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Answers to 10 Most Frequent HVAC Questions

Microclimate management is composed of three complex systems: heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (collectively named HVAC). A non-professional person might find it challenging to understand the principles of work of climate equipment. However, most of us face such necessity sooner or later. The Best Heating Cooling & Air Company, one of the best certified contractors in Denver, answers the questions of how to increase the energy efficiency of HVAC, when you need HVAC replacement, and other important and frequent questions.

1. How to calculate the energy efficiency of equipment?

To define the energy efficiency of HVAC equipment, the correlation of produced heat or cold to the cost of the consumed electric energy per month is calculated. The more efficient this correlation is, the better your HVAC works and the lesser money is eaten by the electricity bills, so it is cheaper to operate this specific HVAC.

2. Can I improve the energy efficiency of my HVAC on my own?

Unless you’re a specialist, you shouldn’t expect a dramatic reduction in the cost of HVAC operation in your premises. It is almost never possible to dramatically reduce it without the help of certified professionals, equipped with the necessary tools. But don’t give up immediately! There are some simplest options of the improvement of the HVAC efficacy available for everyone:

Clean and replace air filters of HVAC regularly. Clogging complicates air circulation and prevents heat distribution; thus, the coolant isn’t cooled as it should and the evaporator freezes over and starts to leak during warm weather
Regulate the airflow in the ventilation grills. If there is more than a 10% difference between the real level and the level given in specifications, then you should balance the inflow and outflow of the air
Check the thermostat: in summer, it should be set to maximum; in winter – to a minimum.

3. How to define the optimal size of an air conditioner?

The size of the conditioner block is defined based on the size of the premises. Planning is also taken into account, including the room number, their configuration, and location, as well as the presence of doors between the rooms. It would be better if these measurements were undertaken by a professional contractor since certified engineers of BHCAir won’t make a mistake in defining the optimal microclimate system, having proper specifications.

4. When it’s required to change filters?

The air filter change frequency depends on the exploitation conditions and specifications of HVAC. For most premises, it would be enough to change or clean filters once per 2-3 months. Under some conditions, filters would need to be changed more often – once in 1-2 months. Do not forget to regularly check your filters to find and eliminate clogging in such cases:

In very dusty premises and in the ecologically unfavorable areas; the biggest tempo of filter clogging is in the buildings of the 1970s and older years of construction
Watch after the air cleanliness regularly if children, elderly people, people with allergies, or people with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases live in the house
Many pets are very sensitive to dust; inhaling dirty air may be a cause of pet allergies
Consider seasonal factor: change filters more frequently in summer than in winter.

Make sure to check air conditioner filters more often to keep everyone healthier!

5. My furnace smells bad. What should I do?

In the very first days of the start of a heating season, you could feel a slight smell of gas, gasoline, or smoke. Normally, they evaporate soon. But if the fume does not go away, then you must suspect leakage. To prevent the risk of fire, you should switch off your furnace and contact a service center for help.

6. How many times a year should I do HVAC maintenance?

Scheduled maintenance of microclimate systems is made twice a year – in spring after the heating season is finished and in autumn before the new heating season begins. Only by this, you can secure yourself from large emergencies in the days of peak loads and you won’t freeze up in a chilled house without a working furnace or suffer from stuffiness in hot summer.

Sometimes, some minor unplanned repairs might be required between the maintenance points, which should prevent bigger breakages. That’s why we recommend you conclude a contract for systematic maintenance with a reliable contractor. Our technicians will swiftly eliminate small and big breakages at any time of the day!

7. Why would I need a programmable thermostat?

HVAC with a programmable thermostat is able to tangibly lower your electricity bill. By setting the temperature to a certain level for the required time, you can optimize the heating of your premises and lower the unnecessary heating when you’re out of the home. Learn more about the Nest Airwave thermostat.

It is convenient to change the temperature settings depending on the season and weather in order to free the equipment from the unnecessary workload and not to overpay for heat comfort at any time of the year.

8. What temperature should a thermostat be set to?

An air conditioner will serve you longer if you avoid temperature jumps and frequent cycles of turning on and off. For instance, in a warm time of the year, you should set the temperature to 4-5 degrees higher than the regular level. Thus, you reduce the number of cycles, prevent pre-term wear-and-tear, and lower the electricity bills, cutting off the usage of unnecessary electricity.

In winter, on the contrary, it is recommended to set the temperature 3-4 degrees lower – it would be enough to significantly decrease the electricity bills without feeling frozen.

9. Why the room isn’t evenly heated?

If your premises aren’t heated up evenly, you could blame your furnace – especially if its age is close to 30 years. That happens because of normal wear and tear, so the heat efficiency of furnaces rapidly drops. In this case, you should consider replacing it as soon as you can because it is expected to break in the nearest future. Also, as your heat losses increase, your energy bill is, too.

10. Can I repair my air conditioner on my own?

It takes professional skills and equipment to repair HVAC. But if that’s a simple breakage, then anyone can repair it. If your air conditioner (or furnace) isn’t turning on, before looking under the hull to try to fix the nodes and wiring (which is a work of a professional and certified technician), make sure to check the thermostat battery level and that the switch of the control relay of your HVAC is set correctly. Occasionally, these simplest steps can fully eliminate the problem.

Maintenance and repair of HVAC in Denver is a fast solution to any problem

Surely, we’ve listed far not all possible technical issues, with which homeowners could face during the operation of HVAC. The BHCAir Company makes all types of repairs and maintenance of HVAC in Denver and entire Colorado 24/7/365. There are no unsolvable issues for us!