Understand commonly used terms and know how your new HVAC unit works!

Today’s heating and air conditioning systems are built to operate efficiently, and to do this, they come equipped with a variety of features that most homeowners are unaware of or don’t understand. These features were developed to ensure your home can maintain the comfort you desire while also keeping up with EPA standards for efficiency.

As a Trane Comfort Specialist in the Raleigh area, we work with you to design the best system for your home. While we work with each customer to help them understand how their new system works, it may help you to understand the commonly used terms used for high efficiency heating and cooling units before your HVAC installation. At Quality Comfort Services, Inc. we created this convenient explainer to help clear up any confusion you may have about high-efficiency HVAC units.

Choosing a Two-Stage Unit for Your Raleigh HVAC Installation

A two-stage hvac system is just what it sounds like! Commonly found on heat pumps, air conditioners, and furnaces, a two-stage system operates on a lower setting or a higher setting depending on the outside temperature.

If it’s just a bit cool outside, your system doesn’t need to work at 100 percent to keep you warm, so it will run on the lower setting as long as it can to keep your house at the temperature you find most comfortable. On a very cold day, it will shift to full power to keep your home toasty! It works the same on a warm day versus a hot day to keep you cool.

Why is a two stage system preferred for a high efficiency HVAC installation? With a single stage unit, it’s running at 100 percent every time it comes on. Think of it like stepping on the gas pedal of your car as hard as you can as soon as light turns green and slamming on the brakes when the light turns red. Single stage units have to work harder, which leads to higher energy bills and wearing out much faster.

Variable Speed HVAC Systems


Variable speed in a heating and cooling system works similarly to how cruise control in your car works. When your air conditioner clicks on in a variable speed unit, it doesn’t come on at 100 percent power, then stops as soon as it reaches the set temperature. Instead, when you set the temperature on the thermostat, it will maintain the temperature the way your car maintains speed.

When the temperature cools, the system will run at a lower setting to maintain the temperature without overworking the air conditioning unit, like a car going downhill with cruise control on. Then, if the weather turns hotter, the system will work harder as needed, similarly to when your car is going up a hill. These variable speeds help you maintain your desired temperature while running at the optimal power level, meaning you don’t have to worry about your electric bill.

HVAC Installation with a Dual Fuel Option


If your home has natural gas or uses liquified petroleum (LP gas), choosing a dual fuel option for your HVAC installation gives you the most effective and efficient heating for your home. With a dual fuel option, your system operates like a three-stage system.

First, your system will run using just the heat pump, which is a more efficient source of heating until the temperature drops below 32 degrees. At that point, your system will switch over to the gas furnace option and operate on a two stage setting to keep you comfortable while providing you the most efficient heating for your home.

Reach Out to Quality Comfort Services, Inc.


If you’re considering HVAC installation for your Raleigh home, reach out to the experienced team at Quality Comfort Services, Inc. We install top-quality Trane heating and cooling units that lower utility bills while keeping you and your family comfortable all year long. Call us today at [phone] or fill out the contact form below to schedule a free quote!

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