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Product guides |
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The guides below include helpful information about some of our most asked about
products.
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Guide to cooling
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Guide to heat pumps
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Guide to air cleaners
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Guide to thermostats
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Guide to gas furnaces
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| The air coming from the registers feels cool when my new heat pump is set for
heating. Is there a problem?
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While a heat pump is perfectly capable of effectively heating your home,
the temperature of the air coming out of the registers confuses some people.
The air is heated to about 90 to 95 degrees, depending on the outdoor temperature.
This temperature is approximately 20 to 25 degrees warmer than the indoor air
temperature and will warm your house. It is, however, below body temperature
(98.6 degrees) and can feel cool when someone puts their hand in the airflow.
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| What is a hot surface igniter? |
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Unlike older-model gas furnaces that used a standing pilot light to ignite the burners on the
furnace, many of today's models use an electronic ignition system. This includes a Hot Surface
Igniter, sometimes referred to as a glow plug or glow stick. When there is a call for heat,
the igniter receives electrical current in order to heat its surface and ignite the burners
in the furnace.
Some hot surface igniters are fairly fragile and can be damaged during transit or installation.
Trane's Silicon Nitride Igniter, used on the XV/XL/XR models, is more durable.
Cracks in a hot surface igniter are not necessarily visible. After installation, the glow
pattern should be checked by your local independent dealer for inconsistencies, and replaced
if necessary. Cracks will not necessarily prevent the igniter from working, but will shorten
its life.
It is important that the correct original equipment manufacturer's igniter be used when
replacing an igniter. There are many igniters on the market. However, many do not have
the correct voltage or warm-up time as the original design.
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| What are the differences in Trane's single-stage, 2-Stage, and variable-speed gas furnaces? |
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A single stage furnace will deliver the same amount of heat and airflow no matter what the
temperature is outside. A 2-stage furnace with a 2-stage thermostat will begin in first
stage (low burner, low airflow) and only go to second stage if the indoor temperature
drops during first stage. This makes the furnace run longer, providing greater air
circulation, temperature distribution, and air filtration. This also provides a more
consistent indoor environment. The second stage will only come on when the need is
there and then it will be able to run longer and maintain the comfort level. The more
your system starts and stops, the less control you will have of your home's environment -
and the less efficiently it works, partly due to duct heat loss. The advantage of Trane's
2-stage, variable-speed furnace is it has Comfort-R™ Enhanced mode. This allows the coil
to cool quickly and the blower to slowly ramp up and ramp down or operate at 50 percent
of the cooling air speed in the FAN ON position. This provides greater humidity control,
quieter operation, and maximum air circulation, temperature distribution, and air filtration.
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| What is an air handler? |
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The major components enclosed in an air handler's
cabinetry are the blower and motor, controls, heater compartment, and an evaporator coil.
This is why it is also sometimes referred to as a fan coil. A standard air handler, like the single
stage furnace, delivers the same amount of airflow no matter what the temperature inside. Trane's
variable-speed air handler has Comfort-R Enhanced mode, like our variable-speed gas furnace,
allowing the coil to cool down quickly and the blower to slowly ramp up and ramp down or to
operate at 50 percent of the cooling air speed in the FAN ON position. This provides greater
humidity control, quieter operation, maximum air circulation, temperature distribution, and air
filtration for greater control of your home's indoor environment.
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| What are the differences in Trane XB and XLi heat pump and air conditioner units? |
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Our XLi outdoor product lines have higher air conditioning efficiencies (SEER) ranges than
the XB line. Some of the enhanced features include Trane's patented WeatherGuard™ top that
provides maximum protection for the outdoor condenser coil, a compressor sound enclosure
for quiet performance, a two-speed condenser fan that improves both efficiency and sound
levels, and twice the original limited warranty as the XB outdoor product line.
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| I am interested in a programmable thermostat for my home comfort system. What thermostat should I select? |
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We recommend TRANE Programmable Comfort Controls such as the XL800 or XL600 series
thermostats. Please contact your local independent Trane dealer for assistance with
purchase and installation of energy-saving controls.
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| What is a heat pump? |
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The heat pump is an air conditioner that reverses the process of removing heat from the
inside of the house in summer to absorbing the heat from outside air and moving it inside
in winter. It is effective by itself down to temperatures around 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
At that point, either a gas furnace or an air handler with supplemental electric heat will
kick in and help heat your home. The Auxiliary Heat light on your thermostat will light.
The heat pump will continue to operate along with the electric auxiliary heat. It will shut
off when a gas furnace is energized. Emergency heat is a manual override option in the
event your heat pump needs service.
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| What is the purpose of auxiliary heat? |
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Under normal operating conditions, the auxiliary heat is brought on automatically by the
thermostat when the indoor temperature drops during heat pump operation. There are also times
during cold, wet weather when the outdoor coil may ice up and your heat pump will go into a
defrost cycle. This is nothing more than reversing the process back to cooling mode. Cooling
mode makes the outdoor coil hot and melts any ice. The defrost cycle should only last a few
minutes and then return to heating mode. During the defrost cycle, your comfort system is in
cooling mode and the supply air is cool. To offset this cool air, the auxiliary heat will be
energized during defrost. A mist or fog may be visible from the outdoor unit during defrost.
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| Is a heat pump the right choice for my home? |
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The heat pump is effective in many geographies. In all electric applications, the heat pump may
consume less energy than an electric furnace or air handler using resistance heat. Why?
Because it can deliver the same amount of BTUs as electric heaters using less electrical
input than the electric heat. In moderate climates the savings that natural gas yields may
not be as advantageous as in colder climates, since there is less frequent use of the furnace
in milder climates. Of course, the heat pump can be matched with a gas furnace where preferred.
The heat pump can operate in the milder temperatures when the gas furnace may tend to short-cycle.
To determine which system would serve your specific needs best, a local independent Trane dealer
should perform a load calculation on your home and then estimate the cost of operation for the
different combinations of equipment.
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