| Questions |  |
| | Answers | |
| Why is a matched system so important? | |
A matched system is important for a variety of reasons. One is comfort. When all your components
are properly sized to your home, you can control exactly how much heating or cooling you
need so you can relax.
Also, a properly sized matched system enables every component to perform as designed,
meaning proper cycle times are maintained, humidity is controlled, and system sound is
minimized.
Another reason matched systems are important is efficiency. Most systems people buy
are too large for their homes, meaning they pay to heat and cool space that isn’t even
there. A matched system outlined by a dealer who has completed a load calculation for
your home provides just the right amount of heating and cooling you need so you get the
most value for your utility dollar.
| | | | What are the advantages of units with variable speed fans? | |
Variable speed fans operate on a simple principle: they are able to spin at different
speeds depending on the heating and cooling needs of your home. Usually, they operate
at lower speeds, delivering a steady, reliable stream of warm or cool air to your home.
This helps control humidity levels, utility costs and system noise. When conditions
become more extreme, the fan speed increases so that the system can meet increased
demand, guaranteeing that on even the hottest days or coldest nights, you’re comfort
needs will be met.
| | | | How does a whole-home air cleaner like TRANE CleanEffects work as part of my system? | |
TRANE CleanEffects is designed to perfectly fit as a component of your total home
comfort system. Unlike many air cleaners that are situated in a single room of the
house, CleanEffects is installed and operated through the same duct work that your
furnace or air conditioner might use. So even though it’s attractively designed,
it operates out of sight of most living spaces to provide up to 99.98% cleaner air
throughout your entire home.
| | | | What is a SEER rating and how does it impact my energy costs? | |
SEER means Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Like its "mpg" counterpart in the automotive
industry, the SEER gives an indication of the performance efficiency of the system. The
higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit. And, the more efficient the unit, the
lower the operating costs.
Experts at the Trane Home Comfort Institute say that by purchasing a system with
a high SEER, you'll use less energy to cool your house, resulting in lower electric
bills. In many cases, these savings are enough to partially or fully offset
the cost of the new equipment within a few years.
| | | | What do all those rating numbers mean? | |
The federal government requires all air
conditioning and heating equipment to be rated for efficiency. The higher
the rating, the more efficient the model. Gas furnaces are
rated for AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). This defines
the amount of heat used to warm your home from the burned fuel. A 90%
furnace will use 90% of the available heat to heat your home. 10% of the
heat is vented outdoors. Many older gas furnaces are only 60% efficient.
The other 40% is vented outdoors. You can see that a new high-efficiency
furnace will require much less fuel to heat your home. For
air conditioning, the rating is SEER (Seasonal
Energy Efficiency Ratio). This rating is based on general design criteria
such as the compressor and outdoor coil. SEER ratings are for comparison
purposes only, so that homeowners will know how they can compare different
brands of products with similar efficiency ratings. The rating for the
outdoor unit will reference a general efficiency range, such as 14 SEER.
The actual efficiency rating for a specific system will depend on the
combination of the outdoor unit and the indoor coil. These ratings are
available from your dealer and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
Institute's Energy Guide. A variable-speed indoor blower unit will
increase the efficiency rating of the system, as well. Heat
pumps are rated by SEER for cooling efficiency and by HSPF (Heating
Seasonal Performance Factor) for heating efficiency. As with other
ratings, the higher the HSPF, the less energy it will take to warm your
home. All of these ratings can be compared by asking your
local independent Trane dealer or utility provider, or referencing the ARI
Directory. See our pages of Energy Star(SM)
Products.
| | | | Why should I choose Trane heating, air conditioning and air cleaning equipment? | |
Increased efficiency, reliability, and
control of your home's indoor environment are the main reasons for
choosing a new Trane heating and air conditioning system. Our split system
air conditioning units and heat pumps all have fully louvered panels to
protect the outdoor coil from damage, as well as powder paint finishes and
weather-resistant screws. We are the only manufacturer to offer
all-aluminum outdoor coils, the patented Spine Fin™ coil. Our Spine Fin
outdoor coils provide greater heat-transfer capabilities, thus resulting
in higher efficiencies and greater resistance to corrosion than
traditional copper/aluminum coils. Our XL19i model is among the highest SEER ratings
(cooling efficiency) systems in the industry. (*ARI Directory listings for XL19i)
Trane's gas furnaces feature self-diagnostic controls, a
heavy steel 40"-high, insulated cabinet, hot surface igniter, multi-port
in-shot burners, one-piece heat exchangers with no welds, durable
pre-painted finish, and some of the highest efficiencies in the industry,
making Trane an obvious choice. We are also the
variable-speed airflow experts. Our variable-speed furnaces and air
handlers can do things other manufacturer's products can't, such as superb
humidity control with Comfort-R Enhanced Mode. This feature allows the
coil to get cold faster and the furnace blower to slowly ramp up and down,
or to operate at 50 percent of cooling speed in the FAN ON position. This
provides greater air circulation and filtration, even temperature
distribution, humidity control, and quiet performance. Variable-speed
motors are the most efficient motors as well, increasing the overall
efficiency of your heating and air conditioning system.
And when it comes to cleaner air, our revolutionary new TRANE CleanEffects is the
industry's most effective whole-home air filtration system, capable of removing up
to 99.98% of the allergens and harmful particles from your family's air.
You can receive more information in our Products section. Just scroll down to the
product links and click on the ones you are interested in to review pictures,
features, capacities, dimensions, ratings, and warranty information.
| | | | Who can recommend a home comfort system to meet my needs? | |
Our products come to you through your local independent Trane dealer who can explain
the advantages of different types of systems for your home or region of the country,
as well as select the right products to meet your personal comfort needs. The dealer
can also discuss the benefits of higher efficiency, variable-speed airflow,
the revolutionary TRANE CleanEffects whole-house air cleaner, programmable thermostats,
two-stage heating and air conditioning, and other reliable, durable products. Y
ou can find a list of local independent Trane dealers in the Yellow Pages or type in your
ZIP code at our Web site's Dealer Locator for a partial list of independent Trane dealers
in your area.
| | | | 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? | |
We recommend that your replace the indoor coil or air handler when replacing the
outdoor unit. Both of these components are integral to the closed refrigerant loop
and together determine the capacity and efficiency of your system. If you do not
replace the indoor unit, there will be no test data available for the new combination
to establish the expected capacity or efficiency of your system. Also, the indoor
system may be partially blocked by particles that will decrease efficiency, and you
may be faced in the near future with replacing the indoor unit after it fails and
having to pay to have the closed refrigerant system opened again. It would be
expensive and be another opportunity for contamination. You end up paying more.
If your whole system is replaced, you will be less likely to need service in the
near future.
| | | | What noise factors do I need to consider when selecting an air conditioner or heat pump? | |
The industry sound rating numbers are complicated and often difficult to understand.
Sound rating is just one of these areas. A difference of 6 decibels (such as between
72 dB and 78 dB) is technically a four-fold increase in compressor sound when rating
air conditioners or heat pump units. However, it takes a difference of 10 decibels to
double the loudness. It is also noted that it takes approximately 3 decibels for the
average human ear to discern any difference in loudness at all. In many cases, the
sound rating isn't as significant a determiner of sound difference to listeners as
is the sound characteristics or quality. One type of sound with a lower sound power
rating may be more offensive to a homeowner than another with a higher sound power
rating. There are other important considerations, such as location, when considering
the effects of sound. Our overall product line offers homeowners significant choices.
If your community has specific sound requirements, check with your local independent
Trane dealer for recommendations. You can find independent Trane dealers listed in your
local Yellow Pages or type in your ZIP code at our Web site's Dealer Locator for a
partial. You can also call toll free, (866) GET-A-TRANE for a list of Trane Comfort
Specialist Dealers in your area.
| | | | How much will my new air conditioning system cost? |
That depends. There are many factors that must be considered. These include:
- The efficiency of the equipment
- The size of your home
- Is the ductwork installed and in good condition?
- Do you need a thermostat or electronic air cleaner?
In most cases, replacing your whole system, including both indoor and outdoor components,
will result in a more efficient, longer-lasting system but will also cost a little more.
As a manufacturer of an installed product, we do not establish retail pricing. We sell
our products to regional distributors who sell them to local independent Trane dealers,
who then install them as complete systems for homeowners. Please contact your local
independent Trane dealer for equipment recommendations and your total investment based
on a load calculation performed on your home.
| | | | 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 that 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 also uses much less electricity than conventional
motors. Our two-stage XL19i outdoor air conditioning unit
will operate at a low speed, removing more moisture and allowing greater
comfort than a single-stage air conditioning unit. Our variable-speed
indoor blower units also have Comfort-R™
Enhanced Mode that runs a very cold coil and enables the blower to slowly
ramp up and down. This will wring-out extra moisture from the indoor
air.
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
Find Your Ideal System
|
Use the Trane System Customizer to choose a system based on your unique comfort
requirements
Learn more
|
|
|
|
|
