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| Air-Conditioner Efficiency |
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When your air-conditioning is on, make certain to shut off kitchen, bath and ventilating
fans after they have done their job. In just one hour these fans can blow away a houseful of costly cooled air.
Central air-conditioner efficiency is measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the SEER the more
efficient the unit. Units with a SEER of 12 or above are considered high-efficiency; 17 is the highest available.
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| Care and Repair Guide |
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 The Care and
Repair Guide was produced to help with general information regarding heating, cooling, and plumbing. Order a free copy or view each section now.
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| Air Filters |
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 Changing your air filters on a regular basis can greatly reduce your operating and maintenance costs for both heating and air conditioning.
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| Heat Pump Cooling Efficiency |
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Heat pump cooling efficiency is measured by a SEER rating; a heat pump's heating efficiency is measured by the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). A heat pump with a SEER of 12 or higher and a HSPF of at least 8 is considered high efficiency. |
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| Cleaning Air-Conditioner |
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Do not attempt to clean the condenser coil of your air-conditioning system without turning off the power. |
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Helpful Consumer Tips
Today's homes and buildings have sophisticated plumbing and mechanical systems to deliver water, sewer, heating, cooling and
ventilation services. PAMCANI offers consumers helpful tips about caring for and maintaining these systems. Before placing a
service call, check some of the suggestions throughout our website.
 If you do need a service professional for your home or building, who do you trust? Count on your PAMCANI member contractor to provide trained efficient service.
Use our contractor search feature to find professionals nearest you.
The Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Authority of Northern Illinois is a non-profit trade organization with over 400 union contractor members who provide and maintain plumbing, heating and cooling systems. PAMCANI invests over $3 million annually in promotion, advancement, education and training, and actively works to raise awareness about water and energy conservation. |
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| Room Air-Conditioner Efficiency |
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Room air-conditioner efficiency is measured by the SEER which is the BTU/hr output divided
by the watts of electricity the unit uses. It basically tells you how much heat you get
out of the unit compared to how much electricity you put into it. The higher the SEER the less
electricity the air conditioner will use. |
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| Furnace Efficiency |
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Furnace efficiency is measured by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. The higher the local utility rates, the
higher the AFUE you should get. Furnaces with AFUE ratings of 80% and above are considered high efficiency; 96.6 is the highest
available.
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| Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) |
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If your home is equipped with these devices, they need motors oiled and air filters cleaned. Some of the devices also need belts.
Consider having these systems serviced every year at the same time as your furnace is being serviced.
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It is illegal and punishable by significant fines to vent Freon, the most common substance used in residential air-conditioning
equipment, to the open air. The prohibition on venting covers maintenance, servicing, repair and disposal of air-conditioning
or refrigeration equipment. The technician servicing your unit must know how—and have the proper equipment—to recapture any
Freon in the system.
When you want to achieve rapid temperature change for comfort, do not set the thermostat higher or lower than the desired
temperature. That will not change the temperature any faster— it just makes the system work longer.