Commonly Asked Questions

• The most common repair problem you may find with your heating/cooling system is a
  clogged air filter.  Check your air filter in accordance to the manufacturers
  instructions before calling a service technician.
• Keep plants, fences, and other objects at least two feet away from all sides of the air
  conditioner/heat pump.  The unit needs this space to pull in the surrounding air, and
  propel it out the top.
• Keep mulch, dirt, gravel, and other material below the top of the pad that the air
  conditioner/heat pump sits on.  This allows condensation, rain water, and snow to
  drip away.
• When in doubt about the proper performance of your heating/cooling equipment, do
  what feels right, have a service technician come out, and give an experienced,
  educated report on your equipment.

*The knowledge how to perform repairs should be left to a trained professional for
safety, health, and efficiency.  DO NOT ATTEMPT cleanings, inspections, adjustments
or repairs.

Q:  How often do I need the air conditioner/heat pump/gas furnace/air handler
cleaned/inspected?
A:  Once for the heating season per year.  Once for the cooling season per year.

Q:  My furnace doesn’t keep up at night time(heat properly), but by early afternoon it
catches up?
A:  Check and replace your air filter as necessary.  The cause is typically blocked air flow.

Q:  My furnace doesn’t keep up whenever the temperature outside is below 30 degrees?
A:  The cause may be improper air flow, but often indicates that the furnace needs a
service technician to repair and adjust it.

Q:  I have never serviced my air conditioner/heat pump/gas furnace/air handler before,
and I have had no problems.  Why should I start now?
A:  Not servicing an air conditioner/heat pump/gas furnace/air handler will shorten the
maximum number of years it could of been used.  An inspection will discover installation
mistakes, unseen melted wires, blocked air flow, and repairs that could be done so that
other parts of the unit are not damaged.  The most common maintenance repair seen, is the
continued comfort of a heating and cooling system that is still running.

Q:  How often should I change my air filter?
A:  That depends on the size of your air filter or if you have three or more cats or dogs
living in the house.  If you have three or more pets, we suggest checking the air filter more
frequently.

• ONE INCH FILTERS:  CHANGE ONCE A MONTH
• 4 TO 5 INCH FILTERS:  CHANGE EVERY 6-12 MONTHS
• ELECTRONIC AIR CLEANERS:  CLEAN EVERY 1-2 MONTHS
• ONE INCH ELECTROSTATIC FILTERS:  CHANGE FILTERS ONCE A MONTH

Q:  How often does refrigerant need to be added?
A:  Never.  The refrigerant is sealed inside copper tubing.  Any loss of refrigerant means
the system is leaking, and needs to be repaired.

Q:  How long does a typical air conditioner/heat pump/gas furnace/air handler last?
A:  It will typically last 12 to 15 years with little to no problems as long as it is serviced
regularly.

Q:  A service technician said that my air conditioner/heat pump/gas furnace/air handler is
very old, and it should be replaced.  Should it be replaced?
A:  If it is not broken then, “No.”  If the cost of repair or sum of repairs is hefty then it
would be more advantageous to purchase a new unit.

Q:  I have water pooling around the bottom of my furnace.
A:  Shut off your furnace, and call a service technician.

Q:  My air conditioner/furnace has a white frost or ice on the copper lines.  What should I
do?
A:  Shut off your air conditioner, and call a service technician.

Q:  The air conditioning feels good, and keeps up until it reaches about 83 degrees outside
and above.  Then it won’t keep up.  Should I let it go until next year?
A:  No.  Call a service technician.  Somewhere along the use of your air conditioner, you
may of lost up to 50% of its efficiency.  Which means your equipment is running longer and
harder then normal.  That equates to a higher electrical bill, and equipment damage.

Q:  The air seems to cool in my house, but it still feels humid.  Is that normal?
A:  No.  First check your air filter, and replace it, if it is clogged.  If the air filter is good,
call a service technician.  Most likely you will need a thorough cleaning/tune-up.  Cold,
humid air is never healthy.