FAQ

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What size air conditioner does my house need?

This depends on a couple of factors. For example, during an in-home inspection, we’ll look at the square footage, layout, number and type of windows, average climate, and insulation. All of these factors and more play into the size of the air conditioner. You don’t want to end up with a small unit that can’t keep up with your cooling needs or one that’s too big and wastes energy.

If my air conditioner isn’t working, what should I check?

Before calling, you may be able to troubleshoot the problem a couple of different ways:

Check for a blown fuse
Check for a tripped breaker
Change your air filter
Test the batteries in your thermostat
Make sure the system is set to cool (at least 3° below the current room temperature)

What is a SEER rating?

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, which relates to how much energy (and money) an air conditioner will use in a year. The current air conditioners on the market have a seer rating from 13-25. The higher numbers indicate better energy-efficiency and more money saved on bills.

How often does my AC unit need maintenance?

We suggest servicing your AC unit at least once a year, with spring being the best time to do so.

Should I cover my outdoor AC unit in the winter?

The outdoor AC unit is built to withstand the winter environments and shouldn’t be covered. Turning it on with a cover on will restrict the airflow and can cause serious damage. To ensure there’s no debris causing blockages or parts that need to be lubricated, we recommend setting up a springtime checkup with one of our technicians.

What’s the average lifespan of an air conditioner?

If appropriately maintained, air conditioners can last for 10-15 years. You may need a couple of small repairs along the way, but they’ll be much less expensive than a new unit.

How can I make my air conditioner more energy-efficient?

There are a couple of ways to help lower your energy use during the summer:

Get a smart thermostat, so your AC doesn’t run when you’re not home
Regularly change your filter
Keep up with maintenance
Use ceiling fans whenever you can
Keep your air vents open and unrestricted

When should I replace my existing air conditioning unit?

There are a couple of ways your unit will indicate that it’s starting to fail. Ideally, if you notice any signs, you can start shopping around and find a new one before it completely quits out on you. For example:

Your AC unit struggles to cool your home
Your energy bills have suddenly increased
Your AC unit’s starting to make unusual noises
It’s more than 10 years old

In some cases, we will only have to repair the unit, not replace it. We can help determine if it’s more cost-effective to buy a new one or repair your old one.

When running my AC, should the thermostat fan switch be set to “on” or “auto”?

If you are running your AC or heater we recommend setting your thermostat on “auto”. If you want to keep the cost of your bills down, use the “auto” switch since it only turns the fan on when necessary.

Can any home have central air?

Just about any home can include central air. It may become quite pricey because of the ductwork that goes throughout the house. We recommend setting up an in-home consultation, where we’ll give you an estimate of the project and explain any alternative options.

Do you give free estimates?

Absolutely. We offer free estimates on new equipment and unit replacements. Frequently we can give you approximate costs on required repairs or replacements over the phone, however we always put it in writing if the job exceeds $500.00.

Do you offer free second opinions?

We will happily provide you with a free second opinion when we are provided documentation of the other company’s findings.

What products do you offer?

We can offer you any brand available. With 20+ years of experience in the service & repair side of the business, we have learned what brands are well-designed with reliable, quality components and innovative features. Here is a short list of brands we recommend, use & install in our own homes & place of business.
• Lennox heating, air conditioning, air purification, humidification, ductless heat pumps
• Noritz tankless water heaters
• American Standard heating and air conditioning
• Carrier/Bryant heating and air conditioning
• Honeywell comfort zone systems and controls
• Venstar commercial thermostats
• White Rodgers/Emerson, Ecobee residential thermostats

Is it normal to add refrigerant to a system?

No, refrigerant is not consumed like gas in a car. It also does not lose its ability to be effective. As long as the system does not have a leak, you should not have to add any refrigerant. If a refrigerant leak does exist, we can usually electronically locate it with special sensing equipment. The EPA requires systems that have refrigerant leaks to be repaired or replaced due to the negative effects the refrigerant has on the Earth’s atmosphere.

What does your company do to protect the environment?

We strive to tame the Earth’s environment, while at the same time protect it. Any member of our team who handles refrigerants are formally trained and EPA licensed. Our technicians carry the best electronic leak detectors. This helps minimize refrigerant loss that is harmful to the Earth’s atmosphere. All mercury thermostats are responsibly collected and disposed at a hazardous waste facility. All old metal equipment is picked up daily and recycled. For more information, see our environmental policy.

How can we increase the air quality in our home?

Usually the best way to combat allergy and indoor air quality problems is with a quality electronic or high efficiency air cleaner installed inseries with the air duct system. A secondary protection method can be a purifying ultraviolet light installed in the air stream. These methods have been tested and proven to improve your indoor air quality.

Do we need to clean our air ducts?

In our opinion (and the EPA’s), ductwork does not typically require cleaning even if you have allergies. In fact, it is found that many times duct cleaning can actually worsen symptoms for a period of time due to stirring up the dust in your ducts. We often find it is not a good use of our clients funds and provides no benefit. Another concern is damage that can occur, causing air leakage & lack of efficiency. In some limited instances, dirty ductwork can cause air quality concerns. Duct cleaning is available upon request and when required. Our recommendation is to contact us to perform a detailed cleaning and maintenance on your HVAC system. At that time we can check your ducts to determine if cleaning is possible or recommended.

What is HVAC?

It stands for heating, ventilating and air conditioning

What is HERS testing?

Home Energy Rating System (HERS) is an efficiency test required by the California Energy Commission. It is performed by a third party, not Triton. This testing helps ensure that a new heating, duct distribution and air conditioning system, provides the minimum efficiency required by the state. Triton works frequently with local certified HERS testers.

What is SEER?

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is a rating that measures the cooling efficiency of a heat pump or air conditioner. The higher the number, the more energy efficient the unit. Units older than 2005 are likely operating with a lower SEER number (10 seer or less). As of January 2015, The Department of Energy mandated that all new residential air conditioning equipment have a SEER rating of 14 or higher. The additional cost of investing in a new air conditioning system with a high SEER rating may be offset with significant operating cost savings, as well as rebates.

What is AFUE?

The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency is a thermal efficiency measurement of equipment like furnaces and water heaters. The higher the percentage number, the higher the efficiency.

What is a BTU?

It stands for British Thermal Unit. It is a measurement for the amount of heat required to raise or lower the temperature of one pound of water by one-degree Fahrenheit. One-ton cooling capacity is equal to 12,000 BTU’s.

When replacing my air conditioner outside, do I need to also replace the coil inside?

In most cases where there is an outdoor unit (aka condenser) connected to an indoor coil (aka evaporator coil), equipment manufacturers require a new indoor cooling coil and outdoor unit to be replaced at the same time. This ensures the new system will meet the mandated 14 seer efficiency standard and operate as engineered. If this is not done, the equipment manufacturer has an excuse to not cover components under warranty and system reliability will be in question.

Multiple tests have been performed to see what happens to an air conditioning system operating costs, capacity and reliability when the requirement above is not done. The findings were surprising. When the 14 seer outdoor unit was installed with an older 10 seer or less pre-existing indoor coil, the system actually cost more to operate than the existing system that was being replaced. The mismatched system also was plagued with repairs and comfort complaints from the end user.

How can I even out the temperature in my home or business?

There are multiple strategies we employ to help with this issue. One is a temperature-controlled comfort zone system. A comfort zone system can be the most energy saving, gratifying choices you make. Once the system is installed, you will only be cooling/heating the areas where desired instead of your whole home/business. The zone system will eliminate the common complaint that it is too cold downstairs and too hot upstairs or too hot in one office and too cold in the other.

About Us

Comfort Zone is a family-owned and operated residential and commercial indoor air quality services company. Our goal is to provide the most professional service possible, Our team of trained and experienced technicians uses the most advanced equipment to get the best results in every service we provide.

Why Choose Us?

Locally Owned & Operated

Trained & Experienced Technicians

Most Advanced Equipment

Free In-Home Estimates

Special Offers

Free in Home Estimates for Equipment Replacement

FINANCING

Contact Info

Phone number: 209-901-3771

Office Hours:
Mon-Sun 7am-6pm

Serving Multiple Locations:

Comfort Zone Mechanical proudly serves the following cities in California:

FAQ