| Frequently Asked Questions |
What are the Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency (ENERGY STAR) and what products qualify? |
| |
With the signing of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, all consumers that purchase a qualifying replacement furnace, boiler, or water heater are entitled to a federal income tax credit. The qualified equipment must be purchased no earlier than January 1, 2006 and no later than December 31, 2007. The specific criteria and available credits are described below:
| 1. |
A taxpayer purchasing a replacement gas or oil furnace or boiler with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of 95% or higher can claim a tax credit of $150. |
2. |
A taxpayer purchasing a replacement gas or oil furnace incorporating an “advanced main air circulating fan” may claim a tax credit of $50, regardless of the furnace’s AFUE rating. An “advanced main air circulating fan” is a fan whose annual estimated electricity consumption is no more than 2% of the total annual estimated energy use of the furnace. |
3. |
In cases where the new furnace has both an AFUE rating of 95% or higher and incorporates an “advanced main air circulating fan”, both tax credits may be claimed. |
4. |
A taxpayer purchasing a replacement residential gas or oil water heater with an Energy Factor (EF) rating of .80 or higher or an electric heat pump water heater with an EF of 2.0 or higher may claim a tax credit up to $300. The claimed tax credit may not exceed the purchase price of the qualifying water heater. |
5. |
For more information regarding the tax credits as well as qualifying Amana products, please click here. |
|
How can I control energy costs? |
| |
Heating and cooling your home can represent as much as 44% of your utility bill.* With high efficiency ratings and innovative, industry-leading technology,
Amana Comfort Systems can go a long way toward reducing these costs.
When selecting a new system, pay close attention to the SEER rating of the air conditioner and AFUE of the furnace. The higher the SEER or AFUE, the higher the savings. |
Beyond efficiency ratings, what are other factors to consider? |
| |
Maintenance |
You can ensure your system operates at peak performance by scheduling annual maintenance checks. |
| |
Zoning |
A zoning system can drastically lower your heating and cooling costs. With zoning, you no longer have to pay to heat or cool areas of your home that are rarely used. |
| |
Programmable Thermostats |
According to the Department of Energy, a programmable thermostat can reduce your heating costs by up to 35% and cooling costs by up to 25%. |
| |
*According to the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network
For more energy-saving solutions, contact us here |
What do all those air conditioner and heat pump ratings mean? |
| |
A SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is a system for rating the efficiency of cooling equipment. The higher the SEER rating, the less your unit will cost to operate.
HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) is a measurement similar to SEER, but it measures the efficiency of the heating portion of a heat pump.
AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is a rating that applies to gas furnaces and is based on average usage and includes fuel usage during on and off cycling. The higher the AFUE rating, the less fuel a furnace or boiler will use. |
How often should I change or clean my filters? |
| |
Filters should generally be replaced every month when the system is running. Replace filters with the same kind and size as original filter. If your filter is not disposable, follow the manufacturer instructions for cleaning. |
Why should I purchase a new heating or air conditioning system? |
| |
Purchasing a heating or air conditioning system is no small investment. However, if your existing system is old, in need of repair or simply inefficient, purchasing a new unit, one which can be as much as 60% more efficient than a system purchased just 10 years ago, can help you achieve long-term benefit, both in terms of money saved due to a more energy-efficient system and improved heating and cooling performance. Rather than continuing to pay for ongoing maintenance and costly monthly bills, invest in a new system today that will save you money for years to come. |
How can I find the system that’s right for me? |
| |
There are many heating and air conditioning systems to choose from today. By contacting an HVAC dealer who specializes in Amana brand products, you have access to a vast degree of heating and air conditioning knowledge and experience to help you decide on the system that best fits your specific needs. The size and age of your home, number of rooms in your home, climate, locale, regional utility costs, degree days and utility incentive rebate programs are all factors to be considered when selecting a new system. Amana brand dealers, utilizing the latest technology, will discuss all of these factors with you when assisting you in choosing the best system for your home.
Consumers seeking to replace an existing system often choose a new unit with equal or higher efficiency ratings as compared to their previous system. Replacing a unit that is greater than 10 to 15 years old may reduce natural gas or electricity costs from 30 to 50%.
Contacting an Amana brand dealer can help you to define your initial cost, warranty protection, service options, maintenance options and operating cost. Once you have chosen a system, it is important to remember that proper installation is a major factor in maximizing its operating efficiency and your comfort level. |
How do I determine the size, or capacity, of my HVAC system? |
| |
Factors affecting the size of your new system include the climate in your region, humidity levels, the number of windows in your dwelling, total square footage of your home, the direction your home faces, the number of heat-producing appliances in your home, the type of insulation you have and the number of people that live in your residence. Making sure that you have an HVAC system that is the correct size for your home is very important. An Amana brand dealer can perform the proper calculations to determine the correct heating or cooling unit size for your home and lifestyle. |
What goes into installing a new system? |
| |
Installing a new system is similar to installing an old system. Most of the items listed below in “What happens when I replace my old system?” will also be installed with a new system. Beyond equipment, the most important component installed with a new system is the ductwork.
Ductwork is composed of two parts, supply and return. Supply duct is attached to the outflow of the new system, delivering air to each zone in a home. The amount of air reaching each zone is determined by the size of supply ductwork connecting it to your system. Your dealer will help you determine the size of all the supply ductwork in your home. The second part of the ductwork, the return duct, attaches to the inlet of the new system and draws air out of the spaces to be heated or cooled. Attached to the return duct is the filter. The filter should be placed as near to the furnace or air handler as possible. Ductwork can be either fiberglass or metal and must be properly sized in order to evenly distribute the proper amount of air to each room. |
What happens when I replace my old system? |
| |
To install the most efficient HVAC system in your household, your installation contractor should first perform a detailed inspection. The inspection by your contractor should include, as a minimum, the inspection of your home’s ductwork, insulation, refrigerant piping, electrical service, wiring, thermostat, condensate piping, flue piping, flue terminations, chimney liner, slabs, filter, driers, registers, grills, drain pans and evaporator coil. |
How long will my system last? |
| |
Maintenance and service play a key role in the lifecycle of a heating or air conditioning system. If all recommended maintenance and service actions are taken, it is believed that an air conditioner should last 12-15 years and a gas furnace should last from 20 to 25 years. |
Do I need to change my indoor coil? |
| |
It is generally a good idea to replace the indoor coil if you are also replacing your air conditioner or heat pump. There is a correlation between the efficiency of your heating or cooling system and the performance of the indoor coil. So when you change the outdoor side of the system, you should also change the interior side of the system as well in order to maximize the efficiency and savings potential of the total system. |
Where can I locate my air handler or furnace system? |
| |
The system can actually be located in several different places. A system with up-flow application might be located in the basement, while a system with a horizontal application may be found in your attic. A self-contained, or single package unit, could be located outside on a slab or on the roof. Your garage could house an up-flow, down-flow or horizontal application system. |
What can I do to control the humidity levels in my home? |
| |
Humidity levels can be reduced by installing a variable-speed air handling system in your home. Variable-speed units run longer and 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 can I do before calling someone to service my system? |
| |
Professional service calls can be costly, but there are some things you can do before hiring a professional to inspect your system:
- |
Disconnect your indoor and outdoor switches. |
- |
Make sure your circuit breakers are in the ON position. |
- |
Make sure your filters are clean. |
- |
Open supply and return vents and make sure they are unobstructed. |
- |
Double check both indoor and outdoor disconnect switches. |
- |
Check the settings on your thermostat. |
- |
Make sure the system switch is on the appropriate COOL or HEAT setting. |
- |
Have the FAN switch on for a continuous vent. |
|
