It really depends but, on average, we see that a 5-7 year interval is enough for most homes.
We recommend annual maintenance on each piece of equipment. In the early years of a system, it is to ensure that the system is operating as it should so that you maximize the efficiency. As the system ages, the benefits include avoiding costly repairs by catching things before they are a problem. Safety and peace of mind are two big factors that maintenance keeps up.
Your HVAC equipment needs regular maintenance and your plumbing system does as well. HVAC equipment is the most used appliance in the home, second only to a refrigerator. It is also the most expensive appliance in the home. Plumbing fixtures should also be inspected and checked regularly.
Heating Season Ultimate Tune-Up
Cooling Season Ultimate Tune-Up
Our Plumbing Maintenance Agreement (PMA) helps make sure that your plumbing system is kept in prime condition.
Advantages of a PMA:
The PMA includes an Ultimate Plumbing Tune-Up, which includes:
Our Ultimate Savings Agreement offers the following:
This stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating and is a standard measurement set by the Department of Energy by region. It takes into account the efficiency that a particular AC unit will obtain on average throughout the season based on ambient conditions inside and outside the home.
A heat pump is a type of refrigeration equipment much like an air conditioner but with additional piping and a reversing valve that reverses the flow of refrigerant so that it is able to absorb heat energy from outdoors and move that energy indoors in the heating mode.
A “mini split” also known as a “ductless split” is an AC or heat pump system with no ductwork for air distribution. Usually seen with an indoor wall mounted unit with the fan and air coil concealed within the wall mounted unit and an outdoor unit much like what is seen with a typical residential ducted system. The air would blow out the bottom of the wall mounted unit and be mainly effective for cooling the room or area that it is in. They come in cooling only or heating-cooling combination.
The answer is whatever temperature you are comfortable with. However, you want to find that temperature and avoid constantly fiddling with it. We find with a properly calibrated thermostat most folks find the most comfort between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit for heat and 70 to 75 for cooling. For comfort at night, a 3 degree offset (cooler) is generally most comfortable.
Ventilation. This could refer to exhaust going out of the space or fresh air coming into the space.
We don’t really recommend it, however for those that want to, be sure to allow for air and moisture to get out at the bottom of the cover and make sure to disable the unit electrically. This will help you avoid it coming on while the cover is on it. We have seen units damaged if the cover is left on and the unit is trying to operate.
This is most generally caused by not enough air moving across the coil for one reason or another. Common culprits are; improper fan speed, dirty filter, dirty coil, and a failed fan motor.
This depends on how the duct system is designed so we cannot give a standard answer. However, most systems can tolerate a small portion of the registers to be closed off. In Colorado, we typically recommend closing off basement registers in the summertime to help drive more air upstairs where it is needed most.
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values. It tells you, on a scale of 1-16, how effectively your filter traps the small particles. The higher the number, the smaller the particles it stops and the more restrictive to airflow it is. The typical range used in HVAC systems is 7 to 13. When choosing a higher MERV rating, it is important to have a professional determine what your system can handle by taking static pressure readings to ensure that the filter does not negatively affect the efficiency and operation of the system.
A hybrid heating system is a term used to describe a system with two or more sources of fuel for the heating source. It could be a combination of gas (natural or liquified petroleum), electric, or solar. Similar to a hybrid vehicle that runs on electricity whenever it can and switches to gas when necessary, a hybrid heating system does the same thing.
We do our best to make the price of installing a new humidifier affordable. While the price varies, you can expect to pay $750 at minimum or $3,500 at most, with $1,500 being the average cost. The price varies on your home’s personal needs and the brand of humidifier you choose. You can discuss your options with our experts.
