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Frequently Asked Heating & Air Conditioning Questions |
Q: Do the more expensive department store air filters actually save on utility bills? A: If an air filter of any price restricts the air flow, it will make the equipment less efficient. So, most store filters sold at a higher price usually claim utility savings, but because the media is such a tight fabric, it restricts air. This makes it a good particle stopper, but at the cost of equipment efficiency, making your utility bills higher. The solution is a tight fabric that has more surface area. A filter that is corrugated like an accordion and deeper will stop the particles without restricting the air flow because it has many more tiny openings for air flow. Q: I have two quotes from different companies for replacement furnace and air conditioner system. It's apples to apples as the model numbers are all the same. One company’s price is higher than the other. If they sell the same thing, shouldn’t the price be the same? A: Unlike a commodity product such as a car or a TV, a new system must be sized, matched, assembled, commissioned, and tested. If any of these things are done incorrectly, something suffers such as efficiency, equipment life, sound quality, and general comfort. Therefore it matters how it is installed, so if one cut corners, it would cheapen the job but lower the value. Compare the companies and make a decision by getting references, checking credentials, comparing warranties, and following your instincts. Q: When I see a “free furnace” advertisement, I wonder how a company can give away a $1500 item most of the year without raising the price on the other items to make up the difference. A: Beats me. I would compare the total price of the system, along with making sure the products and companies are comparable. If the total is less with the free furnace, it doesn’t matter how you do the math. If it is more in spite of the free furnace, than it still doesn’t matter. They could just as well give you a free a/c, coil, and furnace when you buy the thermostat. It would be like getting a free car by buying a $30,000 key. Q: I’ve been told that the heat exchanger in my furnace has cracked. The furnace heats fine in spite of this. I have also bought a CO tester and it has not gone off. I have not felt any symptoms or illness nor has any family members. I was told that I should not use this furnace, and should buy a new one because the part to fix is no longer made. What do you think? A: Let’s rephrase the question. Would it be better to wait until someone suffered the effects of CO before replacing my damaged furnace? Of course not. So what you are weighing is risk. Risk of buying a furnace that you may not have needed, verses, life and health of your family. I think one risk outweighs the other. Please send or call in your questions
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