SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - With summer heat just around the corner, the La Berg family needed a new air conditioning and heating system - and quick. The current system did not maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature throughout the home leaving rooms too hot or too cold. And although they had tried to remedy their home comfort issues in the past, nothing seemed to work until the La Bergs received a little assistance from American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning and its New Standard In Home Comfort contest.

"I saw information about a contest for American Standard in a magazine," said John La Berg. "I'm not normally one to enter things like this, but as a civil engineer, I knew American Standard was a good company with an excellent reputation, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity."

As part of the American Standard Home Comfort Contest, La Berg submitted a short essay about his family's home comfort needs. High energy bills, an aging heating and cooling system, and a very uncomfortable house secured the La Berg residence as Chicagoland's most uncomfortable home. As the winner of the American Standard contest, the La Berg family received a much needed home comfort makeover - including a new American Standard central heating and air conditioning system, along with bath and kitchen products, valued at $15,000.

"We are delighted to help raise the standard of comfort in the La Berg home," said Joyce Warrington, national brand director, American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning. "With a new comfort system, the family will be able to not only regulate the indoor air temperature, but also cut down on their heating and air conditioning bills. No matter what the weather is like outdoors, the La Bergs will now have a very pleasant experience inside their home."

The La Bergs received a new heating and cooling system that will help correct their indoor home comfort and air quality issues, while reducing their high energy costs. A 90 percent variable speed furnace, 18 SEER air conditioning unit, and touch screen thermostat were installed. And with the family bearing the woes of springtime allergies and illnesses, a whole house humidifier was installed along with a new American Standard AccuCleanâ„¢ whole house air filtration system, improving the home's indoor air quality and eliminating up to 99.98 percent of the allergens from the filtered air.

The family is also receiving other comfort upgrades including an American Standard ClearTap™ water-filtering faucet, a VertiSpa® shower system that converts an ordinary shower into a hydro-massage, and a Champion® toilet for years of clog-free flushing.

With three boys - ages 18, 15 and 11 - the La Bergs were looking for a resolution to their home comfort needs, so they started renovating their 35-year-old suburban home a few years ago. They had already replaced the windows, added insulation in the attic, and were using a digital thermostat to help regulate their air temperature, but their home still didn't feel right.

"The first step in making our home more comfortable was examining the heating and cooling system," John La Berg said. "Then, the next step is to really examine the needs of our kitchen and bathrooms. We've already started that process with the help of American Standard."

JNL Climate Control Inc., an American Standard dealer, installed the new system, and Munch Supply Co., an American Standard distributor, coordinated the project. Both companies service homes in the Chicagoland area. Now, with the help of American Standard, the La Berg family will be able to enjoy their time together more comfortably.

For more information about American Standard home comfort systems, visit www.americanstandardair.com.

Publication date: 07/31/2006