Your Indoor Unit-Things to Consider

Variable Speed - Variable speed technology is available in both fan coil and gas furnace units. Variable speed systems, which are more efficient than standard units, can increase your system's cooling efficiency by up to two full SEER points. Variable speed technology provides superior quite comfort with heavy-duty cabinet insulation and slower airflow through the ductwork. A gradual, quieter start-up means that you will notice less starting and stopping of your equipment. You can choose continuous fan operation to provide greater energy savings and maintain more even temperatures throughout the home while enhancing indoor air quality by moving air more slowly over high performance air filters.

Heat and Humidity Balance - To achieve the perfect balance of heat and humidity, match either a heat pump or air conditioner with a variable speed fan coil or variable speed furnace, along with a thermostat control. Balance systems deliver remarkable comfort primarily by providing longer, smoother and quieter heating cycles, and superior humidity control during the cooling season.

Gas Furnace Efficiency - If you live in a colder climate, and have a gas furnace system, its heating efficiency can have a significant impact on your energy costs. The heating efficiency of gas furnaces is measured by its AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating. High efficiency furnaces have AFUE ratings of up to 96.6%, providing savings of up to 19% compared to systems with the minimum AFUE of 78%.

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Your Outdoor Unit-Things to Consider

Equipment Efficiency - Choosing high efficiency equipment can dramatically reduce your utility bills. If you live in a warm climate, your choice of cooling efficiency, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) will have a significant impact on your utility bills. If you live in a cooler climate and have a heat pump system, its heating efficiency, Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) will also play an important role in keeping your utility costs low. Our products carry the EPA's Energy Star seal of efficiency and environmental soundness.

Refrigerant: Puron® or Freon®-22? - In 1996, Puron was introduced, a new environmentally sound refrigerant. Puron refrigerant has been approved by the EPA as a replacement for Freon-22, an HCFC that is gradually being phased-out of production for environmental reasons. Your choice of refrigerant will impact both the environment as well as your future service and maintenance costs. When it comes to performance, the products which use Puron refrigerant are the most reliable ever with a failure rate of less than half of one percent.

Equipment Sound Levels - Sometimes little things can make a big difference, like quiet comfort. AeroQuiet System technology greatly reduces noise generated from the system's outdoor unit. Compare AeroQuiet System ratings as low as 69 decibels to an industry average of about 80 decibels-The difference is loud and clear!

Two-Speed vs. Single-Speed - The high-speed operation allows the system to quickly reach your desired indoor temperature, and the low-speed operation helps to maintain this temperature with more efficient use of electricity. Our two-speed systems run at low speed 80% of the time. As a result, they use about 50% less energy compared to standard systems reaching efficiencies of up to 16.5 SEER. Low speed operation results in dramatically reduced sound levels. While running on low speed, it also removes significantly more moisture from the air, for improved comfort and air quality.

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It's time to decide: Do you Repair or Replace?

When should you repair older equipment and when do you replace that equipment. This can be one of the most difficult decisions that you have to make because it always seems that the repair or replacement comes at the worst possible time.

Here is what you have to consider when making a decision to repair or replace the largest appliances in your home.

Paying for repairs - This sometimes simply prolongs the inevitable. Are you just putting a band-aid on the system? If the repair cost exceeds half of the original cost of the equipment then you should consider replacing it. An older system, that is breaking down probably will continue to breakdown, prompting additional emergency calls and fees. Even after putting money into your system and getting nickel and dimmed to death, it still won't be as energy efficient as a new system.

Energy savings - Installing new systems can often pay for themselves. How? A furnace or air conditioner just 5-6 years old is vastly inefficient compared to today's energy efficiency standards. Advances in technology can save you from 50-60% off of your utility bill. That's how installing a new system can actually pay for itself over time. If you don't have the financial resources for a new system, ask about financing options.

Warranties - When you buy most systems today they come with warranties that can keep from having to pay repair bills for the next 5-10 years!!

Health considerations - If you were to have it analyzed, you might find that your indoor air consists of mostly invisible gases and particulates, including many which can be characterized as pollutants. These pollutants include many substances taken for granted, such as cooking smoke and grease, aerosol sprays, tobacco smoke, animal dander, ashes, human skin flakes, household cleansers, carbon dioxide, viruses, bacteria, pollen and fungi, dirt, dust, mold, mildew, and bacteria, among other things. People spend up to 93% of their time indoors where-surprisingly-air pollution can be up to 10 times greater than outdoor levels. This poor indoor air quality results from reduce natural ventilation.

Replacing your old system with a new high efficiency model is a good idea. The decision to repair or replace can be difficult. We can assist you with all the facts and options available to you. Call Bailey Brothers to schedule a no cost system evaluation and estimate!

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Comfort-The Power of Choice

We understand that comfort means different things to different people. What we're interested in is what comfort means to you. This section is designed to help you identify the elements of comfort that are most important to you, so that we can recommend the products that can best help you achieve your personal comfort goals.

Comfortable Temperatures

Your home comfort system should provide even temperatures in every room without hot or cold spots or noticeable temperature swings. It should allow you to heat and cool your home so that conditioned air is directed to the areas that need it most, while saving energy by conditioning only occupied areas.

Things to Consider:

• Would you prefer a single thermostat or several points of control (Zoning)?
• Do you want your thermostat to follow your daily schedule (Programmability)?
• Can you anticipate any areas in your home that will be difficult to keep comfortable?
• Will any rooms be seldom used, such as a guest bedroom or formal dining room?
• Do any rooms have unique comfort requirements (e.g. bonus room, home office)?

Comfortable Humidity Levels

Your home comfort system should provide both comfortable temperatures and comfortable humidity levels. It should maintain your home at the recommended levels of 40-60% relative humidity, preventing growth of mold and mildew and minimizing dust mites, bacteria and viruses.

Things to Consider:

• Do you live in an excessively high or low humidity climate?
• Do any family members have allergies or asthma?
• Do you spend extended periods away from your home during warm months when mold and mildew can build up?
• Maintaining lower humidity levels in your home can allow you to set your thermostat at a higher temperature without sacrificing comfort.

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Elements of Comfort

Quiet Operation

Your home comfort system should provide consistent comfort and quiet operating without disruption from a noisy condensing unit, heat pump, furnace, air handler or ducts. You should be able to feel the comfort, not hear it.

Things to Consider:

• How important is a quiet system to you?
• Will your outdoor unit be located close to a window?
• Will your air handler be located close to a bedroom or living area?
• Are you bothered by the sound of your system coming on and shutting off?

Cleaner, Fresher Air

Your home comfort system should provide fresh, clean air. It should help reduce the amount of pollen, dust, mold spores, pet dander, dust-mites, bacteria, viruses, cooking fumes, and smoke from the air in your home. It should help keep your walls, furniture and carpets clean. It should help maintain your equipment's optimum efficiency by keeping your cooling coil clean. It should make your home a cleaner, more enjoyable place to live and breathe.

Things to Consider:

• Do any members of your family have allergies or asthma?
• Are you concerned about fumes and gases from household chemicals or building materials?
• Are you concerned about the spread of bacteria and viruses in your home?
• Are there any pets or smokers in your household?

Energy Efficiency

Your home comfort system should provide an energy efficient environment without sacrificing comfort. With a high efficiency system and advanced control technologies, energy savings of 30-60% over conventional systems can be achieved.

Things to Consider:

• Are you concerned about high utility bills?
• How long are you planning on living in your home?
• Examine the incremental cost of various energy saving options. Compare this to your estimated monthly utility savings.
• Maintaining proper humidity levels (40-60%) will make you feel comfortable at higher temperatures, helping to save energy.

Peace of Mind

Your home comfort system should provide many years of worry-free comfort with a solid warranty. Should service or repair be necessary in the future, replacement parts and services should be readily accessible at a reasonable cost.

Things to Consider:

• How long are you planning on living in your home?
• Are you concerned about the cost of future maintenance and repairs?
• Are you concerned about the reliability of your system?
• Is your system backed by a reputable brand and an experienced service company?

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