Heating FAQs

How is furnace sizing determined?

A factory-trained technician from our team will perform a room-by-room heat loss/gain calculation to acquire an accurate heat load and will size your system based on this data.

What heating system has the lowest cost to operate?

The operating cost of a heating system is affected by fuel type and unit efficiency. Heating systems operate on natural gas, propane, fuel oil, and electricity – prices fluctuate depending on region, but in our area, natural gas is typically the most cost-effective fuel. The higher your system efficiency, the less fuel your unit will waste. In short, the lowest cost system to operate is a high-efficiency heating system running on natural gas.

What gas furnace do the experts at Hillside recommend? 

We recommend high-efficiency modulating variables and two-stage Armstrong Air furnaces. Ranging from 95 AFUE to 97 AFUE they will keep you warm all winter without hurting your wallet. 

Variable Speed Motor? What’s that!? 

High-efficiency variable speed blower motors (ECM) run on direct current allowing them to run over a wide range of speeds. An ECM’s variable speed means less electrical consumption, which typically falls between 60 and 100 watts per hour for a variable-speed blower motor, translating to about $250 savings per year for an average homeowner in our region. Also, in conjunction with an Armstrong variable output furnace, a ECM will deliver the most precise consistent comfort. 

Furnace Staging? What does that mean? And are more stages better? 

• For a long time, gas furnaces were only single-stage, either operating at 100% or not at all. 

• Two-stage gas furnaces, also called multi-stage, operate at a lower capacity for most of the year. This allows the furnace to cycle more softly and longer, improving indoor comfort, and reducing noise levels. 
• Modulating gas furnace capacity is based on your home’s current needs. As the temperature drops the furnace capacity rises resulting in an even more comfortable and quiet operation and even lower operating costs than a two-stage model. A modulating furnace connected to a central air conditioner will allow for better cooling and dehumidification through the warm seasons because of its enhanced ability to fluctuate capacity. 

Heat Pumps? What are those? 

Central heat pump systems operate like a traditional A/C but can provide year-round comfort, cooling in the summer, and efficient heating in the winter. In the winter, your heat pump removes heat from the cold outdoor air and transfers it indoors through a process that works very much like your home’s refrigerator. In the summer, the system operates conversely, extracting heat from inside your home and expelling it to the outdoors, effectively cooling your space. 

What types of heat pumps are available for my home? 

There are three basic configurations of heat pump systems, central ducted, ductless, and water or ground source. 

Central air source heat pumps work alongside an air handler or furnace (in dual fuel applications). Modern central heat pumps offer efficient and reliable performance even during our cold mid-Atlantic winters. 

Ductless heat pumps, also known as mini-split heat pumps, are different than central systems. Requiring no ductwork, according to the US Department of Energy, they are at least 30% more efficient than conventional systems. These air-source variable output heat pumps are either great options for retrofitting your home particularly if you have no existing ductwork or as a leading-edge whole-house comfort system. They are available in a single zone, or with many zones and indoor configurations. 

Water or ground source heat pumps operate similarly to air source central heat pumps but instead of using the air outside to regulate indoor temperatures, geothermal heat pumps use soil or wells which have a much more consistent temperature. While they offer extremely low year-round operating costs, they are relatively expensive to install.  

Are heat pumps efficient? 

In our area, modern heat pump systems provide efficient heating and cooling! Heat pump efficiency is rated separately for cooling and heating. Cooling efficiency is measured by the Season Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER. The higher the SEER rating the more efficient cooling the system provides. Heating efficiency is measured by HSPF, Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. The higher the HSPF rating the more efficient heating the system provides. 

Do I need supplemental heat for my heat pump in the winter? 

Most heat pump systems we offer are completely capable of heating your home all winter. Central ducted systems are sometimes sizing in a way that they may need some supplemental heat during our coldest days of winter. Almost all Mitsubishi ductless heat pump models are specifically designed to heat efficiently down to as low as -25 degrees F.

Dual Fuel? What’s that? 

Combining an efficient heat pump and gas furnace in one dual-fuel system will switch between your heat pump for milder winter days, to natural gas heating in severe weather. This ensures the highest operational heating efficiency and capacity based on your current heating conditions. 

How is a ductless heat pump different? 

Mini-splits are variable-speed heating and cooling systems. Rather than having an air handler with ductwork and registers, a mini-split system can be either single or multi-zone systems with many different indoor units configurations and sizes ranging. Indoor unit choices include high wall, floor,  ceiling, or mini-ducted systems. You can connect up to 8 indoor units to a single outdoor unit with separate zoning for each indoor unit. 

How is a ductless heat pump different? 

Most gas furnaces come with a 1″ thick filter designed to keep dust and other particulates out of your furnace’s blower motor, but not offering your best indoor air quality. You should consider getting a MERV replacement filter or an electronic air cleaner installed to improve your home’s indoor air quality. 

MERV? What does that mean? 

Your furnace filter comes with a MERV rating providing a guide to how effective the filter is at removing harmful pollutants, dust, and debris. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.

A range of filter types are available including: 

• Disposable pleated filters with a MERV rating of 6 
• Polyester reusable filters have a MERV rating of 8 
• Electrostatic filters have a MERV rating of 10 
• 4-5″ High-Efficiency pleated filters have a MERV rating of 14-16 

Can a furnace filter remove black mold or COVID-19 from my home? 

Although furnace filters are able to remove dust and other airborne allergens and pollutants they are unable to eliminate the smallest particles like bacteria and viruses. Electronic filters that utilize pre-filters, plasma, or ionization will filter them out or destroy them outright. 

My house’s air is dry, is my furnace at fault? 

Proper humidity is challenging to maintain in the winter. The colder it gets outside, the less moisture outdoor air entering your home  contains. This effect can be noticeably compounded by your furnace’s combustion process and other systems that vent indoor air outside like bathroom or kitchen fans. Furnaces and other systems that use interior air for combustion create lower indoor air pressure which increases the amount of outdoor air drawn in through infiltration points in your home. A  more efficient furnace designed to draw combustion air from outside will help this issue.  This is called a sealed combustion furnace. 

When should I change my furnace filter? 

If you have conventional fiberglass or pleated filter you should consider changing your furnace filter every 90 days for maximum performance from your furnace. 

Is seasonal heating system maintenance worth it? 

Yes. All furnace manufacturers recommend annual service performed by a factory-trained professional. If your furnace operates as an air handler through the summer for a central air conditioning system then you should have it serviced seasonally. Most manufacturers require consistent professional maintenance to maintain the extended warranties on your equipment.  Seasonal preventative maintenance not only lengthens your system’s operating life but keeps you qualified for warranties on parts so you’re not left out in the cold when a component fails. 

Can I fix my furnace issues myself? 

There are some items you can check to ensure you don’t get charged for an unnecessary visit if you think your furnace isn’t operating properly: 

• Check your fuel: Ensure you have fuel and that it is on at the meter and at the unit. 
• Check your thermostat: Ensure that your thermostat is on and set to a higher temperature than your home’s temperature. 
• If your thermostat has disposable batteries, change them and try again before you call us. 
• Check your furnace power supply: Ensure that your furnace’s power supply is live on your circuit breaker. Check your system’s emergency switch, typically a red cover plate in your utility space. 

• Check your system air grills and registers: Ensure that both your supply and return air registers are open and not obscured. 
• Furnace filters: Change your furnace filter and restart your furnace. 

I have an existing chimney, can my new furnace be vented through it?

Depending on the efficiency of the furnace you select will determine if that is possible. 80% AFUE furnaces can typically be vented through masonry or B-vent Most manufacturers require consistent professional maintenance to maintain the extended warranties on your equipment. Whereas 90%+ AFUE furnaces can NOT be vented out of a chimney due to their low flue-gas temperatures. 

I like having total control, is there an app for my furnace? 

The higher efficiency furnace and heat pumps we carry from Armstrong Air are built to work with the new Comfort Sync A3 thermostat which has an application for both Apple and Andriod devices. 

Mitsubishi ductless systems can be paired with the Kumo Cloud system which allows you to control the operation of your system with precision.