FAQs

Questions and answers about heating and cooling your home... (Click to read answers)

• If I set my thermostat to its lowest setting will my air conditioner cool my home faster?
• Do I need a larger air conditioner to better cool my house.
• Is the square footage of the house all that you need to determine the size my air conditioning system should be?
• In the winter when I turn down my thermostat at night and turn it back up in the morning, am I using too much energy to reheat the house? If so, should I continue this practice?
• The higher the thermostat is set, the faster the furnace will heat the house.
• Is replacing all my windows the best investment.
• How often should I change my filter?
• How often should I have my central heat and air system checked by a service expert?
• What is a heat pump?
• What is SEER?
• Should I replace my central air even though it is still working?

If I set my thermostat to its lowest setting will my air conditioner cool my home faster?

The thermostat is not a throttle, setting it lower than necessary will not cool the home any faster. (Back to Top)

Do I need a larger air conditioner to better cool my house.

Air conditioners cool and dehumidify. An oversized air conditioner can quickly cool a home, but results in it frequently cycling on and off, which doesn’t allow it enough time to remove moisture and may make the house feel clammy. A properly sized A/C will operate for a longer period of time during the hottest days which will remove that uncomfortable moisture. Although a properly sized unit will run longer, it will be more efficient and use less energy. Over sizing a residential A/C system by 50% will cause a 10% increase in energy consumption. Not only do oversized units consume more energy, but they also remove less moisture from your home. (Back to Top)

Is the square footage of the house all that you need to determine the size my air conditioning system should be?

A good load calculation program takes into account window types, window orientation and window shading; insulation of ceiling, walls and floor; air leakage and many other factors such as the color of the roof and the number of occupants. Using the square footage of a home to size an air conditioner is outdated and will almost always yield an oversized system. Don’t use a contractor who wants to size your unit solely on the square footage of your house. Require a Manual J or equivalent analysis before purchasing. (Back to Top)

In the winter when I turn down my thermostat at night and turn it back up in the morning, am I using too much energy to reheat the house? If so, should I continue this practice?

No matter how long you will be gone or asleep, you will save energy by turning down the thermostat.* Heat escapes faster when there is a bigger difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures. When you turn down the thermostat, the indoor temperature is closer to the outdoor temperature, the furnace runs less and you lose less heat and save energy. In the morning, the furnace will run a little longer to bring the house back to temperature; however, the nighttime energy savings is much greater than the energy needed to re-heat the home. (Back to Top)

The higher the thermostat is set, the faster the furnace will heat the house.

Most furnaces deliver heat at the same rate, no matter how high the thermostat is set. Just set the thermostat to the temperature you’d like and your furnace will heat your home as fast as it can. (Back to Top)

Is replacing all my windows the best investment.

If your windows show signs of significant deterioration (rot, corrosion, weather damage), they probably need to be replaced. However, a new window only cuts window energy loss in half, and the area of the windows only accounts for a small percent of the building “envelope.” Therefore, insulation and air sealing are first priority investments. (Back to Top)

How often should I change my filter?

Once per month. This will help your air conditioner run more efficiently, keep your air cleaner and prolong the life of your system. A dirty or clogged filter will demand more energy and slow down the cooling process. (Back to Top)

How often should I have my central heat and air system checked by a service expert?

Twice per year. Just sign up for a Middleton Heat and Air Maintenance Plan and we will perform a 22 point tune up in the Spring and a 22 point tune up in the Fall. We will even call or e-mail a reminder to you. Following this simple plan can reduce your chances of a major repair by over 60%. (Back to Top)

What is a heat pump?

A Heat pumps are like conventional air conditioners except they also can provide heat in the winter. (Back to Top)

What is SEER?

A SEER is a central air conditioning unit’s Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. Unlike the EER (Energy Efficiency Rating), the SEER estimates a unit’s performance over an entire cooling season, rather than measuring its performance at a given temperature and humidity level. In short, it measures the seasonal performance of the unit based on the cooling accomplished (in BTUs of energy) divided by the electricity consumed (in kWh). (Back to Top)

Should I replace my central air even though it is still working?

If your existing A/C unit is more than 15 years old, it is probably inefficient and you should consider replacing it with a newer, more energy efficient unit. For example, if you replace a 1970’s central air conditioning unit that has a SEER of 6 with a new unit and a SEER of 13, you would cut your air conditioning costs in half–or more! Remember, in Arkansas, almost one-fourth of our annual utility costs are paid to keep us cool. (Back to Top)