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| 1. What is the difference between an 80% and a 90% furnace? The main difference is the 90% furnace uses a secondary heat exchanger and has a sealed combustion chamber. The secondary heat exchanger traps the moisture that normally escapes out of the flue. As an example: with an 80% efficient furnace you get $80 worth of heat for every $100 you spend on natural gas. 2. What is the difference between variable speed and multi speed? Multi speed is stepped up or down in stages, like the fan over most kitchen ranges. Variable speed is very much like a dimmer switch in some dining rooms. This feature allows the current to be varied for a light to be either very bright or very dim. The benefits are very tangible. a) Lower fan speeds use less current thus lowering electricity bills. Variable speed machines are designed to operate at low speeds for longer periods. This is more efficient than machines that cycle on and off frequently. This is also better for the blower motor and other components as they ramp up and down slowly instead of slamming on then off again. The machines are also designed to learn how long it takes to bring your home to a desired temperature. Over a period of several weeks after installation a variable speed furnace will communicate with the thermostat and “learn” how long it takes to reach the temperature you designate in only low speeds. This is called “adaptive recovery” and it enables the machine to operate in low speed most of the time. As an example you program your thermostat to have the temperature at 68 degrees when you get out of bed at 6:30 am. You also have the thermostat set to allow the temperature to drop to 58 degrees after you go to sleep at night. With adaptive recovery the furnace knows that it needs to begin the process at 5:50 to attain that temperature by 6:30 am and do it using only the lowest speed and the lowest *stage. b) One of the other advantages of variable speed is added comfort and even temperatures. The longer run times allow the air to be mixed or churned more effectively making the temperature more even from room to room. c) One more advantage is improved air quality. While the furnace is running the return duct draw the heated (or cooled) air into the return duct system that carries the air back to the furnace and through whatever filtration system you may have in place. The longer the machine runs the more dust, pollen; pet hair and other contaminant are trapped in the filter. Electronic air cleaner and ultra violet lights can drastically improve the quality of the air you and your family breathe. In order for dust to settle the air has to stop moving! 3. What is the difference between 2 stage and single stage? The 2 stages refer to the ability to have a low and high output. In other words a gas furnace with a two-stage gas valve has a low output of heat and a high output of heat. This is an additional means of reducing operating cost. 2 stage machines operate most of the time in low speed unless there is a demand for heat that exceeds the normal programming of the thermostat. 4. What is the estimated time for installation of product? Depending on the components to be installed and the equipment selection a system rarely take more than a day if there is an existing duct system. 5. How long are the quotes valid for? Most quotes are good for thirty days. 6. What do you warranty/guarantee? Guaranteed Plumbing and Heating has a “Workmanship Warranty” of five years. This means that if something fails as a result of our installation we will make it right for five years. Most of our competitors have a one-year warranty, which is what the state requires. This is different from a manufacturer’s warranty. Typically the manufacturer will warrant parts in general for 5 years and often major components (heat exchangers, compressors) for 10 years. This does not include the labor to replace the warranted parts, that is a separate cost. Labor warranty’s can be purchased as well as extended parts warranties. 7. What are the key differences between Amana, Lennox, Trane, and Ruud? Keep in mind that all of the manufacturers use many of the same components. Gas valves, circuit boards, inducer motors, blower motors, compressors and relays are purchased from the multiple manufacturers and installed in these units. What I recommend my customers do is to rely on warranties (the longer the warranty the more confidence the company has in their product) and the installing company’s reputation and the experience of the representative. Are they earning your business by getting to know you and what is important to you and making recommendations based on that information? Or are they making recommendations based on what they would like you to buy? Have they earned your trust? What is your level of confidence in their company’s ability to meet or exceed your expectations? 8. What is your service policy? We recommend that you service your system twice yearly. One time going into the heating season, and once going into the cooling season. We have maintenance agreement that includes these visits. We are a flat rate company that gives estimates in writing before beginning any work. Our dispatch fee of $49.50 gets a fully stocked truck and a technician in your driveway to provide you with an estimate in writing. With the purchase of a maintenance agreement not only will we waive the $49.50 dispatch fee we will provide a 10% discount on any products or services we provide. This applies to your heating and plumbing systems! We offer 24 hr service and you can reach a live person (not an answering service) at 1-800-PLUMBING 24 hours a day! 9. What is your turnover rate for employee's? All of our employees undergo extensive pre-employment background checks and drug screenings. Random drug screens are conducted regularly. Our employees are highly trained and attend ongoing training seminars. We have weekly safety meetings. All of our employees are team players and professionals in the service industry. We have minimal turnover within our company. 10. Do you provide references upon request? We have an extensive database of previous customers and would not have a problem providing this to you! 11. Do you stock all parts needed for repairs? Not only do we stock most common service related products (plumbing and heating) in our shop, our trucks are like rolling warehouses. 12. What parts do you not stock? We try to keep our stock updated. All of the more common parts are present. I guess I would have to say that we don’t stock what we don’t need. 13. How often do you suggest having the units inspected? Once in the spring, and once in the fall. 14. Do you have a certified electrician install the wiring and breaker boxes? Absolutely, we use Northside Electric for all of our electrical needs. They have an excellent service record, fair pricing, timely installations; terrific staff and they hold themselves to the same high standards of professionalism we hold ourselves to! 15. What kinds of additional costs could we incur? It is not very often that unforeseen costs occur. We pride ourselves on being thorough. However there may be things unseen until we begin the installation. Usually the more common things do not have a cost impact and we try to protect you from that. Some examples are damaged ducts, inadequate electrical supply, and not enough control wires all mostly minor. 16. Do you send a journeyman or apprentices to do the installation? We dispatch a journeyman and an apprentice to installations and journeymen to service related issues. 17. Do you participate in the apprenticeship program? Yes, one of our owners, Bill Baker, serves on the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee Board of Directors for the State of Oregon, Marion County. 18. Would it cost extra to have the thermostat moved to a different location? That would depend on the location and how difficult a task it turned out to be. Our Comfort Advisor or Technician could provide you a quote to have that done. 19. Is there a disposal fee for the old furnace and water heater? No, we take care of the removal and disposal of the old equipment. 20. What do you do with the old furnace and water heater? We recycle them! 21. What is not covered in a warranty or guarantee? Labor on parts after the 1st year. 22. Does the install require any permits and if so who is to get them? Yes the installation requires permits. We obtain the permits and schedule the inspections 23. Who does the final inspection? The inspector from the presiding jurisdiction that the permit was obtained from. 24. Does the city require inspection to make sure it meets code? If the residence is within the jurisdiction of the city Yes, in rural areas it is often County inspections and permits. One or the other, never both. 25. If we went with the on demand water heater how is it secured to prevent theft? The unit is screwed to the wall from inside the cover. The waterlines and gas connections are also formidable deterrents not to mention the electrical connections. Do you have a question that we have not addressed above? Email us your questions at info@bluebooties.com |
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