FAQS

When should I replace my old furnace and air conditioner?
 Typically a furnace or air conditioner will last 20-30 years.  Sometimes it pays to replace the old system sooner because of the higher  efficiency (and lower gas & electric bills) provided by newer  equipment.

Will a new furnace and air conditioner lower my gas and electric bills?
   YES! A new 13 SEER air conditioner can usually cut the  electricity used by the old air conditioner in half (this is the minimum  efficiency the federal government allows to be sold). A new 95% 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.

What is SEER?
   This stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. The size of  an air conditioner is rated in BTU or Tons; however the efficiency is  rated in SEER. The higher the SEER the lower the electricity bill.

Shouldn’t I install the highest SEER air conditioner available?
   In our climate, 13 SEER is considered standard efficiency (this  is the minimum efficiency the federal government allows to be sold) and  14 - 20 SEER is high efficiency. The initial investment is higher for a  14 - 20 SEER than a 13 SEER, but the electricity savings will usually  pay for the difference in 5-7 years.

What is a heat pump?
 In the summer, a heat pump is no different than an air  conditioner. In the winter, a heat pump operates in “reverse” and heats  the indoors. Heat pumps need auxiliary heat (electric resistance heat or  gas furnace) to help them when it is real cold or when the thermostat  is moved more than 2 degrees at a time. The initial investment for a  heat pump is higher than for an air conditioner, they have higher  maintenance costs. One common complaint of a heat pump is that the air  coming out of the registers is not hot enough (compared to a gas  furnace). With all their drawbacks, heat pumps can reduce the winter  heating bills. If you have electric heating, the savings is dramatic and  you will probably want to stay with a heat pump.
 

Should I replace my furnace and air conditioner at the same time, or can they be installed separately?
   If they are installed at the same time, the coil cabinet  (part of the air conditioner and sits on top of the furnace) will match  the furnace in color & style. Also it may be more convenient to  replace them at the same time, but they will operate OK whether they are  installed at the same time or not.

It’s summer and I need a new air conditioner. Should I install a new furnace too?
   The blower in the furnace moves the air for air conditioning as  well as heating. Usually the new furnaces have stronger blowers and can  move more air which can help cool your entire house better. If your  furnace is getting old, you should have the heat exchanger checked for  cracks. If it is cracked you should have the furnace or heat exchanger  replaced immediately.

What is a cracked heat exchanger? How serious is this?
   The part that transfers heat from the gas flame to the air in  the house is called a heat exchanger. If the heat exchanger has a crack  or rust hole in it, the fumes (especially carbon monoxide) enter the air  that comes out of the vents. This is why a cracked heat exchanger can  be so dangerous. A small crack may not be dangerous yet, but will get  bigger and even small amounts of carbon monoxide can be dangerous to  some people.
 

Is it OK to install a different brand of furnace (or air conditioner) to work with my existing air conditioner (or furnace)?
   Yes, this is ok. It is important that the furnace have the  proper size of blower to match the air conditioner, but this can be  determined easily.

My home has a forced air furnace but no air conditioner. Can I add central air?
   Yes. Air conditioners require more air flow than furnaces and  it may be necessary to add more ductwork. Also, local codes require that  your ductwork be insulated in attics and crawl spaces, and your  electrical service may need to be upgraded. Air Performance can  determine all of the costs required to add central air.

I have a floor furnace (or wall furnace) now and want to add central air & heat. How much will this cost?
 This will depend on how involved it is to run ductwork,  install the equipment, install a new flue, run the gas & electric,  etc. Air Performance will calculate the heating & cooling load on  your home to determine the proper size of equipment, ductwork, flue,  electrical, etc. Generally the investment will run between $7.000 -  $12,000 for a complete furnace & air conditioner system.
 

I think my ductwork has asbestos on it. How can I tell? What should I do about it?
   Asbestos usually looks like a gray or white paper material that  wraps around the ductwork and/or narrow strips around duct joints. It  is typically safe as long as it is not disturbed. Often it is best to  leave it undisturbed or to paint it to seal the asbestos fibers.  Sometimes it is best to remove all exposed asbestos, or at least the  narrow strips that touch the furnace. As a homeowner, it would be  dangerous to remove this yourself and could even contaminate the entire  home. Air Performance can handle any asbestos removal using an EPA  approved company and can include this as part of the total investment  for a new system.

How long does it take to install a new furnace or air conditioner?
   Generally allow one day for replacing a furnace and one day for  replacing an air conditioner. Occasionally an additional day is  required, especially if you are having an air cleaner or humidifier  installed. 

Does someone need to be home when the new system is installed?
   Much of the time it is not possible for the homeowner to be  home during the installation. Possibly a friend or relative can be home  during the installation, or you can be there to let the installers in  before you leave for work. Sometimes homeowners give us a key and our  installers don't even meet them until the installation is complete.

How do you determine what size of furnace and air conditioner to install?
   We will measure your home and calculate the actual heating  & cooling load on the home (calculation based on window size &  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 & ductwork and will be adjusted  based on your lifestyle, etc.

I want an oversized air conditioner. Is this a good idea? What are the advantages & disadvantages?
 An oversized air conditioner will cool your house quicker, but  it will use more electricity and will not remove humidity adequately.  If your ductwork is not big enough for the oversized air conditioner it  won't work properly. Obviously the air conditioner must be big enough to  cool the house, but too big is just as bad as too small. We will  recommend the proper size to cool your home.
 

Will a larger furnace work better than a smaller furnace?
               An oversized furnace will warm up the house quicker,  but it will use more fuel and there will be greater temperature swings. A  smaller furnace will maintain more even temperatures, use less fuel,  but will take longer to raise the temperature. Air Performance will  calculate the proper furnace size.

How do I know if my ductwork is adequate? Can this be fixed?
 The size of the air conditioner will determine the amount of  airflow needed. We will measure the ductwork during the initial survey  and determine if there is adequate ductwork, registers and grills.    Some rooms in our house don’t get enough heat (or cooling).  Sometimes running the blower continuously will solve this problem.  Usually the new furnace will have better air flow which will help, and  there is usually a way to install an additional register in the area to  obtain more air flow.

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. 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 is running.

What brand of equipment is best?
   There are several quality brands available as well as several  less expensive brands. Air Performance could choose any brand to sell  and install, however we have chosen Trane because of their quality,  reputation, availability of parts, support from our distributors, etc.  Even more important than the equipment is the quality of the  installation and the reputation of the dealer behind the installation.

How do I check out the companies I am considering to install my new system?
   This is the easiest, yet most important step - call customers.  Eliminate any company that doesn't give you at least four customers that  they have installed during the last 1-24 months. Call a few customers  at random and tell them you are considering a new system and ask about  their experience with Air Performance or any other company you are  considering.

How do I pay for my new system?
 For installation of new equipment, we may ask for a small  deposit of up to $1000 with the balance to be paid upon completion. Air  Perfomance also offers financing for qualified customers.
 

Why should I consider a new high-efficiency filter?
   High-efficiency filters remove more of the smaller particles  from the air. This will help us breathe better and reduce sinus  problems, headaches and colds. Many people miss fewer days from school  & work and use less allergy medication. The air is filtered before  entering the furnace and air conditioning A-coil which makes the  equipment last longer and will reduce fuel consumption 10%-15% over the  life of a new furnace and air conditioner. We have several different  filters available and can show you the differences in efficiency and  installation cost.

Should I have a new programmable thermostat installed with my new system?
   Programmable thermostats allow you to have the temperature  raise and lower automatically at specific times each day. They will  reduce your energy bills and increase your comfort (i.e. get up to a  warm bathroom during the winter). If your family follows a fairly  regular schedule, a programmable thermostat will pay for itself in a few  months. 

What kind of maintenance/service plan does Air Performance offer?
   We offer our in-house Peak Performance Plan which  includes, at  one reduced price, a pre-season preventive service and system cleaning  in the spring and fall. Any additional work during the year is performed  at a reduced rate also. The Peak Performance Plan will make your  equipment last longer, reduce your utility bills and assure you of a  safe & properly operating system.

A cracked heat exchanger is dangerous. How often should I have it checked?
   If your furnace is over 5 years old, it should be inspected by a  licensed serviceman every fall before the heating season begins. Any  other time the furnace is not operating properly (ex. the pilot blows  out) it should be checked too.

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.

Do you offer a free estimate?
 If a new furnace or air conditioner is needed, the diagnostic  portion of the service call is credited if you purchase the new system  from us.