Answers to Your Most Frequent HVAC Questions.
Each home comfort system you own should be tuned up and inspected once a year. Each such inspection includes multiple operating and safety functions and is critical to your family's ongoing comfort and well-being.
You can expect your home heating and cooling system to last an average of 10-12 years each. Just remember that better maintained systems could last even longer while still providing adequate levels of comfort without excessive energy bills.
A whole-house, built-in humidifierwill add humidity into otherwise dry air and help prevent or get rid of dry air conditions, itchy skin, and difficulty in breathing. Dry indoor air can also inflict damage on your furniture. A humidifier, when used properly and often enough, also can help lower your energy costs.
Yes and no. Shaded outdoor units require less electricity than those exposed to direct sunlight. At the same time, keep trees, shrubs, and grass far away from the unit to avoid blocking airflow.
Replace the filters as often as instructed, but regularly inspect them. Most filters need to be changed every month. Dirty filters will limit the airflow and increase the cost of your utility bills.
No, just turn the temperature up a few degrees to be closer to the outdoor temperature. The AC unit will not have to work as hard when you return as it would if you turned it completely off.
There are several factors that go into making that determination, which is why you should never accept a new system quote or proposal over the phone. No contractor can possibly know what size system is right until they consider such factors as shade, insulation, window and door sealing, the size and shape of your ductwork, and more.
Today's home come comfort system offer energy efficiency ratings up to 98% and a minimum 13 SEER rating. If, for example, you were to have a 13 SEER central air system installed today, you can expect to cut your home cooling costs by half assuming the system is properly sized and installed.
You can bet your home needs some kind of professional indoor air quality system if you or other family members have frequent colds that pass from one family member to another, lingering symptoms of allergies and asthma, static electricity, nose bleeds, cracked or swollen wood, dry skin, and more.
If you're the proactive type, you'll want to start checking out the latest in home comfort system when your current systems near the 10-year mark, since the average system lifespan is 10-12 years. Otherwise, you'll know it's time when the repairs start mounting, your heating and cooling costs defy belief, and/or if you need to adjust your thermostat up or down even more so than usual to reach the desired temperature.