FAQs
Q: What does HVAC mean?
A: HVAC means heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
Q: What kind of preventative maintenance do I want to do on my cooling and heating unit?
A: The solution to HVAC upkeep is good circulation. This suggests that everything that impedes airflow should be immediately attended to. Things like dust, debris, or dirt should be removed. Your air filters should generally be clean for proper circulation. A yearly tune-up on your AC should be planned in the springtime and an annual tune-up on your heater should be arranged in the autumn season.
Q: How do I identify when my AC system, furnace, or HVAC system is still under warranty?
A: All these types of systems have a manufacturer’s label on it. Look at your unit and search for the label. In most cases, warranties last about 5 years. This can vary from one manufacturer to another but this is typically standard. It also fluctuates according to the company that installed it. A trusted Paupack cooling and heating company, like SOS XTREME Comfort®, will be able to give you more details on your system and let you know if the warranty for your unit is still legitimate.
Q: What are the causes of indoor air pollution?
A: As surprising as it may seem, many items contribute to indoor air pollution. Items such as carpeting, furniture, drapery, and even upholstery have compounds in them that are constantly emitting fumes or gases. The cleaning products that you use may contribute to indoor air pollution. Since newer homes are more energy efficient, this also means that they are not ventilated the way that older homes in the past do. They do not breathe. Therefore, the buildup of these gases and fumes cause indoor air pollution. Newer homes need a whole house ventilation system to combat the possibility of indoor air pollution so that homeowners can rest assured of their safety while enjoying their extremely energy-efficient home.
Q: How does my HVAC system push air through my home?
A: Air is pulled through air vents by a fan. At that point, the air travels through your ducts that winds up in your system’s air handler. It is returned to the rooms in your house through the air vents or registers that are normally located on your wall, ceilings or floor surfaces.
Q: Should I wrap my exterior unit through the wintertime?
A: Your outside unit is assembled to cope with the harshest of winter seasons so it is not a good idea to cover your unit. If an individual were to unintentionally turn on the air conditioner when your machine is covered, it can ruin the condenser and all of its components.
Q: What should I set my thermostat to: on or auto?
A: You ought to set your thermostat to the auto setting. This enables the fan to run only when it is necessary. Most property owners favor this setting because it is more energy efficient. The on setting may be used when you need to have air continually filtered all through your house. The air is distributed and it can deliver a more even temperature throughout your property. Although, it does take additional energy to do this. Modern central heaters have fan motors that have this capability.
Q: I have invested in a brand-new furnace and air conditioner. For how long should I expect it to last?
A: When your system is thoroughly taken care of, you can count on your brand-new furnace or air conditioning unit to last for about 15-20 years. Please note that systems become less energy efficient as they get older. This is one of the leading reasons that consumers prefer a replacement. Also, heating and cooling systems do differ and for that reason, their life expectancies do too. The leading reasons that establish for how long a system will run is really appropriate installation and maintenance. Obviously, a system that is not adequately installed or taken care of will not last as long as one that is. They also will not operate as productively. You can get proper care for your HVAC system by speaking to a Paupack HVAC company, like SOS XTREME Comfort®.
Q: How can I make my heating and cooling system work more efficiently without having to exchange it?
A: When you don’t really want to upgrade your system, you ought to properly maintain it. This means that you, as the property owner, should do some preventative upkeep on your unit and also schedule a tune-up every 6 months. It is recommended to schedule one in the springtime just before the hot weather hits and arrange one in the fall, just before the winter weather rolls in. By carrying this out, you can increase the energy efficiency of your system by almost 5% -10%. This makes a large difference on your electrical power bill. Another technique to keep your heating and cooling system energy efficient is by just changing out dirty air filters. Make sure that you don’t choose the least expensive filters. They generally get dirty quite frequently which affects the amount of electrical power your HVAC system uses. When you invest in premium quality filters, it keeps your system clean which means into big financial benefits simply because it shouldn’t need to operate as hard. Don’t forget not to block off the registers or air vents at home. The trick to making your system run efficiently is ideal air circulation. Always remember about your outdoor unit. Make sure to enable suitable space around your outside unit for it to ‘breathe’.
Q: I like to landscape my property in the early spring. Can I plant near my outside unit?
A: You can grow plants near your unit but we propose that you leave 18 inches around your unit clear from any plants. This enables suitable air airflow which your system requires in order to work effectively. Otherwise, your HVAC system could overheat which leads to an unwanted service call.
Q: The temperature inside of my house is fine but my unit’s fan seems to be running all of the time. What should I do?
A: More than likely, your thermostat is set to the ‘on’ setting. It is ideal to have it on the ‘auto’ setting. This setting will save more electricity. The other setting, or the ‘on’ setting, does create a good even temperature in your home but it uses a great deal of electricity to do so. It does this by making your fan blow non-stop which equates into higher power invoices. The ‘auto’ setting should be adequate if you want to keep your home comfortable.
