FAQs – Heating and Cooling Information

Did you know?

What is the SEER Rating?
Why is the SEER rating on the Energy Guide different than what my dealer quoted?
Why should I have regular (or preventative) maintenance? And how often should I have it performed?
What are the advantages of a programmable thermostat?
What type of filter should I use? And how often should I replace it?
Where can I get parts for my equipment?
Which equipment will best fit my home?
What does my warranty cover?
What is the life expectancy of my unit?
What type of air filter do I need?

What is the SEER Rating?

SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio and is how the efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment is measured. The SEER is the amount of cooling your system will deliver per dollar spent on electricity; the higher the SEER, the more efficient the system will be. The minimum SEER rating for HVAC equipment is 13-15, depending on the type of equipment installed and where you live and goes up from there.

Why is the SEER rating on the Energy Guide different than what my dealer quoted?

Each split system (which has an indoor and outdoor piece of equipment making up the system) has a nominal SEER rating. This rating can be increased depending on the indoor unit. The SEER rating of a system is derived based on the combination of equipment installed in the home. The efficiency of the outdoor equipment (heat pump or air conditioner), combined with the indoor equipment (evaporator coil and furnace, or air handler), determine the total rating.

Why should I have regular (or preventative) maintenance? And how often should I have it performed?

Your heating and cooling systems work incredibly hard to perform their functions for your home everyday. The constant stopping, starting and continual operation can wear down any machine if the proper care and maintenance is delayed. However, by performing regular maintenance, you can maximize the lifecycle of your heating or cooling unit and guard against many common equipment failures. Preventive maintenance inspections performed on a regular basis can uncover leaks, rust, rot, soot, frayed wires and corroded electrical contacts that the naked eye may not notice. You should have maintenance done on your system regularly to ensure maximum efficiency and prevent possible problems that may occur in the near future.

What are the advantages of a programmable thermostat?

Since they are electronic, programmable thermostats are more accurate and efficient than thermostats that contain mercury. With programmable thermostats, you can also adjust the temperature up or down based on when your home is empty to help save you money. Because everything is automatic, you will never forget to change the setting on your own or come home to a house that’s too cold or too hot. Set it and forget it!

What type of filter should I use? And how often should I replace it?

Standard filters work to keep your system and its ductwork clean, but they don’t really improve indoor air quality. To do that you need a media filter. The media filter rests between the main return duct and the blower cabinet and will improve dust and particle removal by seven times that of a standard filter. However, upgrading to a pleated media filter will remove everything from insecticide dust to airborne viruses from the filtered air. For optimum efficiency and filtration, Custom Mechanical recommends that you replace your disposable filters as often as once a month. If you have washable filters, they should be cleaned as often as once a month as well. High capacity homes with pets, smokers and children will need to change or wash their filters more often than homes without those variables.

Where can I get parts for my equipment?

As an HVAC contractor, Custom Mechanical is the best resource for identifying and supplying the correct, current parts for your system, as well as pricing and availability.

Which equipment will best fit my home?

There are many factors that affect the sizing and specifications of your system, including square footage, insulation, window surface and configuration, geographic location of your home, duct sizing and arrangement, and many others. Custom Mechanical can perform an in-home load analysis to determine which equipment combinations will perfectly suit your home and your family’s needs. Depending upon the construction of your home, one (1) ton of air conditioning can cool anywhere from 300 to 800 square feet of home. The only way to insure the size of the system you purchase will be large enough to cool your home, but not any larger than you need, is to have your home’s individual heating and cooling needs evaluated by a licensed professional.

What does my warranty cover?

Under the standard factory warranty, many manufacturers cover parts that fail during the warranty period due to defect in the part. Not all warranties cover labor. A warranty certificate was included with your homeowner information packet, and is specific to the model numbers, serial numbers and installation dates of your products. If you cannot find your warranty certificate, Custom Mechanical will also be able to provide you with the information.

What is the life expectancy of my unit?

Dependable HVAC products are among the longest lasting heating and cooling products available. For your specific equipment, there are many variables that affect life expectancy, and of course, the regularity of routine maintenance.