Frequently asked questions.
We've been at this since 1974, and in that time we've fielded quite a lot of questions. Here's the ones we hear most often
We've been at this since 1974, and in that time we've fielded quite a lot of questions. Here's the ones we hear most often
That depends.
If you have a heat pump then, no, you can’t cover it. Your outdoor unit runs for both heating and cooling, and covering it in the winter could cause catastrophic damage.
If you have a straight cooling unit you can certainly you can if you want. It can keep leaves and other debris out of the unit, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The only caveat is you MUST remember to uncover it before starting it back up in the summer.
And those mesh tops you can attach to the top of your unit? Just don’t do it. They restrict airflow, and doing that can cause your system to overheat.
Most people will tell you every 30 days, and there’s nothing wrong with doing that.
But you may not need to.
If you live near dirt roads, or have kids or pets constantly in and out of the house, or you’re finally remodeling the kitchen, then it’s definitely a good idea to adopt the 30 day cycle.
But if it’s just you and your significant other, with the occasional house guest, then you may be able to stretch it to 60 or 90 days.
Basically, use your common sense. If you check your filter at 30 days and it’s got hardly any dust or debris, leave it alone. If not, then by all means change it – it’s the cheapest thing you can do to help the efficiency of your system.
One very important thing to remember – that “On” and “Auto” setting have nothing to do with controlling your furnace or condenser.
The fan control on your thermostat determines how your indoor fan operates wi1th your system.
Setting it to “On” will force your blower to stay on all the time, regardless if your heating/cooling system is on.
Setting it to “Auto” will allow your indoor blower to turn on and off when your heating/cooling system is running.
In most cases you want to set it to “Auto”. This is the most efficient setting, and typically gives you great results.
The advantage to setting it to “On” is that you get constant air circulation, which can help with hot or cold spots, and can keep your air fresher and better filtered. Of course, this setting will use more electricity, so balance that with your other needs.
Most utilities and energy companies tell you to set your thermostat to 68 in the winter and 78 in the summer.
That’s not really reasonable for many (if not most) people, so the real answer is to set your thermostat where you’re comfortable.
That does come with a caveat, of course. The lower you set your temperature in the summer, the higher your bill will be. In fact, many studies have shown that setting your thermostat a single degree cooler in the summer can impact your bill as much as 5%. That can be significant, especially to those living on a fixed income.
And you also have to remember that the cooling system in your home is not a refrigeration system. You can’t expect to keep your home at 60 degrees – and in fact, trying to do that can damage your system, since you could easily get your evaporator coil temperature below the freeze point and cause a dangerous freezeup condition.
You certainly can, but it’s usually best to leave it to the professionals. Maintenance is a LOT more than just cleaning the coils and filter. A typical maintenance visit will involve checking the electrical and refrigerant systems, checking ductwork, blowers, wiring, drain lines, refrigerant lines … the list goes on.
If you DO decide to clean your outdoor unit, please be sure to turn off power to the unit, and don’t direct water into motors, boards, or other electrical areas.