1. Q: How do I know when it’s time to change my filter?

Generally, most air filter manufacturers and HVAC companies recommend changing your air filter every 90 days, or 3 months. That can change based on where your home is located (ex. dusty, dry climates), if you have any pets, and the age of your system and equipment. If you have pets in the home, you should consider changing your filter every 60 days, or 2 months, and for homes with multiple pets or people with allergies or respiratory conditions, we recommend changing your filter every 20-45 days. Vacation homes or vacant homes that don’t see much use can typically wait to change out filters every 9-12 months. The general consensus is, the more you use your home, the more you need to change your air filter.

2. Q: Is it ok to completely turn off my AC system?

Many homeowners believe that by shutting off their AC before leaving the house, they’ll be saving money because the unit will be running less often. This is not necessarily the case. On the contrary, doing so may contribute to even higher bills. That’s because leaving the house without air conditioning can make the house a lot warmer than it would be otherwise, making it harder for the HVAC unit to lower the temperature when you come back. Let’s say you shut down the AC in the morning before you head to work. By the time you return, the house could be uncomfortably warm (probably more so than the temperature outside). It is so warm, in fact, that your AC unit now has to exert more energy to lower the indoor air temperature than it would have if it was left on. The more energy used, the higher the electricity bill at the end of the month. Instead of entirely shutting down the air conditioner, raise the thermostat 7 to 10 degrees before leaving and then lower to the preferred temperature once you arrive back home.

3. Q: Why is it taking so long for my AC to cool?

    

 

When it’s hot outside, you rely on your air conditioner to keep things cool inside. But is your AC taking forever to cool down the house? This is typical on sweltering days, which push your air conditioner harder than usual. However, if it’s not particularly hot outside and your AC is still having a hard time, your cooling equipment could have a problem. Follow these tips to help you troubleshoot the issue. 

Dirty Air Filter 

A clogged filter is the most common reason an air conditioner takes too long to cool down the house. The purpose of a filter is to trap airborne debris that could damage sensitive HVAC equipment. More efficient filters even trap tiny airborne allergens to improve indoor air quality. 

Over time, the filter becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, and textile fibers, restricting airflow. Besides making your air conditioner take longer to cool down the house, this problem can also lead to higher energy bills, increased wear and tear, and overheating. 

Solution: Check your air filter once a month and change it if it appears dirty. Don’t wait longer than three months to replace the filter or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you’re not sure where your air filter is located, ask your HVAC technician at your next service visit. 

Improper Thermostat Settings 

Your thermostat must be compatible with your air conditioner to function properly. Then, you must set it correctly to maintain a comfortable temperature. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat provides the best results. 

Solution: If you want to upgrade your thermostat, need help learning about programmable features, or don’t feel comfortable programming a thermostat yourself, contact our HVAC specialists.

Dirty Evaporator Coil 

Split-system air conditioners have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air using refrigerant. It’s hard for the refrigerant to absorb heat effectively if the evaporator coil is dirty, making it take longer to cool down the house. 

Solution: Contact our HVAC specialists to tune up your air conditioner. Part of this visit includes a cleanliness check for dust and grime around the evaporator coil. If debris is found, the evaporator coil can be cleaned to improve cooling performance. 

Dirty or Obstructed Outdoor Unit 

The cooling cycle involves transporting hot refrigerant to the outdoor unit, where it exhausts heat to the exterior. However, if the outdoor unit is dirty or surrounded by encroaching vegetation, the cooling process may be less effective. 

Solution: Gently hose down the outdoor unit to remove dust, cobwebs, pine needles and grass clippings. Then, trim back bushes to at least 12 inches from the unit to improve airflow. 

Refrigerant Leak 

Refrigerant is the key to air conditioning. Normally, this substance flows in a closed loop between the indoor and outdoor units. If a leak develops and your AC loses refrigerant, it becomes less capable of absorbing and releasing heat from your home. 

Solution: Only a licensed technician can repair refrigerant leaks and recharge the system. If you suspect this problem, call our HVAC pros for help right away. 

Leaky Ductwork 

Air ducts are the arteries and veins of your HVAC system. A leak on either the return or supply side can make your air conditioner work harder and longer to cool your home. 

Solution: If you notice uneven temperatures and excessive dust throughout the house, contact Day Heating and Cooling to inspect your ductwork. Duct sealing or replacement can fix the problem. 

Dirty or Blocked Air Vents 

Cooled air can only circulate around your home if the air vents are open and unobstructed. Closing too many vents can even throw off the system’s balance, leading to more breakdowns and repair costs. 

Solution: Check the vents in each room, making sure they’re open and unblocked by furniture, rugs or curtains. 

Aging or Undersized Air Conditioner 

Did you install your air conditioner more than 10 to 15 years ago? As it ages, the unit becomes less efficient and may fail to maintain a comfortable home. Likewise, have you recently built a home addition or made other modifications? This could result in an undersized air conditioner that can’t keep up with demand. 

Solution: The only fix for an aging or undersized air conditioner is to replace it. Trust our licensed HVAC technicians to size and install your new unit for comfort and efficiency. 

4. Q: How often should I service my HVAC system?

The Short Answer Is: Homeowners should schedule HVAC maintenance at least once a year. It's recommended to have maintenance performed in the spring before the cooling season and in the fall before the heating season to ensure optimal performance and efficiency, but it's far better have a tune-up performed at all than avoiding it. Scheduling routine maintenance for your HVAC system has far-reaching implications on its efficiency. Even so, it’s often convenient for homeowners to put off this vital process unless something is wrong with the system. When was the last time you considered regular servicing for your HVAC system? Your HVAC system worked just fine last season. We get it. But this doesn’t mean that maintenance should only be essential when your HVAC has underlying issues.

5. Q: What can I do to lower my energy bills? 

There are a few different factors that play a role in how much energy your heating and cooling systems use. It ranges from the type of system, to the climate and how well the system is maintained. Here are a few of the most important factors: 

Efficiency Of Your HVAC System

The efficiency of your HVAC system, normally measured by Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) for air conditioners and Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) for heaters, plays a HUGE role in energy consumption. The higher the efficiency rating on your HVAC system, the less energy you are going to consume. 

This is important to remember when purchasing a new air conditioner or a heater. The systems with higher efficiency ratings are going to be more expensive to install. But these systems are going to cost less to run over their 10-15 year lifespan. That means lower energy bills for a decade plus. That’s a big factor, and normally higher efficiency systems will cost less over the lifespan compared to a less energy efficient model.  

The Weather

This is a pretty basic and obvious factor. If you live somewhere with very hot or cold temperatures, the system is usually going to have to work harder, and use more energy. So even if you have the best HVAC systems money can buy, if the weather becomes very hot or cold, the energy bills are going to rise. The key is to maximize efficiency so that even in extreme weather, the energy bills won’t get out of control. 

Your Insulation

Proper insulation in walls, attics, and floors can help maintain indoor temperatures, reducing the need for continuous heating or cooling. If you have a leaky home with poor insulation, the air can escape through the walls, and cause the HVAC system to work harder to achieve the right temperature. 

How To Lower Your Energy Bills

Now that you know a bit about WHY your energy bills are rising, here are a few tips to maintain energy efficiency and lower those energy bills. 

Schedule Regular HVAC Service Annually

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system is the most important factor when it comes to maintaining energy efficiency. Annual HVAC service ensures that your system is working properly, and running efficiently. A professional technician can clean and inspect components, replace filters, and identify any issues that could lead to increased energy use.

Regular service is also going to reduce the likelihood of breakdowns and repairs being needed. It’s also going to increase the lifespan of your HVAC systems. These should last between 10-15 years. We’ve seen some go 20 years with regular service! 

Seal Air Leaks Around The Home

Air leaks in doors, windows, and ductwork can cause conditioned air to escape, making your HVAC system work harder. Sealing these leaks and improving your insulation can boost energy efficiency and reduce your energy costs. 

Use Your Fans

Ceiling fans can help distribute air more evenly in a room, reducing the need for constant heating or cooling. In the summer, fans can make you feel cooler, allowing you to set the thermostat higher and save on air conditioning costs. In the winter, fans can help provide a draft that pushes the warm air down, and into the living space, as opposed to rising to the ceiling. 

Use Your Blinds

Blinds and curtains can be used to block out heat in the summer and retain warmth in the winter. By managing sunlight exposure, you can reduce the burden on your HVAC system and lower energy bills.

 

We hope these tips help you out, and lead to lower energy bills for your home.

6. Q: What kind of filter do I need for my HVAC system?

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERV, reports a filter's ability to capture particles. Filters with MERV-13 or higher ratings can trap smaller particles, including viruses. Many home HVAC systems will have a MERV-8 filter installed as the default. Upgrading to a MERV-13 rated filter, or the highest-rated filter that your HVAC system fan and filter slot can accommodate, could improve the system’s efficacy in removing viruses from circulated air. Before making any changes to the air filter in an HVAC system, users should consult their HVAC manual or an HVAC professional.  

Be sure the HVAC filter is correctly in place. Also consider running the system fan for longer times, or continuously, as HVAC systems filter the air only when the fan is running. Many systems can be set to run the fan even when no heating or cooling is taking place.

7. Q: How do I choose a good HVAC service company?

    

Do Your Research – Licensing & Certification

Before you hire any contractor, ask for their proof of licensing and insurance. Having a license means they are allowed to offer HVAC services in your area. If they’re insured, it means that you won’t be held liable for any injuries or damages that may happen in the course of their work on your property. Many homeowners don’t feel the need to ask for this proof, but they’re very important. If you hire a contractor who isn’t insured, you’ll be responsible for accidents and damages that will happen while the crew installs or services your system.

Be Prepared – Know Your Equipment Specs

Before calling your potential contractor, be armed with information concerning your current system. We recommend you know:

• Your Furnace and AC system’s serial number
• model number of your HVAC equipment
• brand on the equipment, and
• approximate age

If possible, take a photo of your system, especially the ID tag part. Other things you may want to note down are the number of times your system has been serviced and rooms or areas which are too cold or too hot. Why is this information crucial? If you want a new HVAC system, this data will help the HVAC contractor to determine the exact system that’ll suit your needs. If you have any relevant information about your system, don’t forget to give it to the HVAC contractor.

Get Referrals from Friends and Relatives

Your next HVAC contractor may be the same one who installed or serviced a system for your loved one — ask them for recommendations. If you know of a local Facebook group, go there and ask if anyone can recommend an excellent contractor from personal experience. If you don’t know of any such group, then your favorite search engine can also help.

Ask for References

Do you have a potential HVAC contractor in mind? Call them and ask for customer references. Call these past customers and ask them questions concerning your potential contractor’s performance. Examples of questions you can ask are:

• Did they arrive on time?
• Were they happy with the quality of service offered?
• Were they professional all through the project and did they leave your house clean?
• Was the pricing clear or there were any hidden charges?
• Did they test your new system to ensure it’s fully functional?

These and other relevant questions will help figure out whether that contractor is right for you.

Look for Special Offers and Rebates

Buying a new heating and cooling system for your home is costly. To make it less expensive and save some money, visit www.energystar.gov and check to see if there are any rebates available for energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® heating and cooling systems.

Also, check whether your local utility company is offering any discounts or rebates. You can also check Yelp, Angie’s List, and other online services to see if there are other good offers in your area.

An In-Home Evaluation is Not Optional, but Absolutely Necessary

Before recommending a particular system, your chosen contractor should first evaluate your current system and your home to determine your needs. A bigger HVAC system is not always better. A good contractor should recommend and install correctly-sized HVAC equipment depending on your home’s size, the amount of insulation available, the number and condition of windows, your home’s age, and other relevant factors.

Get Written and Detailed Estimates

If you have a list of potential contractors and they’ve all given you quotes, compare these quotes even to the smallest detail. Some of the things you should compare are costs, warranties, and energy efficiency. However, beware that the lowest price isn’t always the best deal. You may get a lower-priced furnace system, but find it’s very inefficient. It may end up costing you in terms of high energy costs. Compare the estimates, but be smart when choosing.

Ensure You Get a Written Proposal for New Furnace or Air Conditioner

Before you hire a certain contractor and let him do the job, review all the contract terms and understand them. If there is something unclear or have any questions, get clarifications before putting your signature. And, don’t agree to anything in the contract if it’s not in writing. A written contract specifies the costs, system model, warranty information, and job schedule. If the contractor brings up something against you later on, you’ll have this document to protect you.

Finish by Inspecting the Newly-Installed HVAC System

The technician should be able to take you through the installation process so that you can make sure even the smallest details have been addressed. After checking that everything has been done right, make sure you know how the thermostat works (especially a WiFi Smart Thermostat, the location of air filters, and when your HVAC system is next due for servicing.

These tips will help you get a good contractor who will offer you a great experience and favorable results