HVAC FAQs

Your furnace filter will last different time lengths depending on how think your filter is.

1. 1in – 2in Filters will last around 1-3 months.
2. 3in – 4in Filters will last around 6-9 months.
3. 5in – 6in Filters will last around 9-12 months.

There are 12,000 BTUs in a ton of heating, therefore if you hear someone say there is 1 ton of heating, they are referring to 12,000 BTUs.

The easiest way to tell how many BTUs you need to heat your home is to multiply your home’s square footage by 20. Which means if you have a 1,000 square foot home than you will need a 20,000 BTU system in order to heat it.

Yes you can oversize a heat pump and it’s not for the better. An HVAC system that has oversized capacity can heat or cool your home faster, but that can result in other issues. Your home will not really have a “gradual” heating/cooling and this can become very annoying because you’ll start to notice hot/cold spots in your home. Another down side to having an oversized HVAC system is that since your unit will work faster it often times doesn’t run long enough for the dehumidification process therefore your home will feel clammy.

Having low refrigerant in your air conditioner is always annoying to deal with and it’s very important to know what to look for just in case your refrigerant gets low.

Signs Your Refrigerant Is Low

• Your home never seems to cool off.
• Vents are blowing but the air is not cold.
• The temperature you set never gets met.
• Your energy bill is all of a sudden higher than usual.
• Ice is on your refrigerant lines.
• Hissing, or bubbling sound.

The most cost efficient way to use your AC is by setting your fan to Auto. Auto ensures that your AC only runs when the inside of your home doesn’t match your temperature settings. Continuously running your AC will make your energy bill cost more and it will make your unit last for less time.

According to Energy Star 78 degrees Fahrenheit is the best temperature to start your Air Conditioner at because it can keep you fairly cool, while keeping your energy bill to a minimum. If you find that 78 degrees is too hot then you should decrease the temperature by 1 degree until you find a temperature that is cool enough for you. You can also go 1 degree up if 78 degrees is too cold, or you just want to be more efficient with your air conditioning.

When you’re about to clean your air conditioner you might wonder if you can pour water onto your A/C unit and the answer is yes! Spraying your A/C unit in order to clean it will not harm your air conditioner.

Running your AC without a filter can have many different negative effects because it relies on the filter in order to do the job efficiently.

Running An AC With No Filter Will:

• Increase Your Energy Bills
• Will Damage Your Compressor Overtime
• Drastically Decrease Air Quality
• Frozen Evaporator Coils
• Warmer A/C Air In Your Home
• Much More Dust Around Your Home

One easy way to tell if your HVAC filter is dirty is to hang a white sheet about 5 inches from any of your vents for at least 1 hour. After the hour if your white sheet is now dirty and gray that means you have a dirty HVAC filter. The darker your sheet is, the dirtier your filter.

On average your HVAC system will last for 15-25 years depending on what type of system you choose. There are many different factors on how long your HVAC system will last therefore this 15-25 year estimate can vary. In order to get the most out of your HVAC system ensure that you maintain it on a regular schedule, change your filters, and take care of your system.

Every 90 Days is the best time to change your HVAC filter.

It’s important to change your filter every 90 days because the longer your old filter is in place the more dirt, dust, and allergens will get caught in your system.

With increased dirt/dust/allergens blocking your filter:

1. Your HVAC system will run less efficiently
2. Air in your home will be more contaminated
3. Your HVAC system is getting damaged more over time and will need repaired faster than it should be.
4. More dust will be coating your home therefore making it dirtier.

HVAC systems can be complicated to understand but the basics of HVAC systems are generally the same.

Here are the basics of your HVAC System:

1. The Furnace – The furnace is the largest part of your HVAC system and is usually located in the basement. The job of the furnace is to move air from your heat exchanger into your vents/air ducts.
2. The Heat Exchanger – The heat exchanger is located inside of your furnace but carries out its own job. Your heat exchanger adds heat to the incoming air from your combustion changer in order to heat your air.
3. The Evaporator Coil. – The evaporator coil is also located inside of your furnace but has a specific job. Your evaporator coil has refrigerant that runs through it and this causes the coil to cool. As hot air passes over the coil it starts to absorb the heat which now cools your air. This cold air is now available to blow through your vents/ducts.
4. The Condensing Unit. – The condensing unit is almost like your evaporator coil just for an outdoor HVAC unit. The condensing unit exchanges heat with the air that passes over it therefore unlike your evaporator coil, the condensing unit gives off heat.
5. The Refrigerant Tubes. – The refrigerant tubes are metal tubes that connect your evaporator coil and the condensing unit which means that these tubes connect your indoor/outdoor HVAC units. These tubes also contain cooling refrigerants under a broad range of temperatures.
6. The Thermostat. – The thermostat is the most known part of your HVAC system because almost everyone in your house uses it. Your thermostat is the small unit that hangs on your inside wall that allows you to adjust the temperature in your home. The thermostat allows you to control both of your heating/cooling temperatures and now they even make smart thermostats to help maximize your HVAC systems efficiency.
7. The Ductwork. – The ductwork is made of the ducts that run throughout your house in order to carry the cool/hot air into each room of your home.
8. The Vents. – The vents are what you see in each room where your hot/cool air comes from.
9. The Heat Pump. – The heat pump takes heat from the inside to the outside during the warm months and does the opposite during the cool months.

On average your HVAC systems usually last around 15 years. That being said, there are many different things that you can do in order to make your HVAC system last even longer than that.

Make Your HVAC System Last Longer By:

• Buying the right HVAC system, that is tested, and high quality.(We Use American Standard)
• Getting your HVAC System maintenance at least 2 times per year.
• Ensuring that filters, coils, and other parts are working right.
• Having the correct sized HVAC System for the space your heating/cooling.

HVAC Stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Often when you hear people refer to HVAC systems they are often referring to their entire heating and cooling system.

According to Home Advisor it usually cost you $3,000-$7,000 in order to install central air conditioning, unit included. This price varies depending on where you live and can be much higher depending on the system you choose, existing air ducts, and other miscellaneous items. The best way in order to get the real cost of your central air is to get a quote from your local HVAC company.