Frequently Asked Questions
- How long should my old
air conditioner and furnace last?
- My electric
and gas bills are high. Will a new air conditioner and furnace lower
my bills?
- What is Seer?
- Should I replace my
air conditioner and furnace at the same time, or can they be
installed separately?
- Is it OK to install a different
brand of air conditioner (or furnace) to work with my existing air
conditioner (or furnace)?
-
My friend works for an air conditioning and heating company and says
he can install a new air conditioner (or furnace) for me for a lot
less money. Is this a good idea?
- How does Advent
Air Conditioning determine what size of air conditioner and furnace
to install?
- Should I run the blower continuously, or use the
auto position on the thermostat?
- How many bids should I get before I decide on a
new system?
- Why should I have my air conditioner checked in
the spring and my furnace checked in the fall?
1. Q: How long should my old air
conditioner and furnace last?
Typically an air conditioner or
furnace will last 10-12 years. Sometimes it pays to replace the old
system sooner because of the higher efficiency (lower gas and electric
bills) provided by equipment. Due to our climate, life expectancies
can vary greatly. Maintenance is a must to maximize efficiency and
protect your investment.
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2. Q: My electric and gas
bills are high. Will a new air conditioner and furnace lower my bills?
YES! A new air conditioner can
cut electrical consumption, as much as 50%. Even a 12 SEER air
conditioner will cut the electricity used by as much as 30%. 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.
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3. Q: What is Seer?
This stands for Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio. The size of an air conditioner is rated in 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.
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4. Q: Should I replace my air
conditioner and furnace at the same time, or can they be installed
separately?
Yes, they can be installed
separately; however, to ensure proper efficiency and capacity they
should be installed as a matched system.
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5. Q: Is it OK to install a
different brand of air conditioner (or furnace) to work with my
existing air conditioner (or furnace)?
Although it is generally
recommended to match components, most brands of air conditioners will
work with others as long as the coils and blowers are the proper size.
You may however, experience some loss of efficiency and capacity.
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6. Q: My friend works for an air
conditioning and heating company and says he can install a new air
conditioner (or furnace) for me for a lot less money. Is this a good
idea?
Be sure he has a 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.
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7. Q: How does Advent Air
Conditioning determine what size of air conditioner and furnace to
install?
An Advent Comfort Consultant
will measure your home and calculate the actual cooling and heating
load on the home (calculation based on window size and 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 and ductwork and will be adjusted
based on your lifestyle, etc.
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8. Q: 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
and 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.
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9. Q: How many bids should I get before I decide on a new system?
Three bids are generally enough.
If Advent Air Conditioning, Inc. is servicing your current system, or
if we have installed equipment for you in the past, you should be
comfortable in obtaining a proposal from Advent, then determining if
you feel the need to obtain additional bids. Another way to obtain
several bids without the effort is to call current customers that have
had a system installed recently and ask why they chose Advent Air
Conditioning (your comfort consultant can give you a list of
customers).
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10. Q: 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.
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