Answers to Our Most Common HVAC Questions
We’ve got a list of frequently asked questions intended to help homeowners get quick answers to questions about their home’s comfort system. If you’ve got more questions about your home’s heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system, you’ve come to the right place!
Starting off with the basics…what is an HVAC system?
An HVAC system is a technology setup that stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. It controls indoor temperature, refreshes airflow, and manages humidity to keep homes and buildings comfortable.
Core functions include:
Heating: Warms up indoor air during cold winter months using furnaces, heat pumps, or boilers.
Ventilation: Exchanges stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while filtering out dust and bad odors.
Air Conditioning: Cools down indoor spaces and removes extra moisture during hot summer weather.
The main components in the system include:
Thermostat: The control panel that lets you set your desired indoor temperature.
Furnace or Heat Pump: The main unit that creates or moves warm air.
Air Conditioner: The unit that removes heat and cools the air.
Ductwork and Vents: The metal pipes and wall openings that guide and spread air through the building.
Filter: Your HVAC filter sits between the air intake and the blower to filter out dust, allergens, and other particulates to keep them from circulating, or recirculating, through your home.
You talk a lot about filters. What type should I be using?
Standard filters work to keep your system and its duct work clean, but they don’t really improve indoor air quality. Upgrading to a pleated media filter will remove everything from insecticide dust to airborne viruses from the filtered air.
A media filter in a home can have a life exceeding six months, meaning it lasts much longer than a basic filter. It has more surface area which allows for more air flow through your system, this means better comfort and cleaner air. Always choose a filter that matches your blower’s capacity.
We have filters for nearly every make and model of HVAC system at THE VERY BEST PRICES (in most cases we’re cheaper than Amazon, WalMart, and the big-box hardware stores). Plus our filters always ship for free. To buy a new filter you can visit our filter shop here.
Does every home have an HVAC?
The short answer: No. Not every home has a centralized HVAC system. While most modern homes in North America feature integrated forced-air heating and cooling, older properties, tiny homes, or houses in specific mild climates may rely instead on localized alternatives like space heaters, wood stoves, window AC units, or radiators without central ductwork.
How can I be sure I have the right size of system for my home?
A correctly sized system isn't just based on the size of the structure. Many factors go into determining the size of the system including the type of house and walls, type and size of windows, insulation, basement and attic conditions, house orientation, and so on.
We’ll need to visit the house and take detailed measurements and notes while conducting the survey.
Give us a call or schedule a survey with our convenient online scheduling tool.
If I made the switch to a high efficiency unit, how much money could I save?
We'll be able to give you a more accurate estimate when we visit your home or place of business. There are some variables, but typically, older furnaces have an efficiency rating of 65% or less. As a result, your savings could be 25% or more.
In most cases, you have better temperature control and cleaner, purer air. Of course, a new system is not always necessary or economically feasible. Sometimes, a minor repair is all you need to feel comfortable in your home again.
Will you remove my old equipment when you put in the new one?
Absolutely! We will dispose of your old equipment properly, in accordance to local, state, and EPA regulations.
My systems seems to be working fine. Why does it still need to be serviced?
Annual servicing includes cleaning the system, checking for any problems or potential problems and making adjustments for peak efficiency.
The benefits include:
Increased dependability
Find potential problems and fix them quickly
Provide maximum efficiency which lowers energy costs
Prolongs the life-span of the equipment
Maintains safe and healthy operation
Can help to protect the environment
Drastically reduces the chance of a break-down which usually happens at night or on weekends when repair rates are higher
Okay, then how often should I have my equipment serviced?
Your cooling, heating and air conditioning equipment should be serviced every year. We service systems across Salt Lake County and surrounding areas. The best scenario is to have the heating system checked in the Fall and the air conditioning checked in the Spring.
As with automotive maintenance, by following a regular maintenance schedule you’ll insure your system runs correctly and you'll catch small issues before they become large issues.
Time for a check-up? Give us a call or schedule service anytime with our convenient online scheduling tool.
Anything else I need to know?
Remember to change your air filter on a monthly basis. This simple task can often save you time and money by preventing break downs that require a service tech to repair.
Before calling for a service tech, always be sure to check your breakers and your thermostat to be sure they are turned on.
If you or family members suffer from health problems, look into a Zone unit for your home. This will reduce the amount of harmful particles in the air and help slow or stop the spread of sickness to other family members.
Clean out your drain line on a regular basis. This will prevent the water from backing up and causing damage to your home or office.
At CTR Heating and AirConditioning we want to keep you cool all summer long and warm in the winter. And we’re always here when you need us. Give us a call or schedule a survey with our convenient online scheduling tool and one of our technicians will talk about how we can help with all your heating, cooling, and ventilation needs.
