Frequently Asked Questions

The world of heating and cooling appliances can be confusing. Trust the experienced professionals at Landmark Heating and Cooling to help you make smart choices when it comes to choosing the right solution for your home, business or agri-business.

How does an air conditioner work?

An air conditioner seems to cool your home's air, but it actually makes your home cooler by removing heat from the indoor air and transferring that heat outdoors. Heat is extracted from the home by passing indoor air across a refrigerant coil in the indoor unit. Refrigerant lines then carry the heat to the outdoor unit, where it is released into the outside air. The cooling cycle continues until the indoor temperature reaches the thermostat setting.

What's the difference between the two types of refrigerants?

R410A Refrigerant is an environmentally sound refrigerant designed not to harm the earth's ozone layer. Federal law requires that all manufacturers phase out ozone-depleting refrigerants in the next few years. R410A Refrigerant is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a replacement for Freon R-22.

R-22 is a single component HCFC refrigerant with low ozone depletion potential. It has long been used in a variety of air-conditioning and refrigeration applications in a variety of markets. Production of R-22 will cease in 2015 per the Montreal Protocol.

Why should I use zone heating or cooling in my home?

A zoning system is designed for the many ways you use your home. Maybe you're caught up in family "thermostat wars," or perhaps you have unoccupied areas that do not need air conditioning. A zoning system allows you to divide your home into separate areas, giving you the comfort and control you've always wanted.

• Comfort--Zoning meets the specific temperature and airflow requirements of one area, without affecting other areas.
• Efficiency--A properly designed zoning system can save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs each year.
• Control--Zoning divides the home into different areas and comfort into different levels, giving you more choices and control than ever before.
• Quiet Performance--When integrated with variable speed and/or two-stage HVAC systems, zoning allows your heating and cooling equipment to deliver peak performance and efficiency without continually operating at peak capacity. Lower speeds mean lower sound levels.

What is two-stage cooling?

Two-stage cooling means the air conditioner or heat pump has a compressor with two levels of operation--high for hot summer days and low for milder days. Since the low setting is adequate to meet household cooling demands 80 percent of the time, a two-stage unit runs for longer periods and produces more even temperatures. Longer cooling cycles also translate to quieter, more efficient operation and enhanced humidity control. Compared to a single-stage unit, a two-stage air conditioner or heat pump can remove twice as much moisture from the air. This is important because when levels are high, there's a higher potential for mold and other pollutant problems to develop.

What is variable-speed technology and how does it apply to air conditioners?

"Variable-speed" refers to the fan motor inside the air handler--the indoor part of an air conditioner that moves cooled or heated air throughout the ductwork of your home. An air handler is usually a furnace or a blower coil. Unlike conventional single-speed motors, a variable-speed motor runs at a wide range of speeds to precisely control heated and cooled air throughout the home. Better airflow control has several benefits.

• Electrical efficiency--Variable-speed motors can actually save you money on your energy bills, as they consume less electricity than standard motors.
• Cooling efficiency--Variable-speed technology also means you will gain air conditioning efficiency or SEER.
• Zoning--Variable-speed motors are excellent for zoning, which allows you to customize your comfort in different areas of your home and control your energy bills.
• Air quality--A variable-speed motor can also help clean the air in your home. When the fan is in constant operation (indicated by the setting on your thermostat), the motor will continue to slowly circulate air, allowing filters to capture more contaminants.
• Humidity control--A variable-speed motor allows you to control the amount of humidity in your home for improved indoor air quality and comfort.

What are furnace ratings?

Furnaces are rated by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratio, which is the percent of heat produced for every dollar of fuel consumed. Like the miles-per-gallon rating on your automobile, the higher the AFUE rating, the lower your fuel costs. All furnaces manufactured today must meet at least a 78 percent AFUE ratio. If your furnace is 10 to 15 years old, it may very well fall below the current efficiency minimum and waste energy. This doesn't mean that you should only select a furnace based on its AFUE rating. The efficiency rating is just one factor to consider when looking for a new furnace. Furnaces use electricity to run fans and motors. The amount of electricity used varies greatly depending on the type of furnace. Be sure to check electricity usage prior to making a purchase decision.

To learn more, contact:
Tom Krausse, Heating and Cooling Manager
800-236-3276 Ext 4224 or click here to contact by e-mail.