Heating and Air Conditioning FAQs
Do you have a lot of questions about your upcoming heating and cooling project or HVAC in general? You’re not alone. Below, we answer several commonly asked questions about heating and air conditioning, as well as hiring and working with a professional HVAC company.
Q: How do I know when it’s time to replace my old HVAC equipment?
A: Only a thorough examination from a quality heating and cooling contractor will tell you for sure if you need a new home comfort system, but there are a few telltale signs that it may be time to replace your HVAC unit:
- If your furnace, boiler, heat pump, air conditioner or HVAC system is more than 10-15 years old, you may want to consider replacing it with a newer, more energy-efficient system.
- Your HVAC equipment needs frequent repairs or doesn’t seem to be heating and cooling your home as well as it used to.
- Your energy bills are going up.
- Sudden humidity problems in your home may be a sign of a poorly operating HVAC system or heating and cooling equipment failure.
- Your HVAC system is very noisy when it runs or seems to be struggling to keep up with your heating and cooling needs. This could signal an undersized system or an underperforming HVAC unit.
- Excessive dust can be a sign of leaky HVAC ducts.
Q: Some rooms in my house are too hot while others are too cold. What could be causing this?
A: Rooms that are too hot or too cold can be caused by ductwork problems, poor home insulation, inefficient HVAC equipment or a failing heating and cooling system. You should call a qualified heating and cooling contractor for a home energy audit and a check of your HVAC system. A quality HVAC contractor should be able to determine what is causing the temperature fluctuations and tell you the best way to fix the problem.
Q: How often should I have my HVAC system serviced?
A: Most HVAC companies recommend having your heating and air conditioning equipment checked at least once a year. Some companies advise having a qualified HVAC technician test your heater/furnace in the fall and your air conditioning tested in the spring. HVAC servicing may help your system last longer and stay efficient because regular maintenance can help locate problems before they cause an HVAC system failure, help your system run at peak performance and cut down energy costs, maintain healthy and safe operation, and prolong the life of the equipment.
Q: What features should I look for in a heating and cooling system?
A: Home comfort systems come with many different features. Your heating and cooling specialist should help you determine which features are best for you, but you may want to spend some time thinking about what is important to you before selecting a home air conditioning unit and furnace. Some HVAC unit features you may wish to consider include home climate control devices such as programmable thermostats, HVAC system noise reduction units, cooling and heating units that preserve home air quality, and high-efficiency equipment that helps save money and is better for the environment.
Q: Why should I consider an Energy Star HVAC system?
A: Energy Star HVAC systems have tested as high efficiency in the Energy Star labeling system designed by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Star air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, and HVAC units may offer better efficiency standards and lower operating costs than competing systems that are not Energy Star certified.
Q: How long will it take to replace my air conditioning and furnace equipment?
A: The amount of time for installation depends on the size of your job, the work you’re having done, and the experience level and detail of your heating and cooling contractor. It can take as few as one or two days to add to an existing HVAC system and up to a week or more to install a new system. Quality contractors will take the necessary time to modify your new heating and cooling unit and ductwork to exactly fit your home.
Q: Do I really need to hire a local heating, cooling and ventilation contractor or can I just install my new HVAC system myself?
A: Poorly installed HVAC systems can wear out sooner and be more expensive to run, and they can even leak toxic gasses into your home. So, it’s important to hire a skilled, licensed HVAC contractor to install, service, and inspect your home heating and cooling system. HVAC technicians who know how to do their jobs correctly will install systems without gaps in the ductwork, so they’ll be more efficient and last longer than poorly installed systems.
Q: What is the difference between an upflow furnace, a downflow furnace and a horizontal furnace?
A: These terms simply refer to how a furnace delivers air. An upflow furnace delivers hot or cold air upward, pushing heated or air conditioned air up from the top of the furnace into an overhead HVAC duct system and then out through heater or air conditioning vents. A downflow furnace is the opposite—it pushes air down through the bottom of the furnace and into the duct system that runs beneath it. Horizontal furnaces, as the name suggests, lay on their side and push the cooled or heated air out into the ducts from a prone position. Horizontal furnaces are most often used in attics, basements and tight spaces because they maximize space.
Q: Why choose a Diamond Certified HVAC company?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose a local heating and cooling contractor with confidence by offering a list of top rated local companies that have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only HVAC companies rated Highest in Quality and Helpful Expertise® earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with in-depth and ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee, so you’ll feel confident choosing a Diamond Certified heating and cooling company.
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