Central A/C System FAQ's
Below is a short list of frequently asked questions. If you don't find the answer to your specific question or after reading through our answers you still have a question or two, simply give us a call!. Call us old-fashioned but we still believe in providing the highest level of customer service we can!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Change My Own Thermostat?
How Do I Charge Up My System If It Needs Freon?
Why Do Air Conditioners Fail?
Why Is There Ice On The Outside Of My System?
How Often Should I Change My Filter? BACK TO TOP
For a 1 inch filter change your filter every 30 day's - for a 2" filter change your filter every 60 days, for a 4" filter, change your filter every 90 days (3 months).
Can I Change My Own Thermostat? BACK TO TOP
You CAN change out your own thermostat, but it's not advisable. Thermostats come in many different types. 2 stage, single cool, Heat Pump single stage, programmable, non-programmable, etc. The list goes on. We get calls over and over again from customers who have attempted to change out their own thermostats, only to have to call us in to get the heating and air conditioning to work again. Your thermostat should only be changed out by a qualified service technician. A thermostat is really NOT a do-it-yourself fix.
How Do I Charge Up My System If It Needs Freon? BACK TO TOP
R-22 and R-410A refrigerant can only be purchased by an EPA certified technician. And you don't want the friend that has a drum of R-22 to come over and set the charge on your HVAC system. Each manufacturer has a set point for each system, and your licensed and qualified technician will know exactly what that is. Adding refrigerant may not be the problem. You may have a leak in the coil, or could have leaks around the valves. All of this needs to be fixed BEFORE adding more refrigerant into a system. If you feel that your system may need refrigerant, give us a call and let us get you on the schedule to have your system checked. Sometimes what people think is nothing more than needing refrigerant ends up being something else all together.
I'm Thinking of Replacing My System, What Size Should I Get? BACK TO TOP
Square footage of your home is only one of many factors taken into consideration when right sizing the system for your home. Our Comfort Advisor comes out to your home free of charge and does a load calculation on your home. This load calculation takes into consideration the amount of windows in the home, those with and without window treatments, the type of doors, insulation, etc. The list goes on. What may be right for one 1800 square foot home could be something quite opposite for another 1800 square foot home. Get a free estimate...and make sure that the contractor giving you the estimate addresses all of your concerns not just in size, but all the options that are available to you.
Why Do Air Conditioners Fail? BACK TO TOP
Wow...now that's a hard one! There are many many reasons that systems fail. It depends on what the failure is. Here in North Texas our biggest problem is the summer time heat and the amount of run-time our air conditioners experience. Most customers start running their air conditioning in May and don't stop running the A/C until October. All of this depends on the weather...but we have a very long cooling season here. In addition to making sure your filters are changed regularly there are other things you can do to keep your system running properly. Keep all bushes and brush away from your outside condensing unit. These units NEED to breathe. Make sure that fire ants or any bugs are kept away from the condensing unit as well. Keep the unit clean by hosing it off every couple of weeks (depending on trees and dirt in your area). Make sure if your thermostat takes batteries that the batteries are changed out yearly. The majority of system failures occur due to systems not being maintained properly. Get your system inspected twice a year...once in the Spring and once in the Fall. At the first sign of trouble with your system - give your HVAC service company a call.
Why Is There Ice On The Outside Of My System? BACK TO TOP
Often this is an indication of low refrigerant or a clogged filter. However, that is not the ONLY reason the system would ice up. If you see that your condensing unit is frozen or the lines to it are freezing, turn off the system. This is important for two reasons. Number one, it keeps your system from causing more damage. Second, a service technician can do nothing with the system while it's frozen. It needs time to thaw out. Once freezing happens, turn off the system, call your HVAC technician.
