What is HVAC?

HVAC- heating, ventilation, and air conditioning- It is a system that provides different types of heating and cooling services to residential and commercial buildings. Its function is to provide thermal comfort, humidity control and acceptable indoor air quality.

What is BTU?

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit; this unit of measure is used to measure cooling or heating capacity; 1 BTU is the amount of heat required to raise (or lower) the temperature of 1 pound of water 1-degree Fahrenheit. There are 12,000 BTU’s in 1 Ton of Cooling.

What is S.E.E.R.?

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It measures air conditioning and heat pump cooling efficiency, which is calculated by the cooling output for a typical cooling season divided by the total electric energy input during the same time frame. A higher SEER rating means greater energy efficiency.

What is the average life of a system?

Most systems have a lifetime of 10 to 15 years. As your equipment gets older, its efficiency can decrease dramatically. You may notice that it gets noisier and needs repairs more often. If your system is over 10 years old, you should have your system checked for maintenance or replacement.

How do I know if my A/C unit is big enough?

Before purchasing a replacement system, you should always make sure your system is sized properly. Our representative will provide a heat load calculation to determine the proper size and make the appropriate recommendation. Remember,bigger is not always better.

Is a system with more capacity better?

No.A larger system with more capacity delivers less comfort and costs more to operate. An air conditioner is at its least efficient when first turning on. A system with too much capacity will run in numerous short cycles, turning on and off repeatedly, therefore causing it to be less efficient. Also keep in mind that an air conditioner only removes humidity when it’s running, so a system with shorter run cycles doesn’t remove humidity from the air very well.

Should I repair or replace my system?

There are five main questions that need to be considered when deciding to either replace or repair your heating and cooling system:

1. How old is your system? If your system is more than ten years old, it may be wiser to invest in new, higher efficiency equipment, which could cut your energy costs by up to 40%.

2. What is the efficiency level of your current system?

3. What was the efficiency when the system was new? Unfortunately, replacing parts of your old system will not improve the efficiency. If the energy savings of using a higher efficiency system will cover all or part of the cost of investing in new equipment, you should seriously consider replacement of the old system.

4. What is the overall condition of your system? If your system is in solid condition, it could be wiser to simply repair it. But if your system breaks down often, you should consider replacing it. Consider the 50% Rule.

5. The 50% Rule- If the cost of repair vs. replacement of your system is less than half of its value and you haven’t been suffering the financial burden of frequent service calls to keep your system up and running, repair may be easier on your cheque book. Ask your technician to calculate the efficiency and energy usage of your system to help make a determination.

What does the warranty cover?

The warranty covers parts only. For complete details, refer to the warranty sheet provided with your unit.

How often should I maintain my air condition unit?

Preventative maintenance should be scheduled every six (6) months in normal conditions or every three (3) months in dusty or harsh conditions.

Are there any air conditioning systems that are safe for the environment?

Yes. Several manufactures have developed new systems that contain the environmentally friendly R410A, refrigerant. Visit our products page to view our entire line of R-410A products.

Why is R-22 being phased out?

HCFC-22, commonly called R-22, has been a common refrigerant used in residential heat pumps and air conditioners for more than 40 years. But releases of R-22, such as those from leaks, contribute to ozone depletion, and the making of R-22 results in a by-product that contributes to global warming. This refrigerant is now being phased out by the EPA.