Frequently Asked Questions

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At All Star HVAC, we will consider many factors before making a recommendation. For example, the size and age of your home, your ventilation system, your utility costs, and other factors will affect the functionality and efficiency of the system. All Star HVAC will utilize the latest technology to consider all these factors while assisting you in choosing the best system for your home. Contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our Comfort Specialist to give you an estimate, and assist you in your selection.

BTU, short for British Thermal Unit, is a basic measure of thermal (heat) energy. One BTU is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. When speaking of cooling power, the BTU also works in reverse. The air-cooling power of an air conditioner system refers to the amount of thermal energy removed from an area. Hence a 65,000 BTU heater and a 65,000 BTU air conditioner are of roughly the same capacity and size. The higher the BTU output, the more powerful the heating or cooling system.

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, (SEER) rates air conditioning equipment. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit. The lower the SEER rating, the more energy is required to produce the desired effect. SEER is the ratio of the amount of BTU's used for cooling in normal annual use to the total amount of electrical power (measured in watts) over the same period. (Annual Cooling in BTU's/Total Watt Hours = SEER).

AFUE is the abbreviation for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio. AFUE is used to rate furnace efficiencies by dividing the ratio of heat output by heat input. This measurement describes how well fuel; gas or oil is consumed to produce heat by a furnace. As the AFUE rate increases, the efficiency of your furnace also increases, lowering your fuel costs. Furnaces manufactured in the United States are required to have at least an 80% AFUE.

Typically, filters should be cleaned or replaced once every other month. If your furnace is in your garage it may need to be changed once a month depending on dust.  Some units are equipped with permanent filters. They can be cleaned according to the instructions supplied. Disposable filters should be replaced with filters of the same type and size as the original filter.

Energy Star is a program that was created by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help businesses and individuals make energy efficient purchases. This program places the ENERGY STAR label, a small blue and white logo, on items that meet superior energy efficiency standards. This label provides an easy way for consumers to identify quality, high efficiency products.

A heat pump is a device used for either the heating or cooling of a space by transferring hot and cold between two reservoirs. A heat pump can act like an air conditioner, transferring heat from inside to out, or like a heater as it transfers exterior heat to the interior. Schedule an appointment today to have one of our certified and licensed technicians come to your home to give you a preliminary diagnostic of your heat pump system.

An Air Handler is the inner portion of a central air conditioning or heat pump system that is responsible for the movement of the heated or cooled air throughout the area covered with the system. An Air handler in combination with a heat pump performs the task of circulating both hot and cold air through the desired area. Clean and safe air handlers in your home ensure that you and your family can have fresh and comfortable air all the year round. contact us at All Star HVAC and we can have one of our knowledgeable technicians come to your home to give you a preliminary diagnostic of your systems needs.