How long should my old furnace and
air conditioner last?
Typically a furnace or air conditioner
will last 15-20 years. Sometimes it pays to replace the old
system sooner because of the higher efficiency (and lower
gas & electric bills) provided by newer equipment.
My gas & electric bills are high.
Will a new furnace and air conditioner lower my bills?
YES! A new 12 SEER air conditioner can
usually cut the electricity used by the old air conditioner
in half. Even a 10 SEER air conditioner (this is the minimum
efficiency the federal government allows to be sold) will
cut the electricity used by approximately 40%. A new 90%
furnace can usually cut the gas used by the old furnace by
as much as 30%, and a new 80% (minimum allowed by the
federal government) will use approximately 20% less.
What is SEER?
This stands for Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Rating. The “size” of an air conditioner is rated
in BTU or Tons, however the “efficiency” is rated in SEER.
It’s like mpg (miles per gallon) in a car – the higher the
mpg (or SEER) the lower the gasoline (electricity) bill.
Shouldn’t I install the highest SEER
air conditioner available?
In our climate, 10 SEER is considered
“standard” efficiency (this is the minimum efficiency the
federal government allows to be sold) and 12 SEER is “high”
efficiency”. The initial investment is higher for a 12 SEER
than a 10 SEER, but the electricity savings will usually pay
for the difference in 5-7 years. The higher SEER equipment
doesn’t remove humidity as well as older, lower SEER
equipment, so it is important that the new air conditioner
be sized properly so it runs long enough to remove humidity
(so you don’t have a cool, but “sticky” home). Equipment
with SEER ratings of 14 and higher are available, but are
not commonly installed in this part of the country.
What is a heat pump? Is it better
than an air conditioner?
In the summer, a heat pump is no
different than an air conditioner. In the winter, a heat
pump operates in “reverse” and heats the indoors. Heat pumps
need auxiliary heat (electric resistance heat or gas
furnace) to help them when it is real cold or when the
thermostat is moved more than 2 degrees at a time. The
initial investment for a heat pump is higher than for an air
conditioner, they have higher maintenance costs, and the
ductwork must be exactly “right” for proper operation. One
common complaint of a heat pump is that the air coming out
of the registers is not hot enough (compared to a gas
furnace). With all their drawbacks, heat pumps will reduce
the winter heating bills. If you have a gas furnace, the
savings usually isn’t enough to justify a heat pump, however
if you have electric heating, the savings is dramatic and
you will probably want to stay with a heat pump.
Should I replace my furnace and air
conditioner at the same time, or can they be installed
separately?
Either way. If they are installed at
the same time, the coil cabinet (part of the air conditioner
and sits on top of the furnace) will match the furnace in
color & style. Also it may be more convenient to replace
them at the same time, but they will operate OK whether they
are installed at the same time or not.
It’s winter and I need a new furnace
and air conditioner. Should I wait until spring to buy a new
air conditioner?
If you think you are going to install
an air conditioner in a few months you probably want to have
it installed with the furnace. Generally the cost will be
lower to have an air conditioner installed in the winter.
Also, the warranty doesn’t begin until we “start up” the
unit in the spring.
It’s summer and I need a new air
conditioner. Should I install a new furnace too?
Not necessarily, however the blower in
the furnace moves the air for air conditioning as well as
heating. Usually the new furnaces have stronger blowers and
can move more air which can help cool your entire house
better. If your furnace is getting old, you should have the
heat exchanger checked for “cracks”. If it is “cracked” you
should have the furnace or heat exchanger replaced before
winter anyway.
What is a “cracked” furnace? How
serious is this?
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. This is why a “cracked”
furnace can be so dangerous. A small crack may not be
dangerous yet, but will get bigger and even small amounts of
carbon monoxide can be dangerous to some people. Heat
exchangers can be replaced, however if they are out of
warranty, it is usually not much more to install a new
higher efficiency furnace.
Won’t my carbon monoxide detector
tell me when I need a new furnace?
Every home should have a carbon
monoxide detector, but the fact that it is not going off
doesn’t mean everything is safe. Even small amounts of
carbon monoxide have an accumulative effect and detectors
have a minimum threshold before they sound their alarm. If
your alarm does go off, call us and have a serviceman check
your furnace immediately.
Is it OK to install a different brand
of furnace (or air conditioner) to work with my existing air
conditioner (or furnace)?
Yes, this is fine. It is important
that the furnace have the proper size of blower to match the
air conditioner, but this can be determined easily.
My home has a forced air furnace but
no air conditioner. Can I add central air?
Yes. Air conditioners require more air
flow 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. Comfort Air Mechanical can
determine all of the costs required to add central air.
I have a floor furnace now and want
to add central air & heat. What will this cost?
This will depend on how involved it is
to run ductwork, install the equipment, connect the flue (or
install a new flue), connect the gas & electric, etc.
Comfort Air Mechanical will calculate the heating & cooling
load on your home to determine the proper size of equipment,
ductwork, flue, electrical, etc. Generally the investment
will run between $3.000 – $9,500 for a complete furnace &
air conditioner system.
I think my ductwork has asbestos on
it. How can I tell? What should I do about it?
Asbestos usually looks like a gray or
white paper material that wraps around the ductwork and/or
narrow strips around duct joints. It is safe as long as it
is not disturbed. Often it is best to leave it undisturbed
or to paint it to seal the asbestos fibers. Sometimes it is
best to remove all exposed asbestos, or at least the narrow
strips that touch the furnace. As a homeowner, you can
remove this yourself, however it can be dangerous and even
contaminate the entire home. Comfort Air Mechanical can
handle any asbestos removal using an EPA approved company
and can include this as part of the total investment for a
new system.
My friend works for a heating & air
company and says he can install a new furnace (or air
conditioner) for me for a lot less money. Is this a good
idea?
Be sure he has a C-20 license, obtains
all required permits and has adequate insurance. Keep in
mind you will be dependent on him and his schedule for
warranty repairs. If he meets the above requirements, has
the needed experience and you understand that repairs may
not be timely – you may save some money, but be sure you are
not getting a “cheap” installation that will cost you more
in the long run.
How long does it take to install a
new furnace or air conditioner?
Generally allow one day for replacing
a furnace and one day for replacing an air conditioner.
Occasionally an additional day is required, especially if
you are having an air cleaner or humidifier installed.
Does someone need to be home when the
new system is installed?
Much of the time it is not possible
for the homeowner to be home during the installation.
Possibly a friend or relative can be home during the
installation, or 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. As added protection, all of
Comfort Air Mechanical’s employees are bonded.
How do you determine what size of
furnace and air conditioner to install?
We will measure your home and
calculate the actual heating & cooling load on the home
(calculation based on window size & direction, walls,
ceiling, floor, appliances, insulation, etc). This will
determine the proper size of equipment that is needed. This
will be compared to your current equipment & ductwork and
will be adjusted based on your lifestyle, etc.
I want a “big” air conditioner.
Someone told me this is not good – what are the advantages &
disadvantages?
An “oversized” air conditioner will
cool your house quicker, but it will use more electricity
and will not remove humidity adequately. If your ductwork is
not big enough for the “oversized” air conditioner, the coil
may freeze and then the air conditioner won’t work at all.
Obviously the air conditioner must be big enough to cool the
house, but too big is just as bad. We recommend the proper
size to cool your home to 75 degrees when it is 100 degrees
outside, then increase the size slightly, if needed, based
on your temperature preferences
Will a larger furnace work better
than a smaller furnace?
An “oversized” furnace will warm up
the house quicker, but it will use more fuel and there will
be greater temperature swings. A smaller furnace will
maintain more even temperatures, use less fuel, but will
take longer to raise the temperature. Comfort Air Mechanical
will calculate the proper furnace size to maintain 80
degrees inside when it is 30 degrees outside.
How do I know if my ductwork is
adequate?
The size of the air conditioner will
determine the amount of airflow needed. We will measure the
ductwork during the initial survey and determine if there is
adequate ductwork, registers and grills.
Some rooms in our house don’t get
enough heat (or cooling). Can this be fixed?
Sometimes running the blower
continuously will solve this problem. Usually the new
furnace will have better air flow which will help, and there
is usually a way to install an additional register in the
area to obtain more air flow.
Should I run the blower continuously,
or use the “auto” position on the thermostat?
Try both ways. Running the blower all
the time will use a little extra electricity, however the
home is usually more comfortable, the temperature is more
even throughout the home, and the air is cleaner because it
is filtered more. The motors generally last longer because
they are not starting & stopping. Some of the new furnaces
have the ability to use a slow blower speed for continuous
operation, and a faster speed when the furnace or air
conditioner are running.
What brand of equipment is best?
There are several excellent brands
available as well as several “cheaper” brands. Comfort Air
Mechanical could choose any brand to sell and install,
however we have chosen Trane because of their quality,
reputation, availability of parts, support from our
distributors, etc. Even more important than the equipment,
is the quality of the installation and the reputation of the
dealer behind the installation.
How do I check out the companies I am
considering to install my new system?
This is the easiest, yet most
important step – call customers. Eliminate any company that
doesn’t give you at least four customers that they have
installed during the last 1-24 months. Call a few customers
at random and tell them you are considering a new system and
ask about their experience with Comfort Air Mechanical or
any other company you are considering.
How do I pay for my new system?
For installation of new equipment, we
may ask for a small deposit of a few hundred. The balance to
be paid upon completion.
Why should I consider a new
high-efficiency filter?
High-efficiency filters remove more of
the smaller particles from the air. This will help us
breathe better and reduce sinus problems, headaches and
colds. Many people miss fewer days from school & work and
use less allergy medication. The air is filtered before
entering the furnace and air conditioning A-coil which makes
the equipment last longer and will reduce fuel consumption
10%-15% over the life of a new furnace and air conditioner.
We have several different filters available and can show you
the differences in efficiency and installation cost.
Should I have a new programmable
thermostat installed with my new system?
Programmable thermostats allow you to
have the temperature raise and lower automatically at
specific times each day. They will reduce your energy bills
and increase your comfort (ie. get up to a “warm” bathroom
during the winter). If your family follows a fairly regular
schedule, a programmable thermostat will pay for itself in a
few months.
What are Comfort Air Mechanical’s
installation rates?
All installation work (except minor
duct changes) is performed at a pre-agreed upon price and
you will receive a proposal showing the total investment and
detailing the work to be done, model numbers of all
equipment, warranties, etc.
What kind of maintenance/service
plans does Comfort Air Mechanical offer?
Our most popular is the “Assurance”
plan which includes a pre-season preventive service and
system cleaning in the spring and fall. This is performed at
a reduced rate (payable at time of service – not prepaid in
advance). Any additional work during the year is performed
at a reduced rate also. The “Assurance” plan will make your
equipment last longer, reduce your utility bills and assure
you of a safe & properly operating system. We have pre-paid
maintenance plans available too.
A “cracked” furnace is dangerous. How
often should I have it checked?
If your furnace is over 5 years old,
it should be inspected by a licensed servicemen every fall
before the heating season begins. Any other time the furnace
is not operating properly (ex. the pilot blows out) it
should be checked too.
Why should I have my air conditioner
checked in the spring and my furnace checked in the fall?
They should be checked, and cleaned,
to be sure they are operating at their top efficiency, are
operating properly and to be sure they are operating safely.
Is there a charge for diagnosing what
is wrong with my system?
Yes, this is part of the service call.
If a new furnace or air conditioner is needed, the
diagnostic portion of the service call is voided if you
purchase the new system from us.
If you have any additional questions
please send an email to
service@comfortairmechanical.com or call us at
510-317-7375
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