HVAC FAQs

Air Conditioning: Air conditioning contributes to more than half of an average home’s summer electric bill. Cool your home at 78 degrees or warmer with the thermostat fan switched to auto. For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82 degrees or warmer when you’re away.

 

BBQ Grill: Consider cooking more on the grill during the summer. It will cost you twice as much to cook inside on the stove with the A/C working to offset the stove’s heat.

 

Trees: Plant trees in strategic locations, such as near windows, to help provide natural shade and reduce the use of air conditioning during hot weather.

 

Ceiling Fans: Turning up the thermostat by two degrees and use your ceiling fan to lower AC costs by as much as 4 – 6 percent over the course of the cooling season. BUT turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room. A fan that runs all the time costs up to $7 a month.

With a high efficiency air cleaner, you can remove up to 99% of the pollen and spores that find their way into the home. There is also a great reduction in household dust, dirt, smoke, and other air pollutants. Your indoor air will become cleaner and fresher while reducing the allergens and dust that circulate throughout the house. With a whole house humidifier, you can relieve the irritating discomfort of dry indoor air. The humidifier reduces itchy skin, scratchy throats, static electricity, and damage to your furnishings and woodwork. Since humid air feels warmer than dry air, you do not have to set the thermostat as high to feel the comfort you want. A lower thermostat setting will reduce the costs of your energy bill. A humidifier adds moisture and improves your comfort while increasing the energy efficiency of your indoor weather system. On the other hand, a central dehumidifier removes excess moisture and helps control the humidity inside your home.

There are five main questions that need to be considered when deciding to either replace or repair your heating and cooling system:How old is your system?If your system is more than ten years old, it may be wiser to invest in new, higher efficiency equipment, which could cut your energy costs by up to 40%. What is the efficiency level of your current indoor weather system? Unfortunately, replacing parts of your old system will not improve the efficiency. If the energy savings of using a higher efficiency system will cover all or part of the cost of investing in new equipment, you should seriously consider replacement of the old system. What is the overall condition of your system? If your system is in solid condition, it could be wiser to simply repair it. But if your system breaks down often, you should consider replacing it. How often is your system operating? If your system has been used extensively, it may be time to replace it. Systems exposed to extreme weather normally do not last as long as those in mild condtions. Are you planning to move soon? If you are moving in the next year or two and believe investing in a new indoor weather system will improve the value of your home, you should consider making the investment. If you plan to live in your current residence for many more years, it may also be wise to go ahead and invest in your future comfort. For more information, please contact us. We will be happy to discuss it with you. .

Proper care of your equipment can save you real dollars on your utility bills. Some air conditioning and heating problems can double operating costs without reducing comfort. Just 100th of an inch of dirt or film on an evaporator coil can reduce cooling and heating efficiency by 5%. All leading manufacturers recommend regular maintenance to maintain peak performance. A service agreement will give you the piece of mind that your system is operating at optimum efficiency and performance. To get a detailed list of all Davis Service Agreements and what they include click here.

Yes. Mold, mildew, pet hair, skin flakes, smoke film, dander, dust mites, dirt, pollen, and even bacteria take up residence in your air ducts. With each breath you take you inhale these contaminants. Dirty air ducts can not only make you sick or raise your utility bills, but they can also reduce your air flow and cause premature failure of your expensive heating and cooling system. .

Make sure they are licensed and insured and that the technicians are well trained and certified. It’s very important that they make you feel comfortable and that they have an excellent reputation with good references.

No. Replacing only the outdoor unit will sacrifice your comfort and lower the efficiency of the unit. In fact, you can lose up to 15% of the unit’s efficiency! Even worse, your system may fail sooner than normal and most manufacturers’ warranties will be voided. You should seriously consider buying a complete heat pump system.

Davis Air has several financing programs available to fit most budgets. For more information, please contact us.

Most systems have a lifetime of 12 years or less. As your equipment gets older, its efficiency can decrease dramatically. You may notice that it gets noisier and needs repairs more often. If your system is over five years old, you should have a heating and cooling contractor check your system for maintenance or replacement. Preventative maintenance can prolong the life of the equipment.

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is the measure of efficiency by which the cooling process of air conditioners and heat pumps is rated. The higher the SEER number, the greater the efficiency, which translates into greater energy savings. Today, U.S. regulatory agencies require all new models to have a 13.0 SEER rating or better. Most major manufacturers offer a line of air conditioners and heat pumps that range from 13.0 SEER to 16.0 SEER.HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) is the efficiency measurement used to gauge the efficiency of the heating mode of heat pumps. Again, the higher the number, the greater the efficiency. Today’s models are required to have a minimum 6.8 HSPF. Most major manufactures offer heat pumps with HSPF ratings ranging from 6.8 to 9.4.

The 1990 Clean Air Act and the internationally binding Montreal Protocol calls for an international phase out of future manufacturing of the refrigerant R-22, which is currently used in most air conditioning and heat pump systems. Historically, when a refrigerant has been phased out, the cost of that refrigerant has risen dramatically. Also, the costs for servicing products using a phased out refrigerant have risen as well. According to current government regulations, the production of R-22 will be reduced by nearly one-fourth by 2004. By the year 2012, the production of R-22 will be reduced by nearly one-half of the current production. That means all R-22 products will eventually need to be replaced by products utilizing the new chlorine-free refrigerant.

Yes. Each year, carbon monoxide kills more than 300 Americans and sends nearly 5,000 more to emergency rooms for treatment, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Where does it come from? When carbon-based fuels such as gas, oil, kerosene or wood burn, they produce gases. When fuel combustion or burning isn’t complete, carbon monoxide enters the air. The CPSC advises that carbon monoxide detectors are the only way to alert yourself to the presence of toxic gas in your home. If you wake in the night with a headache — and especially if another member of the family complains of a headache or is difficult to arouse — get out of the house fast and seek medical help. Davis recommends carbon monoxide detectors be installed in your home!

Energy Star stands for high-efficiency and energy savings according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Energy Star heating and cooling products are a good investment. Owners of such equipment realize returns in the form of lower utility bills.

Here are some simple procedures you can perform before going to the expense of a service call: Check disconnect switches (indoor and outdoor if you have a split system). Make sure that circuit breakers are ON or that fuses have not blown. Check for sufficient airflow. Make sure air filters are clean and that supply-air and return-air grilles are open and unobstructed. Check the settings on your thermostat. If you want cooling, make sure the temperature control selector is set below room temperature and the SYSTEM switch is on the COOL or AUTO position. If you want heat, make sure the temperature control selector is set above room temperature and the SYSTEM switch is at HEAT or AUTO. The FAN switch should be set at ON for continuous blower operation or AUTO if you want the blower to function only while the unit is operating.