Frequently Asked Questions

Thermostat set to heat and temperature setting is above the ambient temperature.
Check circuit breaker or fuses.
Schedule Service.

This may be normal depending on the type of heating you have.
Check circuit breaker or fuses
Schedule Service.

Answer:

Older houses were usually built much less energy efficient than they are today. In older homes, the existing furnaces (and water heaters) were able to get sufficient air for combustion because of the open spaces and leakage around windows, doors, and the house itself. Finished basements and more energy efficient houses can cut the combustible air supply tremendously, and increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Answer:

There can be many reasons for low air flow: dirty filter, dirty evaporator (on furnace), poor duct design, and furnace blower motor too small or set for low rpm. Yes, this can be harmful because it can reduce the life of your heating and cooling equipment and increase your energy bills. You probably won’t be comfortable, either.

Answer:

The federal government requires all air conditioning and heating equipment to be rated for efficiency. The higher the rating, the more efficient the model.

Gas furnaces are rated for AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). This defines the amount of heat used to warm your home from the burned fuel. A 90% furnace will use 90% of the available heat to heat your home. 10% of the heat is vented outdoors. Many older gas furnaces are only 60% efficient. The other 40% is vented outdoors. You can see that a new high-efficiency furnace will require much less fuel to heat your home.

For air conditioning, the rating is SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). This rating is based on general design criteria such as the compressor and outdoor coil. SEER ratings are for comparison purposes only, so that homeowners will know how they can compare different brands of products with similar efficiency ratings. The rating for the outdoor unit will reference a general efficiency range, such as 14 SEER. The actual efficiency rating for a specific system will depend on the combination of the outdoor unit and the indoor coil these ratings are available from your dealer and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute's Energy Guide. A variable-speed indoor blower unit will increase the efficiency rating of the system, as well.

Heat pumps are rated by SEER for cooling efficiency and by HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) for heating efficiency. As with other ratings, the higher the HSPF, the less energy it will take to warm your home.

Answer:

All current heating and air conditioning equipment is high efficiency and high tech. By servicing your unit on an annual basis, you reap benefits in three (3) ways:
1. It is an opportunity to detect problems that may be developing. Catching it early can save you money.
2. It helps maintain your equipment for top efficiency, thereby saving energy.
3. It validates your equipment warranties.

Answer:

There may be many causes, but the most likely is dirty ductwork.

Thermostat set to cool and temperature setting is below the ambient temperature.
Check circuit breaker or fuses
Schedule Service.

Thermostat set to cool and temperature setting is below the ambient temperature.
Check circuit breaker or fuses
Check to see if the outside blower is working.
Can you hear the compressor working?.
Schedule Service.

Answer:

There can be multiple reasons for high humidity:
1. My thermostat is set too high. The A/C doesn’t run often enough to remove the excess humidity.
2. My A/C is rated too large and doesn’t run often enough to remove the excess humidity.
3. My A/C is not working to peak capacity. It may not be cooling effectively, either.