FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How often
should I have my A/C and heating equipment inspected?
At the very least, your A.C equipment should be checked out once a
year. We recommend preventative maintenance in the fall and spring
to improve the longevity of your equipment and to make sure you are
prepared for cold winters and hot summers. For more information, check
out our PSA.
How often
should filters be cleaned or replaced?
Typically, filters should be cleaned or replaced once a month. However,
if you have inside pets you need to check your filter more frequently.
Dirty filters lead to restricted air flow, which ultimately will reduce
the amount of cooling capacity from your unit.
What do
rating numbers mean?
The U.S. government requires an efficiency rating of all air conditioning
and heating equipment. The rating reflects the percentage of energy
used efficiently, with a high rating indicating high-efficiency.
What is
a SEER?
Air conditioning equipment is rated by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency
Rating, or SEER. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient
the unit.
Should
your thermostat be set to "auto" or "'on"?
Preferably auto. That way, the fan operates only when the temperature
requires it. (This is the most used and the most efficient setting
for your equipment.)
If an
outdoor unit needs replacing, should the indoor unit be replaced too?
If the indoor coils are fairly new and in good working order, and
if the coil is able to match up with the high efficient A/C unit,
then it isn't necessary.
If I replace
my old air conditioner with a new one, will it lower my energy bill?
Yes and most likely—in a big way. If you have an old machine
with a low SEER rating, you can replace it with a new 13 SEER unit
and you can drastically cut your cooling energy bill! The indoor coil
must also be replaced at the same time in order to get the advertised
SEER rating of the new unit and the rest of the system must be in
proper working order.
How much
will it cost to install a new air conditioner?
It
is impossible to quote a price without first checking conditions at
the job site. We simply cannot determine what the price will be without
this first step. Price will be influenced by the size, SEER rating,
and location of the new unit as well as whether or not the existing
furnace, electrical panel, and ducts are suitable for air conditioning
or if they must be replaced. Call today or fill out our online request
form {MAKE ACTIVE LINK TO FORM} and one of our qualified technicians
can come out and give you a free estimate.
After
I have a new air conditioner installed will it require any maintenance?
Yes. Keeping
the system clean is the name of the game. As the coils and blower
wheels begin to get dirty the efficiency of the system plummets, your
energy bill climbs, and your comfort level drops. Regular tune ups
also extend equipment life and help to prevent mechanical break downs.
We offer our Preferred Customer Agreement to provide the service that
you will require to keep your unit running at it’s peak performance,
and keeping your utility bills lower.
What size
of air conditioner do I need for my house?
Air conditioners
are rated in "tons" of cooling capacity. This phrase comes
from the days when ice was used for cooling. One ton of air conditioning
is equal to the amount of cooling you would get from one ton of ice
melting in your home in one hour. One ton of cooling is also equal
to 12,000 BTUH (British thermal units per hour) and this 12,000 BTUH
is further broken down into sensible BTUH (heat which can be sensed
with the aid of a thermometer) and latent BTUH ("hidden heat"
which cannot be sensed with the aid of a thermometer.) This has to
do with how much moisture removal is accomplished by the air conditioning
system and gets fairly complex.
Contrary to popular belief, proper sizing is not done based on the square footage of the home, such as one ton of ac for every 500 square feet. Such rough rule of thumb guesses do not allow for important variables. The proper size can only be determined from the results of a heat load calculation on your home. The calculation takes into account the area of exposed walls, the glass area and whether it's single or dual pane, the insulation levels in floors, walls, and ceilings, any exterior or interior shading, the requested indoor temperature, and the volume of the house in cubic feet.
Proper size is critical to your comfort and savings on your energy bill. Oversized units cost more to operate and short cycle so much that your house may become humid and uncomfortable. Undersized units run all day long and still don't cool the house. IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT YOU GET THE RIGHT SIZE UNIT FOR YOUR HOME!