I am considering up-grading my old furnace. Should I automatically replace it with one that has the ...

I am considering up-grading my old furnace. Should I automatically replace it with one that has the same heating capacity? No. having your new furnace correctly sized by an expert could help save costs. Some homes may have an over-sized furnace to begin with, or, if you have had any up-grades to your home that have raised insulation values, you may require a smaller furnace than before. And,...

How can I further economize a more efficient furnace?...

I realize I can save on gas costs by installing a more efficient furnace, but my concern is that if costs go up, as it appears likely they will, how can I further economize? Furnaces use either direct current motors or alternating current motors. The direct drive motors use 60% less electricity than alternating current motors, resulting in electrical savings. You may want to check out the...

What is a heat pump?...

A heat pump is a reverse cycle air conditioner. In the heat pump mode the heat pump has the ability to move heat from the outside air to inside. In the cooling mode, the unit moves heat from inside to outside in the same way a conventional straight cool unit does. These are great units because you can use them to cool your home and, in reverse, to extract heat from the outside air (air as low as...

When do I choose replacement over repair for either my heating or cooling system?...

Having your heating system serviced regularly will ensure it is running at peak efficiency. If one of the main parts of the natural gas furnace fails and it is costly to repair, you may be better off buying a new system, particularly if the furnace is older (i.e., has a pilot light). With a more efficient system, installation costs could be recovered within as little as three to five...

Several family members suffer from allergies. Can anything be done to have cleaner air in my home?...

Yes, there is a selection of air cleaners on the market having varying degrees of proficiency, depending on the pollutant you wish to eliminate. Useful Site: Bryant, Air...

Inside unit is running but the outside is not – what’s up?...

Check to see if the a/c breaker is tripped. Even if it appears to be off, turn it completely off, and then on again. If it trips again, leave it alone and call your contractor. If this is not the case, it could be your thermostat wiring is...

What size air conditioner do I need?...

The sizing of the air conditioning unit for a particular house cannot be accurately given until a heat loss and gain calculation is performed. The load calculation, as it is typically called, takes into account many factors such as total square footage of the house, wall construction and insulation values, and roof construction and insulation values. The load process is too complicated to allow a...

How do I rate an air conditioner for sound?...

An air conditioner or heat pump sitting next to your house can create a lot of noise both inside and outside your home. To compare sound levels of different brands, ask your dealer about the bel rating of units you are considering. Bels, similar to decibels, range from 0 to 13. Most air conditioners and heat pumps operate at 8 to 9 bels; some units’ ratings are as low as 6.8. That may not sound...

The system will not run at all; what do you think is going on?...

The most common reason that a system will not run is because of a loss of power.  In most every situation an air conditioning system is protected electrically be a breaker or fuse, which is located somewhere in the power supply lines upstream from both the air handler and condenser units. Find this breaker, turn it completely off, even if it appears to be off, then turn it back on again. If it...

My air conditioner is running, but it’s not very cold. What’s wrong?...

The chances are your unit is low on refrigerant; somewhere there is a leak. The leak should be fixed before re-charging with refrigerant (by someone certified to handle refrigerants), otherwise it will leak out again.  You can visually check the coils of the outside unit to make sure it is not excessively dirty or blocked. If the coil is dirty, you can flush it with a garden hose, keeping water...