Frequently Asked Questions
If we presently have
either an oil, gas or electric furnace. Can we add
a heat pump to it?
Yes, many of Foster's customers have added a heat
pump to their existing oil, gas or electric furnace
to cut heating expenses. You would then use your oil,
gas or electric furnace as back-up heat, which in
this climate, would be very infrequent. You could
expect your oil bills to drop substantially.
Will a heat pump heat
the whole house all the time?
If you have hooked up a heat pump to an existing ducted
forced air system the heat pump will provide both
heating in winter and cooling and dehumidifying in
summer. However, when the outside temperature goes
below 4 degrees Celsius the auxiliary heating system
might kick in to supply the added heat needed to keep
the house at your desired temperature.
In summer can I get
central air conditioning throughout the house?
Yes, one of the nice benefits of owning a heat pump
is; not only do you get economical heating, but with
the flick of a switch you can enjoy cooling throughout
the house in summer.
How do I know what
size of heat pump I need and where to situate the
outside condensing unit?
Foster's customer service representative will be happy
to come out to your home and do a complete heat loss
analysis to determine the size and location of your
new heat pump.
What gets hooked up
to my existing furnace when I add a heat pump?
Should you decide to go ahead with a adding a heat
pump to your furnace the following items will be added.
An
example of an outside condensing unit.
A disconnect electrical switch
will be placed close to the outdoor condensing unit.
Two small diameter copper pipes (one suction line
and one vapor line) will be extended from the condensing
unit and run into your furnace. These lines will be
installed with great care as to look as pleasing as
possible.
In the furnace area
the pipes will be hooked up to an 'A' coil inside
the plenum of your furnace.
If needed, we will
install a new thermostat to control your new heat
pump investment. Foster's can also offer you a full
seven- day program capability thermostat as well.
How
do I know if my present electrical service is adequate?
A Government Certified Electrician should do an inspection
to make sure you have adequate power to run the new
heat pump. If your present system is sufficient, then
in most cases an additional line voltage wire will
have to be run from the fuse box out to the new shut-off
box located outside beside the condensing unit. If
it is determined that your present amperage is not
sufficient then the Government Certified Electrician
will give you a quote on upgrading your present electrical
box.
We are looking at building
a new house using a heat pump as our main heat source.
Can Foster Air Conditioning Ltd. help us?
Yes, Foster's personnel will be happy to study your
blue prints and make the appropriate recommendations.
Foster's will give you a detailed quote on a full
installation including ductwork, thermostat, and heat
pump. We employ only Government Certified Sheet Metal
and Refrigeration Technicians to perform work on your
house. The entire job is tested and warranted.
Should we look at purchasing
a new thermostat when adding a new heat pump?
Yes, in most cases the older thermostat will not accommodate
the addition of a heat pump. There are basically two
types available for a heat pump. One is a non-programmable
thermostat and the other is a Seven-Day programmable
thermostat. A Foster's customer service representative
can explain the benefits of either one.
Should we look at cleaning
our duct-work before adding a new heat pump?
In most cases it's advisable to have the ductwork
cleaned before installing a new heat pump. Especially
if it's been several years since the last cleaning.
The Foster customer service representative can also
show you an Electronic Air Cleaner, which can help
remove upwards of 97% of dust and pollen.
Foster's will also be able to offer a complete duct
cleaning service using a NEW Roto-Vision Inspection
System (as per below).
Foster's can come to your home and professionally
clean your ductwork system. With our NEW Roto-vision
we will be able to show you the inside of your ductwork
both before and after it's been cleaned. Simply contact
Foster's to get a comprehensive quote on cleaning
your ductwork.
Why should I
look at using Foster Air Conditioning Ltd. to install
my new heat pump?
Foster Air Conditioning Ltd. has been servicing the
lower portion of Vancouver Island with prompt and
courteous service since 1928. Foster's has installed
in excess of 2500 heat pumps both commercially and
residentially since the early 70's. Consequently Foster's
has installed more heat pumps than anyone else on
Vancouver Island. All of our refrigeration and sheet
metal technicians are Government Certified and come
with the many years of experience necessary to properly
install and service your new investment. We place
considerable emphasis on our customers' satisfaction.
To that end, we offer an "100% Satisfaction Guarantee
or Money Fully Refunded" assurance in addition to
our Standard Warranty options. All technicians are
required to attend weekly debriefing meetings. There,
decisions center around: improvements in customer
satisfaction, better response times and discussions
on up to date developments in the newest equipment.
Foster's has also been a member of the Better Business
Bureau of Vancouver Island maintaining a satisfactory
rating since 1981.
Since 1971 Foster's has belonged to the "Construction
Association of Victoria". In addition, Foster's has
also been a Charter Member of the "Air Conditioning
and Refrigeration Industry Association of B.C." since
1992.
How do I get rid of
my existing oil furnace?
As part of our heat pump installation, Foster's will
remove and dispose of the "old furnace" only.
If you are changing out the existing old furnace,
the home owner is responsible for having the existing
oil tank drained and removed by a "licensed oil tank
removal/disposal" company.
What kind of warranties
does Foster Air Conditioning offer on heat pumps?
On a new Lennox heat pump, you're automatically
covered by a 10 year warranty including both parts
and labour. Peace of mind, free of charge.
Where can I get more
information on Lennox heat pumps, how they work and
the benefits of owning one?
Please click on www.lennox.com
to read more about Lennox Inc.
If you want more detailed information on how heat
pumps work click on:
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/infosource/pub/home/heating-heat-pump/index.cfm
Should you want something in writing; simply contact
Foster Air Conditioning Ltd. 250-475-0500 and ask
for a technical service representative. He will be
happy to mail you a 51 page booklet put out by the
National Resources Canada - Office of Energy Efficiency.
The booklets title is: "Heating and Cooling with a
Heat Pump" There is no charge for the booklet.
What if I wanted to
get rid of my old oil furnace altogether? Could I
get a heat pump and more efficient back-up heat?
Yes, you could replace your old furnace with an air
handler and optional electric heat (as per below).
In most cases the new air handler will be smaller
than your existing "old" oil furnace. The electric
back up heat would only come on occasionally.
- Quiet Direct- Drive Multi-Speed Blower Motor
- Optional Electric Heat
- High-Efficiency Evaporator Coil
- Efficient Check and Expansion Device
- Easy Filter Access
- Quiet Operation
- No External Side Screws
- Corrosion- Resistant Cabinet
- Multi-Position Plastic Drain Pan
What is SEER, TONNAGE
AND AFUE?
SEER: The seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER)
rates how many Btu an air-conditioning unit will remove
for each watt of electricity consumed. The higher
the SEER, the less you spend on operating costs. Federal
law mandates a minimum SEER of 13 for all new air-conditioning
units.
TONNAGE: An air-conditioning ton equals 12,000 Btu
per hour. That means a three-ton air conditioner can
remove about 36,000 Btu of heat per hour from your
home.
AFUE: The annual fuel-utilization efficiency estimates
how much heat a unit delivers for every dollar spent
on fuel. The higher the AFUE, the lower your heating
bills. |