FAQ

I need to replace my air conditioner, but my furnace works just fine. Is it true they need to be replaced at the same time?

Think of your air conditioner and furnace as part of a total system. That system will work better, longer and more efficiently if all of its components are matched in capacity and efficiency. By the same token, a mismatched system — one that mixes old technology with new — could decrease system performance and overall comfort.

For example, your new air conditioner will be rated with a specific SEER efficiency rating. If you’re existing furnace and indoor coil don't match in efficiency and capacity, you might not get the efficiency level you paid for. Plus, an older indoor coil may even be dirty and clogged with particles, meaning more energy will be required to push air
through the system.

Why are rating numbers important?

Rating numbers indicate the efficiency of heating and air conditioning equipment and are directly related to the amount of energy a specific model uses. The higher the rating, the more efficient the product, and the lower your energy bills can be. The federal government establishes rating guidelines and sets minimum efficiency levels. For cooling, the rating is SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). For heat pumps, the rating is HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). Gas furnaces are rated with AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency).

What's the difference between a manufacturer's limited warranty and an extended warranty?

A manufacturer's limited warranty is the warranty that a product leaves the factory with. Typically, it covers specific parts for a limited period of time. Details on limited warranty coverage can be found in your system's Owner’s Manual.

Extended warranties are optional and are generally purchased at the same time as the equipment. Optional extended warranties cover all parts and may even include labor. There are a variety of optional extended warranties to choose from, but all are designed to offer long-term peace of mind.

My children have allergies. Is there a way to improve the quality of air inside my home?

For people who suffer from allergens, we recommend the AccuClean™ Whole Home Air Filtration System. It can clean up to an astonishing 99.98% of allergens from the filtered air that your family breathes. With AccuClean™, the majority of irritating particles like dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, most tobacco smoke, cooking grease, even bacteria, will be removed from the filtered air. In fact, AccuClean™ removes 100 times more allergens than the standard 1" throwaway filters that come with most systems.

How can I control my energy costs?

Controlling energy costs starts with your thermostat. You can save about three percent of your heating costs for every degree you lower your thermostat during the winter.* and for every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer, you can cut cooling costs up to six percent.

Just as important, your system's components should have the highest possible energy efficiency ratings. Make sure your components meet the following minimums:

• Air conditioners: SEER ratings of 13 or higher.
• Furnaces: AFUE ratings of 80 or higher.
• Heat pumps: HSPF ratings of 7 or higher.

Select American Standard air conditioners, furnace and heat pumps have ratings of up to 18.9 SEER, 93 AFUE and 9.2 HSPF, respectively. Having a matched system at home will also help. Every component in a matched system is designed to be matched in capacity and efficiency. That way you can enjoy the highest system efficiency possible.

Lastly, if you're shopping for a new heating and air conditioning system, consider a high-efficiency variable speed system. Variable speed means your system varies its speed depending on your home's heating and cooling requirements. It makes sure you get the amount of heating or cooling you need without wasting energy.

*Potential energy savings may vary depending on your personal lifestyle, system settings, equipment maintenance, local climate, actual construction and installation of equipment and duct system.

How do I know what size system I need for my home?

One of the first things we will do is conduct a complete energy analysis of your home. By measuring windows and checking insulation, ductwork and building materials, and reviewing a variety of other factors, he can determine the right size system and equipment for your home. He'll even ask you questions about your existing comfort challenges, and make recommendations.

I put a lot of effort into making my home comfortable. What difference will the quality of my indoor air make?

There's a lot about indoor air quality that you might not know and certainly can't see. Up to 72 trillion microscopic irritants, or allergens, find their way into your home every day. They include dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, most tobacco smoke, cooking grease and bacteria. Many of these particles are so small
that your nose and throat can't filter them out, and they can get deep into your lungs.

Isn't my indoor air already clean?

Actually, studies show that indoor air can be five times more polluted than outdoor air. Exposure to indoor air pollutants has increased in recent years, due to factors like these:

Today's homes are better insulated and more tightly sealed than ever before, sealing in humidity, smoke, dust and other pollutants.

Use of synthetic building materials and furnishings and household cleaners has increased.

The Environmental Protection Agency ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health.

What about ionic-type room air cleaners or throwaway air filters?

Ionic-type room air cleaners are only effective within a certain radius. And buying one for each room at a cost of $300 to $500 a piece can be cost-prohibitive. Most home heating and cooling systems are equipped with standard 1" throwaway filters, but they're designed
primarily to protect your system from being damaged by larger particles, not to protect your lungs from the smaller ones. And HEPA filters can clog, reducing airflow throughout your system.

What's the difference between these and a whole home air cleaner?

A whole home air cleaner, like American Standard AccuClean™, works as part of your heating and cooling system. That means it's designed to clean the air in every room of your home. The unique patented filtration technology has the highest efficiency of any air cleaner on the market. Get ready for the cleanest, most comfortable indoor air you've ever experienced.

Is it true that AccuClean™ can help protect me from the flu?

Reducing your family’s exposure to viruses in the air that they breathe indoors is an important precaution you can take during flu season and all year round.

AccuClean™ removes over 99% of the common flu virus from the filtered air in your home, according to new research conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, in collaboration with scientists at Environmental Health and Engineering Inc., (EH&E).

During flu season and throughout the year families are exposed to viruses that circulate in the air they breathe indoors, so taking every measure to prevent illness makes good sense.

Proven results A Harvard-led study recently proved that American Standard AccuClean™ removes over 99% of the common flu, or influenza A virus, from the filtered air in your home. Influenza viruses are spread from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs or sneezes. So AccuClean’s™ ability to reduce the average airborne concentration of the virus in your home’s re-circulated air makes it a very effective flu defense, researchers concluded.

Tips to avoid the flu. In addition to installing AccuClean™, which has the highest clean air delivery rate in the industry, here are more ways to fight the flu based on tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Avoid close contact with sick people. Keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
• Stay home when you’re sick. If possible, stay home from work or school and avoid running errands when you’re sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; it may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.