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1. Do you provide 24 hour service?
2. What are your warranty service hours?
3. Do you offer priority service to clients?
4. Why is selecting a contractor so important?
5. What brands do you sell? Why?
6. Do you use your own installation technicians or do you use subcontractors?
7. What is system commissioning and how could that benefit me?
8. Do you offer air balancing?
9. What do all those rating numbers mean to me?
10. How much will my air conditioning system cost?
11. Should I cover my outdoor unit in the winter?
12. Do I need a humidifier?
13. Is there any advantage to setting my thermostat fan to "ON" so the fans runs continuously?
14. Do I need to worry about what refrigerant my air conditioner uses?
15. What is a heat recovery ventilator (HRV)?
16. What are zoning controls?
17. What type of air filtration system should I have?
18. If my compressor fails do I need to replace the outdoor unit?
19. How long should my air conditioning system last?
20. Should I use a programmable thermostat?
21. What should I be concerned with on my HVAC system if we have an earthquake?

Do you provide 24 hour service?
We absolutely do, 7 days a week.

What are your warranty service hours?
If warranty service is required, we offer it during normal business hours.

Do you offer priority service to clients?
All clients that are on a Planned Maintenance agreement with us receive priority service status.

Why is selecting a contractor so important?
This is the single most important decision you can make. Anyone can purchase high efficiency equipment, however, if that equipment is not installed using the highest installation standards and highly trained technicians than it will not perform as intended. This will cost you not only on comfort it will add to your cost of operation.
Poor installation quality routinely results in excessive energy costs. We are one of the few contractors that offer forensic services.

What brands do you sell? Why?
As a major equipment purchaser we can buy from every manufacturer, however, we prefer to do business with companies that understand our commitment to our clients and partner with us in that commitment. In the commercial market our top brands in order are Trane, Bryant and Carrier. In the residential market our top brands in order are Bryant, Carrier and Trane. Our commitment is to use the best product for the particular application and not be restricted to one brand.

Do you use your own installation technicians or do you use subcontractors?
We use only our own technical specialists. We believe that is the only way we can provide the consistent high quality installation standards we adhere to.

What is system commissioning and how could that benefit me?
System commissioning is a battery of tests and measurements to determine if your system is performing as designed. The benefit to you is that you are assured you have gotten what you have paid for.

Do you offer air balancing?
We do offer certified air balancing as well as comfort balancing for systems. Many times a certified air balance will confirm that air volumes are as designed, however, a comfort balance takes into account the actual environmental conditions the occupant will work under.

What do all those rating numbers mean to me?
The federal government requires all air conditioning and heating equipment to be rated as to energy efficiency. The higher the rating the more efficient the model. For cooling, the rating is SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating); the heat pump rating is HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) and gas heaters are rated by AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency).

How much will my air conditioning system cost?
The answer is "it depends". Many factors need to be considered such as the energy efficiency of the equipment, the size of your home, condition of your duct system, any special filtration requirements. Although many systems are similar, your particular system will be designed to meet your specific needs.

Should I cover my outdoor unit in the winter?
No, it is not necessary. Air conditioners are made to stand up to all types of outdoor climates. Rain can even help keep your unit clean. Covering your unit could also damage it if you try to operate it and forget to remove the cover.

Do I need a humidifier?
In the San Francisco Bay Area humidifiers are not that popular. However, if family members have allergy problems or if you have art work or fine wood furniture you may want to consider installing one. Please remember not all humidifiers are the same and it is important that your contractor is knowledgeable in this area.

Is there any advantage to setting my thermostat fan to "ON" so the fans runs continuously?
There are a couple. One is that you get constant filtering of the air in your home. If you have a high efficiency filtration system you will get maximum value from it. Another reason is that when the air is moving in your home you have a more even temperature throughout.

Do I need to worry about what refrigerant my air conditioner uses?
The most common refrigerant is R-22 which is widely available. Beginning in January 2010 manufacturer can no longer make equipment that uses R-22. However, R-22 can still be manufactured until January 2020. In addition, current laws require that R-22 be recovered from all systems and our industry should have an adequate supply of R-22 for many years after 2020. A replacement for R-22 has been developed and it is called by several names such as Puron, R-410A and AZ-20, these are all the same refrigerant. They are not drop in replacements for R-22 and should only used in systems designed for their use. Currently, systems offering these refrigerants are only in the very high efficiency ranges.

What is a heat recovery ventilator (HRV)?
These units replace the air being exhausted from your home such as by bathroom fans and kitchen exhausts, with fresh outdoor air that has been pre-conditioned, through an internal heat exchanger. This saves a significant amount of your energy dollars since you don't have to heat and cool the outdoor make up air as much. In addition, these special heat exchangers do not cross contaminate the air with whatever is being exhausted. These units can also significantly reduce the drafts in your home since the air being exhausted from your home is being replaced with treated air and not being sucked in under doors, through cracks in your home, such as plumbing holes that allow air from under your home to enter your home, or window leaks.

What are zoning controls?
Zoning controls are electronic controls that incorporate damper motors, thermostats and a controller so that you can have two or more areas in your home that can have separate temperatures based on their actual need. These systems can and do save money if designed and installed properly. Please remember that not all zoning systems are the same. The most significant feature to look for is a system that provides damper modulation and not just on/off control. This adds to your overall energy savings and increased comfort levels.

What type of air filtration system should I have?
· The minimum is a pleated type filter rated at least 30% efficient. The standard disposable filters and washable (mat type) air filters are less than 10% efficient and are not even rated by our industry rating agencies.
· The next step up would be an electrostatic air filter. These filters are made of materials that create an electrostatic charge when air moves over them which help attract dirt. The unfortunate thing is that most makers of these filters exaggerate their ability to filter air by saying they are 90% efficient. The 90% arrestance efficiency rating they quote is simply its ability to catch large particles of dirt. What you need to be concerned with are the smaller particles (4 microns and less) than can be inhaled deeply into your lungs.
· The only rating that you should be concerned with is the "atmospheric dust spot efficiency rating" don't be fooled by any other rating.
· The next level of filtration is a media type filter. These are usually a thick media filter up to 4" thick and can have a real efficiency rating of up to 45%.
· The best filtration device is an electronic air cleaner. This type of air cleaner electrically charges the dirt particles and then collects them on a cell that has the opposite electrical charge. These filters have a low resistance through them and will not adversely affect the operation of your equipment. They are cleanable and last for many years.
· Another important item to remember is what the resistance of the filter media is and can your furnace handle that? Other wise using a filter with an excessive resistance can harm your system and increase your energy costs.
· Please remember that a highly rated filtration device installed improperly will not perform as expected.
· What to know more, contact us.

If my compressor fails do I need to replace the outdoor unit?
No, but that type of compressor failure is important to know.
· Was it open circuit failure with no refrigerant system contamination?
· Was it an electrical short or electrical ground? If so these types of failures create acid in the refrigerant system and if not properly cleaned up the remaining acid will attack the new compressor or outdoor unit and it will fail again.
· Why did it fail? Compressors are generally very reliable items and fail for a reason. Is there an electrical problem? Is the system sized properly and was it installed properly? If the cause is not found and corrected you will have another failure in a short period of time.

How long should my air conditioning system last?
Air conditioners can last 15-20 years, however, this can and does depend on:
· How much use it gets.
· The quality of the equipment.
· How well it was installed.
· Has it been serviced regularly?
· Does your area suffer frequent brown outs or power failures?
Remember a system that is 8 or more years old is not as efficient as newer systems. If your area has experienced dramatic energy cost increases it may be cost effective to upgrade to a more efficient system that pays for itself through its energy savings.

Should I use a programmable thermostat?
· Programmable thermostats can and do save money by reducing the temperature set point at night and or during other unoccupied periods.
· Generally a programmable thermostat that has its intelligent recovery option, if it has one, disabled will save more energy.
· If at night you program the thermostat so that the heater never comes on, it may take awhile for the home to get comfortable in the morning when it firsts comes on.

What should I be concerned with on my HVAC system if we have an earthquake?
· Check your gas meter, if you see that the wheel is spinning fast it may be because a line has broken or is leaking.
· Check piping to all natural or propane gas operated equipment to be sure that no leaks are present and the units have not been disturbed. Are pilots still on?
· Shut off power to all equipment. Do not turn on until power has been re-established by your utility.
· Check the visible duct system. Is it intact or has it been damaged?
· Look at your furnace flue, has it been damaged?
· Does your thermostat have a battery backup?