Services: Residential FAQ

1. How do I determine the size of furnace or air conditioner for my home?
2. Do I need a humidifier for my home?
3. What is an HRV unit?
4. Should I have yearly maintenance on my furnace?
5. What does BTU mean?
6. What causes my furnace to stop working?
7. Can I get my air conditioner "topped up" with Freon?
8. What causes my air conditioning to stop working?
9. What causes poor air flow?
10. I have a two-ton air conditioner, is it really that heavy?
11. When it gets very cold my humidifier creates condensation on my windows, can this be controlled?
12. Freon gases in air conditioners are not friendly to our environment, are there more friendly freons?
13. Do I need to have yearly maintenance on my air conditioner?
14. What does "SEER" mean?
15. Should I have a better filter than the standard filter that came with the furnace?
16. Should I have a programmable thermostat?
17. I have an old type of humidifier with the pan full of water, is this good?
18. Why should I buy a UV air purifier?
19. I have an old furnace, when should I change it?
20. Can I replace my furnace in the winter?
21. What is a two-stage or modulating gas furnace?

1. How do I determine the size of furnace or air conditioner for my home?
The best method is to perform a heat/loss - heat/gain calculation which uses the "R" value of your outside walls, windows, doors, basement walls, insulation in the attic and direction your house faces. Our sales consultants would be happy to do this calculation for you, determine what kind of system you need and offer suggestions and options to you.

2. Do I need a humidifier for my home?
Yes. A humidifier eliminates cracking and separation of hardwood floors and wood furniture, dry noses, dry skin, dry throat and helps to reduce your annual heating costs.

Every home should have a humidifier, unless you have excessive humidity, then you would need a HRV unit.

3. What is an HRV unit?
A heat recovery ventilator or "air exchanger" provides fresh air for ventilation to your home without losing energy.

4. Should I have yearly maintenance on my furnace?
Yes. Minor adjustments are necessary to keep your furnace running at the higher efficiencies of today's products. Also, safety issues and defective parts can de discovered before they can cause problems.

5. What does BTU mean?
British Thermal Units refers to the heating capacity of a gas furnace and the cooling capacity of an air-conditioner.

6. What causes my furnace to stop working?
Any number of things - a plugged air filter, faulty igniter, faulty control board, plugged drain, blocked exhaust/air intake pipe or a breaker not turned on.

7. Can I get my air conditioner "topped up" with Freon?
No, putting Freon in a unit with a leak is against the law. Freon gas that leaks out of your unit destroys the earth's ozone layer (atmosphere).

8. What causes my air conditioning to stop working?
It could be low on Freon, a plugged filter, dirty evaporator coil or a breaker not turned on. A dirty furnace fan reduces the air flow.

9. What causes poor air flow?
Not enough return air, plugged air filter, damper closed or undersized ductwork.

10. I have a two-ton air conditioner, is it really that heavy?
No. The term 'ton' relates to 12,000 BTUH's of cooling, it has nothing to do with weight.

11. When it gets very cold my humidifier creates condensation on my windows, can this be controlled?
Yes. You can continually turn your humidifier down and then later back up. Or you can get a humidifier with a control that takes care of this for you.

12. Freon gases in air conditioners are not friendly to our environment, are there more friendly freons?
Yes. Freon 410A is friendly and being used in most air conditioners, it also may be called Puron.

13. Do I need to have yearly maintenance on my air conditioner?
Yes. An air conditioner can lose as much as 29% efficiency if not properly maintained.

14. What does "SEER" mean?
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio; the higher this rating the more efficient the air conditioner is in saving electricity.

15. Should I have a better filter than the standard filter that came with the furnace?
Absolutely; some furnaces come equipped with highly-efficient filters. You can add one to an existing furnace if it doesn't have one of these filters. An upgraded filter will let you breathe cleaner air, and helps your furnace and air conditioner maintain a higher efficiency. It will also help prevent motor failure and other repairs.

16. Should I have a programmable thermostat?
Yes. You will save money and it will pay for itself in 1-2 years. There are also some government rebates as well.

17. I have an old type of humidifier with the pan full of water, is this good?
Absolutely not; that water is full of bacteria. The new humidifiers do not work like this and are bacteria-free. Maintenance for these humidifiers is greatly reduced and they have only one working part.

18. Why should I buy a UV air purifier?
It kills allergy-causing molds, bacteria, dust mites, viruses and removes odors in the home.

19. I have an old furnace, when should I change it?
The sooner the better; the sooner you change your furnace the sooner you will start to recover your cost of purchasing it. Also there are some tremendous government rebates available.

20. Can I replace my furnace in the winter?
Absolutely; don't wait until it breaks down. We can have your heat on in about 4-5 hours.

21. What is a two-stage or modulating gas furnace?
Two-stage has two heating capacities that help to provide an even temperature in the home and will lower your fuel consumption. Modulating furnaces alter between 30% and 100% heating capacity. This provides a more even temperature in the home and will
reduce your fuel consumption.

Got other questions for us? Contact us!

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