In today’s world, more than ever before, you truly do get what you pay for. Many of our competitors cut corners in order to keep their price down. They aim to meet the minimum standards (sometimes less!) and no more. They don’t invest in proper training for their employees. Some are not compliant with EPA laws in their training, equipment, and practices. We refuse to do that. While it might save you a few dollars initially, you’ll pay more in the long run due to increased operating and maintenance costs, unnecessary repairs, and decreased comfort in the home. We believe in doing the job right the first time, giving you the most efficient and comfortable heating and air conditioning system possible at a reasonable, “Affordable” price. As mentioned above, some companies cut corners and thus give you a “lower” price. Other companies have a large overhead, unnecessary staff, large salesman commissions, big advertising budget, and so forth, which result in a BIG price. We prefer to maintain a small, efficient company that is customer-oriented. While we believe in making a decent living for our employees (after all, that’s the reason for being in business!) we also strongly believe in giving our customer their money’s worth. We believe that if we install a great system for you at a reasonable price, you’ll tell all your friends and neighbors! To us, word-of-mouth advertising is the best kind.
No, we don’t. Think about it for a minute. If a company raises its price in the summer just because all the other companies are busy and they can get away with it, then they are taking advantage of you. And of course, they’re making a higher profit that way. Now look at the winter situation. There’s not as much work to be done, so other companies are also bidding on your job. Many of them quote a price much lower than their normal rate, just to get the job. Now they’re making a much lower profit, if any. Do you think they are going to do the same quality of job when they’re being paid much less, or do you think they are going to cut corners to maintain their profit margin?
Our policy is to price our jobs consistently year-round. While we are able at times to drop our prices on certain items due to manufacturer incentives, our overall pricing remains the same whether it’s burning hot in August or freezing cold in February. We often lose jobs this way, but we’d rather do this than lower our prices and cut our quality like some do.
Companies cannot be certified, only individuals. However, any of our employees, including the owner, that handle refrigerants are EPA certified to do so. Our company policy states that if a non-certified employee violates the EPA laws (or any other laws for that matter) they will be dismissed.
It stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, and is a system the federal government established to rate the efficiency of air conditioning units. The higher the number, the less energy is used to cool your home. For heating, gas units are rated by AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) and heat pumps by HSPF (Heating Season Performance Factor). As with SEER, higher numbers mean better efficiency.
No, thank goodness! The units are heavy enough as it is! A ton is a unit of measurement of cooling, equal to 12,000 Btu’s. It has nothing to do with the actual weight of the equipment. For example, a two ton unit is capable of 24,000 Btu’s of cooling.
Called a load calculation for short, a Manual J Heat loss/Heat gain load calculation is the only accurate method of establishing how much heating and cooling is needed for a particular house. The procedure is set forth in ACCA’s Manual J, Residential Load Calculation. We use a computer program based on Manual J, and perform a load calculation on every home we are asked to estimate systems for. Others use rules of thumb such as square footage of the home which are not very accurate. For instance, some 850 square foot homes require a 2 ˝ ton unit, while some 1200-1600 square foot homes need only a 1 ˝ ton unit. The type of construction of the home, how much insulation there is in the walls, floors, and ceiling, what type and size of windows the home has, which way the house faces, even the roof color, are all factors that determine what size unit is required.
The indoor blower is the fan which moves the air through your duct system, and consequently throughout your home. It’s called an indoor blower because that’s the air it’s moving, the indoor air. It may actually be located in a unit on the outside of your home. A system equipped with a variable-speed indoor blower system can greatly enhance the comfort in your home. Unlike a conventional blower system which pretty much runs at the same speed all the time, a variable speed unit adjusts the fan speed to meet the needs of the home. With either a variable-speed blower or regular speed blower you can set the “fan” switch on the thermostat to the “on” position to let the fan run full time, which will help to even out the temperatures throughout the home and also constantly filter the air. Unfortunately, the regular blower will blow full-speed ALL the time, whether there’s a call for heating or cooling, or not. On the other hand, the variable-speed blower will drop down to about half speed when there is not a call for heating or cooling, gently moving the air instead of blowing it hard on you. This helps to avoid the “cold blow” feeling you get in the heating season when you leave the fan on. Also, when the fan is operating at this slow speed, it’s only using about as much electricity as a 65 to 75 watt light bulb. Most people with this system leave the fan on constantly-365 days a year!
A system with more than one stage of cooling or heating also provides better comfort, by varying it’s output to match the needs of the home. A regular system is like a regular table lamp-when it’s on, it’s on full, when it’s off, it’s completely off. A staged system is more like a lamp with a two- or three-way switch; a lower level for when you need just a little light, higher levels for when you need more. This both saves money and increases comfort year-round. For example, many people notice that in mild cooling weather such as Spring and Fall, it feels warm and muggy in their homes even though they have the thermostat set at the same temperature as in the middle of summer-it just doesn’t feel as cool though. The reason for this is generally because the humidity in the home is much higher. This is because the air conditioning system is running for shorter periods of time, not running long enough to remove the proper amount of humidity from the air. As we all know, the higher the humidity, the warmer it feels. A two-stage cooling system comes on during these times on it’s lower speed, running for a longer period of time but more closely matching the need of the home while also removing more humidity. If the temperature in the house starts to creep up, it automatically switches to the higher speed to keep up with the demand.
During heating season, staged systems also help by more closely matching the need of the home and staying closer to the temperature you have set on the thermostat. With conventional single-stage systems (especially gas units) the unit tends to “overshoot” the desired temperature, resulting in wide temperature swings from high to low. This not only makes you uncomfortable, it can actually be unhealthy.
These systems also save money-while they run for longer periods of time, they do so at a lower speed and use less fuel overall.
The Tennessee Valley Authority sponsors a program whereby homeowners and landlords may finance the installation of a heat pump system and certain weatherization improvements to homes they own, and finance them for up to ten years. For more information on the program, contact the power distributor to which you pay your electric bill-they’ll be happy to send you a no-obligation information packet (please be sure to mention our company when you call). Or, ask one of our representatives about the program. You can also find information at www.energyright.com .
In addition to the financing, systems installed through the program undergo a rigorous testing procedure by a power distributor inspector before the contractor is paid for the job. He checks to see that the unit and ductwork are sized correctly and performing up to specifications. If something’s not right, the contractor must correct the problem before he is paid. This is especially important since there is currently no enforcement of codes in our area in regards to the sizing and installation of heating and air conditioning systems except as pertains to the electrical wiring. In other words, if you don’t participate in this program, you really have no way of knowing if the system has been sized and installed correctly.
Because we believe in doing things right, whether it’s a TVA job or not. The standards that TVA has established are adopted from ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) standards-the most widely recognized authority on heating and air conditioning in the country. Simply put, it is the right way to size and install heating and air conditioning systems. As with most things in life, doing it right costs a little bit more up front, but pays off in the long run. The reason other contractors are willing to do the job cheaper if you don’t go through TVA could be because they’re going to cut corners, since the work won’t be inspected. We feel you deserve the same job whether somebody’s looking over our shoulder or not.
Fibrous duct (generally called “Ductboard”) is a type of ductwork that is made from fiberglass that is heat-seared on the inside and has a metallic cover on the outside. We feel it provides a superior duct system. Because of the way it is constructed, it is better insulated, seals better, and is quieter than metal ductwork. It is not a new product; ductboard has been around for almost fifty years now, and is widely used in commercial applications, especially where noise reduction is a primary concern. Many of our competitors “run down” ductboard systems; perhaps because they don’t have the proper equipment and training to install it. We have so much confidence in it that we guarantee our duct systems to the original purchaser for as long as they own the home.
Flexible duct is also not a new product, and has been around for quite awhile. It is just what it sounds like-ductwork that is flexible and can be used to make turns and bends without the need for special fittings such as elbows. It, like ductboard, has advantages over metal ductwork. Most metal duct has a joint at least every five feet to join two pieces together, and one long seam that runs along the length of the pipe. Each of these is a point where the duct could come apart, especially if it is just taped together instead of screwed together. These are also points where the air can leak out on the supply side, and draw in outside air, dust, and allergens on the return duct side. Flexible duct, however, is one continuous piece from one end to the other-there are no joints for leakage. Where it joins a duct fitting on each end, it is secured with a mechanical connector, and then taped to seal off air leakage.
If we are installing an entirely new duct system for you, one of the most important steps is already taken care of, as our duct systems by their very construction and installation are sealed tightly against infiltration of outside air. However, just by living in a home, some pollutants are created and others introduced into the home just by opening doors and windows, and air infiltration from tiny cracks and other openings in the home. We have many accessories to help deal with these problems, such as electronic air cleaners, humidifiers, ultraviolet air purifiers, HEPA filters, ozone generators, electrostatic air filters, pleated air filters, and so on. Just ask us-we’ll tailor a system to fit your needs!
To achieve an even temperature throughout the home each room must receive a specific amount of airflow, measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The best way to achieve this is to install balancing dampers in each supply branch line, so that the airflow can be adjusted to meet the CFM needs of each room. The airflow can then be measured at the supply outlet, and adjusted up or down to meet this need. We install balancing dampers on every full duct system we put in, and balance the airflow.
We do all of our own work using our own employees-this includes installing the ductwork, hooking up the electrical wiring, and even in some cases installing insulation in your home if it is needed. We have found that this is the best way to ensure the job is done right, and in a timely manner. The only time we use a subcontractor is if our customer needs their electrical panel changed out, and often we even do that part ourselves, as we have our own electrical license.
Yes, we are. We have a general liability policy well in excess of the minimum required for our type of work. We have workmen’s compensation insurance to cover our employees. We are licensed by the City of Clarksville and Montgomery County, including a gas piping license from Clarksville Gas and Water. We hold a Tennessee Master Mechanical License and are licensed by the State of Tennessee to perform electrical wiring. And we are licensed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for refrigerant handling. Some companies don’t have all of these licenses and insurances, or use subcontractors who don’t. If someone working for an uninsured company gets hurt on your property, YOU could be liable for their medical bills, lost wages, etc.
No, we try to leave any area in which we work as clean or cleaner than we found it. We carry shop vacuums on our trucks, and clean up after ourselves. However, as the old saying goes, to make an omelet you have to break a few eggs. We pick up the debris we create, vacuum up after ourselves, and try not to make a mess to begin with. In spite of all this, there is often a fine dust created by cutting through floors, walls, and ceilings. This fine dust is about the only mess left after we are gone, and the filter on the system will catch a great deal of it as the system is running. If you have old ductwork and/or old heating and air conditioning equipment that we are replacing, we will haul it off and dispose of it for you, at no extra charge. As we are an environmentally conscious company, we recycle as much of this scrap material as possible, including the refrigerant (“freon”) out of the system.
We provide a fairly detailed packet to our customers, including the information you need to make an intelligent, informed decision about what system you wish for your home. Our Equipment Options and Investment Guide provides you with the pertinent data for making the decision. It has the brands of equipment we are quoting you, their efficiencies (including SEER, HSPF, and AFUE numbers, where applicable), the size of the equipment, the type of equipment (heat pump, gas furnace, etc.), the warranty periods (for labor, parts, compressor, and heat exchanger), any necessary weatherization measures (such as insulation, storm windows, caulking, etc.), the total system investment, and, if you are using the TVA program or other financing, the monthly payment. The actual proposal has detailed information on what has to be done to complete the job, and has an area for the customer to sign to authorize us to perform the work. We also include other items in the packet such as this FAQ sheet and literature on the equipment and accessories. Please read all of the information provided, as it helps you feel more comfortable about the decision you are making.
Because our proposal packet is so thorough, it generally takes us a day or two to prepare. Please be patient with us in this respect; we promise the information you receive will be worth the wait. If you have an emergency situation where you need heating or cooling now, please let us know so we may act accordingly to assist you.
Also known these days as a “Hybrid-Heat” or “Hybrid” system, a dual-fuel heat pump gives you the best of both worlds. This is a heat pump that utilizes a gas furnace section for back up heat, instead of resistive heaters. In heating, the system runs on the heat pump until the outdoor temperature drops to a point where the heat pump is no longer efficiently heating your home and then switches over to the gas heat, giving you the warmest air out of your vents when it’s the coldest outside. They cost a little more up front than just a standard heat pump or furnace, but pay off in the long run in terms of enhanced comfort and efficiency. This is also the only type of gas system that can be financed through the TVA program.
A zone system is an excellent idea for folks who only want one heating and air conditioning system but have 2 story houses, houses with basements, very large houses, or houses with additions that have been added on to them. With a single zone system, you only have one thermostat. The area where that thermostat is located will be regulated to the temperature you have selected, but the other areas in the home may not be the same temperature. A zone system eliminates this by placing a thermostat in different areas, or “zones”. These zone thermostats are connected to motorized air dampers that control how much air from the system goes to each zone. When more air is needed in a zone, the zone thermostat senses this and opens to allow air to flow into that area. When that area reaches the desired temperature, the zone thermostat senses it and closes the damper. This type of system also allows you to set different zones to different temperatures, such as areas that are not in use.
For just about as long as most can remember, home air conditioning systems have used R-22 (Freon) as their refrigerant. Due to concerns about depletion of the ozone layer, this refrigerant is slowly being phased out, and a new refrigerant, R-410a, is taking its place. As of January 1, 2010, every piece of heating and air conditioning equipment manufactured for use in the USA must be made with R-410a refrigerant. R-22 will continue to be available to service existing equipment, but no new equipment can be made with it. In addition, new “drop-in” replacements for R-22 are already being produced.
We have invested in the necessary training and equipment needed to properly install and service these R-410a systems. As a matter of fact, you can often achieve higher efficiency levels with R-410a, so those interested in the highest efficiency will find that in many cases these are just the system they need!
Digital thermostats are generally more accurate than mechanical thermostats, and it is often easier to read the temperature and settings on them. Also, leveling them is not critical like it is with mechanical thermostats, which will not perform accurately if not level. Programmable thermostats offer the additional benefits of increased comfort and energy savings with the ability to “set back” temperatures for times when the house is unoccupied (such as during the work day) or when different temperatures are desired for different time periods. For use of set back thermostats on heat pump systems, an outdoor thermostat device must be installed as well to achieve maximum energy savings.
Since we can’t anticipate every question you might have, feel free to call us anytime on any subject we have not addressed here, or for more information on the topics we have touched on.