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Welcome to our FAQs page... Below are some of our customers' most common questions. If you have a question you would like answered by one of our heating and cooling experts, send us an e-mail. We'll not only reply to your question personally, but add it to our FAQs page so that others can benefit from the answer.
Q: Why does the owner's manual for my new equipment recommend having it serviced annually? My old furnace was 20 years old and I had it cleaned only twice.
A: All heating and air conditioning equipment is high efficiency and high tech in today's world. Servicing your unit on an annual basis provides benefits in 3 ways; 1) it provides a technician an opportunity to detect problems that may be developing, 2) it assures that the unit is running at top efficiency and not wasting energy, 3) it maintains equipment warranties from the manufacturer.
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Q: I have a high efficiency air cleaner on my furnace but I still get lots of dust in my house. Why?
A: Although there could be several causes, the one that is most often the culprit is dirty ductwork. The air cleaner may be cleaning the air coming to the furnace, but the ducts blowing the air to your home may be dirty and the source of the problem. The solution: Air duct cleaning.
Q: I had a new high efficiency furnace installed last year and my gas bills have stayed the same. Where are the savings?
A: Check your gas bill. Make sure you have received actual readings and not estimates. Also make sure you're not on a budget plan. If you are, you're still saving money but won't receive credit until the end of the budget year.
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Q: Why don't I get as much heat out of my new high efficiency furnace?
A: Actually, you get more heat out of every dollar's worth of gas you buy with a high efficiency furnace compared to a 15-20 year old furnace. What you're probably referring to is the temperature of the air coming out of the register. This feels cooler because of the increased volume of air on your new furnace, therefore it feels cooler because the temperature rise is not as great.
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Q: I change my air filter every month but my home is still dusty. What's the problem?
A: Typical 1" filters are 2-3% efficient and pick up only the larger particles of dirt in your air. So even frequently changed filters let most of the smaller particles through. A media air cleaner is about 5 times more efficient and an electronic air cleaner is up to 40 times more efficient. Also, duct cleaning in conjunction with a new air cleaner would be the best overall solution.
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Q: Won't setting back my thermostat at night, while I sleep, cost me more fuel to warm my house up the next morning?
A: No. Studies have shown that setting your thermostat back 10 * F once a day can save as much as 9-11% in fuel savings. (18-22% for twice a day). It doesn't matter, however, if it is done with a programmable thermostat or with your own hand. Although a programmable thermostat won't forget to set back and it makes sure your home is warm when you get up in the morning! Some of the new 'Stats' can be programmed to set back for a vacation and have your house warm the day you come home!
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Q: What good does a humidifier do for me?
A: Dry air can aggravate upper respiratory problems. Itchy skin, dry throat coughs and cracked nasal membranes (and lips) are all consequences of dry air. In addition, annoying static cling and static shocks can not only "zap" you, but also damage sensitive electronic equipment like your computer. Dry air also makes you feel cooler (because of the evaporating moisture on your skin) and the National Wood Flooring Association strongly recommends using a humidifier during the winter months to help minimize wood movement and shrinkage.
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Q: Won't a humidifier ruin my furnace?
A: No. The Honeywell humidifiers we offer are not the maintenance problem that old styles used to be. There is no pan of water to overflow no float assembly to stick, and no motor driven wheel that can fail. In fact there is only one moving part on a Honeywell humidifier.
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Q: What is the advantage to a "direct vent" fireplace?
A: A direct vent gas fireplace or insert is the best hearth choice when it comes to protecting the air inside your home that your family and friends breathe. A direct vent design hearth product is engineered to include a sealed glass front that keeps gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide and excess moisture from entering your home. This glass front provides you with a full, clear view of a beautiful fire. This design uses air from outside your home to fuel the gas fire rather than pulling air from inside.
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Q: Are direct vent gas fireplaces the kind that don't have a chimney?
 A: Not exactly. Direct vent gas fireplaces need to be vented outside, however, this vent, or "chimney" can be run horizontally through an outside wall. In this sense, it does not require a traditional chimney that extends vertically above your roof line. You should be careful however not to confuse direct vent with unvented gas hearth products.
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Q: What is an unvented hearth product?
A: Unvented, or more correctly, "room vented" products are designed to operate with all the gases and other by-products of the burning process coming into the room. They use an ODS or Oxygen Depletion Sensor which may act as a safety shutoff should the unit not operate properly. In addition, several manufacturers of unvented hearth products also include a carbon monoxide detector as part of the system.
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Q: Are unvented hearth products safe?
A:Yes, When properly sized, installed and operated, they are listed to be safe by ANSI standard Z21.11.2. However, many building scientists and indoor air quality experts have voiced concerns that proper sizing and operation of ventless models is not occurring in all circumstances.
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Q: What could happen if an unvented hearth product is not properly sized to the room?
A: The biggest concern is excess moisture in the home. A principal by-product of burning gas is water vapor. An unvented appliance operating at 25,000 BTU/hr will put approximately one quart of water per hour into that room! In new homes which are tightly insulated to today's energy codes, this excess moisture can become "trapped" inside the home, condensing on cool surfaces such as window glass and frames. This in turn can lead to the development of mold and mildew which have a negative impact on the air you breathe inside your home.
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Q: What else should I know about vented and unvented hearth products?
A:For starters, you should check with your local building code to confirm if unvented products are allowed to be installed. For instance, there are several states that ban their use entirely. Secondly, consider the "comfort control" you have with direct vent models. Many offer options that allow you to put excess heat into other rooms, our outside completely if you choose. (A nice feature when you're entertaining a room full of guests.) Since all the heat from an unvented type product comes into the room, it can make a room uncomfortably hot in a hurry!
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