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| "Don't change
anything! Professionalism came through in all areas" -
Elaine V., Galveston, TX
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Top 10
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the top 10 questions our clients ask us before, during and
after a service or installation call: |
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1 |
Q: How long does a typical gas furnace or air conditioner
last?
A: The
average life of a gas furnace is 15 years. The average life
of an air conditioner is 12 years. Regular maintenance helps
prolong the life of heating and air conditioning systems
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2 |
Q: My allergies
seem to bother me a lot at home. What can I do?
A: At
least, change your air filters. You might also consider
having your air ducts cleaned. Much of the dust, mites and
other debris that build up in the air ducts are circulated
into the air of your home. |
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3 |
Q: What are the benefits of an air filtration system?
A: An Air
Filtration system removes dust, pollen, spores and smoke. It
can also reduce the cost of Furnace and Air Conditioner
maintenance. |
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4 |
Q: Why should I
replace my working furnace or air conditioner?
A: Although
your present furnace or air conditioner may be working, if
it is more than 12 years old you should consider replacing
it with a new high efficiency system. A new heating and air
conditioning system could save up to 50 percent on energy
costs. While these products save you money on your utility
bills, they also offer a better degree of comfort within
your home. |
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5 |
Q: How do I know what size air conditioner to get?
A: To exactly size an A/C unit for a specific area
requires a heat load calculation which is a bit complicated
and is usually made by a licensed HVAC contractor who is
experienced and qualified to make these calculations. A
quick and easy rule of thumb to use for sizing an air
conditioner for a room or house is the square foot method.
This formula is used only for a quick approximate and is
based on certain guidelines regarding insulation R values,
shading, ceiling height, construction materials, windows,
doors, purpose of use and occupancy. In layman's terms 1
ton of cooling capacity is equal to 12,000BTU of cooling
capacity and 600 square feet of residential living space
requires 1 ton of cooling capacity based on adequate
insulation, 8' ceiling height and tight windows and doors.
To calculate your requirement using this method get the
total square footage of living space and divide that number
by 600. The answer is the number in tons of air conditioning
capacity required. To convert tonnage to BTU's simply
multiply by 12,000. This general rule of thumb method can be
used for approximate sizing of both central and room air
conditioning equipment. |
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6 |
Q: Why is my
unit icing-up? Why am I getting such little air flow from my
registers?
A: There are several things that can cause frost on
your coil and/or reduced air flow. Anything that restricts
the airflow through the inside unit will cause frost. As the
frost builds up on the coil, the airflow becomes more and
more restricted making the condition worse. When the frost
is also on the outside pipes next to the compressor, you
have a situation where damage to the compressor can occur. |
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7 |
Q: The system is running but the air is not very cold,
what's wrong?
A: If some cooling is taking place but not enough,
then the chances are that the system is low on Freon. The
only reason a system would need Freon is because the Freon
leaked out. If the leak is not sealed before recharging
with Freon, the Freon will eventually leak out again. Leak
repairs are expensive so if it's a small leak it may be more
cost effective to recharge the system
every two or three years. Freon recharging is not a
do-it-yourself job. As per federal law (EPA), only people
certified to handle refrigerant (Freon) are allowed to
recharge an air conditioning system. |
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8 |
Q: Inside unit
is running but the outside unit is not, what's up?
A: Tripped A/C breaker: Check this first. Find the
breaker for the air conditioner. Turn it completely "off"
even if it appears to be "off", then turn it back on again.
If it trips again, leave it alone and call your contractor.
Thermostat wiring broken: Check the thermostat wires by the
outside unit. This is the small cable with small wires
going into the outside unit. |
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9 |
Q. How often should we replace the HVAC system
filter?
A: There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The frequency
of filter changes is driven by how much your HVAC system
operates, which is driven by the severity of the seasons.
In some locations the cooling system might be in use more
than four months of the year – to keep heat and humidity
under control. If your house is in such a hot and humid
location, you should pay a lot more attention to your filter
than in an area where the air conditioning is seldom used.
The same logic applies to heating. If the heat is used only
on especially cold days during the three or so months of
winter, then filters would be checked less often.
Start by checking the HVAC system’s filters at least once a
month. Hold the used filter up to the light and compare it
to a clean "spare." When light is obscured by captured dust
and dirt particles, the old filter should be changed. Keep a
record for one year and then replace the filter on that
basis. At a minimum, it is always a good idea to change
filters at the start of the heating and cooling seasons and
then in between according to observed need. |
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10 |
Q: I get funny odors when I run my AC unit
A: Odor
complaints are common. There are many different types of
odors and different causes:
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Electrical
odor
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Damp and musty
odor
Odor problems can
be as serious as a gas leak or as simple as a dirty air
filter. Unusual odors could indicate a serious problem and
should not be ignored. |
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