Every time your system starts up, it will use a lot of electricity and not produce much cooling. Usually a system that is too small to cool the home is more economical to run but delivers less comfort. Even though it runs nonstop, it will usually consume less power than a larger system that cycles on and off. As a rule of thumb, a unit that is either on or off is less expensive than one cycling on and off.

Yes. Check to be sure that the air handler or furnace is plugged in. Check that the breakers and the disconnects are turned on and be sure the thermostat is set correctly.

Yes, this is normal. A heat pump generally produces air that is 80°, which is considered warm, and will heat the house evenly. However, 80° may feel cool to your hand, which is usually closer to 90°.

Think of your air conditioner and furnace as part of a total system. That system will work better, longer and more efficiently if all of its components are matched in capacity and efficiency. By the same token, a mismatched system — one that mixes old technology with new — could decrease system performance and overall comfort.

For example, your new air conditioner will be rated with a specific SEER efficiency rating. If your existing furnace and indoor coil don't match in efficiency and capacity, you might not get the efficiency level you paid for. Plus, an older indoor coil may even be dirty and clogged with particles, meaning more energy will be required to push air through the system.

Covering your unit during the winter months is a good idea. Even though air conditioning systems are manufactured to withstand all possible climate changes, covering your outdoor unit will prevent snow and ice from damaging fan blades and putting them out of balance.

Most manufacturers will tell you that plants should not be placed any closer than 18 inches (45 cm) to the outdoor unit. Air conditioners need to take in and exhaust air to operate efficiently, and if that air cannot circulate, the unit could build up heat and require service.

Although it depends largely on your personal needs and tastes, a home humidifier is certainly helpful during the coldest weeks of winter. In extremely cold temperatures, insufficient moisture in the air is responsible for a variety of problems, including dry and bleeding noses, sore throats, dust buildup, static electricity, and cracks and dried-out joints in wood furniture.

In the spring, if you have a drum-style humidifier, remember to turn off the water flow, drain and clean the pan to ensure that harmful mold spores and bacteria cannot form over the summer.

A bad smell is usually the result of not using the gas furnace very often, which allows dust to settle on the heat exchanger. Then, when the furnace is turned on, the dust is burnt off – producing the bad smell. If you still have this problem even when the furnace is in regular use, consider replacing a filter in your system to prevent excess dust buildup.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that you cannot see, smell or taste. It is produced by the incomplete burning of fuels such as natural gas, propane, heating oil, kerosene, coal, charcoal or wood. Improperly installed or poorly maintained appliances that run on these fuels may create unsafe levels of CO.

Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, burning eyes, confusion, drowsiness and even loss of consciousness. In very severe cases, CO poisoning can cause brain damage and death.

CO warning signs include:

• A sharp, penetrating odor when your gas furnace or other fuel-burning appliance turns on
• The air feels stale or stuffy
• The pilot light of your furnace goes out
• Chalky, white powder forms on the chimney/exhaust vent pipe or soot builds up around the exhaust vent
• Excessive moisture forms on windows and walls
• Unusual headaches, muscle tightness, disorientation and tiredness.

While CO detectors can warn you about sudden failures of your fuel-burning appliances, they are not a substitute for regular furnace care and maintenance.

A limited warranty covers specific parts (compressor, coil, heat exchanger, etc.); therefore, it is limited by the language in the warranty. Extended warranties are generally purchased in addition to the equipment, covering all parts and also possibly including labour and service call coverage.

As a rule, fireplaces are not very efficient for heating your home. They draw a great deal of inside, heated air up the chimney. If you have a fireplace in your home, consider installing glass doors that limit the amount of air drawn up the chimney.

Absolutely not! If your stove/oven is electric, the exposed elements can cause severe burns if they come in contact with your skin. If you have a gas stove/oven, breathing the combustion byproducts can cause severe breathing difficulties or even death. The safest thing to do is keep all doors and windows closed and bundle up until the heat is restored.

Window air conditioners should either be removed or sealed in winter to prevent cold air from entering the home and warm air escaping. Insulated covers are available which can be effective in reducing this air leakage if it is not feasible to remove the units. Sealing the inside and outside of the units with plastic sheeting can also be effective.

There is no exact answer for how long your system should run during each cycle. The average air conditioner is sized to remove the heat from your home as fast as it comes in, on a 110° day. Therefore, ideally, on a 110° day the system should be able to keep up with the incoming heat, but not gain on it and be able to turn off. The cooler it is below 110°, the more the system will cycle on and off.

The air temperature your system produces depends on the temperature of the air going into the system. Generally, the air produced should be 18°-20° below what enters the system. So if the air entering the system is 80°, the air exiting should be about 60°-62°. However, that only works on a system that has been running at least 15 minutes on a warm, dry day with a home that is about 80° inside. On a mild day, with an indoor temperature in the low 70's, or during humid conditions, the air coming out may only be 15°-17° cooler than what enters.

For optimum efficiency and filtration, we recommend that you replace your disposable filters at least once a month. If you have washable filters, they should be cleaned once a month.

The most important maintenance you can do is to change your filters regularly. Ground mounted outdoor units need to be kept clear of debris, clutter; weeds or landscaping that can grow too close and reduce the airflow to the unit. Also, keep pets away from the unit because pet urine can cause expensive damage. Use caution with a weed trimmer around the unit to prevent damaging control wiring. Any additional maintenance should only be performed by qualified personnel and should be done on a yearly basis to help maintain the air conditioners efficiency.

You should have maintenance done on your air conditioning system once a year. This not only ensures maximum efficiency, it enables us to foresee any possible problems that may occur in the near future. Our Comfort Assurance Program (CAP) plan is specifically designed to keep your air conditioning system running at its peak efficiency year-round.

Yes. Several manufactures have developed new systems that contain the environmentally friendly R410A, or Puron, refrigerant. Visit our products page to view our entire line of Puron products.

Yes, they can actually play a big part in your complete home comfort. We have a variety of whole-house filtration devices. Some electronic air cleaners can even remove dust particles and pollen as small as .10 micron. Visit our products page for more information about the electronic air cleaners we offer.

No. Closing the registers will decrease the systems' airflow and efficiency. Every system is designed to cool a certain number of square feet. By closing registers and doors in certain rooms, you disrupt the airflow and cause your air conditioning system to work harder to distribute air to other areas of your home. Your system will work harder, to cool less space, making it cycle more and become less efficient.

When cool outdoor air enters a home it tends to dry out as it warms up, which increases the static electricity in the home and causes sinus problems. Adding a humidifier with help to add moisture back into the air and limit sinus problems. In the summer, even with outdoor relative humidity hovering around the single digits, the humidity in your home tends to be around 40%. The average comfort range for relative humidity in a home is from 35 to 45%.

Yes. During the cold weather months, frost will accumulate on the outdoor coil. This will cause the heat pump to go into a defrost cycle anywhere from 1-10 minutes, depending on the amount of ice on the coil. The system will return to the heating mode once the ice is gone.

Before purchasing a replacement system you should always make sure your system is sized properly. Our representative will provide a heat load calculation to determine the proper size and make the appropriate recommendation. Remember, bigger is not always better.

For people who suffer from allergies, American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning recommends the AccuClean™ Whole Home Air Filtration System. It can clean up to an astonishing 99.98% of allergens from the filtered air that your family breathes. With AccuClean™, the majority of irritating particles like dust, pollen, pet hair and dander, dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, most tobacco smoke, cooking grease, even bacteria, will be removed from the filtered air. In fact, AccuClean™ removes 100 times more allergens than the standard 1 inch throwaway filters that come with most systems.

If you have just had renovations done, you should get the ducts cleaned as soon as the job is complete to eliminate all of the dirt, sawdust, etc. from your ducts. Otherwise, under normal circumstance, we recommended getting a duct cleaning done every three to five years.

Contrary to popular belief there, is no rule of thumb for sizing a system to a home. Depending upon the construction of your home, one (1) ton of air conditioning can cool anywhere from 300 to 800 square feet of home. The only way to insure the size of the system you purchase will be large enough to cool your home, but not any larger than you need, is to have your home's individual heating and cooling needs evaluated by a licensed professional.

The S.E.E.R. (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) is the amount of cooling your system will deliver per dollar spent on electricity. For example, a 3-ton unit may have a S.E.E.R. efficiency rating of 13, 14, or 15. The higher the S.E.E.R. the more efficient the system will be. The S.E.E.R. rating of any given unit can range anywhere from 13 to 17.

The most important thing you can do is clean and replace your filters frequently. Also, a system heats and cools more evenly when the blower is in the "on" position. The blower provides constant air movement throughout the home, and allows for better filtration. Finally, shades, drapes, shutters, or screens should be installed on windows that are exposed to extreme sunlight.

No. A larger system with more capacity delivers less comfort and costs more to operate. An air conditioner is at its least efficient when first turning on. A system with too much capacity will run in numerous short cycles, turning on and off repeatedly, therefore causing it to be less efficient. Also keep in mind that an air conditioner only removes humidity when it's running, so a system with shorter run cycles doesn't remove humidity from the air very well.

Obviously the time of year becomes a big factor for desired temperature settings. In the summer months the average temperature setting is 78°-80°, in the winter 70°-72° seems to be the most common setting. Remember, when leaving your house, try to avoid drastic temperature changes. Do not set your temperature back more than 5°; this will cause your unit to work harder to achieve the desired temperature setting.

Due to the many different makes, models and customer needs, price is an issue that can only be solved by doing a thorough evaluation of your home and existing equipment. There is no charge for an in-house replacement proposal.

The term "variable speed" refers to the furnace's indoor air blower motor. The blower motor is the component that determines the amount of air the blower is required to deliver to your home.

When your furnace is installed, the speed and airflow for your home are set depending upon your specific situation, such as the size of your home, etc. However, there are situations that can occur within the household to restrict this airflow, such as ductwork design, unit location, zoning and dirty filters, to name just a few. Think of variable-speed technology as your insurance for home comfort the way you prefer it. Variable-speed technology ensures that your home receives the amount of air required to keep you and your family comfortable. Variable-speed motors have intelligent technology that monitor incoming data from the blower and adjust accordingly so you can feel confident that your system is working to keep you comfortable.

Having the technology of variable speed in your furnace offers many benefits:

Electrical efficiency: Variable-speed motors can actually save you money on your energy bills as they consume less electricity than standard motors.

Cooling efficiency: Variable-speed technology also means you will gain air conditioning efficiency or SEER.

Zoning: Variable-speed furnaces are excellent for zoning, where you control the conditioning of your home. Zoning allows you to customize your comfort in different areas or zones in your home and control your energy bills.

Air quality: A variable-speed motor combined with a humidistat allows you to control the humidity in your home. Humidity plays a big role not only in the comfort of your home, but also in its air quality. The relative humidity in your home should be between 30 and 60 percent. This range is most ideal to minimize growth of biological pollutants such as mold and mildew. The consistent airflow of the variable-speed motor also helps to improve air filtration.

Your local Service Experts sales and service center can show you additional benefits of owning a variable-speed system.

Thanks to the innovation of two-stage heating, it is possible for your home to be cozier than ever while saving you money on your energy bill in the process. Two-stage heating can be a tremendous help when looking for that just-right temperature during the cold winter months.

Traditional single-stage furnaces are designed to heat your home and keep you warm during the coldest weather in your climate. Therefore, when they are operating, they are heating at their full capacity. Unlike those furnaces, two-stage furnaces are designed to operate like two separate furnaces, maintaining more consistent comfort levels throughout the home.

The first stage consists of the furnace running at about 68% of its heating capacity. A two-stage furnace will always start in the first stage and attempt to meet the heating demand. This reduced capacity is enough to warm a home on mild winter days. When temperatures drop, the furnace adjusts itself and enters the second stage to meet the demand for heat within the home. With two-stage heating, a homeowner has no need to keep adjusting the thermostat.

Two-stage heating has many advantages:

Consistent comfort: Thanks to two-stage technology, the temperature inside your home should vary only a couple of degrees versus the larger temperature swings that are common with traditional furnaces.

Quiet comfort: Because a two-stage furnace starts in its first stage, when the amount of heat required is lower, and runs in this stage about 80 percent of the time, it greatly reduces the noise associated with furnaces that turn on and run full blast. Two-stage technology means quiet comfort.

Improved air filtration: A two-stage furnace provides more consistent airflow and with more consistent airflow comes improved air filtration, which means you'll breathe easier with two-stage heating.

Efficient operation: Because the furnace spends the majority of its time operating in its lower-capacity first stage, it burns less fuel than a traditional furnace that always runs at full capacity and then shuts off when the heating demand has been met.

Although you can't see the air and temperature within your home, you can certainly feel them. A two-stage furnace can provide preferred comfort within your home despite the changes in weather outside your home.

Your local Service Experts sales and service center can show you additional benefits of owning a two-stage system.

Although it will cost more initially, buying a high-efficiency furnace, air conditioner or heat pump is an economically and environmentally responsible decision. Equipment with high efficiency ratings will:

• Use less energy, which helps conserve non-renewable resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• Pay for itself many times over as it accumulates savings over its lifetime from lower energy use
• Cost less to operate thanks to more efficient motors and fans than standard HVAC systems
• Often have a longer and more comprehensive warranty

Yes, it is. According to General Electric Corporation, a DC (ECM) motor can save up to $325 per year on electrical usage.

The best setting is the lowest temperature at which your family is comfortable. Most people are comfortable at a setting of 68-70 degrees. You can save up to three percent for each degree you lower your thermostat temperature.

With most heating systems, you will save money by turning your thermostat back when you are away from home four hours or more. If you have a heat pump, you should either set the thermostat at a comfortable temperature and leave it or purchase a programmable thermostat specifically designed for a heat pump. DO NOT set your thermostat back more than 5 degrees; This will cause your unit to work harder to achieve the desired temperature setting.

Dual fuel systems can switch between two different fuels or energy sources, typically gas and electricity. The most common type combines an electric heat pump with a gas furnace. The heat pump provides heating during milder weather when it is most efficient, and the gas furnace takes over in colder weather when it is most efficient.