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.

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.

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.

Yes, they can be installed separately; however, to ensure proper efficiency and capacity they should be installed as a matched system.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.