FAQ

Many Heating and Air Conditioning System problems can Double your cost of operation without a reduction of comfort capabilities?

That a 10% undercharge in refrigerant can cause a 20% increase in operating cost?

That 80% of all compressor failures could have been avoided if proper service and maintenance had been performed?

That a dirty restricted condenser coil, evaporator coil, and blower wheel could increase your cost of operation up to 45%?

That there is no need to change or replace the refrigerant in your system. If you have to add refrigerant regularly… you have a leak that is costing you. If your system is over 8 years old… think about up-grading to a matched system soon.

That small problems left unattended is what causes major costly repairs and failures?

Besides regular service and maintenance, a good quality air cleaner or filter, cleaned monthly or when needed, will protect your coil.

Semi-annual service maintenance and safety checks don’t cost you, they pay.

The best time to solve a problem is before it happens.

Warning tags are issued on any appliance or piping system that uses natural gas when a licensed gas technician has identified a hazardous issue.

For example, if a defective heat exchanger is identified, it can release carbon monoxide, an odourless and colourless gas, which can cause serious health problems if undetected. Carbon monoxide is harmful because it can rapidly accumulate in the blood, reducing the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.

If carbon monoxide is leaking from a cracked heat exchanger, there is a chance of it mixing with the air that is generated by the furnace and pushed through the vents in your home. To prevent this danger, a red tag is applied to your furnace, your local utility is notified, and your natural gas is turned off.

For example, if a defective heat exchanger is identified, it can release carbon monoxide, an odourless and colourless gas, which can cause serious health problems if undetected. Carbon monoxide is harmful because it can rapidly accumulate in the blood, reducing the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.

Type A: If a licensed technician has identified an immediate danger, for example, a severe carbon monoxide leak, your furnace gets a Type A red tag and your natural gas will be turned off right away.

Type B: If the furnace does not pose an immediate danger to the homeowner, a Type B warning tag will be applied to the furnace and the local utility notified. This tag gives the customer a specified period of time to have the equipment repaired or replaced. If corrective action is not taken within the stipulated timeline, your natural gas will be turned off by the local utility, for example, Union Gas or Enbridge.

The rating system for a heat pump’s cooling efficiency is the same as residential central air conditioners – SEER. A heat pump’s heating mode efficiency rating is defined by its HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) rating. This measurement is determined by The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It is wise to compare both the SEER and HSPF ratings when you are purchasing a heat pump product. Depending on the geographical location of your home, you may place more emphasis on a heat pump’s ability to either heat or cool the indoor space of your home. For example, homes in the sunbelt may need more cooling capacity and those built in colder climates may require stronger heating performance.

AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratings are set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers or ASHRAE. Currently the lowest AFUE rating that manufacturers can produce is 80%. The higher the AFUE rating, the greater its potential energy savings. For example, a Goodman brand gas furnace with an AFUE rating of 96% indicates that for every $1.00 of energy used to operate the furnace only four cents is not fully utilized.