ENERGY STAR
Definition to come.
Where it comes up
- Gas furnaces
How a gas furnace heats, what AFUE means and the signs worth a closer look
- Older furnaces
Gravity and coal-era furnaces, gas conversions and how to judge a furnace's age
- Steam heat
How steam boilers and radiators work, air vents, banging and boiler rules
- Hot-water heat
How hot-water boilers and radiators work, bleeding, pressure and efficiency
- Central air conditioning
The parts of a split system, what is normal and the signs of trouble
- Heat pumps
How a heat pump heats and cools, and how it copes with Chicago cold
- Ductless mini-splits
Ductless cooling and heating for homes and rooms without ducts
- Window and wall air conditioners
Window, through-the-wall and PTAC units: sizing, power and care
- Thermostats and zoning
Programmable and smart thermostats, placement, zoning and batteries
- Home ventilation
Fresh air, bathroom and kitchen fans, range hoods, and ERVs and HRVs
- Air filters and air cleaners
Furnace filters, MERV ratings, changing filters and what air cleaners can do
- How cooling and heat pumps move heat
The refrigeration cycle, and why your outdoor unit blows warm air
- Efficiency ratings
What AFUE, SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2 mean and how to read them
- Sizing heating and cooling
Why size matters, load calculations and short cycling
- Refrigerants and the rules
R-22, R-410A, newer refrigerants, certification and leaks
- Before the heating season
The fall check-up, the filter and humidifier, alarms, vents, boilers and heat pumps
- Before the cooling season
The AC check-up, coils and drains, the outdoor unit, mini-splits and room units
- Care all year round
Filters, humidity, exhaust fans, dryer vents, open registers and regular upkeep
- What you notice and what it can mean
No heat, short cycling, noises, smells, water, ice and high bills, and what they can mean
- Chicago's climate
Degree days, average temperatures and what they ask of your equipment
- Chicago's older homes
Bungalows and older homes, and the heat they were built with
- Repair or replace
Age, repairs and bills, R-22 systems, efficiency, sizing and what to ask
- What affects the cost
Size, efficiency, ducts, permits and refrigerant: what moves the cost of HVAC work
- Paying for HVAC work
Utility rebates, loans, help with costs, and the papers to keep after the job