motor will allow you to circulate the air in your home continuously
while filtering the air for about the same cost as operating a standard light
bulb. Finally, know your budget parameters and the efficiency of the system
being proposed. Does the system offer a payback? In other words, will the monthly
savings over time offset the cost of the new unit or efficiency option being
considered?
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Q: What is involved in replacing an old system?
A: Aside from the placement of the new equipment, your York
dealer will inspect several items and make a determination of whether or not
these items need to be supplied or replaced. Some of the items include: 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.
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Q: What is involved in installing a new system?
A: If a system is being added to the home for the first time,
most of the items noted in the previous question and answer may be required
to install the new system. Besides the equipment, the most significant component
is ductwork. The ductwork can be either metal or fiberglass ductwork. The ductwork
needs to be properly sized to deliver the right amount of air to each room.
The ductwork consists of supply and return ductwork. The supply duct is attached
to the outlet of the furnace or air handler and delivers air to individual
zones in your home. Your York dealer will determine the size of the ductwork
going into a space by the amount of air that needs to be delivered to the space.
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Q: How long can I expect a new system to last?
A: If you have a qualified technician perform regular preventative
maintenance and service suggested for your unit, industry averages suggest
that an air conditioner should last 12-15 years (sea coast applications may
be less) and a gas furnace should last as many as 20-25 years.
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Q: What are some preventative maintenance things I should be aware of?
A: With the proper attention, heating and cooling systems
can keep you comfortable year-round. Heat pumps and oil-fired furnaces and
boilers need a yearly professional tune-up. Gas-fired equipment, on the other
hand, burns cleaner and can be serviced every other year. A close inspection
will uncover leaks, soot, rust, rot, corroded electrical contacts and frayed
wires. In furnace (forced-air) and boiler (hot-water) systems, the inspection
should also cover the chimney, ductwork or pipes, dampers or valves, blower
or pump, registers or radiators, the fuel line and the gas meter or oil tank-as
well as every part of the furnace or boiler itself.
Next, the system should
be run through a full heating cycle to ensure that it has plenty of combustion
air and chimney draft. Finally, cleaning the burner and heat exchanger to
remove soot and other gunk will prevent such buildup from impeding
smooth operation. For the burner, efficiency hinges on adjusting
the flame to the right size and color, adjusting the flow of gas
or changing the fuel filter in an oil-fired system. A check of the
heat pump should include an inspection of the compressor, fan, indoor
and outdoor coils and refrigerant lines. Indoor and outdoor coils
should be cleaned, and the refrigerant pressure should be checked.
Blower
Tuning up the distribution side of a forced-air system starts with the
blower. The axle should be lubricated; blades cleaned and lower motor checked
to insure the unit isn't being overloaded. The fan belt should be adjusted
so it deflects no more than an inch when pressed. Every accessible joint
in the ductwork should be sealed with mastic or UL-approved duct tapes.
Any ducts that run outside the heated space should be insulated. On a hot-water
system, the expansion tank should be drained, the circulating pump cleaned
and lubricated and air bled out of the radiators.
Thermostat
While thermostats rarely fail outright, they can degrade over time as mechanical
parts stick or lose their calibration. Older units will send faulty signals
if they've been knocked out of level or have dirty switches. To recalibrate
an older unit, use a wrench to adjust the nut on the back of the mercury
switch until it turns the system on and, using a room thermometer, set
it to the correct temperature. Modern electronic thermostats, sealed at
the factory to keep out dust and grime, rarely need adjusting. However,
whether your thermostat is old or young, the hole where the thermostat
wire comes through the wall needs to be caulked or a draft could trick
it into thinking the room is warmer or colder than it really is.
Humidifier
A neglected in-duct humidifier can breed mildew and bacteria, not to mention
add too much moisture to a house. A common mistake with humidifiers is leaving
them on after the heating season ends. Don't forget to pull the plug, shut
the water valve and drain the unit. A unit with a water reservoir should
be drained and cleaned with white vinegar, a mix of one part chlorine bleach
to eight parts water or muriatic acid. Mist-type humidifiers also require
regular cleaning to remove mineral deposits.
Filters
Most houses with forced-air furnaces have a standard furnace filter made
from loosely woven spun-glass fibers designed to keep it and its ductwork
clean. Unfortunately, they don't improve indoor air quality. That takes
a media filter, which sits in between the main return duct and the blower
cabinet. Made of a deeply pleated, paper-like material, media filters are
at least seven times better than a standard filter at removing dust and
other particles. An upgrade to a pleated media filter will cleanse the
air of everything from insecticide dust to flu viruses. Compressed, media
filters are usually no wider than six inches, but the pleated material
can cover up to 75 square feet when stretched out. This increased area
of filtration accounts for the filter's long life, which can exceed two
years. The only drawback to a media filter is its tight weave, which can
restrict a furnace's ability to blow air through the house. To insure a
steady, strong airflow through the house, choose a filter that matches
your blower's capacity.
Duct Cleaning
Inside the walls and floors of 80 percent of American homes run a maze
of heating and air conditioning ducts that connect each room to the furnace.
As the supply ducts blow air into the rooms, return ducts inhale airborne
dust and suck it back into the blower. Add moisture to this mixture and
you've got a breeding ground for allergy-inducing molds, mites and bacteria.
Many filters commonly used today can't keep dust and debris from streaming
into the air and over time sizable accumulations can form-think dust bunnies,
but bigger.
To find out if your ducts need cleaning, pull off some supply and return
registers and take a look. If a new furnace is being installed, you should
probably invest in a duct cleaning at the same time, because chances are
the new blower will be more powerful than the old one and will stir up a
lot of dust.
Professional duct cleaners tout such benefits as cleaner indoor
air, longer equipment life and lower energy costs. Clean HVAC systems can
also perform more efficiently, which may decrease energy costs, and last
longer, reducing the need for costly replacement or repairs. Cleaning has
little effect on air quality, primarily because most indoor dust drifts
in from the outdoors. But it does get rid of the stuff that mold
and bacteria grow on, and that means less of it gets airborne, a
boon to allergy sufferers.
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Q: Should I change my indoor coil?
A: When replacing your air conditioner or heat pump, the
answer is most likely yes. The efficiency ratings that are advertised for
an air conditioner or heat pump are based on the performance as part of
a matched system. If only the outdoor portion is changed, the efficiency
and savings could be less than that of a matched system.
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Q: Where do I get replacement parts?
A: Contact us for help obtaining replacement
parts.
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Q: What is covered in my warranty?
A: All York products come with a written limited warranty
on parts. This warranty states that a replacement part will be furnished
for any part of the product that fails in normal use and service during
the applicable warranty period specified in accordance with the warranty's
terms.
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