What is a heat pump?

Air movement from point A to point B

• A heat pump is a device used for either the heating or cooling of a space by transferring hot and cold between two reservoirs.
• A heat pump can act like an air conditioner, transferring heat from inside to out, or like a heater as it transfers exterior heat to the interior. A winter day with a temperature of 32º Fahrenheit still produces enough heat to warm a space when the air is transferred by heat pump.

What can I do to control the humidity levels in my home?

It’s all about variability

• Humidity levels can be reduced by using a variable-speed furnace or air handler as part of your HVAC system. Variable speed units run longer, at lower speeds, allowing air to constantly circulate against the cooling coil and remove more moisture.
• Variable-speed motors also use less electricity than regular motors, reducing your energy costs.

What is AFUE?

• AFUE is the abbreviation for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio. AFUE is used to rate furnace efficiencies by dividing the ratio of heat output by heat input. This measurement describes how well fuel, gas or oil is consumed to produce heat by a furnace. As the AFUE rate increases, the efficiency of your furnace also increases, lowering your fuel costs. Furnaces manufactured in the United States are required to have at least an 80% AFUE.

What is HSPF?

• HSPF is the abbreviation for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. This factor rates the efficient operation of the heating portion of the heat pump. As the HSPF increases, the unit functions at a more efficient level. New units in the United States have HSPF ratings from 7.0 to 9.4.

What is Freon R-22?

R-22 is the common name for hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). R-22 has been used as a refrigerant by HVAC manufacturers for over 40 years, but studies in the past decade have shown that HCFCs contain chlorine, an ozone-depleting agent. For this reason, the United States Clean Air Act set a target date for January 1, 2010, on which HVAC manufacturers ceased the production of products that use R-22.

What is R-410A?

• R-410A is the common name for a hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) being used as a refrigerant in the HVAC industry. R-410A is more environmentally friendly than R-22 and is the replacement for R-22 by HVAC manufacturers. At the beginning of 2010, the use of alternate refrigerant was required in HVAC manufacturing.

What is ENERGY STAR?

• ENERGY STAR is a program that was created by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help businesses and individuals make energy efficient purchases.
• This program places the ENERGY STAR label, a small blue and white logo, on items that meet superior energy efficiency standards. This label provides an easy way for consumers to identify quality, high efficiency products.
• For more information about the Energy Star program, please view their website at www.energystar.gov.

For AC maintenance in Fishhawk or to seek options to purchase a new AC unit in Riverview, please contact ACE Heating & Cooling in Brandon, FL at 813-657-8818.