FAQ
Why is my HVAC freezing up?
If your AC has stopped working in the summer, our staff will ask if you have noticed any ice buildup or freezing areas on your equipment. Low refrigerant is the usual culprit that causes your system to freeze up. Over time, wear and tear can result in leaks resulting in lost refrigerant. When your unit loses refrigerant, it causes low pressure inside the system: the existing amount of refrigerant is forced to expand to the same space. The more that expansion occurs, the cooler the temperature is produced. The colder temperature will cause moisture in the air around your unit’s evaporator coil to freeze, eventually icing up the coil and impeding its function – and shutting down the system.
Your Heat Pump could freeze up any time of the year. When the evaporator or condenser coils build up dirt or become clogged with leaves, they can freeze over and eventually result in a breakdown. Defective blower motors can also cause freezing. When your system freezes up, we always ask that you shut down the heating and air, but leaving the fan on. This gives the system time to defrost before our technician can get to your home to determine the cause and make the repair.
What can you do if you notice higher power bills?
Unless the weather has been dramatically different, making you system work much harder than normal, big changes in your power usage can mean big problems are brewing within your HVAC. Get it checked! Having a professional technician evaluate your system while it’s still functioning is much better than waiting for the eventual breakdown.
What happens when I need a repair on a holiday or weekend?
Don’t worry! Whether your problem happens at night or on a holiday weekend, our HVAC service professionals are just a phone call away and available to get your system back up and running.
Why do we charge a System Analysis fee?
Instead of hiding the cost of sending a technician to your home or office, we are upfront about charging you for a qualified professional to come out in a fully-stocked company truck carrying typical parts and tools, taking appropriate (not rushed) time to assess the situation and determine a repair strategy. It might be something simple they can do right then, or it could be something more complex requiring them to order needed specific parts not kept stocked on the truck. If it’s a warranty repair, the analysis fee covers the time to document and submit any warranty coverage requests. At every stage of the service call in your home or office, the technician will communicate the cost to affect the repair before actually doing it. Once you agree, the price will not go up because of the time it takes. You are not paying by the hour. If the first repair reveals a secondary issue, they will again communicate the situation and give you options.
Why does a system need to be at least a year old for us to come service it, unless we installed it?
In that first year, the installing company is responsible for the warranty. If you are having issues before the first year, you need to get that installer back out to fix an installation issue or file the warranty claim on the equipment. If they won’t respond or come out, you are in a very tough spot. It’s one of the reasons we advocate for buying from an established company like ours.
Does adjusting the thermostat up or down really save money on energy bills?
Your HVAC is one of the biggest energy users in your home or office. Simply resetting the thermostat when you are asleep or away from home can save money on your power bill. Adjusting the thermostat four-to-six degrees either up (in the summer) or down (in the winter) reduces the total run time of the system, leading to a significant reduction on your energy bill. A programmable thermostat can aid in money-saving measures by allowing you to set the temperature on a daily and seasonal basis. An internet-connected thermostat can enable you to control the settings when you are away, only adjusting it to your desired temperature right before you return.
How can you increase efficiency of your HVAC system?
One of the best ways to improve your system’s performance is to frequently clean or replace air filters. They are inexpensive and make a big difference. Other ways include utilizing a programmable thermostat, installing shades in rooms that are more exposed to sunlight in the summer, making sure your windows and doors are in good repair and free of air leaks, and not blocking airflow by closing vents in multiple rooms.
How often should you replace air filters?
In order for your HVAC system to operate at its best and most efficient, filters need to remain unclogged. To keep your air quality at its best, changing your filters often can make a world of difference. Filters should be changed once they start to look like they are covered in dust and fur. If the filter looks dirty, it is. Change them once a month, or more frequently if animals or other pollutants like cigarette smoke. Consider each filter’s minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). A higher-grade filter typically is best for homes with asthma or allergy sufferers. Pleated air filters are great for reducing allergens, but they need to be replaced frequently because they impair the system quickly if they become clogged.
Why do we suggest you don’t block the vents or close off sections of your existing ducts?
Air flow, which facilitates to proper air conditioning and heating, is designed around all of your vents being open. If they are not, it throws the functionality off. If you need to control the heat and air in different parts of your home or office, we recommend you go with a Zoned System that separates your ductwork into different segments, allowing you to exercise temperature control in each segment, thus allowing for more targeted and efficient heating and cooling.
What’s the best way to extend the lifespan of your HVAC system?
Reducing the amount of time your HVAC runs is the best way; so turning the thermostat up or down will reduce use. A programmable, internet-connected thermostat can help greatly with controlling the temperature related to the season and occupancy of the home/office. Regular maintenance and inspections will keep it running longer by keeping it clean, serviced, and inspected - noting any safety issues, or performance concerns to be watched and resolved over time. We also recommend having us install surge protectors specifically engineered to protect an HVAC system.
What regular maintenance does an HVAC system require and how often should it be serviced?
You can do quite a bit to help maintain your own system. Good air flow around your outdoor unit (a minimum of 18” is the recommendation from most manufacturers) is crucial, and keeping dust, dirt, and debris (yard clippings and leaves) away from the unit is extremely beneficial. Keeping your filters clean and changed regularly also makes a huge difference. Ideally, a system should be serviced twice a year — once for cooling season and once for winter heating season.
What is the benefit of joining the Comfortable Club?
Regular manufacturer recommended maintenance can add years to the life of your HVAC system. Our Comfortable Club includes two seasonal appointments each year, discounts on repairs, priority scheduling, and more… ALL at a much-reduced rate from scheduling two maintenance visits outside of club membership. It’s not just a “tune-up”, but a safety inspection, cleaning, efficiency check, and conditions check-list. Our professional technicians notate any concerns and look for patterns and repeat idiosyncrasies that might indicate a problem is forming, so they can be proactively monitored and resolved before it becomes a serious issue or breakdown. Beyond just regular interaction with our team, your membership makes you part of our family of customers who deserve all the perks we can offer.
How often do you suggest I get my ducts checked or cleaned?
We recommend having you ducts inspected every other year, unless you discover critters have gotten into your crawlspace or attic and damaged your ducts. Your heating, cooling, and air quality are dependent on your ducts and their condition. Leaks, gaps, cracks, bends, etc. lead to a loss of conditioned air. Regularly, when tested, as much as 30%! You don’t want to pay to condition your attic or crawlspace, right?
If functioning properly and sealed right, you should only need a rare duct cleaning because of a problem. Make sure it gets fixed before you get them cleaned. Use a licensed and insured cleaning professional (we have suggestions) that is in a position to arrange repair if anything gets damaged. It happens frequently, unfortunately.
What can you do to improve your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?
Upgrading your filtration with a better MERV rating filter, or even better, having us install an in-line replaceable media air filter that can capture more than 10 times the filtering media used in standard 1” furnace filters, can make a significant impact of your IAQ for allergens. To improve it even more, consider mechanical purification with UV lights, cold plasma ionizers, or high efficiency air purifiers.
How can you control humidity inside your home?
Controlling humidity is the key to comfort. Having the right sized HVAC system makes a big difference. Variable stage systems also can help control humidity. Humidity can make warm air feel hotter and cold air feel colder. Controlling the humidity can allow you to adjust the temperature to stay comfortable with less heat or air. Too much or too little can affect your health, but also the condition of your furniture, floors, clothing, etc. Here in East Tennessee, most of our customers complain about high humidity in the summer. But in the winter, we get asked to correct a low humidity situation that is affecting the health of a resident, and also keeping valuable wood furnishings from drying out. Adding a humidifier or dehumidifier that you can control through settings might be the solution you are seeking.
Why is everyone having to buy whole new systems with a new type of refrigerant?
Back in 2010, the EPA mandated the phase out of Freon, also known as R22. It is no longer available and any system still using it would be difficult to repair, and would be best replaced. January 2025 is the Federal EPA mandated deadline to start phasing out the current refrigerant known as R-410A, and all newly manufactured units will need to be engineered for a new refrigerant. In the place of R-410, residential systems will use class A2L refrigerants; either R-32 or R-454B, both of which have a comparably lower environmental impact. Systems currently relying on R-410 will be supported for the next 20 years or more. However, this new refrigerant is not compatible with the old systems. This means if you need to replace your HVAC after the existing R-410 reliant models are sold out, you’ll need to purchase a whole new system. This switchover has created a great deal of confusion with myths about flammability (not a big risk), and questions about which systems will use which new refrigerant (especially in commercial installations). Consulting with a professional that can answer your questions and guide you to your best options will be critical in these early days of this new technology. Training is necessary, and not every company is investing in it that yet. We are.
When is it time for an HVAC upgrade to a newer HVAC system?
Here are the indicators it’s time to have one of our professionals come out and assess the issues and help you determine if it can be fixed or it would be better to replace.
When your current one requires constant repairs.
When your existing HVAC needs a costly repair and is out of warranty.
When your HVAC is 15 years or older and having some issues.
When your AC works on the old R22 (discontinued) refrigerant.
When your system can’t heat or cool your home properly or efficiently, and your power bill reflects it.
Why do we insist on someone coming out to your home or business to assess your current HVAC before we can give you a price for a replacement?
Load Calculations vs. just Swapping the “Box”. Often, one wrong sale and installation can lead to years of quick replacements if each subsequent sales person never assesses the home or business for proper equipment size, and just replaces what is there with a newer version – swapping the box. A load calculation is a survey that evaluates multiple conditions like insulation, window placement (which direction they face), duct sizes, etc. and will tell you what size system you really need. Load Calcs should be part of the process, noting changes to the indoor area (large furniture placements, remodels, flooring, etc.), changes to windows (new replacements, added films, drapes or shutters), grown vegetation adding to outdoor shading, insulation improvements, even the number of people living in the home can affect the calculations. We recommend doing this every time you are replacing your HVAC system.
Why does the size of your HVAC system matter?
An improperly sized unit, whether too large or too small, can lead to inconsistent temperatures, higher energy bills, increased wear and tear on the equipment, and reduced comfort levels in your home. A system that is too large could result in a home that’s too humid, causing problems with moisture and mold. A system that is too small will run constantly, running up your energy bill. Even the short cycling that's common with a system that is too large will waste energy.
Popping noises from the ducts are usually indicative of ducts that are too small to manage the airflow your system is generating. Frequent breakdowns can also be a result of an improperly sized system.
Why do we sell specific brands?
Many smaller HVAC companies buy from local distributors as needed, meaning you get whatever is available at the price point they quoted. We are a dealer partner with American Standard, Rheem and Mitsubishi. We estimate options from these brands based on your needs, and can offer extended warranties and (when available) manufacturer rebates. We also can check availability at the time of purchase, and expedite delivery if needed. Brand names can indicate a level of quality, but they change over time due to manufacturing, innovations, and business practices. Know what you are buying before you commit to the purchase.
Aren’t all HVAC systems installed the same way?
No, installation best practices are not followed by everyone because it takes more time and requires proper training. We follow industry and manufacturer recommendations, and train our staff on new processes and innovations that are better for the equipment – and therefore the life of the system. Leveling, proper duct sizing, brazing under nitrogen, and other procedures saves repeat part failures and efficiency issues.
What is SEER rating, and why should I know about it?
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio – it measures HVAC system efficiency, which is calculated by the cooling output for a typical cooling season divided by the total electric energy output during the same time frame. The higher the SEER rating, the greater the energy efficiency of the system. Typically, the higher the SEER rating, the higher the cost. But, the higher the SEER rating, the more efficient it will run, lowering your power bill and paying for itself over time. Technology keeps advancing efficiency in heating and air conditioning. There are 2-Stage, Variable Stage, Hybrids, Dual Fuel, Mini-Splits and more types of HVAC every year and SEER ratings keep going up. Be sure to discuss this with one of our professionals to determine the best system for your budget and home.