15 Questions to Break the SILENCE

JUST COMFORT™

THE INSIDE SCOOP ON SMART HEATING

Real Comfort For Real Places

It’s all about You:Indoor Comfort and your comfort zone

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15 Questions to Break the Silence:Cool Conversation Starters

The Cold Hard Facts:Winter Trivia

Breathe it InIndoor Air Quality Solutions for Every Season

FEATURED

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Amana is a registered trademark of Maytag Corporation or its related companies and is used under license. All rights reserved.

WELCOMEHi! Welcome to the Winter edition of Just Comfort™,

the indoor comfort magazine from Amana® brand

heating and cooling systems. It’s our goal to publish

articles related to home life and indoor comfort that

engage and inform you. We hope to provide a variety

of thoughtful solutions that help you enjoy a com-

fortable Just Comfort, right from within your home!

If you are like most people, you may not notice your

heating or cooling system until the temperature

in your home becomes uncomfortable. Why be

uncomfortable? This issue’s Your Seasonal Guide for

Indoor Comfort examines the heating and cooling

equipment, energy efficiency ratings and available

features that can help keep your home comfortable

all year long.

We increasingly hear the word “smart” associated

with products for your home. But in Is Your Heating

System Dumb? The Inside Scoop on Smart Heating,

discovers why adding communicating technology to

HVAC equipment could mean a smarter, more con-

sistent indoor comfort level. Start transforming your

home and reap the benefits of this new technology

today!

And, just in case you need to wow your friends over

the holidays, we included The Cold Hard Facts and 15

Questions to Break the Silence. So, get comfortable

and enjoy this issue of Just Comfort magazine.

Editorial TeamRex AndersonMelissa Holsberg

DesignerSilvia Riff

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contentSincerely,

Rex Anderson

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It’s all about you:Indoor Comfort and Your Comfort Zone 12

Life is Hard enough – Let’s focus on Just Comfort!

Heat it Up!Secrets of the Heat Exchanger

Mission Confirmed:Operation Maintaining Cozy Indoor Comfort

Is Your Heating System Dumb?The Inside Scoop on Smart Heating

REal comfort for real places Indoor Weather Solutions for Even the Worst Weather Cities

Nuts, Bolts and Indoor Comfort:The Importance of HVAC Installation

The Cold Hard Facts

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JUST COMFORT

Hot Flash, Cold FlashJust imagine being in Spearfish, South Dakota on the morn-ing of Jan. 22, 1943. Outdoor temperatures

increased from -4°F to 45°F in just two min-utes and eventually reached a high of 54°F. But throw your hands in the air because later that morning the temperature plunged right back to -4°F.1 Talk an extreme temperature roller coaster!

Consider yourself lucky to live in a time when consistent indoor comfort from an energy-efficient central heating system is standard.

Hello Sunshine!Every January, the Earth reaches perihelion — the point in its orbit that’s nearest to the Sun. So, why the winter

chill? Despite common misconceptions, seasonal temperatures have to do with how the Earth’s axis is tilted, not how close we are to the sun.

So, keep that central heating system oper-ating in peak performance. You’re probably going to need it, especially in January!

Twins or Just Dressed Alike?In 1988, Nancy Knight, a scientist with the National Center for Atmosphere Research said she discovered

two snowflakes that looked identical under a microscope. However, while the snowflakes appeared to look the same at the surface, it was later concluded that the flakes were different at the molecular level.2 And so, it seems to remain true — no two snowflakes are truly identical.

1 Staff, T. M. (2018, January 22). 50 degrees in 2 minutes, Spearfish library celebrates record-breaking weather day. Rapid City Journal, pp. www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/degrees-in-minutes-spearfish-library-celebrates-record-breaking-weather-day/article_05e7b793-8ad4-5517-9a10-5a27546a328a.html.

2 Thangham, C. V. (2008, December 7). No two snowflakes are alike. Retrieved from Digital Journal: www.digitaljournal.com/article/263168

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Supersized FrostyAs of February 1999, Bethel, Maine volun-teers had built the largest snowman on record. The structure, named “Angus, King of the Mountain,” reached 113 feet, 7

inches high. However, in 2008, the town broke its own record with the creation of “Olympia Snowe,” a 122-foot snowwoman.4 Talk about supersizing!

Cuddle UpEven with the cozy indoor comfort cre-ated by your central heating system, you may not be able to resist celebrating

January 6th.

It’s National Cuddle Up Day! Snuggles all around!

Old Man WinterWinter is more than just a season! As of the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau, there were 31,301 people with the surname Winter in the United States.5

So, be respectful of Old Man Winter; he’s probably someone’s grandfather. And just to be ready for his arrival, be sure to have an an-nual heating system check up by a licensed professional HVAC dealer.

Snowball MisdemeanorDon’t be tempted to throw snowballs within the city limits of Provo, Utah. Per Provo City

Ordinance, you could be found guilty of a misdemeanor.6

Do yourself a favor. Stay warm inside and don’t get caught up in the tomfoolery of a snowball fight.

Moisture ThiefCold winter tempera-tures can be dry. If cold air works its way into your home, it may steal moisture from wherever it can find it, including you!

Unfortunately, you may feel cooler as mois-ture evaporates off your skin. This cooling sensation may be helpful in the summer, but not during winter.

Need to catch that slick moisture thief, call in backup support from your licensed profes-

sional HVAC dealer.

Winter SolsticeIf you happen to be in Fairbanks, Alaska on December 21, 2018 don’t depend on the sun to keep you warm. It’s the

shortest day of the year! Sunrise is sched-uled for 10:58 am and sets at 2:39 pm.3

You may only need sunglasses for 3 hours and 41 minutes that day, but you’ll probably depend on your central heating system that day and all season long.

The Heat Is On!According to the U.S. Energy Infor-mation Administra-tion, up to 47% of households rely on natural gas to heat

their home compared with 36% who are de-pendent on electricity.7 We aren’t sure about the remaining 17%! How are you staying warm and cozy in your home this winter?

Brrr… Outdoor temperatures

are dropping! Dig out those sweaters

and heavy coats, and enjoy a few fun

facts about winter. HOW MANY DO YOU KNOW?

3 Time and Date. (1995-2018). December 2018 — Sun in Fairbanks. Retrieved from timeanddate.com: www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/fairbanks?month=12

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JUST COMFORT

Breathe it in Indoor Air Quality Solutions

for every season

1, 2 Environmental Protection Agency. Residential Air Cleaners (Second Edition): A Summary of Available Information. n.d. www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/residential-air-cleaners-second-edition-summary-available-information. 13 September 2018.

3 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). (n.d.). Retrieved from EPA: www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/residential-air-cleaners-second-edition-summary-available-information#summary

in your home should be comfortable and inviting— no matter what the season.

However, the list of compromising air quality culprits can be extensive and different each season! Ventilation issues, excessive humidity, not enough humidity, smoke, mites, dust…and the list can go on!

For most homeowners, there is likely a whole-house indoor air quality solution. In fact, we refer to them as indoor air essentials.

THE AIR

Heating Season FiltrationOpening doors, walking, sitting, cooking, and even sleeping brings in and stirs up “stuff” in the air. That “stuff” found floating in the ductwork in your home is often called “par-ticulates.” Those pesky indoor particulates need to be removed. That’s where filtration becomes important to indoor air quality.

A standard HVAC return air filter is designed to capture large-sized particulates and is cru-cial to the performance of your HVAC system.

Routinely replacing the air filter as directed by the manufacturer’s guidelines can help protect your HVAC equipment. According to the EPA, a clogged air filter can increase your air conditioner’s energy consumption by up to 15%.2

Residential furnaces and heat pumps com-monly use 1 to 4 MERV rated filters. MERV means Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. These filters may stop larger particles from passing through to the HVAC equipment.

When the MERV rating number is high, there is a better chance of trapping “a significant fraction of cat and dog allergens, and a small portion of dust mite allergens.”3 But, some res-idential HVAC systems may not be designed to accommodate high MERV rated filters. Therefore, talk with your licensed professional HVAC dealer about your HVAC manufacturer’s recommended filter type and MERV ratings.

VentilationWhile it’s great to have a tight, well-insulated home to save on energy bills and keep you comfortable during these cold, winter months, your sealed home construction can trap stale air.

Pet smells, cooking odors, and off-gassing of household furnishings, like carpets and furniture, may combine to create an indoor en-vironment that‘s not as fresh or comofortable for your family as you‘d like.

What is the solution to ventilation issues in the winter months?

• Heat Recovery Ventilators: HRVs work by bringing fresh air into your home while expelling dry, stale air.

This is particularly helpful during the winter months when opening a window could com-promise your comfort and energy bill.

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4 Anthony V. Arundel, Elia M. Sterling, Judith H. Biggin and Theodor D. Sterling. “Indirect Health Effects of Relative Humidity in Indoor Environments.” Environmental Health Perspectives (1986): 351-361. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1572347X05800370?via%3Dihub. 17 September 2018.

5 Nowak, Matt, Brodsky, Eric, Curd, Duncan, Wolfe, Jeremy. Humidity and Occupants. Arlington, VA: AHRI, 30 January 2017. Presentation.

Did you know: Low indoor relative humidity can cause discomfort due to drying

of the nose, throat, mucous membranes, and skin.

Cooling SeasonFiltrationMild temperatures create the temptation to let the fresh air inside your home. But along with fresh air, you may welcome in pollen, allergens, and more. Over-the-top spring cleaning alone can’t ensure improved indoor air quality. If standard HVAC air filters aren’t doing the job, ultraviolet (UV) purification products installed on HVAC equipment may elevate your indoor air quality.

A UV purification system uses ultraviolet light technology to help deactivate microbial contaminants, without harsh chemicals. For almost 100 years, ultraviolet lamps have been used in a wide range of sterilization applications, including water treatment, food processing and disinfection of hospital equipment.

Now that’s a breath of fresh air!

DehumidificationDuring the spring and summer months, heat can be accompanied by high humidity. Air conditioners or heat pumps may remove some of the indoor humidity as it cools your indoor spaces, but depending on the steamy circumstances, it may not be enough!

A whole-house dehumidifier can make your home comfortable when indoor humidity levels are an issue! High indoor humidity (the amount of moisture or water vapor in the air) can make your home feel very uncomfort-able. Excessive levels may affect electrical equipment, expensive heirloom furniture, musical instruments, and more.

A dehumidifier may:

• Lower the relative humidity in your home to a comfortable level

• Reduce the cold, clammy feeling that comes from lowering the temperature on your thermostat to reduce the humidity level in your home

• Help create an environment where dust mites struggle to survive.6

• Help protect your hardwood flooring from warping

To learn more about available indoor air essential equipment and which product is right for your home, talk to your licensed professional HVAC dealer.

The heat from the indoor air is transferred to the fresh, outdoor air brought in by the HRV, maintaining the cozy comfort and freshness.

• Energy Recovery Ventilators: ERVs ex-change heat from the stale indoor air to the fresh air drawn into your home while keeping moisture in the air where you want it. This may be especially helpful on cold, dry days.

HumidificationAre you constantly reaching for that lip balm or body lotion? If so, you may be experiencing the effects of low humidity, a common indoor comfort issue during the winter months.

Proper humidification is an important part of indoor comfort, but it also helps to lessen static electricity and other damaging effects to furniture and other fixtures in your home. In general, a comfortable humidity level recom-mended by various environmental organiza-tions may range between 30-60%.5

If dry air seems to be an indoor air quality con-cern in your home, a whole-house steam hu-midifier may help! These devices are designed to automatically maintain comfortable and consistent humidity levels in homes when dry indoor air might cause problems. If you sense that your indoor comfort is being sacrificed by extremely low indoor humidity levels, contact your licensed professional HVAC dealer for possible whole-house solutions.

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Even the coolest indoor air can’t escape the heat of a heat exchanger.

Have you ever heard of a heat exchanger? For most of you, it’s probably a new term. But if your home has a gas furnace, the heat exchanger is one of the essential components that helps to keep you warm in the winter months.

What does a Heat Exchanger do?A heat exchanger transfers heat energy. When your thermostat or HVAC control system signals your gas furnace to operate combustion from the burning of natural gas or propane to create heat inside the heat exchanger. When your indoor air is circulated over and around the heat exchanger, it gets warmed before it is re-circulated back to your conditioned indoor living areas.

Heat exchanger features may include:

• One-piece, tubular construction: Joints are eliminated, reduc-ing weak areas.

• Wrinkle bend technology: This maintains the wall thickness of the curved section of a heat exchanger. Additionally, the wrinkle-bend technology provides a “turbulation” effect for excellent heat transfer properties.

• Sloped design: The sloped angle of the secondary heat ex-changer allows for optimal condensate drainage which helps improve the performance of the heat exchanger.

• Stainless steel or aluminized steel: Heat exchanger materials with outstanding thermal and corrosion properties are select-ed to provide reliable warmth in your home for many years. A gas furnace’s heat exchanger is designed specifically to optimize heating performance.

If you have questions about which gas furnace features would benefit your indoor comfort, talk to your licensed professional HVAC dealer.

Heat It Up!Secrets of the

Heat Exchanger

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JUST COMFORT

what is the worst winter weather you have ever experienced?

15 Questions to Break the Silence Secrets of the

Heat ExchangerLooking for some new

conversation starters to break

the ice?

Here is a list of intriguing

questions to get the friendly

conversations started.

What’s your favorite thing to do on a cold, blistery day?

What was your latest “binge watch” show?

If you could only eat at one restaurant for the rest of your life, which restau-rant would you choose?

What temperature is your thermostat set at during the winter?

If time froze for everyone but you for one day, what would you do?

If you had to change your name, what would your cool new name be?

What is your favorite family holiday tradition?

What is the worst winter weather you have ever experienced?

What is something that you should have gotten in trouble for as a kid, but didn’t?

If there was a movie about your life, who would play you?

Name one thing you admire about every-one in the room.

Where would you go if you could vacation for free?

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

What is the most comfortable room in your home and why?

If fall or winter needed a new mascot, what would you pick?

JUST COMFORT

10 WINTER EDITION

THE MISSION, IF YOU WISH TO ACCEPT IT:ENJOY COZY INDOOR COMFORT ALL HEATING SEASON

The sun is setting, and the intensifying cold has your home surrounded. It’s knocking on your door, peering in every window and trying to enter your home through every gap.

One defense is your central heating system, and your mission could last months. Are you sure it’s up to the task?

Don’t go into this fight alone. Call in a professional handler!

To accomplish your mission, your central heating assets need to be tested and confirmed operational. Check your current coordinates to find a local, reputable HVAC technician. This professionally trained resource can perform a system maintenance check to ensure the components of your heating system are in working order. Properly maintaining your HVAC systems not only protects the equipment, but it may shield you and your family from extreme indoor temperatures.

You are not advised to undertake this mission alone. Unfortunately, most people don’t think about the imminent demise of their indoor heating system until it

wipes out your indoor comfort. That can lead to inconvenient, unplanned and expensive fixes, and your mission could be compromised. Is your indoor comfort worth that risk?

Extreme winter conditions may attack with little warning. This may expose lapses in annual heating system maintenance. This extended maintenance oversight may impact the delicate balancing act between the HVAC equipment, air flow, and mechanics. It appears that the onslaught of cold outdoor temperatures may take advantage of this imbalance. If components are not functioning as designed, the entire system may be at risk and its longevity and efficiency impacted.

Use this intelligence wisely. Contact your local professional HVAC technician to help you accomplish your mission of warm, cozy indoor comfort all season long.

As with most things… if you take care of it, it will take care of you when you need it the most. Stay cozy!

MISSION CONFIRMED: OPERATION MAINTAINING COZY INDOOR COMFORT

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Is Your heating system

Dumb?

Voice-activated virtual assistants and smart hubs act as command centers for smart products like light switches, door locks, and

even your coffee pot. But what about your indoor comfort? Where is the smart control center for your indoor comfort?

Your first guess may be the thermostat…and historically, you are correct. High-ef-ficiency HVAC equipment had to rely on information from the thermostat to run at its designed efficiency.

Heating and cooling equipment manufac-turers are now designing models with built-in communicating technology so they don’t have to rely on the thermostat to optimize performance.

So, why does this matter to you?

Simply put, the HVAC equipment can make internal adjustments, as needed, to run at peak efficiency along with the thermostat’s help.

These high IQ HVAC systems have built-in components that can adjust operation. These systems ramp up when the demand is high and gently slow operation when the need is less than 100%. This is not only energy efficient but minimizes the temperature peaks and valleys often found with the ON/OFF cycle of a single-speed or single-stage unit. That means that you stay more comfortable in your home.

What about the thermostat?

While you still need a temperature sensing device, (such as a thermostat)to detect

the temperature in your home, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment with this technology can adjust its own performance without the need for a specific thermostat brand. This means you can use almost any thermostat you want, even one that connects to your virtual assistant or smart hub.

This built-in communicating technology is designed to create an intelligent indoor comfort system capable of customizing energy-efficient performance without the thermostat telling it to do so. Once you set your desired indoor temperature, you do not need to worry about making manual adjustments to your home’s heating and cooling system to ensure top performance. The smart technology in the HVAC equip-ment is designed to take care of the rest!

How does it work?

Smart HVAC systems designed with this technology use a smart algorithm to gather its own system performance data. It uses this data to make automatic internal adjustments that may reduce the amount of energy used to heat or cool your home without the assistance of the thermostat.

So if you are considering upgrading your HVAC equipment or merely the thermostat or control system, it is best to seek the guidance of a licensed professional HVAC dealer. They will be able to assess your indoor comfort equipment and guide you to the optimal thermostat or HVAC control system that best fits your needs. The sys-tem is capable of calibrating the best way

to achieve the comfort level you desire, and then use the lowest amount of energy needed to maintain it.

THE INSIDE SCOOP ON SMART HEATING

COMFORT FEATURES: Many new systems offer variable speed fans and compressors that help reduce temperature swings, and communicating control technology that contin-uously and intelligently monitor performance designed to offer customized indoor comfort.

RELIABILITY: Quality materials, proven manufacturing process-es, and final run testing help to reinforce the reliability of consis-tent indoor comfort.

EFFICIENCY RATING: Minimum energy efficiency standards and attainable ratings have been increasing, providing homeowners with additional high-efficiency options for heating and cooling systems.

VALUE: More efficient systems may cost more up front, but may qualify for rebates and save you money on energy costs in the long run.

UNIT INSTALLATION: Proper sizing and professional installation of a system customized to your home’s design are key factors in achieving tested efficiency ratings, lower operating costs, and consistent indoor comfort.

What to look for in a new system?

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PROGRAMMINGBy pre-programming thermostat settings that align with your lifestyles and preferences, you can create an indoor envi-ronment that makes you and your home comfortable, and potentially save money in the process.

So what temperature is in your comfort zone?

Activity level, gender, and age may play a role in what you consider to be a comfortable indoor temperature. Your ideal temperature may be very different from anyone else living in your home. To keep the peace, you may have to try a few temperatures to determine which is the most comfortable for your household.

If you aren’t sure what indoor temperatures are comfortable, start out by programming your thermostat with the following ENERGY STAR® suggestions. It won’t take too long to realize if you are too hot or cold in your home!

1 Coyne College. (n.d.). Some Like it Hot: How Americans Feel About Temperature. Retrieved from Coyne College News: www.coynecollege.edu/news/ideal-temperatures-heat-cool/#

SWEET DREAMSEvery person’s ideal indoor temperature setting seems to be different. You probably know someone who sweats at 75°F and another who starts shivering at the thought of 74°F. The good news is that today’s thermostats and smart HVAC control systems allow you to customize your ideal temperature according to your preferences and schedule, even when you aren’t at home!

Source:www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/publications/pubdocs/HeatingCoolingGuide%20FINAL_9-4-09.pdf

Setting Time Setpoint Temp (Heat)

Setpoint Temp(Cool)

Wake 6:00 a.m. ≤ 70° F ≥ 78° F

Day 8:00 a.m. Setback at least 8° F Setup at least 7° F

Evening 6:00 p.m. ≤ 70° F ≥ 78° F

Sleep 10:00 p.m. Setback at least 8° F Setup at least 4° F

Source: www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/publications/pubdocs/HeatingCoolingGuide%20FINAL_9-4-09.pdf

It’s all about You:INDOOR COMFORT AND YOUR COMFORT ZONE

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Indoor comfort solutions for even the worst weather cities

REAL COMFORT

Winter weather can be extreme and can make us uncomfortable! When outdoor conditions become unbearable, people

need the shelter of indoor comfort. Good thing there are reliable, energy-efficient indoor comfort solutions to keep you

comfortable – no matter what weather comes your way.

Winter WonderlandsWhen temperatures plummet and snow covers your front lawn for months at a time, a high-efficiency central gas furnace may be an excellent solution to help keep your home warm and com-fortable – especially if you live in one of these chilly cities:

• Grand Forks, North Dakota — According to data collected by NOAA over a 30-year pe-riod, this Canadian border town averages -3°F in winter.1

• Syracuse, New York — Cold and snowy! Multiple sub-zero days and an average of 124 inches of snow per year.1

• Flagstaff, Arizona – This high desert city boasts an average of 77 inches of snow per year and January low temperatures average 11°F.2

• Marquette, Michigan — Lake-effect snow often produces nearly 150 inches of snow per year.2

• Erie, Pennsylvania – Annual snowfall of approximately 102 inches.2 That’s a lot of snowmen in one season!

Even if you don’t live in one of the cities below, make sure your indoor comfort

equipment can handle these extreme conditions!

For Real Places

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1 Comen, Evan. America’s 50 Coldest Cities. 2018 March 2018. www.accuweather.com/en/travel-articles/business/americas-50-coldest-cities/70004400. 27 September 2018.

2 Reddigari, Manasa. These 30 Places Have the Worst Weather in America. 18 January 2018. www.bobvila.com/slideshow/these-30-places-have-the-worst-weather-in-america-51814#. 7 February 2018.

It’s the Humidity…And the RainIn places where it’s too warm for snow, umbrellas can get some heavy-duty use all year long! But excessive rain and the humidity that accompanies it may make your home uncomfortable indoors.

If you live in one of these areas, a whole-house dehumidifier may save the day. Whole house dehumidifiers reduce the level of humidity from your home’s air, even when you don’t need your central air conditioner or heat pump.

• Mobile, Alabama – This city receives the most rainfall, an average of 67 inches, ac-cording to a study by WeatherBill, Inc.2

• Tampa, Florida – Averages 246 sunny days per year but this city has the highest number of days with thunderstorms in the United States with lightning occurring about 83 days every year.2

• Houston, Texas - Mornings can reach a peak average humidity level of 90%, com-pounding the discomfort of Houstonians on the 100 days each year when temperatures reach 90°F +. 2

• Seattle, Washington - Seattle endures up to 147 rainy days per year. The rain is often light drizzle, but the clouds are enough to obscure the sun for much of the year.2

• Buffalo, New York - Buffalo usually takes the title of cloudiest city in America with an average of 311 partially cloudy days per year, three more than Seattle.2

The Kitchen SinkIf you live in Lubbock Texas, you may want to be sure you maximize your indoor comfort solutions with reliable, energy-efficient equipment. It's even pos-sible that a dual-fuel system may work best for you!

Dual-fuel technology combines the cool-ing and heating performance that you get from a heat pump with the consis-tent heating capacity of a gas furnace. What makes this system so precise and energy efficient for heating is that it alternates between the two energy sources for heating comfort, depending on your specific outdoor conditions.

The city seems to have nearly every weather possible!

• Lubbock, Texas – This northwest Texas town boasts extreme temperatures, torna-dos, dust storms, and firestorms.2

No matter where you live or the weath-er forecasted in your area, a properly installed indoor comfort system can help you feel comfortable.

Continued from page 13

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72F

Be comfortable in your home this season, and every season to come!Discover the affordable

indoor comfort solutions that are specifically

designed to keep you comfortable in your home

— ALL YEAR LONG!

HEATING SEASON

The temptation of pumpkin spice lattes and the eventual arrival of crisp, cold temperatures beckon you to the cozy, heated retreat of your home. Welcome to heating season!

Gas Furnace

To keep comfortable when outdoor temperatures fall, you may turn to a gas furnace or heat pump to heat your home. When installed and functioning correctly, these central heating essentials provide warmth and indoor comfort — even when outdoor temperatures become frigid and frosty.

Let’s take a closer look at central heating equipment that helps make you comfort-able during the heating season!

The Efficiency of a Gas Furnace

High heating bills can make you hot under the collar — which can be really uncomfortable! So, it’s important to know about the energy efficiency rating of your gas furnace.

Every gas furnace model is rated for its efficiency with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) percentage number.

The Gas Furnace

1. Propane or natural gas fuel generates heat in the furnace’s burners.

2. The heat produced passes through a heat exchanger.

3. Air from the home’s ductwork is blown over the heat exchanger, warming the air.

4. The furnace’s blower then forces the heated air into the supply ductwork, distributing it throughout the home.

Two-Stage Gas Furnace: A two-stage gas furnace has two settings: high and low. This feature allows for operation depend-ing on your heating needs — full gas flow for when more heat is needed or a lower flow for milder days.

Multi-stage or Modulating Gas Furnace: Like the heat on a gas stove or grill, the burner can adjust from high to low, and multiple levels in between. Once the gas furnace heats your home to your desired indoor temperature, the burner automat-ically adjusts to provide just the right amount of heat required to maintain the set temperature.

The higher the number, the more efficient the gas furnace is rated.

Let’s break it down. If a furnace has an AFUE rating of 80%, it means 80% of the energy of the fossil fuel is being con-verted to heat while 20% escapes and is wasted. A 98% AFUE rating means that only 2% of the energy is not transferred to heating capacity. So when you think about what it costs to heat your home with a gas furnace, consider the AFUE.

Comfort Features

Are you looking to stay cozy and comfort-able for many years? Some gas furnace models come with features that may improve your comfort level during the heating season.

One of these features is the gas furnace’s “stage.” The stage is all about the gas valve and the burner.

Here’s how you can break down the dif-ferent type of stages featured on a gas furnace:

Single-Stage Gas Furnace: This type simply operates either ON or OFF. It doesn’t offer the option of adjusting the gas flow. This is similar to turning your burner on the stove or grill on high and then off.

Your seasonal guideto indoor comfort

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Heat PumpIf you use electricity to heat your home, you may rely on a heat pump to keep you warm during the cold months of the year. From the outside, this equipment may look similar to an air conditioner. In fact, a heat pump is capable of cooling your home just like an air condition-er. But when temperatures fall, a heat pump can reverse the heat transfer process and create heat inside your house.

Yes, that may sound hard to believe, but it’s true! Today’s heat pumps can pull enough heat energy from freezing outdoor temperatures to provide warm, comfortable temperatures in your home.

Heat pumps aren’t just used in locations with mild winters. Advanced engineering and technology have allowed these split systems to be used in areas with extended periods of subfreezing temperatures.

Efficiency RatingsLike most people, you probably want to spend as little money as possible on home heating. But, you also want to stay warm and comfort-able in your home. That’s why it’s important to understand the efficiency rating of heat pumps.

Just like other home heating and cooling equipment, every heat pump model achieves a specific heating efficiency number. This num-ber is called the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF. That number represents the total heat output of a heat pump, including its supplementary electric heat, as compared to the total electricity consumed in watt-hours during the same period.*

If you are looking for a high-efficiency heat pump, compare one model’s HSPF to another. The higher the number, the more efficient it is rated.

* Air-Source Heat Pumps. (n.d.). Retrieved from Energy.gov: https://energy.gov/energysaver/air-source-heat-pumps.

Continued from page 15

Comfort Features You may not realize how many new, enhanced features are now available on modern heat pump systems. These advanced features are designed to boost your indoor comfort level and could possibly save you money on your monthly utility bills.

Some heat pump models feature a two-stage or variable speed compressor. This may sound complicated, but it allows the heat pump to operate at different speeds – giving your heat pump more operational options that simply ON or OFF.

If it’s too cold inside, your heat pump’s com-pressor and circulating fan may operate at 100% heating capacity to reach the desired temperature. But to maintain that tempera-ture for longer periods of time, the system’s compressor and circulating fan may be able to pull back on its output from 100%. This is where two-stage or variable speed technology comes in.

Benefits of a heat pump with a two-stage or variable-speed compressor includes:

Consistent Indoor Comfort – With its ability to adjust output, your two-stage or variable speed heat pump may minimize the hot and cold peaks and valleys often found with the ON/OFF cycle of a single-stage unit. The lower stage capacity is able to maintain the pre-set temperature longer than if the system turns off when it reaches the pre-set temperature. This allows for steady heating in your home.

Dehumidification – When it’s cold and damp, the longer run times at lower speeds of a two-stage or variable speed model allow additional time for moisture to be removed from your home’s interior spaces. While the main job of your heating system is to alter the indoor air’s temperature, these comfort-creating pieces of equipment may lower the indoor humidity level as a by-product of the heating process. Better humidity control leaves you with more comfortable interior air.

Energy-Efficient – You may think that be-cause a two-stage or variable speed model operates longer than a single-stage unit that it would use more electricity, but that’s not the case! Electricity usage peaks when a system turns ON and operate at full capacity. Rather than cycling ON and OFF, the heat pump’s compressor adjusts to maintain the set temperature and therefore reduces energy consumption.

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Central Air ConditionerSo, let’s talk about the central air conditioner – one of the summer’s most popular pieces of residential indoor comfort equipment!*

A typical central air conditioning system is a two-part or split system and includes:

• The outdoor unit that contains the condens-er coil, compressor, electrical components, and a fan.

• An indoor evaporator coil, which is usually installed on top of the gas furnace or within the air handler inside the home.

• A series of pipes, or refrigeration lines, con-necting the inside and outside equipment.

• Refrigerant, the substance in the refrigeration lines that circulates through the indoor and outdoor unit.

• Ducts that serve as air tunnels to the vari-ous spaces inside your home.

• A thermostat or HVAC control system to set your desired temperature.

* U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Consumption and Efficiency Statistics. 2012 Commercial Buildings and Energy Consumption Survey. Washington D.C., 2012. www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/data/2012/bc/pdf/b40.pdf.

COOLING SEASON

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Energy-Efficient FeaturesHere is the lowdown on these efficiency features:

Two-Stage Cooling: Two-stage compressors offer two capacity options. It’s like having two units built into one — a low capacity unit to han-dle a small cooling demand and a larger one to meet a heavier demand. If conditions exist that 100% capacity is not required, a two-stage compressor can operate at the lower speed, offering partial capacity to reach or maintain your desired indoor temperature.

Variable-Speed Cooling: Variable speed compressor technology allows the unit to run at various outputs that best meet your set com-fort needs at the lowest consumption of power. This may mean that a more moderate and slower speed can maintain your set tempera-ture rather than 100%.

Once the desired indoor temperature is reached, precise adjustments are being made automatically with the goal of providing the most consistent comfort at the lower possible level of energy consumption.

Heat Pump in Cooling ModeWhen the weather turns warm, a heat pump in cooling mode works just like an air conditioner — keeping you cool and comfortable in your home, all season long!

A heat pump may be particularly beneficial during the topsy-turvy temperatures that come with spring weather. That is because a heat pump applies heat transfer principles that can be used to heat AND cool your home. So, no matter the outdoor temperature, an HVAC system with a heat pump can be used all year long!

Energy Efficiency in Cooling SeasonYour cooling system may get a lot of use in warmer months. You want to be sure your sys-tem is energy-efficient so your cooling bills don’t leave you steaming.

Every air conditioner and heat pump has a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER rating. SEER measures the annual energy consumption and efficiency of the unit’s cooling ability in typ-ical day-to-day use. The higher the SEER rating, the less energy the unit will use.

Spring Cleaning and MaintenanceYour indoor comfort and the functional life of the system can often depend on maintaining that delicate balancing act be-tween equipment, air flow, and mechanics. Preseason inspections may uncover leaks, rust, rot, soot, frayed wires and/or corroded electrical contacts on your air conditioner or heat pump that can lead to bigger equip-ment failures if left untreated. Additionally, effective maintenance can reduce HVAC energy costs by 5% to 40% depending on the system or equipment involved.*

So, do yourself and your indoor comfort a favor, schedule pre-season HVAC mainte-nance before the peak temperatures hit. Why? Because it’s hard to be comfortable in your home when indoor temperatures are almost the same as the outdoor tempera-tures!

*Studies Show: HVAC System Maintenance Saves Energy. September 2011. www.buildingefficiencyinitiative.org/articles/studies-show-hvac-system-maintenance-saves-energy. February 2017.

Purchasing a new Heating or Cooling System?

You want to be comfortable in your home no matter what the temperature is outside. But, you also want the best value and quality heating and cooling equipment available. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Heating and cooling systems are a long-term investment in your home and the comfort of your family.

• New, innovative features and options may result in higher energy efficiency ratings, potentially saving on utility costs for years to come!

• You want to be sure to get the system that best fits your home design, budget, and indoor comfort expectations.

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Nuts, bolts and Indoor Comfort:

The Importance of Installation

Did you know that reliability, lifespan, energy-efficiency and consistent indoor comfort levels may be directly linked to the proper, professional installation of your heating and cooling system?So, what’s a homeowner to do?

Most heating and cooling technicians are local, hardworking folks who honestly want to find the most affordable solutions to your home’s heat-ing and cooling problems. Yet, all HVAC technicians are not created equal! Even the most seasoned ones will agree with that statement.

As with any home service contractor, it’s important to know the local reputation of your potential HVAC dealer — especially when it comes to quality work, value, and customer service. A National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) study states that if your high-efficiency equipment is installed improperly, it may not be running as efficiently as you think!1 That could cost extra energy dollars on your monthly utility bills.

1 Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. Variable-speed, low-cost motor for residential HVAC systems. n.d. https://energy.gov/eere/amo/variable-speed-low-cost-motor-residential-hvac-systems.

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Whether your home’s heating system is in need of routine maintenance, emergency repairs or a total replacement, selecting a qualified HVAC contractor is essential.

How often do technicians receive technical training?

To ensure you hire a qualified professional that best fits the job, be sure to:

• Check the equipment manufacturer’s inde-pendent dealer locator

• Get local referrals

• Read reviews often located on equipment manufacturer’s website

• Ask questions:

How many years has your HVAC compa-ny been in business?

Do you need to be registered or licensed by the state/city/county to do the work?

Are your technicians certified to handle refrigerants?

Do you have a permanent place of business,?

Do you carry both general liability and workers compensation insurance?

Do your service technicians wear uni-forms & ID badges?

How often do your technicians receive training?

Do you offer 24-hour emergency service?

What preventive maintenance programs are offered and what is included?

Do you provide a limited warranty on your labor and installation?

AMERICA’S BRAND FOR COMFORT

Our continuing commitment to quality products may mean a change in specifications without notice. © 2019 Goodman Company, L.P. Amana is a registered trademark of Maytag Corporation or its related companies and is used under license. Houston, TX, USA. All rights reserved.

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Additional informationBefore purchasing this appliance, read important information about its estimated annual energy consumption, yearly operating cost, or energy efficiency rating that is available from your retailer.