How often do I need maintenance performed on my HVAC system?
Ideally, an HVAC system should be serviced twice a year, once in the fall for heating and once in the spring for cooling. Here at Air Design we offer maintenance agreements, which are an affordable way to maintain your heating and cooling equipment.
One of our service technicians will service your equipment in both the fall and spring seasons ensuring you’re operating at maximum efficiency for both heating and cooling seasons.
Should I cover my outdoor unit in the Fall and Winter?
While covering your outdoor unit in the off seasons is a great way to keep it clean, it does come with some risk. If you were to run the system with the cover still on, there’s a good chance that you will damage your equipment.
These units were designed to be exposed to weather and for those reasons, we don’t recommend covering your air conditioners.
Do larger air conditioning units perform better?
Larger air conditioning units don’t necessarily perform better than smaller units. While a larger system may cool your home faster, it will have much shorter run cycles, which leads to a multitude of other issues.
Short run cycles decrease efficiency, shorten the lifespan of equipment, can lead to large temperature differences in rooms, and can leave excess humidity in the air, potentially causing mildew and mold issues.
What is a ductless mini split system?
A ductless HVAC system, or “mini-split” is an electric heating and cooling system that uses wall-mounted head units to heat and cool a space. Rather than using duct to move air around a home like a traditional system, mini-splits have wall mounted blowers that are connected through a refrigerant line to an outdoor condensing unit.
What can I do about indoor air quality (IAQ)?
Many studies have shown that indoor air quality is often worse than the air outside. There are a number of things we can do to combat indoor air pollution like frequent vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning. Aside from that, a licensed HVAC contractor can install products such as: electronic air cleaners, advanced filtration systems, humidifiers, and UV lights.
Why isn’t my Air Conditioner maintaining temperature on particularly hot days in the summer?
HVAC contractors are required to design an ACCA approved Manual J and D for new construction systems to comply with the US Department of Energy requirements. Because of this, we are required to design a system based on the “typical” weather conditions where the house is being built. Because of these designs, we’re able to provide a much more efficient system that won’t suffer from short cycling and will ultimately last longer.
However, on especially hot days, the air conditioner may not be able to cool the house below 75 degrees. Overall, coping with those two weeks in the Summer where the air conditioner isn’t capable of cooling below 75, is much better than dealing with the large number of problems presented by short cycling systems throughout the rest of the year.
How can I lower my electricity bill in the summer?
The most obvious answer is that you can raise the temperature on your thermostat. Most people don’t notice the difference between a degree or two of temperature change. We recommend keeping your thermostat between 72 and 74 degrees during the cooling season.
It’s also very important to close your curtains during the day if possible. While window technologies have come a long way, the radiant heat generated by the sun coming through the windows can make a big difference in how much your A/C runs. Annual maintenance, programmable thermostats, and more efficient cooling systems are all great ways to cut utility costs as well.
What does the warranty look like on an HVAC system?
We warranty all labor on any system we install for a year, which is the industry standard. Most equipment manufacturers offer a 5 year warranty on parts, however many manufacturers will extend the parts warranty to 10 years if you register your equipment with them.
Because of this, it is of the utmost importance that you register your equipment with the manufacturer. If you have any questions regarding registration you’re more than welcome to reach out to us, we’re happy to help.
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump is a technology that has become much more commonplace in recent years. Heat pumps aren’t all that different from traditional cooling systems, except for the fact that they utilize a reversing valve. This reversing valve allows the unit to perform the cooling process in reverse, making it capable of both heating and cooling a home with refrigerant.
Typically in Utah since winters get so cold, if a homeowner wants a heat pump installed, an HVAC contractor will install what’s known as a dual fuel system. A dual fuel system uses a heat pump for both heating and cooling, but uses a gas furnace to deliver the air to the registers, and for backup heat.