HVAC FAQ

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HVAC Frequently Asked Questions

Cooling System

Upgrade to a high-efficiency air conditioner – Replacing your old, inefficient air conditioning system with a high-efficient one can cut electricity bills significantly. Consult one of our professional technicians to ensure your system is the right size for your home, and you are not over- or under-cooling for your space needs.

Turn up the temperature – To save electricity during the summer, set the temperature above 75° as every degree below this will add an extra three to five percent to your energy bill.

Install ceiling fans – Change the direction of airflow on your ceiling fans. In the summer, the blades should operate in a counter-clockwise direction as a way of creating a nice, gentle wind.

Have an annual maintenance performed – Having an annual maintenance performed on your air conditioner by a licensed technician will help ensure it operates at its peak efficiency and catches any potential breakdowns before they occur.

Don’t block vents in well-used rooms – Keep your supply and return air vents free of objects like blinds, carpets or furniture so your air conditioner can operate efficiently and there is even cool air distribution.

Close vents in less-used rooms- By closing the vents, you will not be spending money cooling rooms that are used less.

Heating System

Upgrade to a high-efficiency furnace – New high-efficiency furnaces use up to 50% less fuel than an older system. It can save you up to 25 percent of your home-heating costs in one year, and within a few years, you will have recovered the initial cost of replacing/upgrading your furnace. Choosing a model with an energy efficient motor can save 20 to 50 percent of the energy needed to continuously operate a fan motor. Let us show you the advantages of replacing your old furnace today.
Have an annual maintenance performed – Having an annual maintenance performed on your furnace by a licensed technician will help ensure it operates at its peak efficiency and catches any potential breakdowns before they occur.

Install a programmable thermostat – A programmable thermostat enables you to control your home’s temperature when you are away or asleep. For every one degree you lower your thermostat for seven hours per day, you save one percent on your heating bill.

Don’t block vents in well-used rooms – Keep your supply and return air vents free of objects like blinds, carpets or furniture so your furnace can operate efficiently and there is even heat distribution.

Close vents in less-used rooms – By closing the vents, you will not be spending money heating rooms that are used less.

Install ceiling fans- Change the direction of airflow on your ceiling fans. In the winter, the blades should operate in a clockwise direction helping to push the warm air from the ceiling down into the room.

What is the average life expectancy of equipment? Depending on the brand, most systems have a life span of 10 to 15 years (some builder grade equipment has a much shorter life span). As your equipment gets older, its efficiency and performance also declines. Typically if a system is 10-12+ years in age, it is good to consider replacement rather than investing in the old inefficient system. New comfort systems are more energy efficient and they will provide payback and energy savings. In addition, most of our new systems come with a 10 year warranty for your peace of mind.

Choosing an A/C contractor is much like choosing any other contractor. Quality work should carry a higher priority than a cheap price. There are many “moon lighters” that are not licensed and will work for a very cheap price, but when something goes wrong, you can’t find them anymore. It’s a good idea to select a contractor that relies on you, the customer, for their livelihood. Taking care of customers’ needs is the highest priority for a company that depends on them to call them back when their expertise is needed.

The best way to find a reputable HVAC contractor is to ask your friends, family and neighbors whom they use.

You want to make sure any company you do business with is properly licensed and insured, and it is always a good idea to check out a company’s rating with the local Better Business Bureau. Additionally, many equipment manufacturers list their dealer’s customer satisfaction ratings on their dealer locator section of their websites. Check out our satisfaction rating with American Standard.

How often you should change your filter depends on the type of filter you have and how much infiltration you have throughout your home and ductwork. “Throw away” or the lesser expensive filters have to be replaced every 30 days. “Pleated” or “Poly” filters have to typically be replaced every 90 days. “Media filters” or Clean Effects filters usually have to be replaced every year. We offer free advice so give us a call at any time with any additional questions.

Yes. Keeping your system properly maintained will lower energy and repair costs, prevent breakdowns and prolong the life of your equipment. Neglecting necessary maintenance ensures a steady decline in air conditioning performance while energy use steadily increases.

Your heating and cooling system is just like your car and needs regular maintenance. Our service agreement is priced at break-even cost so all of our clients can afford to maintain their systems. Servicing your system will increase the lifespan of your system, reduce energy costs and increase comfort.

There are many air cleaners available that do a decent job of cleaning pollutants and allergens from your home’s air but most restrict air flow while doing it. American Standard’s AccuClean’s patented idF technology provides the highest clean air delivery rate available on the market today. AccuClean can remove up to 99.98% of dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander, mold and other pollutants and allergens from the air your family breathes at home. Breathe easy with AccuClean!

Our variable airflow systems have “de-humidification control”. Traditional systems only have a one-speed fan and only read temperature. A variable airflow system reads relative humidity in addition to temperature. The system runs more often at a lower speed removing much more moisture than a typical system. Removing more moisture means you are more comfortable at a higher temperature. In addition, the system does a much better job of filtering the air (because it runs more often), creates a more even temperature throughout your home and operates more quietly.

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