The information here pertains to Kansas area and climate. Factors that impact design and operation for different areas include, among other things, climate, building construction, local codes, and available equipment. If you are in an area outside Kansas, please check a more local source for accurate information for your area.
How often should I change my filter?
Why is there so much dust in my house?
Can I get carbon monoxide from my furnace?
Should I be concerned with air leakage from my ducts?
What’s the big deal about geothermal systems?
I believe my utility bills are higher than they should be.
How often should I have my system serviced?
Which brands of HVAC equipment are the best?
Can a better thermostat save me money?
How do WIFI thermostats work?
Some rooms are warmer/colder than others. How can I even out the temperatures?
How often should I change my filter?
For most houses every three months will work. However, the interval will be shorter for houses that get excess dust, the filter is undersized, you run the fan on continuous, or your system gets excess running time. The interval will be longer for the opposite reasons, and some filters today are of higher capacity types, (2″ to 5″ thick), to last longer, up to a year. Under no circumstances should the system be operated without a filter, or with an undersized filter, as these practices would allow dirt buildup in the system that will decrease efficiency or cause damage, and result in professional cleaning of system components. When putting in the filter, note the arrow on the edge of the filter labeled “air flow”. This arrow should always be pointing toward the unit when the filter is correctly put it. When the filter goes in a filter grill in a wall the arrow points to the back of the grill. (back to top)
Why is there so much dust in my house?
The dust doesn’t come from your system, as it doesn’t make dust. The reason the dust isn’t collected on your filter is because it doesn’t make it to the filter. Lower grade filters let fine dust through as well. To get your system to collect as much dust as possible, you would need to use a good grade of filter and be willing to run your fan continuously, (Fan setting on thermostat on “ON” instead of “AUTO”), particularly in the seasons of mild weather when neither the heat nor A/C is cycling much.
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If you have a furnace that burns fuel, CO (carbon monoxide) is produced, but if your furnace is all electric, CO is not a threat. When a furnace is properly serviced and maintained, the threat of CO leakage is minimized. Forced air furnaces manufactured since 1993 have extremely minimal risk of releasing CO due to improved safety standards and furnace designs which provide power venting of flue gases. For homes with forced air furnaces manufactured before 1993, homes with gravity vent heating appliances (wall furnace, floor furnace, console heater), or other gas burning appliances or a fireplace, we recommend a CO alarm be installed. Keep in mind that CO alarms should be replaced every 5 years. Check the manufacturer’s information. (back to top)
Should I be concerned with air leakage from my ducts?
Only if your ductwork is in unconditioned space. In this part of the country ducts in crawl spaces are usually not insulated or sealed because air that escapes is trapped under the floor, and in the winter serves to keep the crawlspace and plumbing a little warmer. Foundation walls around crawlspaces should be sealed and even insulated for greater energy savings. Ducts that are outside would certainly need to be sealed and insulated, and ducts in attic spaces should be well insulated. Some would argue that duct work in basements and crawlspaces needs to be sealed, but the acid test is this: Is the area in question getting too warm when heating, or too cool with the A/C on? If so, then air leaks need to be sealed. If not, you stand to gain very little by sealing the ducts, and in fact you may end up adding a register later in those same areas to provide some circulation. (back to top)
What’s the big deal about geothermal systems?
Geothermal systems heat by extracting heat from the ground as opposed to creating heat from gas, electricity, or oil, and cool by rejecting heat to the ground. They are very efficient and eco-friendly. For more information on geothermal systems go here. (back to top)
I believe my utility bills are higher than they should be.
They may be. Here are the things to check to keep your system working as efficiently as possible:
- Keep filters changed
- Keep areas around heating and cooling appliances clear
- Keep at least 75% of registers open (Exception-basement registers don’t need to be included in a system that is properly installed)
- Keep coils on outside units clean and free of debris
- Have your system serviced and evaluated regularly by a professional
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How often should I have my system serviced?
Different systems require different maintenance. Typical residential furnaces manufactured in the last 25 years require little maintenance, but there are many controls and safety devices that should be checked. These systems should be checked annually or at least bi-annually, and older furnaces should be checked annually. Outside A/C’s definitely need cleaned and checked annually, especially for refrigerant charge. A system that has lost even a little refrigerant will cause higher utility bills due to excess running time, and you may not realize a problem as it still seems to cool adequately. Low charge also reduces the life of the unit due to excess run time and also because low charge causes the compressor to run hotter. (back to top)
Which brands of HVAC equipment are the best?
While some brands will exhibit better design, more features, or quieter operation, the best thing is to research warranties and the track records of equipment used in your area. The major manufacturers all carry different grades of equipment and the price goes up with the efficiency. The good news is that more efficient units don’t work as hard, so they also would have a longer life-cycle in addition to using less energy. More important than the brand of equipment is the installing contractor. Most problems with HVAC systems can be traced to a faulty installation or poor practices, yet the equipment gets the blame most of the time. Do your homework on local contractors to insure the best quality. (back to top)
Can a better thermostat save me money?
Thermostats do one thing, they turn on the heat or A/C as you need it, that’s all. If you aren’t in the habit of setting your thermostat to an energy saving setting when you’re away or sleeping, then a programmable type will save on utility expenses if you program it to change the setting when you are away or sleeping. If you’re already manually changing the settings yourself, it won’t save you any more, it will just provide the convenience of changing the setting automatically. (back to top)
How do WIFI thermostats work?
WIFI thermostats must be connected to a network with internet access to get the benefits of remote access and remote programming, and they provide outside information that is retrieved from the web. They will work without internet access, but they will do no more than a good programmable type. With all features enabled these thermostats will give you remote access, which allows for monitoring and programming from a smart phone, tablet or computer. This is handy if you’re away for days and want to check in to insure the house is maintaining correct temperatures, and you want to bring the system on before you arrive home. NOTE: If you want to replace an existing thermostat with a WIFI thermostat, check first to see if there is a “C” wire terminal on your existing thermostat with a wire connected. Many WIFI thermostats require the “C” wire, and some don’t. Check this before you shop.(back to top)
Some rooms are warmer/colder than others. How can I even out the temperatures?
Your ductwork determines how the air is balanced through your house, and moving your thermostat won’t correct uneven air distribution. The registers must be adjusted to change the balance of airflow to different areas, and some house designs are very difficult to get a good balance, such as split level homes. Air balancing instructions are here. (back to top)