Forced-air systems include furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps. Forced-air heating and cooling systems are ducted and use an air handler to deliver conditioned air to your living space. 

Forced-air system: airflow and ducts 
Forced-air systems rely on airflow from the air handler and a channel (ductwork) to circulate the heated or cooled air through your home. When the thermostat activates your heating or cooling system, the air handler pulls air through the return duct, heats or cools the air and sends the air through the supply ducts to your living space. This repeats until indoor-air temperature matches the thermostat set point.

Furnace
A furnace is typically in a basement or garage. A gas-fueled burner heats the air, venting hot gases outside via a flue. Once activated, a pilot light or electronic ignition lights the burner in the combustion chamber, creating heat inside the heat-exchanger, where the return air is heated. The air handler pulls and then blows the heated air through the supply ducts.

Heat pump
The mechanics of circulating return air through the ducts to your living space is the same for a heat pump. The difference between the two systems is the method by which air is heated. 

Heat pumps are more efficient than furnaces because heat pumps transfer heat from the outside to the inside. Expensive fuel isn't combusted to make heat. Instead, refrigerant extracts heat at the outdoor-heat exchanger (condenser) and releases heat at the indoor-heat exchanger (evaporator).

Heat pumps provide cooled air by reversing the refrigerant's heat extraction and release process. For cooling, heat is extracted from your home and released outside. 

Air conditioner
Air conditioning systems are very similar to heat-pump systems, except that the refrigerant in air conditioners circulates in just one direction. Air conditioners aren't engineered to reverse refrigerant flow for heating. The mechanics of the air handler, airflow and ductwork are the same.

For more information, contact Mast Heating & Cooling. Since 1956, we've provided unmatched service and installation to homeowners in Holland and Zeeland. 

Image via Shutterstock.com

If you are looking to buy a new furnace for your Michigan home, there are many options and factors for you to consider. The two factors that you most want to get right, though, are the size of the system needed for your home, and the level of energy efficiency.

For furnaces, size and efficiency are closely related. You see, the energy efficiency of heating systems is measured by something called AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. AFUE is expressed as a percent, and it tells you what percent of the energy contained in the fuel actually gets turned into useable heat for your home. If the AFUE of a furnace is 90 percent, then 90 percent of the heat energy from the fuel is used to warm the air in the system, and the other 10 percent is wasted or lost. The amount of heat produced is measured by British Thermal Units, or Btu's. So, if the gas or oil being consumed contains 10,000 Btu's of energy, a 90 percent AFUE system would put out 9,000 Btu's of heat into your home.

A higher AFUE rating, therefore, will save you money on your heating fuel bills, but it can also save you more than that. A higher AFUE rating also means you will not need as large of a furnace. This is because furnace size is measured by how many BTUs of fuel are used to run the system, instead of how much heat is produced. People who choose a new furnace based on the size of their old one often end up paying for more heating power than they need. If your old heating system has an AFUE of 70 percent, and you upgrade to a 90 percent AFUE system, you don't need the new one to be the same size as the old; you actually need a unit that is about 20 percent smaller.

At Mast Heating, we can help you determine exactly which heating system will work best for the specific needs of your West Michigan home. Contact us with any questions; we'll be happy to help.

Our goal at Mast Heating & Cooling is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about new furnace selection and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Mast Heating & Cooling services the Zeeland, Michigan and Holland, Michigan areas.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!   

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

As we talk with our customers, we're finding that many are unaware of this year's federal tax credits for energy-efficient HVAC equipment and home improvements. Lots of people have the mistaken idea that the credits all ended last year. Not so. Many 2011 federal credits are available to homeowners.

Any homeowner out there who is planning to purchase a new home comfort system or an upgrade this year can take advantage of the credits. Here's a summary of eligible products, minimum efficiency rating requirements and associated federal tax credits:

• Advanced main air circulating fans:  $50 credit, or take 30 percent of the fan's cost, provided the fan uses 2 percent or less of furnace energy.
• Central A/C, including installation costs: $300 for equipment with a minimum efficiency rating (SEER) of 14 and rated at least 16 for split systems.
• Heat pumps (electric), including installation: $300 credit if the unit is rated at least 14 (or 15 for split systems).
• Furnaces/boilers, including installation: $150 credit for equipment with a minimum rating (AFUE) of 90 or at rated least 95 for gas or propane units.
• Geothermal heat pumps and solar energy systems : Credit for 30 percent of the cost, with no limit.

Credits may also be taken for certain water heaters, biomass heating stoves, insulation and more. Some credits are for primary residences only and most have additional requirements. The U.S. Department of Energy lists the details on its Energy Savers website, or you can talk to your local HVAC contractor who can walk you through your options.

If wading through all the complicated rules for federal HVAC-related tax credits gets confusing, feel free to consult your local experts at Mast Heating & Cooling. We'll be glad to explain all your options and answer any questions.

Our goal at Mast Heating & Cooling is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about tax credits and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Mast Heating & Cooling services the Zeeland, Michigan and Holland, Michigan areas.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.