Gas Furnaces

In America, by far the most popular central heating system is the gas forced-air furnace. In Gainesville, we have the largest market for natural gas in the state. Gas furnaces operate both on natural gas and liquefied petroleum (LP). Gas furnaces typically deliver warmer air than heat pumps or hydronic heat. AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is the measure of a gas furnace's efficiency in converting fuel to heating energy. The higher the rating, the more efficient the furnace. If you have a gas furnace 10 years old or more (rated at 60-70 AFUE), about 30 to 40 cents of every dollar you spend for heating is going up the flue pipe and not into the heated space. The good news is we can provide furnaces with AFUE ratings as high as 92. We will be happy to explain the costs, benefits and features of these units to you.

Heat Pumps

Unlike a furnace, a heat pump doesn't burn fuel to make heat. It simply uses electricity to move heat from one place to another. A heat pump is an energy efficient way to heat your home in the winter and cool it in the winter. HSPF ( Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) is the measure of a heatpump's efficiency. Today's heat pumps are required to have an HSPF of 6.8 and a SEER of at least 10.00. Crystal Air & Water, Inc. offers a full line of heat pumps that range from 6.8 to 9.65 HSPF, and 10.00 to 17.65 SEER. Our 17.65 SEER heat pump offers you even greater comfort with two-stage cooling and three-staging heating. This means it operates efficiently at low speed most of the time. However, on days when more heating and cooling is required, it switches to the next stage for maximum comfort. CAWI will help you choose the heat pump that offers the optimum energy efficiency within your budget.

Hydronic Heating

Heating with hot water systems are gaining in popularity because of their gentle heat and zoning capabilities. This type of heating, typically utilizes the hot water from a domestic gas hot water heater and distributes the heat through the central heating and air conditioning system. Hydronic heat offers a low cost alternative to conventional gas furnaces and provides a nice gentle source of heat. CAWI is proud to represent the top hydronic heating manufacturers in the nation.

Water Source Heatpumps

The water source heat pump has for years been the most efficient system to operate. Ground water keeps a constant temperature, within a single degree, throughout the year. In this system, the heat is absorbed from well water in winter for heating and heat is discharged to the well water in summer during the cooling season. Due to the mild temperature of the ground water, even during temperature extremes of outside air, this system maintains its superior efficiencies of operation. There are two types of heat pump systems that utilize ground water:

• The water source system passes well water through the heat pump system. The well water is then discharged to a drainage location. Or,the well water is then ejected back in to the ground by use of a second pump. This is known as a ground water injection system.
• The closed loop heat pump system consists of a series of pipes inserted into the ground, in any of several configurations, of sufficient quantity to constitute an underground heat exchanger. This system is also known as an "earth-coupled" system.

To receive further information on water source heat pumps, please contact any representative of Crystal Air & Water, Inc..