FAQS
Your questions answered: HVAC FAQs
No matter what your HVAC questions are, the techs at Air Quality Solutions in Grove City have answers. Whether you have questions about choosing new HVAC equipment to best practices on care and maintenance, we can help. Our online FAQs answers provide a rapid response for your convenience, but if you want to know more on any topic, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 614-871-4144.
Why is regular maintenance important?
Just like you need to take your car in to the shop for routine tune-ups, such as oil changes or checking out potential problems, your home comfort system should be subject to the same kind of attention. Routine maintenance by a skilled technician provides a variety of benefits to your HVAC equipment, which can help your systems work efficiently and prevent costly breakdowns.
How much will a new heating and air conditioner cost?
The cost can fluctuate depending on the equipment size and different features, so we advise contacting Air Quality Solutions at 614-871-4144 to receive a quote.
What is two-stage heating?
With two-stage heating, furnaces may work on two different levels: high and low. Since you can heat your home on the low setting most of the time, a two-stage furnace can run longer and more efficiently. Two-stage heating also operates more quietly than traditional furnaces and can give you more even heat distribution and fewer temperature swings.
Do the HVAC systems that Air Quality Solutions carries offer improved technologies?
Air Quality Solutions offers many different brands and models that incorporate advanced technology to help heat and cool your home more efficiently. Technology in the newer HVAC systems gives more precision when it comes to meeting your home comfort needs. If you would like more information, please reach out to our experts at 614-871-4144.
How will my new furnace work differently from my old one?
Depending on how old your previous furnace was, you could experience a host of differences. Furnaces today are designed to give more even and efficient heating than ever before. Modern furnaces also better regulate temperature and air flow, moving more air over the heat exchanger than older furnaces.
Additionally, new furnaces are created to work with other high-efficiency HVAC products, such as air conditioners. The air conditioner blowers offer your heating system an extra boost so it can deliver cool air around your home efficiently. Special features like variable speed motors will also help lessen noise associated with operating your equipment and easily meet your family’s airflow needs.
What energy efficiency standard should I look for in an air conditioner in Grove City?
The Department of Energy recently raised the minimum efficiency levels for air conditioners, heat pumps and packaged units created after Jan. 1, 2015, since heating and cooling contributes significantly to a homes total energy usage. The requirements vary by region, so call Air Quality Solutions for the efficiency standards for Grove City.
How can I reduce my energy costs?
There are several ways to decrease your energy costs and one of the best ways is to make sure you have an energy-efficient HVAC system. Air Quality Solutions offers many highly efficient products that will help lower the amount of energy you are using and save you money. In addition to searching for products that have the Energy Star® certification, high SEER ratings for air conditioners or AFUE ratings for furnaces, here are some other steps to consider:
- Remember to arrange ongoing maintenance and have an experienced professional take a look at your system to ensure its running efficiently.
- If you have certain areas of your home that you need to heat or cool, you may want to consider a zoning system. This allows you to target that area and eliminates wasted energy on heating or cooling areas that aren’t used.
- Programmable or smart thermostats make it a breeze to maintain your home comfort while not using energy to heat or cool your space if you aren’t home. It is an easy way to reduce energy costs and once you set it, you can walk away and know its going to take care of your indoor comfort.
What are the benefits of buying my new HVAC system from Air Quality Solutions?
Air Quality Solutions has been assisting the Grove City community for many years and has been providing trustworthy and dependable service. Our service and the products we carry are of the highest quality and you will be satisfied with our solutions. Our well-trained team is here to help you reach your ideal home comfort.
What can I do to improve my home's indoor air quality?
There are four things to review when enhancing your indoor air quality:
- The indoor air quality in your house starts to suffer when the air begins filling up with air pollutants. The biggest concern is removing these pollutants. Some to-dos to include on your weekly checklist is vacuuming, washing your linens and ensuring any cleaning products are stored properly.
- Especially in newer homes, the insulation is installed so well that it might be hard for these pollutants to leave the home. While it helps to keep your home warm or cool, depending on the season, its important to get some fresh air inside.
- Make sure that you have good ventilation and arrange routine maintenance on your system. And while that’s very beneficial, you can also take your IAQ even further by using air filters, germicidal lights and purification systems to get rid of particles while eliminating chemical vapors.
- Smart or programmable thermostats can help control humidity levels as well as the temperature. This can help stop germs and other particles from collecting while preserving your home comfort.
How can I find out which indoor air quality product is right for my home?
No two homes are alike, which is why we advise that you contact our team at Air Quality Solutions to find out which solution will be best for your space. Our experienced technicians will conduct a review of your current system and discuss what your ideal home comfort looks like. That will help us decide which products will be most effective.
How does an air conditioner work?
You might be surprised to know that air conditioners don’t technically make your home cooler; they actually remove the hot air and transfer it outside. This hot air is pushed across a refrigerant coil on the indoor unit and then is sent to the outdoor unit where it is released. Your air conditioner pushes as much hot air outside as is necessary to reach the temperature you have set on your thermostat.
What is the minimum energy efficiency standard for air conditioners in my state?
Minimum energy efficiency standards vary by region. Additionally, air conditioners, heat pumps and packaged units made after Jan. 1, 2015, have higher minimum efficiency levels than equipment manufactured prior to that date. The team at Air Quality Solutions can help you determine the minimum requirements for Grove City, let you know if your current equipment meets those requirements or help you find a replacement air conditioner that does.
How can I confirm the model and serial numbers for my cooling unit?
Your systems service panel should have a white label on it, with your systems model and serial numbers at the top. M/N stands for model number and S/N is the serial number.
How do I know what size equipment I should purchase?
Since equipment size needs differ for each home, the best way to find out the proper size equipment for your home is to have a technician from Air Quality Solutions come out to perform load calculation tests. The tests take factors such as square footage, insulation value and amount, and more into account to determine your homes HVAC equipment needs.
Can frost, ice, dirt or other debris keep the outdoor unit of my cooling system from operating effectively?
Yes debris can limit your systems ability to function effectively. Its common for heat pumps to have frost or ice on them during the winter, but many include defrost controls so they can work efficiently regardless of the weather conditions.
What is two-stage cooling?
When a cooling system uses two-stage cooling, it means that there are two levels of operation. This lets the system work as efficiently as possible since there is one level for milder weather and another for harsher weather that demands the system work harder. Two-stage cooling also enables slight temperature changes so you don’t experience extreme differences in temperature. Aside from better efficiency, other benefits of two-stage cooling include quieter operation and better humidity control.
Why is my system freezing up?
When your cooling unit freezes up, there are a couple of reasons why it could be doing so. The most frequent reasons include: dirty filters, low refrigerant, a dirty evaporative coil and a faulty blower motor or relay. A dirty filter is something you can fix as a homeowner, but the others need to be fixed by a professional like those at Air Quality Solutions. Contact them at 614-871-4144 with any further questions you may have.
What is the best thermostat to use for my cooling system?
Air Quality Solutions has a number of great thermostat options for your HVAC systems. The best thermostat for you will depend on a couple variables, such as whether you want one that’s programmable or not. No matter what kind of thermostat you’d like or if you’re searching for something that can fit with a home automation system call Air Quality Solutions to hear about which thermostats you can choose from. Our team will help you find one that fits with your system, your family’s needs and your budget.
What is a heat pump?
A heat pump covers both your homes heating and cooling needs, offering you one HVAC system that can be used in all four seasons. During the warmer months, heat pumps act like an air conditioner, capturing the hot air from inside your home and directing it outside; in the cooler months, this process is reversed. Heat pumps can be very energy efficient and may produce two to three times more heat than the energy needed for the process.
When replacing the outdoor unit, should the indoor unit also be replaced?
At Air Quality Solutions, we do recommend replacing both your indoor and outdoor units at the same time because:
- Outdoor systems are now built to work with their matching indoor system for the most efficiency. When you replace one system but not the other, you may not see the same savings on your energy bills as if you had replaced them together.
- Thanks to technological improvements, newer systems mean increased efficiency. This is true for HVAC products as well. While the advancements focus on higher heating and cooling efficiency, they also include benefits such as better air handling, filtering and noise reduction.
- If your heating and cooling systems are over 10 years old, they need to be replaced. Older models have outdated technology that is likely costing you money due to poor efficiency. So by replacing your indoor system at the same time as your outdoor equipment, both your systems will provide better energy efficiency that helps you decrease your energy bills and keep your home more comfortable.
Is it possible to see whether my solar HVAC system is performing at its highest potential?
Your home energy system might have a communication module that delivers performance stats to an online site or portal. You can visit this to review your system’s status, the amount of energy being produced and the positive impact you are having on the environment. You can also take a look at your owner’s manual for recommendations on monitoring performance.
Do I need to clean off my solar modules?
Rain will clean the modules by itself in most areas; however, if you live in a dusty area, you could see improved performance after periodically spraying the modules with water. Please note that high-pressure hoses and detergents should never be used to clean solar modules, as they can ruin the product.
Which thermostat is best for my HVAC system?
Air Quality Solutions can help suggest the right thermostat for you based on your home and current heating and cooling equipment. We have a number of programmable and nonprogrammable thermostats, which can help increase the efficiency of your homes furnace and/or air conditioner. View our thermostats or give us a call at 614-871-4144 for more information.
How can I improve my energy costs?
A large portion of your monthly energy costs can be attributed to your heating and cooling system. It makes sense, because our home comfort is an important aspect of our day-to-day lives. Thankfully, there are high-efficiency solutions from Air Quality Solutions that can keep you comfortable while also decreasing energy costs. When it’s time for you to shop for a new HVAC system, there are a couple things to consider. You’ll want to find air conditioners with high SEER ratings and furnaces with high AFUE ratings. These ratings measure efficiency, so the larger the number the better off you’ll be when it comes to saving on energy costs. You can also think about these tips:
- Keep your system operating to its best ability by arranging routine maintenance. It helps sustain efficiency and make sure everything is operating properly.
- Consider a zoning system if you only have targeted rooms that need to be heated or cooled. There is no need to use energy regulating the temperature in a room that is never, or rarely used.
- The U.S. Department of Energy states that programmable thermostats can save up to 35 percent on heating costs and 25 percent on cooling costs. There are a lot of programmable and smart thermostat products that are easy to use and vary in the number of features-so you can find an solution that you are comfortable with.
Why should I buy a zoning system?
A zoning system lets you parcel your house and heat or lower the temperature in each space differently. While these systems operate well for buildings that have parts that are seldom occupied, they may also be beneficial in situations where you and your family cant agree on the temperature in certain areas of your residence. There are a collection of additional bonuses of zoning systems, like efficiency and comfort. Browse our selection of zoning systems or give Air Quality Solutions a ring to see how a zoning system could fit in your home.