FAQ's

Q.  How often should central air-conditioning filters be changed?

A.  This will depend on a number of individual variables including time of year, type of pets, if any, in the house, if there are multiple units which system is most used, and of course the efficiency of the filter being used.  Some higher efficiency systems have two stage blowers which increase run time and require more frequent filter changes.

Q. There are batteries in most thermostats, when should they be changed?

A.  Annually.  Our maintenance contracts will include the battery change at the appropriate interval.

Q. When is it time to replace a residential system?

A.  A question that has many inputs, facts and considerations.  Initially, if a system is eight years old it likely has reached a point where the new system’s energy efficiency alone would produce a positive cost benefit over time.  However, condition of the existing system is important as well to assess future repair costs.

One often overlooked factor in this answer to this question is comfort.  Some new systems have two speed air circulators which not only improve efficiency, but also pull more humidity from the conditioned air, for improved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).  Air filtration is also a comfort factor that is improved by longer run times.

Q. What is a “ton” of air-conditioning?

A.  The roots of today’s air-conditioning is the refrigeration business that was largely provided by ice and ice making years ago.  As a result, without getting technical, a ton is the amount of heat required to melt 2000 pounds (a ton) of ice in twenty four hours.  Engineers today translate this as a measure of heat, or BTU’s per hour, which will determine the capacity of an air-conditioning system with a ton equal to approximately 12,000 BTU/HR.

Our skilled staff and technicians can help with any additional questions you may have.