QUESTIONS TIPS & FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I replace my Air Filter?
Its reasonable to check your air filter every month. And replace them every three months for best results.
If you don't have a large family or pets, three months is usually more than adequate. However the more people or pets in the home, the more often, perhaps even monthly that you'll need to change air filters.
What causes my home to have uneven hot and cold spots?
There are many reasons you could have uneven heating and cooling in your home. Some of the following can contribute to the issues.
1) Dirty or clogged up air filters. It's important to check your filters any time you are experiencing comfort issues, as this is a commonly missed problem that affects system performance.
2) Blocked registers. Perhaps furniture has been set over registers, or it has been closed manually, we've even seen paper or other debris that has fallen into registers that keep them from delivering proper air flow.
3) Damage to ductwork. If there are cracks or holes in the ductwork, the heating and cooling that you are paying for may not even be reaching some or all of the registers in your home. Not only will you have comfort issues in this situation, but your utility bills will be dramatically increased.
4) Inadequate or Improper unit size. There is a large number of factors that go into determining the proper size or capacity unit for your space. And no two homes are exactly alike. It's much more than just how many bedrooms or how much square footage a home is, that determines what is best here. Sizing of windows, insulation quality and quantity, solar thermal loads, and many more factors go into determining what size system a home should have. This is where it is best to get the advice of a professional HVAC contactor. Or talking with your local utility company can also help you make educated decisions here.
Tried all of the above and still having comfort issues or identified some of the above issues in your home that you can't fix yourself? Give us a call and let us help you find and fix the problem.
What is SEER, EER, & HSPF mean?
The US federal government has created standards to measure heating and cooling equipment's performance. SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) reflects the seasonal energy performance rating for air conditioning units. EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) reflects overall efficiency at peak or full load operation.
HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) is specifically used to measure the efficiency of air source heat pumps.
The higher each of these numbers are the more efficient the unit's performance is. Which typically means lower utility costs for the end user.
Since 2006 the federal government has mandated that all air conditioners meet a minimum SEER of 13 or higher and all heat pumps meet a minimum HSPF of 8 or high. The government also created an energy efficiency program: Energy Star to promote high efficiency appliances. For an air conditioner to receive this rating it must be 14 SEER or higher.
