FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Will anything help control the humidity in my house?

Humidity is a problem in many areas.  The best way to control excessive humidity is to have a system which runs longer at lower speeds.  Variable speed air handling equipment runs at very low speeds, which keeps the air circulating against the cooling coil and removes much more moisture than conventional systems.  At these low speeds, the variable speed motor uses much less electricity than conventional motors.
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Is there any advantage to setting my thermostat fan to "ON" so the fan runs constantly?

There are a couple.  One is that you get constant filtering of the air in your home.   The other is that because the air is moving, you have a more even temperature throughout.
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I need a new outdoor unit, but my indoor unit works fine.  What are the advantages of replacing my whole system at the same time?

Air conditioners are designed as matched systems, with an efficiency rating given for the whole system.  If you replace only one part, you do not get the advantage of many technology changes that make the system work efficiently to ensure comfort.  Also, the indoor system contains a cooling coil which may be partially blocked by particles which will decrease efficiency.  Further, if your whole system is replaced, you will be less likely to need service in the near future?
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What is the difference in a Manufacturer's Limited Warranty and an Extended parts and labor Warranty?

A limited warranty covers specific parts (i.e. compressor, coil, electronics, etc.); therefore, it is limited by the language in the warranty.  Extended warranties are generally purchased in addition to the equipment.  Extended warranties cover all parts and may also include the labor for the service call.  An extended warranty protects you from unexpected and unbudgeted service calls for the duration of the warranty.
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Why do you need a Trane Extended Warranty?

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What type of Extended Warranties are available?

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What does the Trane Extended Warranty exclude?

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How can a heat pump heat a home in winter and then cool it in summer?

According to experts at the Trane Home Comfort Institute, a consumer information service on heating and cooling, the answer lies in the fact that heat is present in all air, even air that's below freezing.

Think of the way your refrigerator removes unwanted heat that accumulates when you open the door and place warm food inside.  You can feel that heat coming back into the kitchen from the refrigerator's exhaust fan.  In a similar way, a heat pump simply extracts the heat that's present in outdoor air in winter and delivers it inside your home to keep you warm and comfortable.  In summer, the process reverses.  The heat pump pulls the heat out of indoor air and releases it outside to keep your home cool and dry.  A heat pump's ability to both heat and cool makes it a very economical and efficient home comfort system. 

The Trane Home Comfort Institute explains that a typical heat pump installation consists of two parts: an indoor unit and an outdoor unit.  The indoor unit is called an air handler and looks similar to a gas furnace.  The outdoor unit looks exactly like a central air conditioner in both size and appearance.  A special liquid called a refrigerant circulates between the indoor and outdoor units, absorbing and releasing heat as it travels through the loop.  Regardless of whether the heat pump is heating or cooling, the compressor is considered the "heart of the system" because it is the pump that circulates the refrigerant through the loop.
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At what point in time is it better to replace a heat pump instead of just repairing it?

According to Trane, if you have a heat pump that's over ten years old, now's the time to start thinking about replacing it, not simply repairing it.  Why?  Because today's generation of heat pumps are so efficient, they can often pay for themselves through decreased utility bills.  According to the Trane Home Comfort Institute, heat pumps usually last from 12 to 15 years, depending on their use.  Your present unit is beginning to show its age when major components of the system such as the motor or compressor start making unusual noises or when the service calls start mounting up.   In the short run, replacing a major component costs less than replacing the entire system.  In the long run, however, you may be missing an opportunity to greatly improve the overall efficiency of your system and save significant amounts of money in operating costs.  Eventually, the more efficient unit should pay for itself through decreased utility bills.  In the meantime, you'll gain the added benefits of greater reliability and longer warranty protection.  Also, keep in mind the increased value of your property when selling by having a new, more efficient heat pump already in place.
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What else should I know about heat pumps?

A heat pump is essentially a central air conditioning system that also has the ability to heat your home during cold weather months.  It's called a "heat pump" because it pumps heat into your home in winter, and pumps heat out of your home in summer.   Its ability to both heat and cool makes it a very economical and efficient home comfort system.  When it comes to home comfort, many homeowners know that heat pumps are the most advanced, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems they can purchase. According to the Trane Home Comfort Institute, however, there are just as many homeowners who are badly misinformed about heat pumps and their operation. To help ensure that you're not one of the latter, the Trane Home Comfort Institute offers the following list of common heat pump misconceptions and their realities:

Misconception #1: Heat pumps are effective only in milder climates.
At one time that may have been true, but not any more. During the seventies, when they first came into prominence, many heat pumps were installed in the southern sections of the country. The reason was that during the heating season, a heat pump's efficiency increases on mild days and decreases on cold days. The efficiency rating or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) is therefore higher in a mild climate than in a region where winters are severe.  Through the years, however, improvements in design have broadened the geographical range of heat pumps to almost every section of the country. Today, you'll find heat pumps in Augusta, Maine, as well as Augusta, Georgia.

Misconception #2: The quality of heating from a heat pump is different from that of other heating systems. Not in terms of the end result, which is a warm, comfortable home.  In its heating mode, the temperature of the air supplied by a heat pump is not as hot as the air supplied by a furnace. Air entering a room from a heat pump is normally about 100 degrees Fahrenheit compared to about 120 to 130 degrees F from a furnace. Thus, a heat pump warms a room gradually and more uniformly than a furnace. It's similar to slowly warming your bath water by turning the hot water faucet to a moderately warm setting rather than turning the faucet all the way to maximum hot and then turning if off and having water cool down.

Misconception #3: Heat pumps only heat your home.
Judging by their name, you might think that's the case. However, heat pumps got their name because they pump heat into your home in winter and out of your home in summer. Thus, they function like a furnace during the winter and a central air conditioner during the summer. This ability to both heat and cool makes them very economical and efficient home comfort systems.

Misconception #4: Heat pumps are only meant for new homes.
Definitely not. Heat pumps can also be installed in older, existing homes, especially if they already have a forced-air heating system, suitable ductwork and adequate insulation.   In these cases, all that's required is the addition of an indoor coil on the furnace, refrigerant lines and the proper thermostat. In addition, heat pumps can work with any forced-air heating system ... gas, oil, propane or electric.
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How do central heating and air conditioning systems work?

A central air conditioning system essentially consists of two parts:  the coil, which extracts unwanted heat and humidity from your home, and the condenser, which discharges the unwanted heat to the outdoors.  Most residential air conditioners are split systems, meaning that the coil is located indoors and the condenser, outdoors.  When the coil and the condenser are both located outdoors in the same unit, the system is called a packaged system.
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What all do you mean when you speak of a heating and cooling system?

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What are the main components of a Trane system?

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How do you know which system is right for your particular home?

When choosing clothing, one size sometimes fits all.  Unfortunately, that's not the case when choosing a central air conditioning system for your home.  Choose a unit that's too large, and it will cost more to purchase, more to operate and probably won't remove enough humidity from the air to make you feel comfortable.  Choose a unit that's too small, and it will lack the capacity to give you the comfort you want on the hottest days.  The best choice is a system that's just the right capacity for your home.  The best way to make sure you're getting the right size unit is to have a certified Trane Comfort Specialist from Strand Cooling to come in and give your house a thorough inspection.  A skilled technician can usually obtain the information needed to complete a cooling load analysis in an hour or two, after which he'll be able to accurately determine the size of the system your home requires for a comfortable temperature and humidity level.
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Do variable speed air handlers cut cooling costs and humidity?

A variable speed air handler greatly reduces the amount of humidity in a home.  In fact, it can remove up to 15 gallons of water a day from an average house, four times the amount of moisture a conventional air handler removes.  A variable speed air handler costs less to operate than a standard air handler because the motor runs at slower speeds.   Trane Home Comfort Institute test results show that those savings can be as high as 40 percent.  In addition, a variable speed air handler produces less noise because it operates at a lower speed most of the time.  You won't hear a thunking sound when it comes on.  A variable speed air handler also gradually ramps up to maximum speed, instead of coming on full blast all at once.  This means there are no sudden bursts of air, thereby ensuring a more even airflow.  Because a variable speed air handler operates at slower speeds, more unwanted particles cling to the filter.  In a conventional air handler, air is pulled through the filter at a consistently high rate of speed.  This lessens the filter's ability to collect dust and allergens.  If you're the type of homeowner who likes to be on the leading edge of innovation while enhancing the comfort level of your home at the same time, variable speed air handlers may be just the right choice for you.
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How do I keep my central air conditioner working efficiently all summer long?

By all means, have the unit cleaned and checked regularly by a qualified technician from Strand Cooling.  The best time to have your system checked is in the spring before the cooling season starts.  Strand Cooling offers a Precision Tune-Up Program which covers all aspects of routine maintenance, and if required, repairs.  Be sure to clean or replace the filter at least once a month.  Trim shrubbery and limbs back.  Landscaping that hides an air conditioner or heat pump make look pleasing but reduces efficiency by reducing air circulation.  Close curtains or blinds during the hottest part of the day.  Run heat-producing appliances such as a clothes dryer, and do as much cooking as possible in the early morning hours.  This is better than at night because, in the evening, the air conditioner is working hard to bring down the temperature from the daytime heat.   If your dryer vent is close to the air conditioning system's outdoor unit, consider other places to vent the dryer.  Hot vapor from the dryer can place an extra load on the outdoor unit.
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Do I save money by replacing my central air conditioner before it wears out?

As previously discussed, if you have a central air conditioning system or a heat pump that's over ten years old, you'll probably save money by replacing your old system before it wears out.  That's because today's generation of central air conditioning systems and heat pumps are so much more energy efficient than their older counterparts.   They'll pay for themselves through decreased utility bills, and give you the added benefits of greater reliability and longer warranty protection. 
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