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What about remodeling & room additions?
Because your system has been selected, designed and installed based on the existing heating and cooling require-
ments of your home, a signifi cant change or addition to the home may result in the system being inadequately
sized. If you are planning any remodeling that might affect the heating/cooling requirements, including adding more
rooms, windows, or exterior doors, consult with your dealer to determine if the existing system is adequate. Depend-
ing on the extent of your changes, your existing unit may be adequate or you may have to install a larger unit or
install an additional unit. Installing a larger unit or an additional unit will require more duct work and may also result
in the need to add more loop in the ground.
What about adjusting the thermostat when entertaining many people?
The temperature in your home can be affected signifi cantly by the number of people inside. Our bodies generate
heat through metabolism—in fact, your body gives off about 300 – 400 BTUs per hour. This number can double or
even triple at high activity levels (dancing, sports, etc.) Many homeowners fi nd that when entertaining large num-
bers of people in the home, the temperature may rise noticeably due to the number of people “generating” heat and
the heat given off by using many lights and other appliances (TVs, stereos, cooking devices, etc.)
As a result, you may fi nd a need to air condition even though it may be cold outside. If your thermostat has an auto-
matic changeover feature, ensure that the cooling setpoint will be a comfortable setting for your guests. If you have
a manual changeover thermostat or if your thermostat is set for heating only, you should be prepared to change it
over to cooling when you have many people inside the home, even when it’s cold outside. Another suggestion is to
set the fan for continuous “on” so that the air is fully circulated throughout the various rooms to minimize hot spots
or cold spots. When the guests leave, and occupancy levels return to “normal”, be sure to switch back to heating
mode if it’s cold outside. In the summer, you could benefi t by setting the cooling setpoint a little lower than normal
prior to many guests arriving so that the system can adequately maintain the temperature inside with the additional
people and high outdoor temperatures.
Depending on a combination of factors (unit capacity, number of people, activity levels, and outdoor temperature)
you may experience some fl uctuation in indoor temperature; this is normal and only temporary.
And don’t worry about energy costs when doing some “extra” cooling. If your unit is equipped with a desuperheater,
the heat removed from the house during cooling is going into your water heater.
FAQs, GENERAL INFORMATION & OPERATING TIPS
Should I close off a register in an unused room?
Some homeowners have unused rooms that may not require heating or cooling like the rest of the home. While
there is often a tendency to close registers in an unused room, the effects may actually reduce comfort without sav-
ing any money in operating costs. The home’s duct system has been designed to deliver the right amount of air into
the various spaces. Closing off one or more registers disrupts the air fl ow pattern, creates an unbalanced system
and may in fact, be detrimental to the comfort levels experienced in the other rooms. In addition, the desired energy
savings may not be achieved.
If you have larger areas or multiple rooms that do not require continuous heating and cooling, you may want to
consider a Zone Control System. These systems use several thermostats throughout the home, and have motorized
dampers electronically controlled to deliver properly balanced air fl ow and provide desired temperatures and comfort
throughout the various zones. WaterFurnace offers an exclusive IntelliZone system. For more information on zone
control systems, see page 59 and contact your WaterFurnace dealer.
