Frequently Asked Questions
It can be hard to find reliable information on the web these days. That’s why we’re doing our part to spread factual information for our fans, our customers, and our neighbors. From questions about your air conditioner to common misconceptions about temperature fluctuations, this page should help answer your questions and keep you in the loop.
Remember, if you ever have a question that seems hard to answer, or you’re interested in a specific piece of technology, don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’re always available to help and we’ve been providing high-quality HVAC work in South Jersey for years.
Contact Ambient Comfort LLC, your reliable source for professional HVAC work.
Need Help With Your Heating?
How Long Does a Furnace Last in New Jersey?
Furnaces, similarly to air conditioners, last between 10-15 years on average. This lifespan can realistically only be achieved through proper maintenance and recommended repairs when something wrong occurs.
How Long Does a Boiler Last in New Jersey?
Boilers can last a few years longer than forced-air heating systems because they don’t have as many moving parts. Radiant heating units don’t have blower fans, motors, or anything like that since the heat transfers through water pipes, but they do have pumps. Parts on boilers can be more expensive to replace if the water has to be drained from the system to make the repairs and then refilled. It’s also possible that air can bleed from the pipes.
That being said, maintenance is necessary in order to keep leaks and corrosion at bay.
What Does a Heat Pump Do?
Heat pumps don’t create heat as furnaces or boilers do, they simply move heat from one location to another. Heat pumps extract heat from outside and distribute it into your home.
During the summer, a heat pump moves air from inside your home and deposits out outdoors to cool your house off. In the winter, the heat pump will draw in heat from the outdoors and move it inside so your home feels warm and cozy!
It used to be that heat pumps were only used in areas with mild winters. Today, with advanced technology, heat pumps can be used for extended periods in our area!
Is It Important to Have Maintenance Performed on My Boiler?
Yes! Boilers are famous for being some of the most long-lasting heating systems on the market. But they don’t last anywhere near their expected lifespan without yearly check-ups ensuring they’re properly maintained.
Interested in Air Conditioning Service?
How Long Does an AC System Last in New Jersey?
While we might not use our air conditioners as much as our southern neighbors, we still use them throughout the majority of our hot and humid summers. This means through regular use, an air conditioner can last around 10-15 years before it starts running up your energy bill or requiring extensive repairs.
Also, keep in mind that an air conditioner will only last that long if you have yearly maintenance performed on it. Otherwise, it could wear down much faster than that.
What Is Actually Done During an AC Tune-Up?
These are the three most valuable steps our HVAC technicians do during 21 point AC tune-up.
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We make adjustments to improve the efficiency of the system. This means it will continue to cool your home at the lowest energy cost possible.
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We make small fixes and repairs. Usually, the need for repairs starts small and gets larger over time. Maintenance allows us to nip them in the bud early.
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We can advise you of important problems developing in your air conditioner, as well as assess the overall condition of the system.
Is It Important to Have Maintenance Performed on My Air Conditioner?
Absolutely. Maintenance is going to help extend the system’s lifespan, prevent repairs from occurring at inconvenient times, and keep your air conditioner running at peak performance and energy efficiency.
Looking to Improve Indoor Air Quality?
How Often Should I Replace My Air Filter?
This will vary from home to home, but a general rule of thumb we tell homeowners is to replace your air filter every 1-3 months for 1" filter. This ensures that it remains in good condition all year round. However, when you use your HVAC system during extreme weather events, you can change the filter monthly since more air is being cycled through it. Children and pets will also make you change filters more often. Check and change as needed or have a CCA from AC.
What Does MERV Mean?
MERV stands for minimum efficiency reporting value and it’s used to describe the effectiveness of an air filter that’s designed to catch or block contaminants. The higher the MERV rating, the more effective an air filter is. High MERV filters can catch microscopic particles that would otherwise make it through a lower MERV-rated filter.
Does Your Commercial Business Need HVAC Services?
What Is the Difference Between Commercial and Residential HVAC?
Residential HVAC systems are much smaller and require less energy than commercial systems. Usually, a residential HVAC system is only cooling a house or single-family residence, so the air volume that is being cooled or heated is much lower than in a commercial space.
Commercial buildings have massive amounts of air that need to be cooled or heated efficiently. These require vast, modular rooftop units that can be set up to cool or heat tens of thousands of cubic feet of air.
Still Have HVAC Questions For Us?
What Does Your HVAC Maintenance Agreement Include?
HVAC maintenance extends your comfort system’s lifespan, improves energy efficiency levels, and keeps things comfortable in your home. But if that’s not enough to sell you on the idea, here are a few additional perks that come with our maintenance plan:
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We offer free reminders for yearly maintenance check-ups.
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We offer priority service for maintenance plan members.
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CCA members have no overtime charges
There’s zero risk in joining our club to get the most out of your HVAC system!
What Is a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) or Energy Recovery Ventilator?
HRV systems or heat recovery ventilators are unique machines that allow outdoor air to enter your home as if you opened a window. However, instead of wasting precious heating or cooling power that comes from your heater or AC, an HRV system brings the fresh, outdoor air to comfortable indoor temperatures. You get all of the benefits of an open window and fresh air while minimizing the heat or conditioned air loss.
ERV systems, or energy recovery ventilators, are practically the same except they humidify and dehumidify the outdoor air as well. This is great for our climate where humidity can also be a problem when your indoor air feels stuffy.
The CDC recommends introducing outside air into a home to create a healthy environment. HVRs and ERVs can help serve this purpose.
What Is a Zone Control System?
Sometimes a home can suffer from hot or cold spots that are hard for ventilation systems to reach. No matter how much you try to block off air vents or turn the temperature up or down on the thermostat, it just doesn’t ever get comfortable.
A zone control system is a set of dampers installed in your air ducts that allows airflow at a more customized approach towards comfort. Certain areas of your home can be cooled or heated to different degrees, allowing you full control over your thermostat and home comfort.
Why should I get a Wi-Fi Thermostat?
A Wi-Fi thermostat controls the temperature in your home through your smartphone. It allows you to change the temperature of your home from anywhere you have a Wi-Fi connection. You can be on your way to vacation, realize you don’t want your air conditioner maintaining 76 degrees, and set it up to 82 while you are away. On your way home from vacation, you set it back to your normal temperature so it is comfortable when you return home. Many Wi-Fi thermostats give you alerts via text message or email. If a problem occurs with your HVAC system while you are not home to notice and the temperature exceeds a preset range, it will let you know so you take care of the problem right away before any damage occurs to your home.
How Much Does a New HVAC System Cost?
There are many factors that can affect the cost of a new HVAC system. All homes are different and require different types and sizes of equipment. All homeowners are different and require different levels of comfort and efficiency.
To get you a proper price, we need to come to your home and find out what is the appropriate type and size of equipment that is required by your home. We need to check the ductwork for correct sizing and perform an airflow analysis. We also need to measure your home and perform a heat load calculation to determine the proper size of the equipment needed.
We also like to meet with everyone who is going to living in the home. This gives us a chance to design the system to meet everyone’s need for comfort, air quality, and efficiency.
If you still have questions regarding your HVAC system, contact us today!
