Frequently asked questions.
We have the answers to your HVAC equipment questions. We want to provide you with exceptional heating and cooling services whether we're on the job or not, which is why we've answered some of our most frequently asked HVAC questions. Make sure to check back soon because the HVAC FAQs page will be updated regularly—and contact us if you don’t see your question here!
Question for our services
Yes. Our techs are trained to work on a wide variety of equipment and we will honor your warranty.
There are many good brands on the market. The best brand is the one that efficiently heats and cools your home or business and doesn’t break your budget. We’ll gladly sit down with you and go over the pluses and minuses of each brand and give you all the information you want to make the decision that is best for you. The factors include square footage, how the system is used and numerous other details that will help you pick what you want.
It depends on your home or business, the number of occupants, the usage, the square footage and numerous other factors, including your budget.
We can help you sort through the many options and give you all the details you want to make a choice that fits you and your spending plan. Among the questions:
- Do you want central heat and air?
- Should you get a furnace that is 80 percent or 96 percent efficient?
- Which is better: Single-stage, two-stage or modulating furnace?
- Are rebates available from manufacturers or utilities?
- How much ductwork is involved?
It can be complicated, but we will help you walk through the various steps. And because our techs can handle any heating or cooling system, we will tell you all the pros and cons.
It all depends. How do you use the house or business, its size, how many people live or work there, and many other factors? The most logical choices in New York City and Long Island are electric, oil, natural gas, heat pump and wood.
Also, do you have good insulation and ceiling fans to move the air about to maximize use?
We will gladly go over your options and help you get the information you need to decide what’s best for you.
There are several advantages, especially if your ducts contain significant amounts of mold that could enter your home’s living area and affect the health of people and pets.
You also want to clean your ducts if they contain vermin like rodents or bugs or large amounts of dust and debris.
A professional duct cleaner, such as City Air, has the tools and expertise to thoroughly clean the ducts, including areas that are hard to reach.
Cleaner ducts could improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system and provide relief to people who have asthma or other breathing problems.
In addition, if you have a fuel-burning furnace, stove or fireplace, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends it be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
You need a system that fits your home’s size; there’s no one-size-fits-all.
You should consider the square footage, whether it’s multi-story, properly insulated and other factors.
One common mistake is to buy a system that’s too big. This leads to inefficiency and higher utility bills, proof that bigger isn’t always better. A too-small system won’t heat or cool properly.
Call us to show you how to calculate the best system for your property.
When it gets dirty, which will vary depending on the usage of your heating/cooling system, whether you smoke or have pets that shed, and other considerations.
Cheaper filters don’t last as long as more expensive, pleated filters. Different seasons will have different impacts. For example, an AC filter is much more likely to get dirty in July than in January.
One easy way is to check the filter each month when you receive your utility bill. If it’s smelly or it has collected large amounts of dust, change it. A filter is a relatively cheap way to keep your air clean and to avoid overtaxing your heating and cooling system.
Question about AC
Before the start of each heating and cooling season, your HVAC systems should be serviced. So, your air conditioner should be serviced at the end of winter or the beginning of spring, whereas your heat pump or furnace should be serviced at the end of summer or the beginning of fall.
Depending on usage, your air filters should be replaced every one to three months. This is critical for the performance of your HVAC systems.
The quick answer? This is crucial! Indoor air quality can be up to 100 times worse than outdoor air quality. That means pollutants, allergens, dust, and mildew could be circulating in your home, affecting the health and well-being of your family. Improving and maintaining indoor air quality is critical.
Installing a programmable thermostat in your home allows you to control the amount of energy used for heating and cooling. A programmable thermostat, when used correctly, can help you improve.
Better comfort control, lower energy bills, and higher energy efficiency are all benefits of zoned HVAC (energy waste is reduced because your HVAC equipment won't have to work as hard to regulate the temperature throughout the house).
Many homeowners are torn between continuing to pour money into their aging air conditioning system for costly repairs or upgrading to a newer, more efficient AC.
First and foremost, you should not attempt to repair your noisy air conditioner yourself! You are putting yourself and your air conditioner at risk unless you have professional knowledge of HVAC electrical system layouts and the proper meters to test all the working components of your AC.
Summer electric bill savings are important, so what is the best thermostat setting during the hottest season of the year? We recommend setting your thermostat to 72 degrees (at the coldest) and leaving the fan on AUTO rather than ON.
Money is always a major concern for homeowners across the country—but how can you reduce your electric bill without sacrificing comfort this summer? You can reduce your energy consumption by increasing the temperature or closing the curtains.
For more than 40 years, HCFC-22, also known as R-22, has been a common refrigerant used in residential heat pumps and air conditioners. However, R-22 leaks contribute to ozone depletion, and the production of R-22 produces a byproduct that contributes to global warming. The EPA is currently phasing out this refrigerant. Chemical manufacturers will no longer be able to produce R-22 by January 2020.