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Listed below are many common questions that we are asked almost on a daily basis. They all pertain to home comfort in general and specifically to heating, air conditioning, and indoor air quality as well as equipment related to those areas. Simply click on the question to view the answer. If you do not find your question listed, please
email it to us and we'll be more than happy to answer it for you ASAP.
Q: How often should my
system be checked?
A: We recommend that you have your system checked twice a year; once
in the spring and once in the fall.
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Q: What's wrong with my system if air is blowing out of my vents, but
the air is not cold?
A: You can have a loss of refrigerant due to a leak, or you could have a
condenser or compressor failure.
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Q: Do I have the right
size system for my house?
A: The rule of thumb is 1 ton per every 500 square feet of living space,
however, be aware that this is often not the case.
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Q: How often should I change my filter?
A: Your filter should be changed every month without fail.
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Q: What is SEER rating?
A: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. The higher the SEER rating, the more
energy efficient the system will be.
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Q: My system is low on refrigerant every 6 months. What could be the
problem?
A: You may have a refrigerant leak in the system somewhere between the
condenser and the evaporator coil.
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Q: What is the difference between a heat pump and a straight cool
system?
A: A heat pump uses the existing refrigerant circulating the opposite way
as it does in cooling to heat the home; a straight cool uses electric
coils in the air handler to heat the home.
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Q: What does ice on my
outside copper lines indicate?
A: The unit could be low on refrigerant, the evaporator coil could be
clogged or the filter could be in need of changing.
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Q: Could a new system
save me money on my cooling / heating cost?
A: Depending on the SEER rating, you could save up to 40% on your cooling
/ heating costs.
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Q: I am not sure what the proper humidity setting for my humidifier is?
A: We recommend setting the dial at
30%. You may want to raise or lower it slightly, however, because every home is different. Increase the humidity setting until you see a small accumulation of water droplets on your windows. When this occurs, stop raising the level and lower it just a touch. At this time, the proper humidity level for your home has been reached.
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Q: Why is my humidifier hooked up to hot water?
A: Most humidifiers are hooked up to a cold water source but in certain situations where more humidity is required or the water supply is very mineral rich , the manufacturer recommends hooking up to warm/hot water. This will automatically increase the humidification capacity of the unit and help to prevent annoying mineral buildup in the unit which is the leading cause of malfunction.
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Q: My thermostat is equipped with a two position setting for the fan, "automatic" and "on". Where should I set it?
A: The two positions are usually used in conjunction with a central air cleaning system. The normal setting is on "automatic" and the
fan's cycle will be controlled by the temperature in the room. However, if your home is equipped with an air cleaner (media or electronic) or you wish to keep a continuous flow of air, switch the setting to "on". Remember, central air cleaning devices only work when the furnace is circulating air. If you wish to get the most from your air cleaner, you should keep the setting to "on".
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Q: Do I need to get my furnace cleaned every year?
A: Naturally, you would expect a heating contractor to recommend an annual furnace cleaning as we do. But we do so for a number of reasons. A cleaning means that your furnace will operate more efficiently, getting more heat for your fuel dollar. More importantly, however, the cleaning also includes a thorough safety check of the entire unit for cracked or defective/damaged parts. This annual maintenance check will assure you a carbon monoxide free winter.
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Q: If I go away for a few days or even longer during the winter, at what temperature should I set my thermostat?
A: We recommend
60 degrees.
It's low enough to save you energy and money but warm enough to protect your pipes and other vital parts of your structure. Also,
it's a good idea to turn your main water supply off even if
you're only going to be gone for a day. A water leak could cause serious and very costly damage to your home.
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Q: Does it pay to turn down the thermostat at night or when you leave your home for any length of time during the day?
A: Yes, there would be some fuel savings but we do not recommend lowering your thermostat by more than 5-7 degrees. You might think about the purchase of a setback thermostat. It would do the job for you automatically.
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Q: How can I make sure that my HVAC system is safe for operation?
A: Always have your system checked annually to make sure that the unit is safe. In many cases, tiny cracks or perforations in the heat exchanger occur. When this happens, deadly carbon monoxide gas can escape and fill the house causing serious health problems and/or death to those inside.
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