Mark - Part 2

Trane XR15 High Efficiency Review

The Trane XR15 Offers Good Value and Energy Savings

Trane offers its customers a variety of quality HVAC products. Among the most popular models is the Trane XR15. In Trane’s good/better/best product lineup, the Trane XR15 is found in the “better” category. This Trane XR15 is available as a central air conditioner if you plan to match it with a gas furnace. It is also offered as a heat pump, providing both air conditioning and heating, to be matched with an air handler. This review covers the key features of this model that you’ll want to compare with others under consideration.

Efficiency
The Trane XR15 is very efficient. As a central air conditioner, it offers 17 SEER performance. As a heat pump, it offers 16.5 SEER for air conditioning and 9.5 HSPF for heating. These outstanding efficiency levels qualify the Trane XR15 as an Energy Star product and make it eligible for utlity rebates and tax credits where applicable. When this unit replaces a central air conditioner or heat pump just 10-12 years old it will reduce energy consumption by up to 40%.

Features
The Trane XR15 is built with several key features that strengthen its performance and durability. The first of these is the single-stage ClimaTuff compressor, one of the highest rated compressors in the industry. The ClimaTuff compressor is efficient and it is also quiet. The compressor compartment contains an insulating blanket to further reduce operating noise. In addition, the spine fin and copper tube condenser coil effectively transfer heat for faster cooling during the warm months. The DuraTuff composite base pan won’t rust and is designed to elevate the unit to keep it clear of draining condensate. If you desire exceptional indoor quality, add the optional CleanEffects enhanced air filtration system which is a good choice for those with breathing issues such as allergies or asthma. Finally, the Trane XR15 heat pump and central air conditioner use the new R-410A refrigerant. It does not contain chlorine and it will not deplete the ozone layer. It is also more efficient than R22 and older refrigerants.

Best Climate for the Trane XR15
The Trane XR15 air conditioner, with 17 SEER efficiency, is an excellent choice in moderate to very warm climates. The high efficiency operation will keep energy costs under control and the extra expense paid for this model versus a lower efficiency air conditioner will be paid back in just a few years in the form of lower energy bills. The Trane XR15 heat pump is a good choice for all but the very coldest climates. In cooler regions, adding heat strips to the air handler to provide auxiliary heat will enhance indoor comfort.

Conclusion
Homeowners looking for a good combination of lower equipment costs and excellent energy savings have made the Trane XR15 one of the most popular models on the market. The fact that it doesn’t have a 2-stage compressor keeps the equipment costs low. The drawback of a single-stage compressor is that it does not offer as precise control over indoor temperature and humidity as a 2-stage compressor does when matched with a variable-speed blower. However, if your goal is to spend less up front and still cut your energy consumption, the Trane XR 15 air conditioner and heat pump are models worth considering.

Central Air Conditioners, High Effeciency, Trane

Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat Review

Mark 3 comments

The Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat Delivers Customized Indoor Comfort

Trane’s ongoing commitment to innovation is seen in the Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat, a programmable, internet-equipped control center for your home’s indoor environment. It’s the thermostat that Popular Mechanics included in their 2010 list of “The Year’s Most Transformative Products.” Does that mean that its right for your home? In this Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat review, we will look at the top features this thermostat offers as well as possible drawbacks you will want to consider.

Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat Features
This feature-rich product is a very different kind of thermostat. It comes with a 7-inch HD touchscreen display that resembles a smart phone or tablet. The screen can be used for advanced programming that allows you to incredible control over your indoor climate. It starts with precise temperature control without noticeable fluctuation. This is achieved by having your system run at a lower speed for a longer period of time, an approach that actually leads to system longevity.

In addition to temperature, the Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat offers exact control over humidity and air filtration. It does this through more consistent airflow that more effectively removes humidity from the air when cooling and adds humidity when heating if a humidifier is installed in the furnace or air handler. The more air circulates, the better it will be filtered or purified as well. Your furnace or air handler will run on low speed most of the time, keeping operating sound to a minimum. In addition, if your ductwork is equipped for zones, this controller allows room by room control of heating and air conditioning.

What else can the Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat do? It connects to the internet to provide 5-day weather forecasts so you can plan your activities and your wardrobe. It will track your system’s energy use from month to month and year to year so that you can compare energy consumption over time. All of this capability places this thermostat in the top 2 or 3 on the market.

Drawbacks to the Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat
The biggest concern for many homeowners is the cost of the Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat. Many simply won’t want to spend the money for it. In addition, some HVAC systems aren’t equipped to make full use of this thermostat. To get the full benefit of it, the HVAC system needs to be equipped with communicating technology, a variable-speed blower, a 2-speed compressor in the condensing unit and ductwork equipped with zone capabilities.

Conclusion
If your current HVAC system, or one you are planning, includes high-performance features, then the Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat will allow you to get the best performance from them. It provides customizable control over every aspect of your home’s climate. The Trane ComfortLink II Thermostat is an excellent choice for homeowners who want precise indoor comfort along with the greatest energy savings.

Thermostats, Trane

3 Questions to Ask Your Trane Dealer

Mark 2 comments

[adsenseone]Getting the best price on a Trane air conditioner doesn’t have to be like pulling teeth this summer! All you need to know are the three magic questions EVERY Trane dealer, or ANY dealer for that matter, like to hear during the closing of their sales presentation.

So – let me set this up…

For the past 30 minutes, you have been presented all the reasons why a particular Trane air conditioner is the right one for you and your home. The Sales person has laid out a price in front of you and now you need to decide if you will buy or not.

3 Questions to Save Money on a Trane Air Conditioner

When asked in order, these 3 questions can save you a lot of money on your next system!

1 – How Soon Can you Install the System?

By asking your salesperson how soon they can install, you have actually triggered the “I made a sale” gene in the mind of a salesman! This person thinks they just added another person to the Trane family of owners… and thinks they are in control of the rest of this process!

Ask… and WAIT until they answer. In most cases, they will ask for a minute or two, to call in the question to their install manager just to be sure, but rest assured… EVERY HVAC company can install it today or tomorrow if they think it will help close the deal. Calling in is just a ploy to make you think they are getting an exact date / time for you!

2 – Do You Offer Financing, or Take Credit Cards?

So… now that you know they can get it installed tomorrow for you, lead that sales person on a bit more… and ask them how you can pay for it! See where we are going with this? When can you install it and how can I pay for it?!

Your Trane salesman is going to have a hard time hiding their excitement at this point and you may actually hear a little squeal slip out if he’s not careful! In reality, he thinks you are his and he’s already thinking of the ways he is going to brag this up later to the other salespeople!

Again… Let him talk and WAIT until he is done!

3 – Will You Take off $1000 if I Buy it Right Now?

Ohhh… You just hit them with the Hammer!

Heck, you can substitute the amount of the discount to whatever you want… but here is a good guide for you:

Price up to $2500, ask for 5-10% off!
Priced from $2500-$5000, ask for 10-20% off!
$5000 or more, ask for 20-30% off!

By now, there is no way this salesman is going to let the sale get away from him, and he WILL give you the best possible price you are ever going to get from his company! Period! Whether he gives you $1000 a Trane system or not is purely related to how bad he wants the sale, but rest assured, there is plenty of leeway for travel in the price he gives you first!

How Else Can You Save on a Trane Air Conditioner?

Share your own tips for how you saved..

Central Air Conditioners, Trane

What is HVAC?

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What is HVAC?

As you shop for a new furnace, heat pump or central air conditioner, you’ll often see the term HVAC or HVAC system. What is HVAC? What does HVAC stand for? The acronym HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning. This lengthy group of words describes the primary functions of your homes heating and cooling system. Here’s a brief overview of these functions and how they are accomplished.

Heating
In most homes, heating is done with a traditional gas furnace. Most use natural gas but they can be converted to use propane as well. Gas furnaces are affordable and can be very efficient. The level of efficiency ranges from 80% to over 98%. This means that between 80% and 98% of the heat created by the furnace burner enters your home rather than being lost along with the exhaust gases.

Heat pumps are another popular means of heating in moderate and warm climates where they are more efficient. They use refrigerant to carry heat from outside into your home where it is released in a coil inside the gas furnace or air handler. A heat pump is a central air conditioner that does double duty by reversing the flow of refrigerant and the flow of heat. See central air conditioners below for more details.

Ventilation
Every home should have ventilation in order to maintain good indoor air quality. Where homes do not have good ventilation, the air within them becomes polluted. It can be contaminated with unhealthy levels of carbon dioxide. This is especially true in today’s tightly-built homes. Many HVAC systems don’t have components designed specifically for ventilation but that is changing. New whole-house ventilators are available that ensure a steady exchange of contaminated indoor air for fresh outside air. These ventilators greatly improve the indoor air quality. Electronic furnace filters and air purifiers are also more common and are effective in removing allergens and contaminates from the air.

Air Conditioning
Central air conditioning effectively removes heat from a home while also lowering the humidity level. Refrigerant picks up heat when it passes through the indoor coil and sheds that heat in the outdoor coil. As heat is removed from the air surrounding the indoor coil, that air is cooled. The system’s blower fan pushes that cool air into the home while drawing warm air into the system to be cooled. Water condenses on the cold coil and is drained out of the houses, reducing the humidity level significantly.
Split Systems and Packaged Systems

Two primary types of HVAC systems are used in homes today. The first is the split system in which the air conditioner or the heat pump is installed outside and the gas furnace or air handler is installed inside. A packaged unit contains both heating and cooling equipment housed in one “package” outside the home.

Summary
What is HVAC? HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning and refers to the electronic equipment that keeps your home’s indoor climate comfortable and healthy throughout the year.

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