FAQ

The efficiency rating on an air conditioner indicates how well the unit converts its electrical power into cooling output. The higher the number, the more efficient the system is, meaning it wastes less energy and costs less to run.

Is your furnace not turning on, even though your house is frigid? This can be due to several issues, including a problem with a sensor. If your furnace is not turning on, call us to let our experts inspect your unit.

Occasionally, there are circumstances that can require you to move your air conditioning unit to another area of your property. Some reasons to do this can include:

• The appearance of the unit.
• Adding new landscaping or fencing.
• A remodel or home addition.
• Adding a new porch, patio, or deck.
• Constructing a pool.
• Eroding land.
• Too hard to access for repairs and services.
• Installing a new, larger unit.
• Re-zoning property lines.

Is your air conditioner running, but your house is not cooling to the temperature set on the thermostat? If your unit is blowing out warm or room-temperature air, it can indicate that you need to recharge the refrigerant in your AC system. Call us to have our experts inspect your system and check your refrigerant levels.

When your air conditioner malfunctions, it can be difficult to determine if you should repair the unit or if you need to replace it. Some signs that can indicate you should install a new system can include if your utility bills are rising, if your house is not cooling to the set temperature, if the system is leaking, if the unit is making odd noises, and if you’ve made several repairs on the unit recently.

Air Scrubbers provide many advantages to your house to help remove germs and bacteria. Some of the benefits these provide include clean, pure indoor air in your house, a healthier family, and reduced allergy and asthma symptoms.

Experts generally recommend replacing the filter in your air conditioner or your heater about every three months. However, these should be changed more -- or less -- frequently under certain circumstances:

• Change the filter every six months for households without pets.
• Replace it every three months if you live in an urban area.
• Change it at least every two months if you have a pet.
• Replace the filter each month if anyone in your household has a pet allergy.
• Replace the filter more often during times of heavy use.

Usually caused by restricted airflow (dirty filter, closed vents, blower issues) or low refrigerant from a leak. If it freezes, turn the thermostat off and the fan on until the ice melts, then check the filter. Repeated freezing needs a professional diagnosis — running a frozen unit can damage the compressor.

Common causes range from a thermostat set wrong or a dirty filter to a tripped breaker, low refrigerant, or a failed compressor. Check the thermostat, filter, breaker, and outdoor unit first; if warm air continues, it’s time for a professional inspection.

Almost always a clogged condensate drain line, dirty filter, or frozen evaporator coil causing overflow. Small leaks aren’t usually an emergency but should be addressed quickly to avoid water damage — a technician can clear the drain and check the coil.

Means the system is drawing too much current — often from a dirty filter/coil, a failing capacitor or contactor, low refrigerant, or worn wiring. A single trip can be reset once, but repeated trips mean it should stay off until a technician diagnoses the cause.

The blower is circulating air, but the outdoor unit isn’t producing cold refrigerant — often from a tripped breaker, dirty filter, low refrigerant, frozen coil, or a failed capacitor/compressor. If the outdoor unit isn’t running, avoid repeated thermostat cycling and call for service.

Repair usually makes sense if the system is under 10–12 years old, well maintained, and the fix is minor. Replacement is the better value if it’s 15–20 years old, needs frequent repairs, or the compressor/coil has failed. A full evaluation (not just age) should drive the decision.

At least once a year, ideally in spring before cooling season (heat pumps should be serviced twice a year). Annual maintenance catches small issues early, keeps efficiency up, and reduces the risk of a breakdown during peak heat.

Verify the thermostat is set to Cool and below room temp, check/replace the air filter, reset any tripped breaker once, confirm the outdoor unit is running, make sure vents are open, and look for ice or water around the indoor unit. These quick checks solve many issues or speed up diagnosis.

Sizing is based on cooling capacity in tons (1.5–5 ton for most homes), determined by a Manual J load calculation that factors in square footage, insulation, windows, and layout — not square footage alone. Oversized units short-cycle and struggle with humidity; undersized units can’t keep up.

SEER2 is the updated efficiency rating for AC and heat pump systems (replaced SEER in 2023, using stricter real-world testing). Higher SEER2 means lower energy use — 13.4–14.3 meets minimum standards, 15–17 is a strong value tier, and 18+ is premium. Proper installation matters as much as the rating itself.

The DOE recommends 78°F when home, raising it 7–10 degrees when away rather than turning the system off entirely. Lowering the thermostat further doesn’t cool the house any faster — it just runs longer.

Regular filter changes, annual maintenance, a clean outdoor unit, sealed ductwork/air leaks, and a programmable thermostat all reduce runtime and cost. An inefficient or aging system (dirty coils, low refrigerant, leaky ducts) can also be driving bills up even if it’s still cooling the home.