PROFESSIONAL GUIDE TO HEATING AND COOLING EQUIPMENT

Alpine Heating and Cooling • January 8, 2021

Your heating and cooling system can be different from your neighbors'—it all depends on what is important to you.

To make sure you get the one that’s perfect for your home, build your system according to what’s most important to you: comfort, efficiency, quiet operation or extreme reliability.


For greater efficiency, look for:

  • Products with efficiencies no less than:
  • 90% AFUE for furnaces
  • 15 SEER for air conditioners
  • 9.50 HSPF for heat pumps
  • ENERGY STAR® qualification
  • Variable speed motors
  • Multi-stage operation
  • AHRI-matched systems


For greater comfort, look for features such as:

Variable speed motors

  • Reduce hot and cold areas throughout the home
  • Improve year-round humidity control
  • Improve indoor air quality; helps reduce dust and other allergens because of constant air movement
  • Lower monthly utility bills*

Multi-stage operation

  • Rather than being "all on" or "all off," your furnace can adjust its heat output based on conditions inside and outside your home.
  • Get two air conditioners in one—high-efficiency products with multi-stage compressors will run on the first stage of cooling when temperatures are mild. The equipment will use less energy more often.
  • When outdoor temperatures reach extremes, the equipment will utilize the additional stage, but will still operate efficiently because of the higher SEERrating.
  • Lower monthly utility bills*


For the quietest operation, select the following:

HEATING

Products featuring Quiet Combustion technology

  • Small Btu inputs per burner
  • Gradual start-up avoid whoosing air and duct work “popping”
  • Insulated cabinets

COOLING

  • Products with Sound Reduction Technology
  • Advanced fan blades
  • Heavy-duty sound blankets

HEAT PUMPS

  • Products that include QuietShift™ Technology


For the greatest reliability, look for:

Armstrong Air EHX heat exchanger technology

  • Made of stainless steel for corrosion resistance and maximum strength against thermal fatigue
  • Longer heat exchanger life
  • Specially shaped surfaces to direct airflow more efficiently, and transfer heat more effectively

Armstrong Air MHT™ cooling technology

  • Specially designed fan shroud for optimal air flow over the coil
  • Louvered coil fins have more surface exposure for greater heat transfer
  • Rifled refrigeration tubes
  • 10-Year Limited Warranties on parts
  • Lifetime Limited Warranties on the heat exchanger


September 9, 2026
Have you ever walked into your house after being gone for a few hours and noticed that it just smells a little… stale? It’s not always a sign that something is wrong. Sometimes your home simply needs a little more fresh air. Modern homes are built much tighter than older houses, which is great for energy efficiency, but it also means odors and moisture can hang around longer. Cooking smells, pets, cleaning products, candles, furniture, paint, and everyday household products can all affect indoor air. Humidity plays a big part too. When indoor humidity stays too high, the air can feel heavy or musty. When it gets too dry, the house may feel uncomfortable in a completely different way. Your HVAC system can help keep air moving and filtered, but the filter has to be clean and the system still needs adequate airflow. In some homes, better ventilation or indoor air quality equipment can also make a noticeable difference. Of course, sometimes the easiest solution is the simplest one: on a nice Ohio day, open a few windows and let the house air out. If your home constantly feels stuffy, musty, or just never seems to smell fresh, it may be worth looking at more than the air freshener. The problem could be humidity, airflow, filtration, or ventilation. At Alpine Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Refrigeration, we can help you figure out what’s going on behind the scenes so your home doesn’t just feel comfortable—it feels fresh too  Wooster: (330) 263.0013 Ashland: (419) 289.1616 Mt. Eaton (330) 359.7114 CONTACT US Serving Wooster, Ashland & Mt. Eaton, and surrounding communities since 1993, we are a locally owned and operated HVAC contractor working with a variety of heating , cooling , refrigeration & plumbing systems. If you need service on your current system please give us a call and we'd be glad to begin the process of evaluating your needs along with your budget and coming up with a game plan for your heating, cooling & air quality needs.
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