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Your home’s heating and cooling systems are a major investment, and you have the right to expect years of trouble-free performance from the systems you buy. It helps to have the knowledge to choose the right equipment, and to know what to maintain and when once it’s installed.
As a key part of our commitment to service excellence, we do our best to share the information that our customers need. We want to help you to choose the right furnace or central air conditioner for you—and to get the most out of it for years to come. Some of the most commonly-asked questions and their answers are included below, but we’re always happy to answer any questions you may have. Call us at (248) 579-2362 and we’ll be glad to help.
Nobody wants to pay for unnecessary service calls. If your heating or cooling system isn’t working, or isn’t performing as it should, start by performing a few simple checks yourself – you might just save time and money.
Your furnace, air conditioner, and heat pump are precision-engineered, heavy duty systems which undergo long periods of intensive operation. No matter how well built, they can be expected to wear over time – and the lack of regular maintenance can accelerate that process. By changing filters, performing cleanings, and conducting other recommended regular maintenance as required, you extend the life of your systems and increase their efficiency.
Every furnace and air conditioner is different, and manufacturer’s specifications vary. However, you should expect to regularly inspect and replace your furnace’s air filter, clean dust and dirt from your air conditioner’s outside unit according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and get your systems professionally inspected at least once a year to ensure optimal performance.
You should inspect your air filter monthly, and replace it at least every six months. If you have a reusable air filter, clean it according to this schedule, or more often if it is especially dirty.
You should replace your humidifier filter at least once a year. Excess build-up of minerals, dirt, and pollutants can cause wear and damage to your humidifier, as well as making it operate less efficiently.
Turn your humidifier on in the fall and turn it off in the spring.
Change your thermostat batteries at least once per year, or more often if you notice any problems with inconsistent operation. Note that low batteries can cause your furnace or air conditioner to operate inconsistently, or not at all.
Clean your air conditioner’s outdoor unit as needed, but it is a good rule of thumb to clean it both at the beginning and the end of the operating season. With the unit switched off, use a garden hose to clean the exterior surface. For extremely dirty units or if dirt has collected in the air conditioner coils, contact Ehlers to schedule maintenance.
Regular inspection is a condition of most manufacturers’ warranties. Your system should be cleaned, inspected, and maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If not, needed repairs may not be covered.
Your furnace, air conditioner, and heat pump are some of the most expensive—and the most important—parts of your home. Taking care to address small problems early can prevent bigger, more costly problems later on. Your trained Ehlers technician will inspect your system thoroughly, check for any worn, damaged, or incorrectly operating components, and will make sure that your system is operating at its peak efficiency. This will save on your energy costs, as well as saving wear on the system.
You should have your heating and cooling systems professionally inspected at least once per year, preferably just before the beginning of the operating season: Fall for furnaces, spring for air conditioners.
There are a number of circumstances that can void a manufacturer’s warranty:
Your manufacturer’s warranty provides important protection for you in the event of a breakdown. If you are unsure about any aspect of repair, maintenance, inspection, or installation of your system, contact Ehlers for a consultation.
Apart from routine maintenance, there are a few ways to increase your system’s operation:
An oversized furnace or air conditioner changes the temperature too quickly, which can lead to hot and cold spots and humidity issues. On the other hand, an undersized unit has a hard time keeping up on the hottest summer days and coldest winter nights, leaving you feeling uncomfortable.
Rule-of-thumb sizing only takes your home’s square footage and climate into account, but this isn’t enough information to perform an accurate sizing calculation. At Ehlers, we consider your home’s orientation, insulation levels, air infiltration rates, heat gain and loss, window layout, basement and attic conditions, and occupancy in addition to square footage and climate. With this attention to detail, we ensure your heating and cooling system is sized correctly to meet your comfort and efficiency needs.
Your primary options include natural gas, oil, and electricity. We’ll help you select the best solution for your needs and budget.
Gas furnaces are the most popular fuel for home heating in the United States. If you have the infrastructure in place, natural gas is delivered to your home through pipes. This fuel is cleaner, more convenient, and often more cost effective than oil.
Still, oil is a viable option if you don’t have natural gas lines hooked up. Oil produces heat faster than gas, has no carbon monoxide risks, and keeps your home comfortable all winter.
Electricity is the most versatile option. A heat pump, ductless mini-split, or geothermal system allows you to heat and cool your home with a single piece of equipment. These options also open the door to solar-powered home heating and cooling to help you do your part for the environment.
Since you probably spend a majority of your time indoors, the air quality here is a major factor in determining your overall health. To help you and your family breathe easier, make an effort to improve IAQ.
Too much humidity can make you feel cold and clammy. Condensation forms on cold surfaces, mold begins to grow, and allergens thrive. Too little humidity is just as bad, resulting in sore throats, dry sinuses, and itchy skin. Static electricity gives you painful shocks throughout the day, and the dry conditions cause wood cabinets and floors to crack.
The ideal indoor relative humidity level is about 30 to 40 percent. Running a dehumidifier alongside your air conditioner helps bring the humidity down in the summer, while a humidifier operating in tandem with your furnace raises the humidity in the winter. A humidistat built into a whole-house unit allows you to precisely control the humidity level to meet your needs.
For prompt and reliable HVAC services in the Livonia area, you can rely on Ehlers Heating & Air Conditioning. We aim to do more than just install or repair the HVAC equipment in your home. Our goal is to make you a customer for life!
Ehlers Heating & Air Conditioning offers:
If you have additional questions about the HVAC services we offer, contact us online or call us today at (248) 579-2362.
Ehlers is proud to be a Carrier dealer and top HVAC company in the Livonia, MI area.
