Question 1

How long should my old furnace or air conditioner last?

Accepted Answer

Typically, a furnace or air conditioner will last 15 to 20 years. Sometimes it pays to replace the old system sooner, because newer equipment provides higher efficiency and lower gas and electric bills.

Question 2

Will a new furnace and air conditioner lower my gas and electric bills?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A new 15 SEER air conditioner can usually cut electricity use in half. Even a 13 SEER air conditioner—the minimum efficiency the federal government allows to be sold—will cut electricity use by approximately 40 percent. A new 90 percent furnace can usually cut gas use by as much as 30 percent, and a new 80 percent furnace—the minimum allowed by the federal government—cuts use by approximately 20 percent.

Question 3

What’s SEER?

Accepted Answer

It stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. The size of an air conditioner is rated in BTU or tons, but the efficiency is rated by SEER. It’s like miles per gallon in a car—the higher the number, the lower the bill.

Question 4

Shouldn’t I install the highest SEER air conditioner available?

Accepted Answer

In our climate, 13 SEER is considered standard efficiency and 16 SEER is high efficiency. The initial investment is higher for a 16 SEER than a 13 SEER, but the electricity savings will usually pay for the difference in five to seven years. Higher SEER equipment doesn’t remove humidity as well as older, lower SEER equipment, so it’s important that the new air conditioner be sized properly so it runs long enough to remove humidity.

Question 5

What’s a heat pump? Is it better than an air conditioner?

Accepted Answer

In the summer, a heat pump is no different than an air conditioner. But in the winter, a heat pump operates in reverse and heats a home’s interior. Heat pumps need auxiliary heat to help them when it’s very cold or when the thermostat is moved more than two degrees at a time. The initial investment for a heat pump is higher than for an air conditioner, because it has higher maintenance costs and the ductwork must be exactly right for proper operation. One common complaint with heat pumps is that the air coming out of the registers isn’t as hot as air from a gas furnace. But even with these drawbacks, a heat pump will reduce winter heating bills. If you have a gas furnace, the savings usually isn’t enough to justify a heat pump, but if you have electric heating, the savings can be dramatic.

Question 6

Should I replace my furnace and air conditioner at the same time, or can they be installed separately?

Accepted Answer

Both are reasonable options. If they’re installed at the same time, the coil cabinet will match the furnace in color and style. It may be more convenient to replace them at the same time, but they’ll operate perfectly well if installed separately.

Question 7

It’s winter and I need a new furnace and air conditioner. Should I wait until spring to buy a new air conditioner?

Accepted Answer

If you think you’re going to install an air conditioner in a few months, you probably want to have it installed with the furnace. Generally, the cost to install an air conditioner in the winter is lower. Also, the warranty doesn’t begin until we start the unit in the spring.

Question 8

It’s summer and I need a new air conditioner. Should I install a new furnace, too?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. The blower in the furnace does move the air for air conditioning as well as heating. New furnaces usually have stronger blowers and can move more air, which will help cool your entire house better. If your furnace is getting old, you should have the heat exchanger checked for cracks. If it’s cracked, you should have the furnace or heat exchanger replaced before winter.

Question 9

What’s a cracked furnace? How serious is it?

Accepted Answer

The part that transfers heat from the gas flame to the air in the house is called a heat exchanger. If the heat exchanger has a crack or rust hole in it, the fumes (especially carbon monoxide) enter the air that comes out of the registers. That’s why a cracked furnace can be so dangerous. Heat exchangers can be replaced, but if they’re out of warranty, it usually doesn’t cost much more to install a new, higher efficiency furnace.

Question 10

Won’t my carbon monoxide detector tell me when I need a new furnace?

Accepted Answer

Every home should have a carbon monoxide detector, but even if it doesn’t go off, it doesn’t mean everything is entirely safe. Small amounts of carbon monoxide, below the alarm threshold, have a cumulative effect. If your alarm does go off, have a service person check your furnace immediately.

Question 11

Is it okay to install a different brand of furnace or air conditioner to work with my existing system?

Accepted Answer

Yes, that’s fine. It’s important for the furnace to have the proper blower size to match the air conditioner, but that can easily be determined.

Question 12

My home has a forced air furnace but no air conditioner. Can I add central air?

Accepted Answer

Yes, although air conditioners require more airflow than furnaces and it may be necessary to add more ductwork. Also, local codes require that your ductwork be insulated in attics and crawl spaces, and your electrical service may need to be upgraded. We can determine what it’ll cost to add central air.

Question 13

I have a floor furnace and want to add central air and heat. What will that cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how involved it is to run ductwork, install the equipment, connect or install the flue, connect the gas and electric, and so forth. We can calculate the heating and cooling load on your home to determine all the variables. Generally, the investment will run between $3,000 and $9,500 for a complete furnace and air conditioner system.

Question 14

I think my ductwork may have asbestos on it. How can I tell? What should I do about it?

Accepted Answer

Asbestos usually looks like a gray or white paper material that either wraps around the ductwork or is in narrow strips around the duct joints. It’s safe as long as it’s not disturbed. Often, it’s best to leave it undisturbed or paint it to seal the asbestos fibers. Sometimes, it’s best to remove all exposed asbestos, or at least the narrow strips that touch the furnace. As a homeowner, you’re legally allowed to remove this yourself, but it can be dangerous and end up contaminating the entire home. It’s usually better to let professionals handle it.

Question 15

How long does it take to install a new furnace or air conditioner?

Accepted Answer

Allow one day for replacing a furnace and one day for replacing an air conditioner. Occasionally an additional day is required, especially if you’re having an air cleaner or humidifier installed.

Question 16

Does someone need to be home when the new system is installed?

Accepted Answer

If it’s not possible for the homeowner to be home during the installation, we recommend you have a friend or relative be present. If necessary, you can be there to let the installers in before you leave for work. Sometimes homeowners give us a key and our installers don’t even meet them until the installation is complete.

Question 17

How do you determine what size of furnace and air conditioner to install?

Accepted Answer

We’ll measure your home and calculate its actual heating and cooling load. The calculation is based on window size and direction, walls, ceiling, floor, appliances, and insulation. We’ll compare it to your current equipment and ductwork and make adjustments based on your lifestyle to determine the proper size.

Question 18

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a big air conditioner?

Accepted Answer

An oversized air conditioner will cool your house more quickly, but it will use more electricity and won’t remove humidity adequately. If your ductwork isn’t big enough for the oversized air conditioner, the coil may freeze and the air conditioner won’t work at all. Obviously the air conditioner must be big enough to cool the house, but too big can be just as bad. We recommend the proper size and increase it slightly if you prefer a colder house.

Question 19

Will a larger furnace work better than a smaller furnace?

Accepted Answer

An oversized furnace will warm the house more quickly, but it will use more fuel and allow for larger temperature swings. A smaller furnace maintains more even temperatures and uses less fuel, but it takes longer to initially raise the temperature.

Question 20

How do I know if my ductwork is adequate?

Accepted Answer

The size of the air conditioner will determine the amount of necessary airflow. We’ll measure the ductwork during the initial survey and determine if there’s adequate ductwork, registers and grills.

Question 21

Some rooms in our house don’t get enough heat or cooling. Can this be fixed?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes running the blower continuously will solve this problem. Usually a new furnace will have better air flow, and there’s often a way to install an additional register in the area to obtain more airflow.

Question 22

Should I run the blower continuously or use the auto position on the thermostat?

Accepted Answer

Try it both ways. Running the blower all the time will use a little extra electricity, but the home will usually be more comfortable—the temperature is more even throughout and the air is cleaner because it’s filtered more. The motors generally last longer because they’re not starting and stopping. Some of the new furnaces use a slow blower speed for continuous operation and a faster speed when the furnace or air con

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