Air Conditioning FAQ
My Central A/C seems to run a lot on hot days. Is there something wrong?
Part of the comfort that you feel as the Air Conditioner “conditions” the air in your home is de-humidification or humidity removal. An A/C system that is sized correctly will need to run at least 50% and as much as 80% of the time on hot and high humidity days.
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My basement is always too cold when the Air Conditioner is on. Can I close off the air vents?
Closing off a few supply air vents in most cases allow for more cool air to reach other areas of the home without any issues. Creating too much restriction of the air flow will at some point cause the cooling coil to freeze up.
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How can I tell if my Central Air unit is working properly?
While it is running, the cooling coil (evaporator) should be condensing moisture from the humid air in your home. If you can see water leaving the drain hose then you can be sure that it is working at least to 75% as good as it could be.
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When I go to work or leave my home for the week-end what temperature should I leave my house?
Turn your Air conditioner up a few degrees warmer rather than completely off while you are away. This will allow the system to run a little and keep the humidity under control. Wifi enabled thermostats are a popular option today for travelers who wish to monitor or control their system from their smart Phone.
The temperature in the house is fine, but the indoor fan runs all the time. What’s wrong?
Sometimes homeowners turn the fan switch to “On” versus “Auto” which causes the indoor fan to run continuously. Turn the switch to “Auto” and the fan should stop running continuously. If you have an HRV or central exhaust system in your home, the furnace fan should be running during an exhaust or dehumidification cycle since they are interlocked electrically.
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Is there any advantage to setting my thermostat fan to “On” so the fan runs constantly?
Yes, there is a couple. The first is that you get constant filtering of the air in your home. The second is that because the air is moving, you will have a more even temperature throughout your home. For multi-speed blowers a continuous low speed fan setting works best.
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Why does my house only cool down to 21 degrees when I put my thermostat at 20 degrees?
Thermostats are not always 100% accurate and there will often be a small difference. Some thermostats can be re-calibrated but in reality the set point is just a reference point for your comfort.
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What is SEER?
This stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s like miles per gallon in a car – the higher the MPG (or SEER) the lower the gasoline (natural gas or electricity) bill.
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Is it OK to install a different brand of furnace (or air conditioner) to work with my existing air conditioner (or furnace)?
Most brands of equipment will work with others as long as the cooling coils and blowers are the proper size. You may, however, experience some loss of efficiency and capacity.
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Some rooms in our house are too hot (or cold). Can this be fixed?
Absolutely. There are a variety of causes for airflow problems. The problem can be as simple as a dirty air filter or blower wheel as well as a plugged cooling coil (evaporator) which can result in reduced air flow passing through the air handler and causing the air to die off in the outer branches of the duct system. In a lot of cases, there are duct design issues. In these cases, a professional from Tradesman Heating and Cooling should be called in to troubleshoot the situation. Solutions can range from some simple air balancing to the addition of larger or more ductwork to advanced climate control systems such as a zone system.
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Why should I purchase a new air conditioning system?
The main reasons are dependability with the benefit of less noise and the unit will use less energy saving you money. A new system compared to 20 years ago can be up to 60% more efficient.
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How can I find the system that’s right for me?
Our comfort expert can assist you in choosing the right system for your home. Different systems come with different warranties, rebates, and maintenance options. We can help you decide which system would best fit you and your family’s needs. We will go through proper sizing calculations and installation variables with you to ensure you are 100% satisfied with your choice.
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How long will my new Central Air Conditioner last?
In general it’s safe to say that a new Central A/C purchased today will last you 15 to 20 years. Keeping up with regular maintenance is the absolute best way to extend the life of your home cooling system.