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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.