FAQs

There are actually several situations in which you should consider replacing your current air conditioning system. For instance, if you have to call for repairs for your current system repeatedly, your system probably doesn’t have many good years left. And even if the repairs are relatively minor, they’re still costing you money every time you have someone come out.

Rather than continuing to dump money into a system that probably isn’t working all that efficiently to begin with, it makes much more sense to simply invest in a new system now. You’ll start saving right away on your energy bills and you won’t have to worry about whether or not your air conditioner is going to work on any given day.

You many even want to consider replacing an older air conditioning system that’s still working fine because newer models are so much more energy efficient than even those installed 10 years ago. Since you’ll likely have to replace your AC in a few years anyway, you’re better of investing in a new system now so that you can start saving on your energy bills right away.

Ductless split and mini split air conditioners are made up of two parts, much like a conventional air conditioning system. However, the outdoor compressor and indoor wall-mounted units are connected to each other only by a refrigerant line rather than the more traditional ductwork. That means that mini-split systems are much easier to install in places that don’t already have ductwork or where it wouldn’t be practical to try and fit ducts in.

The other main difference between ductless air conditioning units and other types of central air conditioning systems is that the indoor unit mounted on the wall or the ceiling in your room is where the actual cooling takes place. You can adjust the temperature in the room directly from there, giving you a much more refined control over your indoor conditions.

Quite possibly. Ductless splits are a good option for a lot of people, particularly those who don’t already have ducts in place in their home. You may also want to look into a mini-split system if you’ve recently added an addition onto your home and don’t want to have to pay to extend the ducts from the rest of your house into the addition.

While the life expectancy of a new air conditioning system can vary a good deal from one brand and model to another, most new systems being installed these days can be expected to last from 10 to 15 years. However, this will still depend on how much you use your system and how well you keep it maintained over the years. In fact, some air conditioners that receive proper maintenance can even exceed their projected lifespan by several years.

Just like most other large pieces of equipment, your air conditioning system requires a tune-up every now and then. This will help to keep it working at peak capacity and reduce the chances that you’ll lose any significant amount of energy efficiency over time.

The air conditioning professional who carries out your annual maintenance visit will also be able to check your system thoroughly for any defects or damages. They will also often be able to catch problems before they get out of hand and can greatly reduce the chances that you’ll need emergency repairs later on.

Electric furnaces and gas furnaces both have their pros and cons. One isn’t necessarily better than the other in general, although your particular situation might dictate choosing one over the other. But really you’ll have to decide which features you like better in order to select the type of furnace that’s best for you.

For instance, an electric furnace may be an attractive option because of its low maintenance costs. On average, electric furnaces need to be serviced about once every two years, while gas furnaces require yearly service to stay in top condition. Many people also prefer electric furnaces because they feel they’re safer, although today’s gas furnaces are quite safe to operate as well.

Gas furnaces are still the more popular choice, however, because they tend to be cheaper to install and have a higher energy efficiency rating. Electric furnaces do run silently, but the newer gas furnaces run almost as quietly, so there’s really not much difference there. However, electric furnaces do tend to last several years longer on average than a typical gas furnace, so that’s something to keep in mind as well.

How do I Choose the Best Heating System for My House?
You will have to consider a lot of different factors when picking out the right heating system for your home. The size and dimensions of your house will figure into the equation, as well as what types of fuel sources are available to you, what type of system you had in place before and what the particular heating needs of your family are.

This is a lot to get a handle on and can get to be pretty overwhelming, particularly if you’ve never had to purchase a new heating system before. In this type of situation, it can be helpful to get some professional advice and guidance so that you can get a better idea of what your options really are. A heating specialist can assist you by walking you through the selection process.

If you’ve been looking at various types of furnaces, you’ve probably noticed that they all have what’s referred to as an AFUE rating. This number is a reflection of the energy efficiency of the furnace, and will typically be between 80% and 98%. The higher the number, the more energy efficient the furnace is.

Although you should always take the AFUE rating into account when you’re purchasing a furnace, that doesn’t mean that you should necessarily go with the model that has the highest efficiency rating. Depending on your heating needs, an 80% AFUE furnace may be able to get the job done just fine without forcing you to incur the greater costs that come with the higher efficiency models.

The amount of time you can expect your heating system to last will depend on what type of system it is. In general, though, it’s safe to say that a new heating system you purchase today will last you 10 to 15 years. Some types of systems, like electric furnaces, can be expected to last a bit longer, but that will largely depend on the type and model of your system. In any case, keeping up with regular maintenance is one way to extend the life of your home heating system.

Can You Service My Old Heating System or Do I Have to Buy a New One From You?
We can perform maintenance and repair services on just about any type of heating system you have. No matter who put in your existing system or how old it is, we’ll be happy to take care of it for you.

High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are extremely effective at removing many types of contaminants from your indoor air. In fact, they can reliably remove up to 99.97% of particles measuring 0.3 microns or more in diameter.

This covers many of the common indoor air contaminants you may have a problem with. Most people need to remove both large and small particles from their indoor air, and HEPA filters are certainly a great asset when you’re trying to accomplish this. While they are not the only type of mechanical filter on the market today, HEPA filters are certainly the most effective. If you’re going to invest in some type of mechanical filtration, a HEPA filter is really the only one you should go for.

While things like HEPA filters and air ionizers can remove many types of particulate air contaminants, both large and small, they are not often particularly effective against germs like the bacteria and viruses that are routinely floating around your house. UV germicidal lights, on the other hand, can be extremely effective and efficient at killing those germs.

UV germicidal lights are usually used as part of a complete air quality improvement system. They’re typically placed just past the HEPA filter or other purification device so that they can catch the viruses and bacteria that pass through these other filtration systems. Once they are exposed to the UV radiation produced by the lights, these germs are quickly killed and cannot continue to circulate throughout your house.

There are many factors to consider when you’re trying to select the right air cleaner for your home. One of the main things to keep in mind is that not all air cleaners are equally as good at removing certain types of particulate contaminants. For instance, some are better at catching larger particles, while others do a better job of trapping small particles and absorbing odors.

Of course, you’ll also have to take into account the size and dimensions of your home as you make your selection. You want to make sure that the air cleaner you choose is going to be able to handle the volume of air that will pass through it each day, but you don’t want to go needlessly overboard and spend more than is necessary for something that you didn’t really need.

You’ll also need to have some idea about how significant your indoor air quality problem is so that you’ll know the system you buy can handle that level of contamination. With all of these elements to take into account, it can be pretty tough to sort through all of your options on your own. Professional advice can definitely come in handy.

Each type of filter will probably come with its own recommendations in terms of a replacement timeline. However, it’s generally a good rule of thumb to change your filter at least once every 90 days. Some super high efficiency filters can go considerably longer without being changed, however, and if you have a very high contaminant load, you may need to change it more often than the manufacturer recommends.

The AFUE number stands for “annual fuel utilization efficiency,” and it indicates the percentage of fuel that each new furnace or heat pump model converts into heat. New boilers also have AFUE ratings, but any heating system with a higher AFUE rating is more efficient. For instance, a new gas furnace with a rating of 90% is not quite as efficient as an electric furnace with a rating of 98%. Electric furnaces and boilers tend to have higher ratings than the ones that run on natural gas because they do not need a ventilation system; air ducts and chimneys are prime areas for losing heat, and the AFUE rating does not account for heat loss. This is also why it is important to make sure your home is well-insulated before you upgrade your old heating system to one with an Energy Star label. The Energy Star labels are another way to tell which new furnace or heat pump models are the most efficient; however, it is also important to pay attention to AFUE percentages. You can always call us to speak to one of our expert heating technicians about high-efficiency furnaces and heat pumps.

Many homeowners are told that it takes more energy to heat a home back up after the heat has been turned down for an extended period of time, which offsets the savings gained while it is turned down. This is not true. Turning down your heat at night or when you are not home definitely saves more energy than leaving it on the regular setting. The extra surge of electricity it takes to start the unit again uses very little energy, and your home actually loses less heat when the inside air is cooler. You will save more energy the longer the thermostat is set at a lower temperature. Conversely, the same theory applies to the cost of cooling your home in the summer, since higher interior temperatures slow down the flow of heat into the home. Overall, if you want to save on heating costs, you should keep your home below 70°F as much as possible during the winter, and turn down the thermostat about fifteen degrees when you aren’t using the heat. This can save up to 15% on your heating bills, but keep in mind that this percentage is greater in milder climates than colder climates. Installing a programmable thermostat will help ensure that you aren’t using more heat or air conditioning than you need to.

The best way to determine how much attic insulation to add to your attic would be to call an HVAC professional to assess your current insulation and heating and cooling needs. If you know how to figure out the R-value of your insulation, make sure it has an R-value of at least 38. An attic insulated with material that has an R-value less than that will need more insulation. Another general rule is that you should have at least 7 inches of insulation for most attics. Call one of our insulation specialists if you have further questions about attic insulation.