FAQ
Here are some questions and answers that can help you with your home comfort needs. We will continue to update as customers bring more questions to us! Just ask!
Q: Why should I get my furnace cleaned/maintained? A. There are many reasons why you should get your furnace maintained. Here are a few:
1. Safety and efficiency - we check to ensure it is burning correctly and working efficiently.
2. Electricity/heat - we check the blower and make sure it is not overheating and working inefficiently.
3. Health - we check the heat exchanger to make sure it is not cracked and not leaking CO.
Check under our Services - Furnace Maintenance tab for details.
Q: How often should I get my furnace maintained?
A. We recommend that you get your furnace maintained every year. We can detect leaks/problems early on and prevent them from turning into larger/more expensive problems.
Q: How long does a maintenance take?
A. A Gas furnace maintenance takes approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. An Air Conditioning maintenance takes about an hour. An Oil Furnace maintenance takes about one and one half to two hours.
Q: How can I pay for a maintenance, installation, or service call?
A. We accept cash, check, VISA, and Mastercard for any service.
Q: How can I schedule a maintenance? A. There are a few different ways to contact us to schedule a maintenance. We would love for you to call us, email us, or message us from our Contact Us page. Phone 715-386-7131
Email Valleyserviceshnc@gmail.com
Q: Why are my utility bills higher than they used to be? A. There could be a few reasons why your utility bills are higher. Your furnace might be a low efficiency furnace or working less efficiently than it should be. Also, your furnace could be using up more electricity than normal if yearly maintenances are not scheduled. We strongly recommend scheduling your Furnace/AC Maintenances/Tune-Ups yearly no matter how old or new the furnace is for peak efficiency.
Q: How do air to air exchangers work?
A. Air to air exchangers take fresh air from the outside, temp it (slightly change the temperature closer to inside temp.), and circulate through your home. It moves the old air outside through a venting system. During the process, some water is removed from air, but not as much as a dehumidifier would.
Q. How can a humidifier help me? A. If your air is dry, upgrading your furnace with a humidifier will put water into the air that is already circulating from your furnace. Adding humidity to the air in your home can also make your body feel warmer and you can keep your thermostat at a lower temperature to lower your utility bills and save $$$!
It can also prevent dry skin and dry throats in the winter! Having a humidifier will make your home more comfortable.
Q. Why do filters at the store range from 75 cents to $20 to even $50?
A. Choosing an appropriate filter depends on your health, how hard you run your furnace, and how many times you want to change filters. Contrary to popular belief, in the summer the air conditioning works your blower motor at a higher speed than in winter, therefore going through more filters. A clogged filter makes your furnace work less efficiently and could lead to bigger problems down the road.
Monthly and Tri-monthly Filters
If you change your filter monthly and you don't have health issues, the 75 cent filters would work for you. They catch the heavier debris and dirt that could ruin your blower motor, though they do take out some pollen and mold spores. If changed monthly, it can do the job. If you are going to forget to change the filter every month, choose the $4 pleated filter that you change every 3 months. Its accordion-like appearance allows it to work longer without impeading the airflow.
6 Month to 1 Year Filters
If someone in your family or yourself have asthma or allergies, the $20 or the $40 filters are for you. Some work for 6 months and others for a year and they can filter out bacteria, dander, odors and smoke particles. You should wash or vacuum the filter monthly and take other steps to clean up your air and house as well. Use an air purifier to clean your air up either further!
Q. What is HEPA Filtration?
Fantech HEPA Filtration
A. Our favorite type of filtering is HEPA filtration. High Efficiency Particulate Air, or HEPA filters require no cleaning or maintenance to maintain efficiency, and studies have proven that HEPA filters actually increase in efficiency with use over their 3 to 5 year life (www.envirodoc.com). Our Fantech HEPA filters (pictured above) are 99.97% effective and catch airborne particles and allergens. As you can see, there are 3 stages of filtering. The Pre-filter catches the larger particles, then the Odor Absorbing carbon filter captures and neutralizes odors from cooking and tobacco smoke, and finally the Certified HEPA Filter is 99.97% effective and should be replaced every 2 years.
Q. How to change a forced-air furnace filter?
A. As we have been discussing air quality and the importance of changing filters, it is necessary to explain exactly how to change a forced-air furnace filter. Knowing what is in the air should be enough to convince you to change yours regularly. The air in your home is filled with dead skin, dust mite feces, dust, mold spores, and more particles that can be filtered out as long you change it. It is fairly simple.
There are a variety of sizes, styles, and prices of furnace filters, but changing each of them is similar.
- Before you start, turn off your furnace fan. Either switch to off at the furnace, or at the thermostat, switch fan to off.
- Locate your filter. It should be located near the bottom of your furnace where the ductwork meets with the furnace. This is where the air comes from your home, to be filtered and then sent back as warm or cold air through the top of your furnace.
It might be hidden behind a slot of sheet metal that can be moved. If you cannot find it, consult your furnace manual or call a service technician.
3. Grasp the edge of the filter and pull out of slot.
4. Take the new filter, look at which way the arrow points, have it pointing toward furnace, the direction of air flow. Putting in backwards decreases efficiency.
5. Close up slot, if needed. Change filter as recommended, for the 1 inch pleated filter, usually 2-3 months, depending on how much usage.
6. It only filters the air if your blower is running. If you have a variable speed blower, keep it running at a low speed all the time for the best air quality.
Call with any questions! 715-386-7131