Frequently Asked Questions

Though it seems counterintuitive, the correct answer is actually No! The most cost-effective way to heat your home during the winter is by keeping your thermostat set at one temperature and leaving it there. That way, your heating system doesn’t have to “work too hard” to get your temperature back up when you return home.

No. Your system is designed to deliver a set amount of air. Closing registers can make that impossible, and actually shorten the life of your system.

Heat pumps are designed to increase or decrease the temperature by 2 degrees per hour. That means it’s best to keep a consistent temperature in your house during the winter and summer seasons. For example, say that you like your house to be 70 degrees in the morning, and you turn your thermostat down at night to 65.

When you turn your heat pump on, it cannot deliver enough heat to compensate for that large of a difference quickly enough. So it does what it was designed to do, it turns on “back up” heat. If you have electricity, this means a much larger bill. It is better to set a heat pump to the temperature you want and leave it. It may seem inefficient, but it actually assures your system is running at optimal efficiency—saving you money and keeping you comfortable throughout the day.

The only reliable way to determine the proper system size is to have a Heat Load/ Heat Gain performed. This calculation takes into consideration the square footage of the home, insulation values, windows, and other factors. Any other sizing method is simply just guessing.

Zoning breaks your home into separate comfort areas and allows you to determine the temperature you want in an individual room or section of the home. The system uses motorized dampers, thermostats, and a control panel. Zoning is ideal for large homes, multi-level homes, multi-generational homes, and bonus rooms. Think about it this way – you don’t use one light switch to turn on every light in the home, or one faucet to turn on every faucet.

The term “variable speed” refers to the blower motor inside your furnace or air handler. The motor moves at different speeds to control the amount of air being blown through the ductwork. Variable speed has several benefits such as increased air conditioning efficiency, humidity control, better air quality, and increased comfort.

Your air filter should be changed on a regular basis but will depend on the specific filter you have. A 1” thick filter should be changed on a monthly basis, a 2” thick filter should be changed every other month, and a 4” filter every 6 months. If you have an electronic air cleaner it should be cleaned every 4-6 months or as needed. Dirty filters create a restriction in your system and can cause premature system failure. If you wash your filter, make sure it’s completely dry before reinstalling it.

Before each season, we advise you to give your furnace and central air conditioner a professional tune-up. Preventative steps like that will help stop big problems before they start. Our staff will recognize trouble areas and help prevent major malfunctions and minimize expensive repair bills.

Cooling Tip: In summer, keep your curtains pulled down. This will keep the sun from raising the temperature, and allow you to keep your cooling costs down.