Air Conditioning Talk by Always Air

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: (1) quality; (2) efficiency; and (3) comfort.

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 Trane furnaces, 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. 

 
Efficiency: A furnaces efficiency rating, or AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency), tells you how efficiently the furnace uses fuel (gas or oil). In general, the higher the efficiency, the less fuel the furnace will use to heat your home.
 
Comfort: 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 Trane’s variable-capacity furnaces 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’s the deal with furnace efficiency?

Furnaces are rated by annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE. In simple terms, for every $ you send to the gas company to heat your home you receive a certain % of heat, and the rest is waste. Many furnaces older than 20 years old have an AFUE of around 65. 65 cents worth of heat, and 35 cents of waste. Furnaces today have AFUE’s as high as 96.7. A furnace with the efficiency can save a tremendous amount of money on heating bills. It also qualifies for a tax credit of up to $1500.00!

Call Always Air today for a free, no obligation estimate to see just how much money you can save. We are still offering a FREE Trane furnace with the purchase of high efficiency of a high efficiency air conditioner.  Remember, It’s Hard to Stop a Trane, and it’s hard to beat Always Air! Don’t delay, call Always Air today at 481-1622.

What is your furnace’s biggest enemy?

Dirt is the biggest enemy of your furnace. It can waste fuel and drastically lower efficiency. Dirt affects all three basic components of your furnace, so cleaning is the most important part of regular maintenance. The three parts of the furnace should be cleaned: the filter system, the blower, and the motor.  The furnace filter should be replaced or cleaned at the beginning of the heating season and about once a month during periods of continuous use.

To check the filter, take it out and hold it up to the light. If it looks clogged, replace it with a new filter of the same type and size regardless of the length of time it has been used.   A disposable furnace filter consists of a fiber mesh in a cardboard frame. The size of the filter is printed on the edge of the frame. An arrow on the edge of the frame indicates the correct direction of airflow through the filter. Air flows from the return-air duct toward the blower, so the arrow on the filter should point away from the return-air duct and toward the blower. 

Here at Always Air we have a program to help you. We call it preventive maintnence.  This is where Always Air will come out and clean your furnace and make sure it is running correctly.  In the spring, we will come back and clean your air conditioner for no additional charge. While we are cleaning of your heating and air conditioning system, Always Air will also change you air filters for you. 

Customers who sign up for preventative maintenance will also receive 10% off all parts through out the year and have priority on all service calls.   If you have not had your furnace serviced this year, please give Always Air a call at 481-1622 and we will take care of all your heating and air conditioning  needs in the Tulsa area.

What is SEER?

I’m sure you’ve heard all the talk about air conditoner efficiency.  Air conditioner efficiency is rated by Seasonal Energy Efficiency rating or SEER.  SEER ratings are really quite simple.  SEER  is to air conditioning as fuel efficiency is to cars.  Simply put, the higher the SEER, the more efficient the air conditioner. 

In 2006 congress mandated minimm efficiency standards for central air conditioners.  13 SEER is the minimum allowed by law today.  SEER ratings range from 13 to 20 seer, with 20 being the best.  For more informaiton on energy efficiency, contact Always Air at 481-1622.  Don’t forget our free Trane furnace promotion which ends Feb. 28th. Its hard to stop a trane, and its hard to beat Always Air!

More Winter Weather Coming?

It looks like another round of winter weather is on its way to Oklahoma.  Always Air is here to help you through all the bad weather this area is known for.  If you get in a bind, please call 481-1622.  Our number is answered by a live person 24 hours a day,  7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.  Always Air is also offering a free Trane furnace with the purchase of a Trane XL air conditioner.  Don’t forget the tax credit of $1,500.00 is available with this offer.  The tax credit is here for the entire year, but the free furnace goes away February 28th.  Don’t delay, call Always Air today at 481-1622.

Trane Comfort Specialist

Thursday February 4, 2010 

Always Air is proud to be a Trane comfort specialist to help you with all of your heating and cooling needs.  Now is a good time to buy a new Trane system, because you can receive a $1500 tax credit.  You can also receive a free furnace with the purchase of a Trane XL air conditioner.  This offer is good until February 28, 2010.

Call Always Air now for all the details – 918-481-1622.

Welcome

Tuesday February 2, 2010       Ground Hog Day

Today is my first day to start this blog, each day I’ll be writing in just a few days about air conditioning or heating in Tulsa Oklahoma.  Today it is not extremely hot or extremely cold, so most are not thinking about their furnace, unless something is not working.  We have lots of heating and air conditioning specials this month.  Wouldn’t you like a free furnace?  Trane has an awesome program happening.  Give Always Air a call at 918-481-1622, and we’ll tell you all the details.