Tag: programmable thermostats

Central Air Conditioning Efficiency: Use A Programmable Thermostat And Avoid Manual Fan On Settings

Knowing what a central air conditioning system should do and knowing how to efficiently operate your programmable thermostat are not identical points of wisdom. For example: It may seem that the fan on your A/C or Heat Pump unit performs the same function as a standard room fan. Not So. HVAC system fans are designed to produce an entirely different manner of air circulation and air management.

Central A/C, Heat Pump Systems And Window Units

In core function, air conditioning removes hot air from within your home or office, and then returns to you the cooler air. Central A/C units circulate the chilled air throughout your office, home, or even a huge industrial plant. Window air conditioners, although sometimes used to cool an entire home, are most often used for single rooms and other forms of limited space cooling. Window fans, attic fans and other stationary fan units merely churn the existing air, creating turbulence that generates a sense of wind chill.

Central cooling and heat pump systems work in conjunction with a structure’s overall HVAC components, which include air conditioning processes, heating equipment and even ventilation management. Room or window units function as stand-alone cooling, heating or cooling and heating appliances. Freestanding fans, although seeming to cool your home, in actuality increase the heat of the nearby air. Electricity generates heat. Thereby an electric fan when set to fan on releases additional heat into a room and provides no supplemental removal of hot air from the room. Now wind chill refers to the process wherein wind increases convective heat loss. By moving air throughout a room, a fan enables quicker and easier evaporation of sweat from your skin. Thus you are cooled by your body’s natural means of eliminating heat. The greater the wind chill, the more evaporation and the cooler you feel. But remember, fans do not remove hot air from the environment; they add hot air. Thus even as the wind chill effect reduces your discomfort, the fan actually increases the cause of that discomfort.

Central Air Conditioning Fan On Mode

The fan that functions with your installed AZ heat pump or central air conditioning system is also connected to your furnace system. Warm interior air returns to your outside air A/C condensing unit. The air passes through the condensing coils and is then re-circulated back to the inside furnace unit. The cool air is then disbursed via ducts and vents throughout your home. Although evaporation plays a role in the functions of a central A/C system, the core result is nothing like the results produced by a standard room fan, ceiling fan or even attic fan. The fan on your central HVAC unit is neither designed for or should be used as a regular home fan unit. Window air conditioners, however, are not like central A/C units. Setting the Fan On mode on a window unit merely circulate air just as a standard window fan functions. For cool air, you need to set the window unit to “air conditioning” mode.

Under normal conditions, you should never set your central A/C fan mode to “Fan On” only mode. It causes problems for your thermostat and your overall heating and cooling system. Extended use of “Fan On” only mode increases room humidity while decreasing the efficiency of your HVAC system. For better HVAC equipment performance, the Arizona Energy Commission recommends that homeowners keep air conditioning system fans set to automatic.

Programmable Thermostats

In the Energy Star article “Heat and Cool Efficiently,” the editors suggest that an installed programmable thermostat can save homeowner’s as much as $180 per year in energy costs. During summer months, cooling an Arizona home accounts for as much as fifty-percent of home energy consumption. Several points help reduce this cost:

• Review and understand the A/C or HP user manual · Install an Energy Star efficiency-rated cooling system
• Ensure that your Arizona air conditioning system functions at or above minimum efficiency requirements
•  If your system lacks the benefits of a programmable thermostat, make the investment; it will save you money
•  Practice the “set it and forget it” A/C efficiency principal.
• Live with 74-78 degrees F; It’s a comfortable and will keep your energy consumption on the low side.

Trane Programmable Thermostats And Advanced Controls

Defined by quality components, every Trane Programmable Thermostat is crafted to help ensure that your family reaps the best in air conditioning comfort. Take a look at some of the options and features:

• Trane XL800 Deluxe Programmable Thermostat
• Interactive touch screen
• Armchair programming options
• Permanent memory for lasting storage of programming functions
• Effective management for minimum compressor run-time
• Auto changeover between cooling and heating with a 3 to 10 degrees “dead band”
• AND So much more.

Trane Comfort Link II Smart Control

Crafted for intuitive touch-screen control, the Trane ComfortLink� II sets the scale for innovative management of HVAC equipment. Adaptable to most all brands of heat pumps and A/C units, as well as most all Trane products, the Trane ComfortLink� II is ripe for the picking. Furthermore, the unit is fully upgradeable and well supported for updates to remain compatible with future-released heating and cooling systems. Features include: · Custom control and scheduling · Live weather and dealer contact

• Energy efficient monitoring system
• Air quality management with Quick Clean and Allergy Clean cycles designed to provide a temporary boost in air filtration
• Remote access from smartphone, tablet or home computer system
• Digital picture frame
• AND so much more.

For even more details on Trane Programmable Thermostat and Trane central air conditioning equipment, click here.