We have answers to all your questions about heating, cooling, air quality, and other home comfort issues, as well as our installation and repair services.
Do you have an issue not addressed below? Please reach out to us — your questions are always welcome!
Heating & Furnace Q&A
What types of furnace filters are best, and how often should I change it?
The thicker the filter the more surface area there is for filtering. For example, a 16x25x1” furnace filter contains 400 square inches of surface area. A 16x25x4” filter contains 1,600 square inches of surface area. This increased surface area results in more room for the air to get through. This puts less stress and resistance on the equipment as it filters, and can allow for more time in between changes.
Filter changing depends on the type and the thickness. It is highly recommended to replace any filter that is only 1” thick every 30 days. Thicker filters such as a 4” thick filter can last from 6 months to 1 year and typically do a better job of filtering.
What is a BTU?
This is a "British Thermal Unit." It measures the heat content of fuels or energy sources. Essentially it is the amount of energy that is needed to raise the temperature of water 1 degree.
When do I need a furnace tune-up?
When was the last time your system was inspected? Older furnaces can potentially have issues with their heat exchangers. As the seams weaken they begin to crack, allowing carbon monoxide to be released into the air that your family breathes. This odorless, tasteless gas is not safe.
The drain systems and other safety switches also need to be checked. These parts can become plugged with by-products from the natural gas or LP (propane.)
Furnace manufacturers recommend yearly maintenance to maintain your equipment warranties. Get in touch to have us properly inspect and tune up your furnace and keep your family safe and warm.
Should I set the temperature back on my thermostat in the winter or summer?
There are a lot of opinions on this subject. The energy savings potential of putting a system into setback will vary depending on the length of time and the degree the system is set outside of your normal desired settings.
Allowing a home to cool down too much in the winter can cause comfort issues and negative effects on the balance of the home. As a home cools down on a cold winter day all of the objects in the home absorb that cooler temperature and the equipment will run much longer than normal in order for the home to get back to a comfortable state.
This also has the potential to cause unbalanced humidity in the home leading to gapping in wood flooring and trim.
Similarly, this can have negative effects in the summer season as well. If a system is allowed to stay off, as the temperature rises, so does the humidity level on those hot humid summer days. Therefore, it will take longer for the air conditioner to first remove the humidity, and then bring the house back down to a comfortable temperature.
In both cases, our recommendation is to keep a consistent temperature. If you choose to set it back, set it to a difference of 2–3 degrees from your regular set-point, which will provide your home with optimal comfort. If you go on vacation and the home is empty, there can be some savings in adjusting that temperature outside of your normal range while you're gone. If doing so we encourage you to consider the points discussed above.
Air Conditioning / Cooling FAQ
Should I cover my air conditioner in the winter?
If you are thinking of a full equipment wrap, our answer is NO. A full equipment wrap could trap moisture in the unit and cause problems with the electrical components because of corrosion, not to mention the nice home it can make for field mice. These little critters can cause quite a bit of damage to your condensing unit.
On the other hand, a simple cover that only covers the top of the unit would be a good idea if you have potential debris from leaves or sticks in the fall or icicles in the winter that could damage your air conditioner.
When do I need an air conditioner tune-up?
Does your air conditioner seem to run for an extremely long time? Does the home remain at temperature? Older systems can develop leaks in the system that can cause the freon to escape after the long winter season, and temperature changes can emphasize this problem.
Additionally, animals can sometimes make homes in the A/C's electrical compartments causing broken wires and electrical shorts in the system.
A/C manufacturers recommend yearly maintenance to maintain the equipment warranties.
Should I set the temperature back on my thermostat in the winter or summer?
There are a lot of opinions on this subject. The energy savings potential of putting a system into setback will vary depending on the length of time and the degree the system is set outside of your normal desired settings.
Allowing a home to cool down too much in the winter can cause comfort issues and negative effects on the balance of the home. As a home cools down on a cold winter day all of the objects in the home absorb that cooler temperature and the equipment will run much longer than normal in order for the home to get back to a comfortable state.
This also has the potential to cause unbalanced humidity in the home leading to gapping in wood flooring and trim.
Similarly, this can have negative effects in the summer season as well. If a system is allowed to stay off, as the temperature rises, so does the humidity level on those hot humid summer days. Therefore, it will take longer for the air conditioner to first remove the humidity, and then bring the house back down to a comfortable temperature.
In both cases, our recommendation is to keep a consistent temperature. If you choose to set it back, set it to a difference of 2–3 degrees from your regular set-point, which will provide your home with optimal comfort. If you go on vacation and the home is empty, there can be some savings in adjusting that temperature outside of your normal range while you're gone. If doing so we encourage you to consider the points discussed above.
Air Quality & Purification / Home Comfort Q&A
Why install an electronic air cleaner?
Filters are all rated with a rating system called MERV. This rating ranges from 8–13 in a standard filter. This means that they can pull out common animal hair and dust from the system and some smaller particles. An electronic air cleaner such as the Aprilaire 5000 has a rating of MERV 16, and can capture 99% of airborne viruses and ultra-fine particles that flow through the system down to 0.3 microns in size, such as spore-sized particles that can cause mold, viruses, bacteria, & pollen.
What does an ultraviolet purification system do?
Unlike a standard filter or air cleaner that only traps particles, a UV system actually kills them by sterilizing the live particles in the air stream so they can't reproduce. As these viruses or allergy-causing microbes are destroyed, they are then trapped in the filtration system.
How often does an ultraviolet lamp need replacing?
The average UV-C lamp is good for 12 months and then the effectiveness wears off as the intensity of the bulb weakens. We offer 2 brands that have a longer lamp life that ranges from 2-4 years. Please get in touch to find out more.
What does an air exchanger do?
An air exchanger (HRV) is designed to exhaust excess humidity from the home to help keep the home balanced. As it does so, it efficiently brings in fresh air from the outside to keep the home fresh and dry.
As the air moves across the unit's core, the cooler outside air absorbs heat from the warm humid air flowing to the outside. This makes it so that we are not delivering 10ºF air into the system on a cold day. It is naturally mixed and tempered.
How do I know if I need an HRV/air exchanger?
Have you done anything to tighten up and reduce drafts in your home? Has your home been wrapped with products like Tyvek? Have you upgraded the windows in the home? Do you have excess humidity on the windows in the winter?
These are reasons for looking into installing an air exchanger. As a home is improved and tightened up for efficiency it no longer breathes as it once did. This results in humidity being trapped in the home in the winter months and can lead to other detrimental problems down the road if not addressed.
How do I know if I need a humidifier?
Do you have gapping in wood floors or trim? Do you get static shocks when walking around the home? Does your throat feel scratchy and dry? These are all symptoms of low levels of humidity in the home. Low humidity can make you more susceptible to viral infections like the common cold, flu, and can exacerbate allergies and asthma symptoms. Our bodies and respiratory system need 35-40% humidity to assist us in fighting off those types of illnesses. The wood products in our homes work well with similar levels of humidity.
Air Quality Purification / Home Comfort Q&A
Do you offer duct cleaning?
We no longer offer duct cleaning, but we can refer you to a local company we trust.
When should I get maintenance inspections?
All product manufacturers state that their equipment must be professionally checked annually to maintain the factory parts warranties.
What repair and maintenance services do you offer?
We offer maintenance tune-ups, diagnostic, and repair services on furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners, humidifiers, air cleaners, dehumidifiers, air exchangers/HRVs, electronic zoning systems, thermostats, UV purification systems, garage heaters, and radiant tube heaters.
If you would like to have regularly scheduled maintenance tune-ups we can add you to our calendar.
Do you offer maintenance plans?
We offer yearly and bi-yearly tune-ups. If you would like to schedule maintenance tune-ups we can add you to our calendar. We'll contact you to schedule each season. Payment is made at the time of service.
Do you work on construction projects?
While most of our customers are residential, we can handle commercial service, repair, and replacement as well. If you are a homeowner running your own construction project, we will be happy to work with you.