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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely not. If this is ever suggested to you as a necessary thing, we suggest you thank the technician for his time, and call out another company. The only exception to this rule is if your indoor unit is say an older model 10 SEER & you are moving up in your SEER rating at your outdoor unit. Problems can begin to occur when you mismatch ratings on equipment. We always recommend that you try and match the SEER ratings from inside to outside.
Get more than one bid (preferably three) unless the bill is not that high (you will end up paying more in trip charges/diagnostic charges than the original bid on a small bill). When getting the bids make sure that you are getting the same air conditioning equipment and service from each of the contractors. An example of not always getting the same service would be on an equipment system change out.  Some contractors replace your service disconnect as part of a unit change-out, while others don’t unless it is specified in their contract with you.
Hopefully you will always be able to trust the HVAC company you have called out. We suggest that if you suspect there is something not right, you should ask the technician to show you the test he used to condemn the part. If you still have reason to suspect, call the service manager of the company and ask him to explain how one would determine how to check a component for failure. If their stories don’t match than kick them in the rear as you ask them to leave…..
Sometimes. If you are building a small room and your air conditioning system had originally been designed at the high end of your building needs, than there is a chance that you won’t need to upsize your equipment or ducts. If you plan on doing this yourself we recommend that you still solicit a consultation on your projects viability to avoid longer term and bigger problems down the road.
If you’re considering renovating your heating system to include a heat pump, there are important things to consider. Contrary to popular opinion, a heat pump isn’t more efficient than a gas pump. 30 to 50 years ago, systems were not as technologically advanced and might have benefited from a heat pump, but they have come a long way since then.
If your existing heating and cooling system is a few years old, you might be considering replacing it with a more efficient system. If your unit is less than ten years old, then installing a new system might not be the most economical option, especially if your existing unit has a warranty. On the other hand, if you plan to keep your home for a long time it might make sense to invest sooner than later.
An HVAC system might be put on a residential roof to save space. Changing it to a split system is costly and doesn’t result in better performance than a rooftop unit, and thus is not a good option for most homeowners. The multiple steps involved are time-consuming and painstaking; you might consider the switch only if you’re completing a massive renovation of your home.
Annual inspections of your system are a must if you desire to keep it in top condition. Yearly inspections can increase its lifespan up to five years. They can also be a cost- effective strategy. Warranty companies might use a lack of maintenance records as justification to deny claims. In fact, some plans specifically require that homeowners perform maintenance in order to receive benefits.
Yes. The old style thermostats can ruin a system’s efficiency. Digital thermostats are more accurate than their mercury cousins, and Programmable ones are better than them both. A programmable thermostat can be set to maintain different building temperatures depending on whether or not the building is occupied. This can save you a ton of money in unneeded energy expenditures.
A SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) is a rating given to AC equipment to help the consumer gauge the efficiency of the unit. How much it helps you depends on how much you use your equipment. If you are the type that sets their thermostat at 80-85 during the summer and never touch it then our suggestion would be that your needs are low and the most cost efficient system for you is a lower SEER rating.