Frequently Asked Questions
Listed below are frequently asked questions related to Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. We also have a web-page dedicated to Commonly Reported HVAC Problems. In most cases a service call will be needed to fix these problems, but some of them can be fixed without having to call a technician out.
If you are experiencing a problem which requires attention, and if you are in our service area, you may email our Service Department directly by contacting us or call us to schedule an appointment.
HVAC stands for “heating, ventilation and air conditioning.”
Programmable thermostats are electric, which allows you to set a much more exact temperature than mercury thermostats. You can also automatically change the temperature very easily throughout the day without even being home.
There are so many different makers and models available, that it completely depends on what is right for your home. Your home’s needs would need to be evaluated for a price suggestion.
Southern Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning highly recommends purchasing the extended warranty, although the choice is completely up to the homeowners. Many manufacturers are offering 10 year warranties on the parts of the heating and cooling system, so buying an extended warranty with the company that installed your air conditioning ensures that any labor to replace the parts will be covered.
Often, the cost of the labor to replace just one part would be more expensive than just having bought the warranty.
A popping noise is a typically sign of an under-sized duct design. It may have to do with greater air flow than the duct work is able to manage. Have a qualified company analyze your home’s ventilation system for proper design and recommend adjustments. Improper duct work layout can be attributed to several ventilation and air quality problems.
There are an abundance of possibilities that can cause your HVAC system to freeze up; almost all of them usually need to be corrected by a professional technician. Determining the air filter is clean or replaced and making sure the airflow is not restricted are about the only tasks a homeowner should safely identify or handle themselves.
Low refrigerant: In some cases, freezing up is initiated by a leak in the refrigerant lines. Weak solder joints, friction from piping rubbing or vibrating against an object, leaking valves or loose fittings can cause leaks. The length of time your system has been installed and the nature and location of the leak are the determining factors on whether to have the system repaired or replaced.
Dirty evaporator coil: Over time, the evaporator coil will become dirty. On these occasions, the results are similar to those of having a dirty filter. Gradually you will lose airflow, slowly enough that you probably would not realize it until it freezes up or is not cooling adequately.
Defective blower motor or relay: A blower motor running at an improper speed or not running at all can cause freezing. It can also be sporadic, starting at full speed and slowing down after it heats up. Or a relay could cause it to start one time and not the next.
Should you discover that your system was freezing due to a dirty air filter, after replacing or cleaning the filter, you can hasten the thawing process by turning the system off and then turning on only the fan. If you have a heat pump system, you can try turning the system to heating mode until the ice has melted.
No, HVAC air filters vary due to quality and size, and some have specs that others don’t. In most cases we recommend installing the filter your HVAC manufacturer recommends pairing up with your installed system, though you might be tempted to try some other filter type for convenience or to remove additional debris from your residence.
Dry air is what tends to make your throat feel dry or aggravate respiratory ailments. During cooler or cold weather, your home rapidly loses its humidity to the outdoors. Humidity levels could drop to as low as 15 percent. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends that homeowners maintain a humidity level between 35 and 50 percent.
Dry air may also begin to cause more than health problems. Static electricity is a direct result of very dry air and houseplants may suffer from winter drought caused by low humidity levels. A whole-home humidifier integrates moister with your indoor air and can help relieve ailments related to dry respiratory membranes and would be our recommended solution to this issue.
Indoor Air Quality is a term used to denote the level or amount of air pollution that exists inside a house or building, particularly occupied areas or rooms. Exposure to air pollutants can be up to 100 times higher indoors than outdoors, and the American Lung Association estimates that most people spend 80% of their time indoors.
Any Heating and Cooling systems work incredibly hard to perform their functions. The constant stopping, starting and general operation can wear down any machine. Proper care and maintenance help to keep these systems in optimum condition and stop malfunction. The typical A/C unit in the Charleston, SC area runs approximately 2600 hours a year.
While these new systems are far more efficient, they require thorough annual maintenance to ensure your efficiency.
Yes it does affect all air conditioning and heat pump brands exclude rust & corrosion from their warranty.
Most Heating and Air products are among the longest lasting heating and cooling products available. For your equipment, many variables affect life expectancy, including, of course, the regularity of routine maintenance.
When it’s time for the replacement of the new equipment, we will inspect several items and make a determination of whether or not these items need to be supplied or replaced. Some of the items include: duct work, insulation, refrigerant piping, electrical service, wiring, thermostat, condensate piping, slabs, filter, driers, registers, grills, drain pans and evaporator coil.
A Service Call fee is a bill for the expense associated with the time and travel to diagnose, inspect and provide expert recommendations for a home’s heating or air conditioning system by a certified professional technician.
Panic mode is natural when your air conditioning unit isn’t working, especially when you’re living in Low Country warm weather! There are a number of reasons your A/C unit may have frozen up. It could be something as simple as a tripped breaker or a blown fuse, or there could be debris blocking your outside unit. The only way to know for sure is to call an air conditioning professional.
When your air conditioning unit is functioning properly, you may wonder why it’s important to have it serviced. But having your unit serviced regularly makes sure everything stays in working shape. We recommend having your unit serviced twice a year or every six months.
In our humid South Eastern climate, mold presents a real issue for your A/C unit. First thing’s first call a professional to rid your AC of the mold penetrating its system to avoid health concerns. Take steps to avoid a mold problem in the future by keeping an eye out for signs of mold like a lingering musty smell.