FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHEN IS IT TIME TO REPLACE MY OLD HVAC SYSTEM?

HVAC NEW INSTALL

A good indicator it may be time for a replacement is when you notice that your system isn’t heating or cooling your home like it used to. For example, it takes a very long time for your home to cool down or heat up, or it doesn’t do the job at all! Another indicator could be a spike in energy costs when you are running the system. New equipment is much more efficient and will run for less time during the day, resulting in savings on your energy bill.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT SIZE SYSTEM I NEED?

If you are replacing an existing system in you home, most likely you should install the same size as what you currently have. Upsizing involves much more than just buying a larger system. Only if you have problems keeping your home comfortable on hot days should you consider upsizing. However, you should look at other ways to reduce your heat load as well. This could include adding some insulation to the attic or making sure your ducts are adequately insulated and sealed. Our knowledgeable contractors will be able to not only help you determine if upsizing is the right decision but also if your home is capable of supporting a larger size system.

If you are installing a system in a new home or a home that has not had central heating and air before, the sizing should be based on a review of the structure and then calculating the size based on the tools we have available. Talking with our contractors is the best way to determine what is the best size for you.

Our fairly unique answer to this question is that there really is no “best” brand. Our founder and most employees at Sierra Valley have worked for decades in this business with every brand of equipment made. Many people do not realize there are only a few manufacturers making this equipment. Multiple brands literally come off the same assembly line with different labels and paint jobs. Even different manufacturers get the major components such as electric motors, compressors, gas valves, etc. from the same couple of sources. Our answer to this question is the best brand of heating and air conditioning equipment is the company that install sit, and getting the best bang for your buck!

That being said, we all have to deal with specific models having their own issues. We constantly monitor the marker for signs of a certain unit that is experiencing higher than normal service rates and try to avoid installing those models. The installation itself is critical as well. Most people that experience service issues with their system think they bought a bad product when in fact it was the existing infrastructure connected to it. New equipment is more complex than the older models, just like older cars are more simple under the hood than the new ones. New equipment is affected more by incorrect infrastructure much more than an old unit that just kept running on a restrictive duct system or poor refrigerant flow. So, don’t be sold by “glitzy” marketing or pushy sales people trying to convince you that their brand is best. Get your system installed by a great company and likely whatever brand you purchased will be the best brand!

WHAT IS THE BEST BRAND OF HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT?

HEATING & AIR REPAIR AND SERVICE

The AFUE rating on a furnace relates to how efficient that furnace functions. In other words, an 80% AFUE furnace converts 80% of its fuel into energy and a 90% AFUE furnace coverts 90% of its fuel into energy. The higher efficiency furnaces will cost more to purchase. However, if you live in an area with colder or longer winter months then a 90% AFUE furnace can help to offset your heating costs.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 80% AFUE AND 90% AFUE?

WHAT IS A DUCTLESS MINI SPLIT?

Ductless Mini Splits are similar to a central HVAC system as it has an outdoor compressor and condenser and an indoor air handling unit. Ductless Mini Splits are a great option for commercial building with multiple offices that want individual control of temperature, multi-family house retrofits where access to ductwork is not available, and add-ons to existing houses. Mini Splits are also used in residential applications where the home owners want temperature control over individual spaces in the home. This can help lower energy costs as you are only heating or cooling the space that it occupies.

DO TUNE UPS REALLY BENEFIT ME?

YES! A tune up is maintenance on your machine. It is primarily like a physical you get at your doctor, checking all the vital signs and looking for possible issues before they become more serious. We experience many calls for service that turn out to be a wire or connector that came loose, carbon build up on an electrical contactor, or a sensor that simply became dirty. We recommend not putting a lot of stock in claims that a tune up will cut your electric bill, but regular maintenances are intended to KEEP your equipment in good shape!

While rare, it is possible every component of your equipment checks out great and a short time later a part or motor fails. It can and does happen, but if this occurs we offer our no breakdown guarantee. If you need a repair in the same season after we do a maintenance, we will refund the cost of that maintenance in full, no questions asked.

SHOULD I HAVE MY FREON “TOPPED OFF”?

NO! A refrigerant system is a sealed and closed loop system. Unless it develops a leak, it should never need Freon added. Beware of companies that tell you that you need to do this! If you are actually low on refrigerant, then your system has developed a leak somewhere. Refrigerant leaks can range from simple to locate and repair to very difficult and expensive to repair. While most companies will recharge a low system, it is technically against the law for an EPA certified technician to add refrigerant to a system knowing that it will leak out.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CHANGE MY AIR FILTER?

There is no certain frequency to answer this question. It is based on your filter type and your home environment. Typically about once a month is the average change out rate. You should at least check your filters that often! If you find that it is not very dirty, it may need to be changed less frequently. There are some types of filters that only need to be changed twice a year.

The most important think is to check them regularly. As a filter becomes dirty, it starts to clog up reducing the amount of air getting through. While you may not even notice a difference in your home, as the airflow decreases, your furnace can run hotter, the blower motor will start working harder, and Freon will absorb less heat from the air. This would reduce cooling and also make your compressor work harder and lead to reduced life of your system! Eventually, a filter can become clogged enough that your system will actually stop working. This sis a more common cause for service calls than you might imagine.