Furnaces Information Center

Weekly Specials!


More Gas Furnaces...

Begin with the right system type for your home

There are 3 fundamental types of air conditioning and heating systems that are commonly used :


1. "Split System"


Approximately 90% of the homes in the US use this configuration. “Split” simply means that your equipment is split into two main components: indoor and outdoor. The outdoor section is variously referred to as a condenser, condensing unit, or simply the outdoor unit. The indoor section is also called an air handler, (all electric), furnace, (typically gas or oil), or, simply the indoor unit. If you have an air conditioner unit outside your home and an indoor unit (typically in a closet, garage space, or attic with ducting attached to it), then you have split system.

2. "Package Unit"

These systems are used primarily on mobile or modular homes or older homes on a crawl space with the ductwork beneath the floor. Occasionally package units are installed on residential flat roofs with exposed ductwork. The easiest way to determine if you have a package type system (or self-contained as they are sometimes called) is to look outside at your air conditioner.

Package units are generally large and will always have 2 large, square or round ducts connected directly to them. If you notice this, then you have a package unit. Package systems are identified on our site under “package unit” or “mobile home” selection links in blue navigation bar at the top of every page.

* Sometimes, in rare instances, the air conditioning package unit will reside outside with a separate, ducted heating unit inside, but this is very unusual and changes  nothing for our purposes of determining system type.   


3. Ductless "mini split"

These are not referred to as central air conditioners and are normally used in single-room applications such as porch enclosures, bonus rooms, music studios, etc.

This is technically a split system with a wall hung indoor unit connected to an outdoor section via refrigerant lines routed through a 3 inch hole in the wall. Multiple ductless type systems can be purchased to provide whole-house cooling where ductwork is costly, impossible, or prohibitive.

Air Conditioning Sizing Calculator







Air Conditioning Square Footage Range
by Climate Zone

ZONE 1  ZONE 2 ZONE 3 ZONE 4 ZONE 5
1.5 Tons 600 - 900 sf 600 - 950 sf 600 - 1000 sf 700 - 1050 sf 700 - 1100 sf
2 Tons 901-1200 sf 951 - 1250 sf 1001 - 1300 sf 1051 - 1350 sf 1101 - 1400 sf
2.5 Tons 1201 - 1500 sf 1251 - 1550 sf 1301 - 1600 sf 1351 - 1600 sf 1401 - 1650 sf
3 Tons 1501 - 1800 sf 1501 - 1850 sf 1601 - 1900 sf 1601 - 2000 sf 1651 - 2100 sf
3.5 Tons 1801 - 2100 sf 1851 - 2150 sf 1901 - 2200 sf 2001 - 2250 sf 2101 - 2300 sf
4 Tons 2101 - 2400 sf 2151 - 2500 sf 2201 - 2600 sf 2251 - 2700 sf 2301 - 2700 sf
5 Tons 2401 - 3000 sf 2501 - 3100 sf 2601 - 3200 sf 2751 - 3300 sf 2701 - 3300 sf

Brand Selection

Choosing a heating and air conditioning brand can be confusing, but a little information goes a long way in making the right choice. Not all brands are right for every person, every time. Price, configuration, and capabilities must factor into the decision. We polled our personal advisors and warranty fulfillment techs and came up with some facts (and opinions) about the various brands we carry that may help you decide:

Ruud / Rheem

Ships from: Southeast and Mid West

In business since: 1950's

Quality: Excellent

Limitations: Pricey in some categories but many heat pump models offer excellent value

Warranty Fulfillment: Average

Pricing points: Mid to upper end

Value: Very good

Name recognition: Well known

Availability: Very good

We have offered the brand for over 7 years and have experienced a very low warranty failure rate on the entire product line. We feel Ruud is a very good value (especially when you are considering a heat pump) and quality is top rated by the leading consumer reporting agency for 7 years in a row. Product offerings are extensive and wide ranging.

Ruud has been about average in terms of warranty part fulfillment. Most customers know either the Ruud or Rheem brand, sister companies with identical product offerings.

Goodman

Ships from: Southeast

In business since: 1984

Quality: About average

Limitations: Limited offerings in mobile home equipment

Warranty Fulfillment: Average

Pricing points: Lower end

Value: Good

Name recognition: Well known

Availability: Mostly very good

We have offered the Goodman brand for over 9 years and have experienced about average warranty failure rates. We feel Goodman is a good value and quality is about mid pack. Product offerings are extensive and wide ranging, much better than most

Goodman has been about average in terms of warranty part fulfillment. Many customers know the brand.

 

$500 Tax Credit Qualified Systems

Rebate and Tax Credit

Imagine enjoying comfort like you've never experienced before….allergen filtration…dramatic energy savings…and a federal tax credit of up to $500. You can have that and more with a new high efficiency heat pump air conditioning system.

But you must act now because this credit will expire at the end of this year.

Many of our gas heat systems meet or exceed the energy efficiency specifications of the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Program thanks in part to advanced technology.

Our systems range in capacity and consist of cooling-only, gas heat, and two-to-eight room multi-zone systems. Some of these same systems qualify for $1,500 in tax credits as energy-efficient home improvements under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Click the link below to view all Gas Furnaces that qualify for the 10% federal tax credit.

http://www.acdirect.com/taxProgram_gasF.php

Click this link for more detailed information on the Stimulus Tax Credit

http://www.acdirect.com/ economicStim.php

And, because our systems help you reduce your energy consumption in your home, you are doing your part to leave less of a footprint on the environment, all while saving money on your energy bill.

Local Utility Rebate Finder

Call our Personal Advisors with your city and utility company name and we will provide you with any local, state, federal, and utility rebates or incentives that may be available in your area. Only from AC4life. Just call toll-free 1-866-862-8922

Air Conditioning Frequently Asked Questions

Air Conditioning System Selection :

Air Conditioning System Sizing :



Air Conditioning with Gas Heat Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for Sizing:

Product Selection:

Installation & Application:

Furnace Sizing Calculator






Heating Square Footage Range by Climate Zone
ZONE 1  ZONE 2 ZONE 3 ZONE 4 ZONE 5
30 - 35 Btu's per square foot 35 - 40 Btu's per square foot 40 - 45 Btu's per square foot 45 - 50 Btu's per square foot 50 - 60 Btu's per square foot


Heating Guide

Use the lower of the two numbers if your home is well insulated and the higher number if it is older or poorly insulated. (Hint: Use the larger of the two numbers above if you're unsure of your home's insulation)

Simply multiply the appropriate factor above by your home's total heated square footage to arrive at your approximate required heating capacity. For example, if you live in the yellow zone, your home is well insulated, and you have 1900 heated square feet, the equation will look like this:

1900 square feet
X 40 heating factor (from the chart above)
76,000 Btu required to heat your home

Then, to calculate the output on a given gas furnace, multiply it's efficiency rating by it's listed input rating to determine the actual Btu output of heat. For example, if a furnace has a listed input rating of 90,000 Btu's and an efficiency rating of 80%, it will produce

90,000 Btu input
X .80 efficiency
72,000 Btu actual output

If the same 90,000 Btu furnace has an efficiency rating of 93% it will produce:
90,000 Btu input
X .93 efficiency
83,700 Btu actual output

For this example, using an 80% efficient furnace, the 1900 square foot home above would require a 90,000 Btu input furnace that produces 72,000 Btu's of heating, which is close enough to the 76,000 Btu's required using the climate heating factor.

Most furnaces are offered in 15,000-20,000 btu increments so you just need to get close in terms of sizing. If the furnace you selected is more than 10% below your heating requirement, we suggest you go up to the next size. A little under sizing or over sizing is fine, just don't over size by more than about 20% of your heating requirement, or short cycling can occur which wastes energy and reduces your comfort

If you're still unsure which system size is right for you, please e-mail us or call our toll free number at 1-866-862-8922. An experienced design technician will be happy to assist you. Your home's construction quality and insulation is unique and can greatly affect furnace sizing, so this information is intended to provide a general guideline but should not be the only consideration when selecting a furnace for your home.

(back to top)

Insulation Variables

Variables such as your insulation, type and number of windows, number of stories, construction type, etc. will greatly affect the required Btu's per square for both heating and cooling. A general rule of thumb is that if your home is well insulated with newer style windows, you can select the smaller size system that falls within your total square footage.

If your home is two story it will place less of a load on the system in the downstairs area as the second floor acts as additional insulation. If your home is not well insulated, has older style windows, and/or a larger than average number of windows, you will want to select the larger system which falls within your square footage range. The less insulated and more windows within the environment, the more likely you will experience greater air and heat loss.
(back to top)

Contact Us for More Info

If you're still unsure which system size is right for you, or if you're having difficulty downloading the Air Conditioner Size Calculator, please e-mail us or call our toll free number at 1-866-862-8922. An experienced design technician will be happy to assist you.

 


The variable speed advantage

A variable speed furnace blower provides a higher level of performance than a standard blower in that it features a high efficiency Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM) by General Electric.

This feature is important because full air delivery is only needed a small portion of the time. During lower demand times this motor reduces its speed, providing up to 4 times better humidity control in the cooling mode (when installed as part of an air conditioning system), better air distribution throughout your home, and greatly reduced operating costs.

Another important feature of a variable speed furnace is the reduction of what is referred to as "cold blow," or the cold blast of air upon heating startup. "Cold blow" results from cold air that develops in the duct system while the heat is in an off-cycle. When the furnace heater fan cycles on, this cold air is moved very quickly into your home resulting in an uncomfortable draft.

Variable speed furnaces virtually eliminate cold blow with a "soft start," or a gradual increase in fan speed over the initial 3 to 4 minutes of the on-cycle. This cold air is combined with preheated air from the furnace blower and is delivered at a slower velocity until it reaches full operating temperature. The result? Improved heating comfort and a dramatic reduction of the uncomfortable drafts associated with standard furnaces.

Better air distribution will provide a marked improvement in those areas of your home where air delivery has been a problem, such as the rooms farthest from the furnace.

In fact, a variable speed blower is so efficient that the low constant fan setting costs about the same to operate as an ordinary 75-watt household light bulb.

You and your family will appreciate the whisper-quiet operation of a variable speed furnace. The motor is among the quietest ever made and in fact, when combined with the generously applied foil-faced insulation, these are among the quietest furnaces available at any price.

The lower constant fan speed setting allows for greater removal of impurities by your furnaces' air filter. Click here to learn more about air filtration options.

Two stage - Why less is more

A two-stage furnace gas valve feature is like having two furnaces in one. When the weather is at its coldest, the furnace operates at 100% capacity in the high-stage mode. But most of the time the furnace operates at just 70% of its rated capacity in the low-stage mode, conserving energy . The two-stage gas valve runs quietly on low stage 90% of the time, producing just 25% of the normal high-fire sound while significantly reducing energy consumption.

A two-stage gas furnace saves energy and keeps your home at just the right temperature. On most days a two-stage furnace operates in its energy saving low-heat stage, delivering steady and gentle heating comfort. On the coldest days, when you need more heat, the furnace automatically switches to the “high-heat” stage to deliver maximum heating comfort. With two stages of heating, the temperature of your home stays at the comfort level you select – regardless of the outdoor conditions.

An integrated control board directs the function of the two-stage gas valve and furnace blower, efficiently maintaining the temperature of your home at the desired level. The two-stage gas valve automatically controls the flow of gas to the burner, providing “low heat” and “high heat” as needed for maximum energy efficiency.

Gas or Electric?

I currently have gas heat but because of the recent increases in gas rates would it be advisable to switch to electricity?

There is an understandable interest in finding an alternative among the millions of homeowners who presently use gas to heat their home. CNN recently reported that the price of heating a home with gas will rise by an average of 58% this winter. This is on top of large increases over the last several winters as well. This increase means that the average fuel bill will rise by over $500.00 this winter and most people simply cannot afford or don't wish to pay these huge increases.

What's the solution? Many people are turning to electric heat or heat pumps for relief. But is this always the right solution? The answer is yes and no. Heat pumps are much more efficient than straight electric heat and will cost less to operate But a heat pump is also an air conditioner so your total cost to buy and install will be higher if you have or desire heating only. The bright side is that if you install an electric furnace you will be about halfway to central air conditioning if you decide to add it later because your electric furnace and ductwork will already be in place. Simply add the proper outdoor heat pump section for a complete central air conditioning and heating system.

Electric heat is the least efficient way to heat your home if your local utility rates are about average for the country. Most homeowners are paying between .09 and .12 cents per kilowatt-hour of electric consumption. The formula for determining the cost of operation per hour for an example 10Kw electric heating element is as follows:

Determine the cost per kilowatt hour from your utility. We'll assume you pay .10 cents per kilowatt hour of electric consumption.(The actual kilowatt hour rate is posted on your utility bill)

Determine the kilowatts per hour of consumption of the heating element. In this case a 10Kw heating element consumes 10 kilowatts per hour. We know that each kilowatt hour of consumption costs .10 cents and we are using 10 units per hour so it follows that:

10 units of power consumed at .10 cents per unit = $1.00 per hour.

If you are considering or have a 15 kw heating element the formula is:

15 units of power consumed at .10 cents per unit = $1.50 per hour.

As you can see, electric heat is not exactly inexpensive to operate. However, in some areas of the country rates as low as .035 cents per kilowatt hour (3 and one half cents) are not uncommon. Let review our operating costs using this considerably lower utility rate for the two heating elements above.

10Kw heating element

10 units of power consumed at .035 cents per unit = 0.35 cents per hour

15Kw heating element

15 units of power consumed at .035 cents per unit = 0.52 cents per hour

As you can see, the total cost to operate these heating elements has been reduced from $1.00 per hour and $1.50 per hour, to .35 cents per hour and .52 cents per hour, respectively. The lower rate represents a 2/3 reduction in operating costs compared to the higher and more common rate of .10 cents per kilowatt hour.

In conclusion, before changing from gas heat to straight electric heat, do the math. Call your local utility or consult your power bill to determine your actual cost per kilowatt hour. Use the formula above to calculate your cost per hour of operation. This will help you make an informed decision and may prevent even higher heating costs from striking your home.