Frequently Asked Questions
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905-660-2217
for quick answers!
HEATING
What are the differences between mid efficiency and high efficiency furnaces?
Most Mid Efficiency furnaces are 80% efficient so basically, every dollar that you spend on gas, 80 cents is used to heat your home, while 20 cents goes out the chimney. A high-efficiency furnace can be up to 98% efficient meaning 98 cents is used to heat your home, while only 2 cents goes out the chimney. All Mid-efficiency furnaces draw air from the inside home or house to provide oxygen to the burner. A high efficiency furnace has intake and exhaust piping directly to and from outside – this is usually black, now white in colour, and is called venting. Therefore, air is not taken from the house to provide oxygen to the burner. Usually it takes about 2- 3 years to get your money back from Mid to High efficiency changeovers.
What is two-stage heating?
Two-stage heating means the furnace has two levels of heat output or flame output. There is high, for cold winter days and low, for milder days. Since the low setting is adequate to meet household-heating demands 80% of the time, a two-stage unit runs for longer periods and provides more even heat distribution. Longer, low-capacity operation has many advantages:
Consistent comfort: Two-stage heating eliminates the temperature swings associated with standard furnaces, regulating temperature to within as little as one degree of the thermostat setting.
Quiet operation: Two-stage furnaces start in the first stage, when the amount of heat required is lower, instead of reaching full capacity all at once. That means there’s no sudden blast of air.
Improved air filtration and air quality: Low-speed operation allows your filters to work more efficient and capture more dust or
Very good efficient performance: Because the furnace operates mostly in its lower-capacity first stage, it burns less fuel than a standard furnace.
What is the correct size furnace for my home?
When trying to determine the correct furnace size for a given house, a heat-load calculation must be performed (this is usually done by an engineer). This calculation takes into account a number of factors including the size and orientation of the house, the local landscaping, the number of windows, and the number of occupants. Too large a furnace means you will use (and pay for) more fuel than necessary; too little means you won’t be comfortable. Brilia Air can determine what best size fits your home. The sizing of your furnace is very important to proper operation; never guess incorrectly.
How often should I be changing my furnace filter?
What type of furnace filter are you using? Do you run your fan continuously? Do you have any shedding pets? Are you currently doing or had any renovations done? Brilia Air always suggest a reputable brand of filter with a high MERV rating (which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value ) The brand Honeywell is well known in the industry and carries various models. Its also important to check it regularly. An air filter is the best protection for your furnace and your well being.
COOLING
What is the average life of an air conditioning system?
This question varies, depending on how much the system is used and how regularly it is checked or serviced. Generally on the average cooling system last about 15 years, but every unit may vary and last much longer, depending on use and how well they are maintained. Newer units are expected to last even longer.
Is it important to be covering my air conditioner for the winter?
I always tell my clients if they are going to cover make sure you leave some room for the unit to breathe as condensation does cause problems with the “fins” in the condensing unit and over period of years can cause slight corrosion.
How does an air conditioner work?
People believe that an air conditioning cools your warm air but in essence, but it actually makes your home less warm by removing heat from the indoor air and transferring that heat to outside. 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 program setting.
MISCELLANEOUS
How often should I do maintenance/service on my equipment?
Heating(furnace) and cooling equipment (air conditioning) should be serviced at least once a year- Please pre-book your cleaning,
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