FAQ

When should I replace my furnace or A/C equipment?

There are three times you should replace your equipment.

1. If your furnace is 15 years or older.
2. If you are having repeated expensive repairs and your system is over 10 years of age then replacement might be the best option.
3. If you have standard efficient equipment then you should replace your equipment with energy star products that will pay for themselves over time.

What is the proper amount of humidity to have in a home in the winter?

Between 25% and 45% in the winter. The colder temperatures can only support 25% RH in a home before it condenses out on the windows and losses through air infiltration, while your home can support 40-45% RH above 40F outside temperature.

Why is my basement so damp and musty smelling?

Your home has a constant moisture issue usually in the spring and fall and perhaps year round. If this is so you will require a large whole house capacity dehumidifier to remove this dampness. If this does not clear up the situation you should have a mold inspector check for mold and to determine where the constant source of water is coming from.

How can I improve the comfort in my house?

Ductwork is what takes the heat from your furnace, and cooling from your A/C, and distributes comfort to the various rooms in your home. Poor ductwork is the main reason for basements being too cold in the winter and summer; while the second floor is too hot in the summer. Replacing equipment does not solve this problem. You must...

• When you replace your furnace make sure the blower is a high capacity, high static, energy efficient motor.
• Seal up and insulate your basement ductwork.
• Balance the ductwork and check the static pressure of the supply and return side to determine if some ductwork modifications are required.

When to get my ductwork cleaned?

It is generally accepted that you should get your ductwork cleaned at these times...

• After a major renovation in your home.
• When you move into a new home. (You don't know what was left behind!)
• When you change from oil to gas. Older oil furnaces tended to collect extra dust in the ductwork.
• Every five years or so. (especially if you live in a dusty area)

What is the cost for getting my ducts cleaned?

Generally it will cost you from $400 to $800 to do a proper job, and don't forget to get your dryer vent cleaned. (Very important as lint accumulation accounts for many house fires) Check for coupons as we usually are running specials in our non peak times.

How long will it take?

To do the job properly it will take around 3-4 hours to complete

What type of machine do you use?

We have a 5000CFM portable vacuum with three stages of HEPA filtration. This kind of system does not remove all of your warm or cold air during these 3-4 hours of cleaning. There is also a compressor mounted outside in the truck.

Do you show us what you removed?

Only if you want to see it. It's just dirt!

What constitutes good Healthy Indoor Living?

Indoor Comfort is everyone's desire in their home. Comfort is achieved when the home has proper temperature, humidity, air distribution, and cleanliness. Through research it has been discovered more than 70% of people are dissatisfied with the comfort in their homes.

Most manufacturers have now developed variable speed technology for their furnaces which provides better air distribution that helps to achieve more even heat and cooling throughout the home. We now have thermostats the not only control the temperature functions of heating and cooling but also the humidity, so that they can provide control of humidity in the winter and additional dehumidification in the spring and summer.

The last frontier for comfort in the home and to provide healthy indoor living is the process of cleaning the air in your home. If you have allergies then you need to do something about air cleanliness in your home! Again research has told us less than 4% of homeowners would look to their HVAC contractor for solutions to their health through air filtration products. With a forced air furnace you can add an ERV (energy recovery ventilator), Ultra Violet light, HEPA filter, and a whole house furnace filter with a high MERV rating.

For ideal comfort you need to introduce outside fresh air to provide air changes to your home so that the VOCs can be diluted through this process. If there is an odour in the summer time it may be coming from your air conditioning evaporator coil located in the ductwork above your furnace. Mold or bacterial growth have formed on the coil and a U.V. Light can kill the bacteria and eliminate the odour. A HEPA filter has three levels of filtration; a pre-filter, the HEPA filter, and either a carbon or Zeolite, filter, each performing a specific task. The pre-filter captures the large dust particles and you clean that filter every 3 to 6 months, the HEPA filter captures 99.97% of particles down to .3 microns in size. This filter generally lasts for 3-5 years. The last filter either carbon or zeolite absorbs VOCs and should be replaced every 6 months.

Lastly, you need a good whole house filter that protects your equipment and lowers the particulate in your home. Today filters are rated with a MERV rating. The higher the MERV, the better the filter captures particles.

For homes that are heated by hot water radiators most of this technology is available in stand- alone units.

Do not purchase equipment that produces ozone such as old style electronic air cleaners or ozone generators as this type of equipment may be harmful to you.