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Questions and Answers about a Heat Pump

We would like to share our knowledge, training and experience with you!

Below are some typical questions and answers we have come across over the years.

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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.

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What kind of savings can I expect to realize by adding a heat pump?

Your annual home heating costs will vary from year to year, depending on a number of factors: the cost of energy; the severity of the weather; occupant behavior; secondary heating system use. Foster's have done a cost analyses based on today's energy rates. Click here to see full details. If your house is either smaller or larger than the 2100 sq/ft example, then your costs remain directly proportional.

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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.

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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.

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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 your house to do a complete heat loss analysis to determine the size and location of your new heat pump. We will also discuss the best location of the outdoor heat pump during the audit. Click here to view pictures of some typical residential installs.

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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.


One 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 (as per below ) inside the plenum of your furnace.

If needed, we will install a new thermostat (similar to below) to control your new heat pump investment. Foster's can also offer you a full seven- day program capability thermostat as well.

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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.

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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; which includes furnace, 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.

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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. Foster's customer service representative can explain the benefits of either one.

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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 customer service representative to get a comprehensive quote on cleaning your ductwork.



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Why should I look at using Foster Air Conditioning Ltd. to install my new heat pump?

Foster Air Conditioning Ltd. have been servicing the lower portion of Vancouver Island with prompt, courteous and fast service since 1928. Foster's have installed in excess of 2000 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 our refrigeration and sheet metal technicians are Government Certified and come with many years of experience to install and service your new investment. Foster's places considerable emphasis on customer satisfaction. To that extent Foster's offers 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 have also been members of the Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island with 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.

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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.

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What kind of warranties does Foster Air Conditioning offer on heat pumps?

On a new Lennox heat pump Foster will offer the factory warranty of: 10 years on the compressor, 5 years on all parts and 1 year on labour. Extended available up to 10 years.

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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/infosource then go to library Home Page > Home Heating, cooling and Ventilation > Heating and Cooling with a Heat Pump.

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.

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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.

1) Quiet Direct- Drive Multi-Speed Blower Motor 2) Optional Electric Heat 3)High-Efficiency Evaporator Coil 4) Efficient Check and Expansion Device 5)Easy Filter Access 6)Quiet Operation 7)No External Side Screws 8)Corrosion- Resistant Cabinet 9)Multi-Position Plastic Drain Pan

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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.

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ESTIMATION OF YEARLY OPERATING COSTS The bar chart below gives an example of the expected cost comparisons between the various forms of heating for a standard 2,100 square foot house on the southern part of Vancouver Island, BC. The figures are calculated using a fixed heat loss of the house (30,000 Btus'). Historical data for Victoria, BC is used to determine the amount of heat that is required to keep your home at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. (22.2 Celsius) The costs are based upon today's costs and efficiencies of fuels. Note: the cost for air conditioning that is available in the summertime has not been included in the operating costs of the heat pump. One could expect it to fall within a 10% range of the heating cost for Victoria, BC.

Although the costs may not be the same as yours, it is the relationship that is important. If the amount of money you are paying is more than indicated, cost savings by going to a heat pump will be more, giving you a quicker payback.

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FOSTER AIR CONDITIONING LTD.
549 Kelvin Road Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1C4
Victoria: Telephone: (250) 475-0500 Fax: (250) 475-7588
Toll-free: Telephone: 1-866-475-0500
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