Frequently Asked Questions

It may not seem like a lot preliminarily, but over time these totals really start to add up. Switching out your filters and reducing the expenditure of heat by your furnace will also help extend the life of the furnace. As filters grow old and the furnace is used often, corrosion and degradation tend to take their toll on the system much quicker. By conserving just a small amount of energy, you’ll be saving your money in the short term and the long term by lowering your energy bill now and reducing the risk of any expensive repairs later on down the road.

You Have An Improperly Sized Furnace

If your furnace is too small for your home, this will leave some rooms in your house out in the cold. A too-small furnace simply can’t generate enough heat for the amount of square footage. Not only that, but it has to work too hard, which is costing you more money.

Your Air Ducts Are Leaking

Leaky air ducts are a sneaky problem that will cost you money and create uncomfortable variations in temperature throughout your home. These issues affect you all year long, because they hurt your air conditioning, too. During the winter months, you’ll find that areas of your house are chilly while others are warm.

You Have Improperly Sized Ductwork

Similar to the issue of an improperly sized furnace, the wrong sized ductwork creates uneven heating in your home, causes the furnace to work too hard and results in increased energy costs and costly repairs to your furnace.

Your Furnace Does Not Have Zoning Capabilities

Even if your furnace and ductwork are adequate, if your furnace doesn’t have zoning capabilities, you are still going to run into temperature fluctuations throughout your home. This is because different areas of your home are simply going to be colder. This may be due to large windows, exposure, lack of carpeting/high ceilings and other factors. Zoning allows you to increase the temperature in some rooms and reduce or eliminate it in others. For example, if you don’t use one area of the house as much, there is little reason to heat it. If you have a room that is just naturally colder than another, you can increase the temperature in that particular room without overheating the rest of the house.

Your Thermostat Is Broken Or Needs To Be Replaced

This is a relatively easy fix, but people are often unaware that their thermostat is no longer functioning optimally. This is something that should be checked during your yearly maintenance and inspection.

• Clean and lubricate indoor HVAC components such as blower fans and coils so that the unit is working efficiently and keeping your utility bills low.
• Check AC’s refrigerant levels to ensure your AC is blowing cold air. If the technician notices the level is low, this could indicate a possible leak in the system.
• Changing the air filter during the Spring visit will help your unit run more efficiently and will keep down dust and allergens in your home.
• Tighten electrical connections as well as inspect the fan blades and motor for damage and normal wear.
• This is also a great time for the technician to lubricate the parts as needed and inspect safety devices for proper operation.
• Check the operation of all HVAC units (heating, cooling) to make sure everything is in peak running condition for the upcoming season.
• Clean out the outdoor unit to remove any leaves, twigs, grass, dirt, etc. that might have gathered during the winter months.
• Test thermostat for proper operation, calibrate and level to ensure your home is heating and cooling to the right temperature.
• Most air conditioners have a drainage hole on the base of the cabinet. This hole needs to be kept clear so that the air conditioner works properly. The technician will remove any obstructions during the inspection as he flushes and treats the condensate drain.
• Inspect ductwork to check for leaks.

Room air conditioners are mounted either on the walls, ceiling or through a window. These systems work in a similar fashion to central air conditioners, but compressors are located outside the home and the systems are generally built to control the temperature in a single room. These units are less expensive to purchase, but are potentially less efficient and have a higher daily running cost overall.

Ductless mini-split air conditioners are more popular outside the U.S., but are gaining prominence with homeowners who are updating a portion of their home or reworking an older addition that doesn’t have ductwork in place. They are similar to room air conditioners in that they are a zoned system, but the functionality is more similar to a conventional central air conditioning unit. When you’re using a ductless system, you also avoid the energy loss that is associated with a traditional system with ducts. You can also maintain overall cleaner air due to the lack of cracks and crevices in the ducts for dust, mold and other contaminants to hide.