All air conditioners and heat pumps are specifically designed to work with matched indoor units (furnace or air handler) for optimum efficiency and performance.While an outdoor cooling system may "work" with indoor units, including older systems, it will only operate at its peak potential when it's paired with the right sized system for your home.

Bigger isn't necessarily better when it comes to heating and cooling systems. A system that is too large for your home will frequently cycle on and off, which wastes energy. Plus, it won't run long enough to remove humidity from the air, which can impact the comfort and health of your home. A system that is too small can't do its job of making you comfortable. In this case, it will run continuously to keep up with the thermostat setting, costing you more on your utility bills and potentially shortening the system's life.

The only reliable way to determine the size that best matches the needs of your home is to have a load calculation, which takes into account the square footage of your house, the insulation value of your windows, the amount of insulation in your walls and roof and many other factors.A load calculation is required to ensure proper sizing of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment.

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) calculation is required by Georgia's energy code. Common rules-of-thumb, such as 1 ton of air conditioning per 600 square feet, are not acceptable because there are many factors, other than the size of the home, that affect the size of heating and air conditioning equipment required.

A correctly sized cooling unit is critical for providing proper dehumidification, comfort,and efficiency.accounts for details such as orientation, window-to-wall area ratio, window type, insulation levels, air infiltration, duct losses and internal heat sources. All are significant factors that affect the load of a home.

A duct design is required to ensure proper sizing of the duct system. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) recommends.determining the size of the duct system. A duct sizing calculation takes the size of the HVAC equipment, the corresponding air handler, the air requirements for the rooms and the
type of ducts being installed (hard pipe or flex duct) into account. The common rules-of-thumb for duct sizing such as an assumed friction rate of .1 per 100 feet of ductwork are not acceptable. The air handler, required air flow and duct length and fittings used all contribute to the friction rate and static pressure of a particular system.

To repair or replace, that is the question that likely comes to mind whenever your heating or cooling system stops working like it should. Although repairing may be the most affordable solution now, it might not be the best choice over the long run.When the cost of repairs approaches 50% of the value of your heating or cooling system, it's generally time to replace the system.Even if needed repair costs aren't quite as daunting as 50%, you might want to replace your system if it's more than 12 years old or you've had a history of problems with it.

The BTU from the furnance entering the flue ARE less on a on a induced draft when compared to a gravity draft.A foraced draft even less but this type of furnace would have a plastic vent. Usually two sources of water can cause the corrosion, condensation or rain water. (sometimes Plumbing leaks).

Some condensation is normal at startup. A flue is checked with a micro-manometer after it is at a operating tempature (aprox 10 min.) At this point it should draw. If there is not a draw than there is a venting issue. It can have various reasons: Indueced draft into a masonary (usually exterior) chiminey (this is called a cold cap in some areas) , inducer fan isssues (craks or leaks), flue and/or connecter issues (bird nest, T-connector vs Y a water heater). Bottom Line- testing is beyond the visual home, But visible installation issue are within the scope of a HI , such as a induced drat into a masonary flue (wrong at some geographacial areas) , connecter issues and some inducer fan issues, these should be reported.