Testimonials
Ten
Time-Proven Tips For Selecting A
Dealer
Glossary
Of Terms
Testimonials:
I
am writing this letter in order that I might share my most sincere
appreciation for the wonderful service I received from your company
most recently.
Just within the past week, I have had a new heating and air
conditioning system put in my home. Two of your employees, Tom and
Josh, did a most professional job. They were always polite and
considerate of my family and myself as they worked. Our home was kept
neat and clean during the two days that they installed our system, as
they constantly cleaned up after themselves and kept their materials
together.
No detail was too small, and I am 100% confident that I now have a most
efficient and reliable system that will keep my home comfortable for my
family and I, no matter what the weather conditions.
You have two superior employees working for your business, and in this
day and time, that is something for which one needs to be grateful.
- James B.
Now I know why you call your company First Class. That's exactly what
you are. You answered my call quickly, you came to the house early, you
fixed the problem and even told me about an impending problem.
That night happened in the fall, and you took me at my word that I
would put the check in the mail on Saturday. Thank you, thank you,
thank you. I will recommend you to all my friends and I will use you
again if need be. Even though I did not meet the service person, Mike,
he was very polite and considerate. You are to be congratulated on such
great service.
Thanks again!
- Evelyn W.
Ten
Time-Proven Tips For Selecting A Dealer:
1. Check credentials. Before
making your selection, call the Better Business Bureau to make sure the
dealer is reputable. Also, find out if the dealer is a member of a
local or national association such as the Air Conditioning Contractors
Association of America.
2. Make sure the dealer is
affiliated with a nationally known manufacturer. Dealers should be
taking advantage of factory training offered by their manufacturer. As
a result, when they make recommendations, you can be more assured that
they¹ve selected the right size system for your home, and that
they¹ve been trained in installation and service.
3. Ask for references. Former
customers are an excellent source of information. Also, ask to see
installation photos. A dealer that is proud of work will be more than
happy to show it to you.
4. Expect an on-site evaluation
of your home. A good dealer will take a thorough look at your home, ask
questions and evaluate your overall comfort needs before making a
recommendation. Beware of a dealer that simply takes information over
the phone. A good dealer will also look the part. While he¹s
evaluating your home, you should be evaluating him. Not only should he
dress professionally, but his truck and printed materials should look
professional as well.
5. Check local licenses.
Depending on where you live, dealers may have to comply with certain
local or state regulations, so ask to see proof of these licenses as
well as insurance forms for liability and workmen¹s
compensation.
6. Don¹t be afraid to
ask questions. Ask for details about the firm¹s experience and
the expertise of its staff. This is particularly important if
you¹re also adding or changing ductwork in this
case, experience is definitely a factor in getting the job done
correctly.
7. Get a written proposal. To
make a fair comparison, make sure the proposals you receive are all
based on the same efficiency and equipment. You¹ll also want
to evaluate each dealer¹s personal business standards and
policies. For example, will he remove old equipment? Will he relocate
equipment if you want your new system installed in a different
location? What are his clean up and care policies during installation?
How will he handle emergency repair? These are just a few of the
additional elements a good proposal will include.
8. Inquire about equipment and
labor warranties. Limited warranties vary according to the
manufacturer, so make sure you fully understand what you¹re
getting. Also, don¹t forget to inquire about
manufacturer¹s extended warranties at the time of purchase and
other warranties provided by the dealer.
9. Ask about preventive
maintenance service contracts. Many dealers offer service contracts
that call for periodic maintenance of equipment, and if needed repairs.
The fee for such contracts is usually well worth it in terms of
obtaining optimum efficiency and performance for your system.
10.
Finally insist on a written
contract. Commit your agreement to writing and have the dealer sign it.
Glossary Of Terms:
AFUE– Annual Fuel
Utilization Efficiency. A measure of a gas furnace¹s
efficiency in converting fuel to energy the higher the
rating, the more efficient the unit. For example: A rating of 90 means
that approximately 90 percent of the fuel is used to provide warmth to
your home, while the remaining 10 percent escapes as exhaust.
BTU–
British Thermal
Unit. This is the amount of heat it takes to raise one pound of water
one degree Fahrenheit. For your home, it represents the measure of heat
given off when fuel is burned for heating or the measure of heat
extracted from your home for cooling.
CFM–
Cubic Feet Per
Minute. A standard measurement of airflow. A typical system requires
400 CFM per ton of air conditioning.
Capacity– The output
or producing ability of a piece of cooling or heating equipment.
Cooling and heating capacities are referred to on BTUs.
Comfort-R™
Airflow System– An
exclusive feature of a high efficiency home comfort system from
American Standard. This method of ramping airflow gives you greater
humidity control in cooling and provides warmer air during heating
start up.
Compressor–
The heart
of an air conditioning or heat pump system. It is part of the outdoor
unit and pumps refrigerant in order to meet the cooling requirements of
the system.
Condensor
Coil or Outdoor Coil–
In an air conditioner, the coil dissipates heat from the refrigerant,
changing the refrigerant from vapor to liquid. In a heat pump system,
it absorbs heat from the outdoors.
Damper–
Found in
ductwork, this movable plate opens and closes to control airflow.
Dampers can be used to balance airflow in a duct system. They are also
used in zoning to regulate airflow to certain rooms.
Ductwork–
Pipes or
channels that carry air throughout your home. In a home comfort system,
ductwork is critical to performance in fact, it¹s as
critical as the equipment.
Evaporator
Coil or Indoor Coil–
The other half of your air conditioning system located inside your home
in the indoor unit. This is where the refrigerant evaporates as it
absorbs heat from the air that passes over the coil.
Gas
Furnace Heat Exchanger–
Located in the furnace, the heat exchanger transfers heat to the
surrounding air, which is then pumped throughout your home.
HSPF–
Heating Seasonal
Performance Factor. This rating is used in measuring the heating
efficiency of a heat pump. The higher the number, the more efficient
the unit.
Package
Unit– A
heating and cooling system contained in one outdoor unit. A package
unit is typically installed either beside, on top of the home, or
sometimes in the attic.
Refrigerant–
A
chemical that produces a refrigerating effect while expanding and
vaporizing. Most residential air conditioning systems contain R-22
refrigerant. R-22 is regulated by international controls under the
Montreal Protocol and in the United States by the Environmental
Protection Agency. It is scheduled to be in production until the year
2020. It¹s used in approximately 95 percent of air
conditioning equipment manufactured in the U.S. today.
SEER–
Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio. A measure of cooling efficiency for air conditioners
and heat pumps. The higher the seer, the more energy efficient the
unit. The government¹s minimum SEER rating is 13.
(It¹s similar to comparing miles per gallon in automobiles.)
SEET–
Seasonal Extreme
Environmental Test Lab. This is American Standard's torture chamber for
heating and air conditioning systems, where five years of service are
condensed into 16 torturous weeks. If a product doesn¹t make
it through our SEET lab, it¹s not manufactured. We push our
equipment to extremes because we¹d rather test them in our lab
than in your home.
Split
System– The
combination of an outdoor unit (air conditioner or heat pump) with an
indoor unit (furnace or air handler). Split systems must be matched for
optimum efficiency.
Thermostat–
A
thermostat consists of a series of sensors and relays that monitor and
control the functions of a heating and cooling system.
Ton–
A unit of
measurement used for determining cooling capacity. One ton is the
equivalent of 12,000 BTUs per hour.
Zoning–
A method of
dividing a home into different comfort zones so each zone can be
independently controlled depending on use and need.
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