Frequently Asked Questions

Regardless of how well a house is sealed, outdoor air will make its way inside. So, if you have a strong source of pollutants near your home, such as a busy highway or an airport, you are more likely to have indoor air quality issues. An air filtration system can effectively prevent these pollutants from circulating throughout your home. Comfort Zone’s indoor air quality specialists can help you choose the right system.

That largely depends on the types of pollutants in your home. For common allergens, such as pet dander, dust, and mold, HEPA filters can work incredibly well. If the problem is gasses or smoke from outdoor or indoor sources, we recommend using an electronic air purifier.

Our air quality services can determine the types and severity of the problems in your home and recommend the solutions that will work best for you.

The two major types of indoor air quality problems are poor humidity control and airborne contaminants. There are things you can do to make immediate, but slight to modest, improvements to air quality.

For high humidity, portable or room dehumidifiers can provide some relief. For low humidity (uncomfortably dry air), you would use room humidifiers.

For airborne contaminants, you can start by removing any known sources, such as cleaners and solvents that are not meant for indoor or household use. You should also be vigilant about changing dirty HVAC filters.

Again, these steps can provide some improvement, but they are unlikely to completely correct indoor air quality problems. For that, we recommend having the situation in your home evaluated by one of our indoor air quality specialists, who can determine the particular problems and recommend the indoor air quality solutions that are best for your situation.

Indeed, they are. When indoor humidity is too high, people often try to make their homes feel more comfortable by lowering the thermostat. But it’s not the air temperature that’s the problem – it’s the humidity. Ideal indoor comfort is always a matter of striking the right balance between air temperature and humidity level.

An air conditioning system does remove a good deal of excess moisture from indoor air. However, with our humid summers, it’s often not enough. We recommend looking into a good whole-house dehumidifier. There are several on the market that integrate with your HVAC system. It will handle the humidity your AC can’t and prevent the AC from having to work so hard. It will also help with high indoor humidity year-round, not just in the summer.

Room humidifiers would help, but if you want to avoid the expense of buying them just for short-term use, there are other options for adding some moisture to indoor air. One is to skip the clothes dryer and let clothes air dry on drying racks or hang them where there is adequate air circulation; avoid hanging them in a closet or other small, enclosed space.

Another option is to place shallow pans of clean, fresh water around the house, making sure to replenish the water as it evaporates. Doing these things won’t completely correct your humidity problem, but they will help until your whole-house humidifier is up and running.

Often the first indication of excessively low indoor humidity is dry, itchy skin in people and pets. Other signs include nasal and respiratory irritation, such as stuffiness, nose bleeds, and a dry, hacking cough. You might also notice peeling wallpaper, loose joints in wood furniture, and cracking or brittleness in leather goods.

Homes with forced-air heating are most likely to have excessively dry air. If using room humidifiers during the heating season doesn’t provide adequate relief, we recommend looking into a whole-house humidifier.

There are state-of-the-art indoor air quality systems that provide both dehumidification and humidification, along with components that reduce airborne particles and improve ventilation. We can help you determine if that is something you need, as well as explore other custom solutions.

Short cycling, where the heater turns on and off more frequently than it should, would definitely drive up your utility bill. A heating system uses the most energy in the start-up phase; so, more frequent starts means more energy used. If you haven’t already, you need to get your furnace repaired. Prolonged short cycling will lead to other heating problems and more expensive repairs.

The only safe way is to use a properly maintained fireplace or wood stove (if you have one) or a high-quality electric space heater.

Never use any appliance or equipment, such as the kitchen stove or camping stove, that is not designed specifically for indoor space heating. The risks of fire and dangerous fumes from exhaust are extremely high.

The best thing anyone can do to avoid the inconvenience and cost of expensive, preventable repairs is to have preventive maintenance done each year. We encourage you to check out our maintenance services, as well as our preventive maintenance plan, the Comfort Club, for even more savings.

Also, schedule a service call as soon as you notice a furnace or heating problem. The earlier any problem is found and fixed, the less expensive the repair will be. In other words, delayed repair only leads to increasing damage to equipment and higher repair bills.

We suggest considering a UV air purifier when there are health concerns about exposure to airborne molds, bacteria, fungi, or viruses. So, if you or any family members are, for example, susceptible to allergic reactions, have chronic respiratory conditions, or are immuno-compromised, a UV air purifier could provide added protection and peace of mind. This is not meant to be medical advice, however. You should always talk to your doctor about how best to address any health concerns.

That refers to the mold or mildew odor that comes from an air conditioner. It happens when moisture, dust, and dirt build up in the AC system, and become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. UV light along with annual AC preventive maintenance are the best ways to prevent dirty sock syndrome.

Ultraviolet, or UV, light has long been used in laboratories, hospitals, and certain industrial and manufacturing applications to kill biological contaminants, such as bacteria, molds, fungi, and viruses. Air purifiers without UV light do not do this.

Yes, we do. We service and install all indoor air quality systems. And when yours needs to be replaced, we’ll even help you select the best replacement system.

It’s not uncommon for homes to be plagued with both humidity and air pollution problems. That’s why the aim of our air quality services is to come up with a custom solution that addresses the comfort and health concerns of individual homes and families. Our indoor air quality specialists assess each home and discuss the best options for each customer.

Absolutely. Even with the best whole-house air purification system, it pays to do a few simple things. Change your HVAC air filter every 4 to 6 weeks, and schedule annual preventive maintenance for your heating and cooling systems. Both of these help reduce the amount of airborne particles that recirculate into your home.

The short answer is as soon as there’s a problem with your HVAC system. This is the best way to avoid the expense and disruption of a total HVAC system breakdown.

But we understand that you also don’t want repairs to interfere with your normal business schedule and operations. We recommend contacting a qualified commercial HVAC company that can accommodate the schedules and needs of the businesses they serve.

At this time, our maintenance plan is only for home heating and cooling systems. However, we can assure you that maintenance services, when done annually, are the most cost-effective way to keep any commercial HVAC system operating reliably and efficiently, reduce the risk of preventable breakdowns and expensive repairs, and maximize the time before needing to replace your current system.

It’s best to start with the simplest explanations, which in this case would be either a stuck damper or a problem with the sensor in the thermostat. While the air conditioner is running, you can check the airflow coming out of the vents in the problem zone. If there’s no or faint airflow, this suggests a stuck damper. If the airflow feels normal but not cool enough, it may be that the sensor isn’t registering the difference in air temperature and the thermostat setting. This information is helpful when you call to arrange for repairs.

The key components involved in the upgrade include a main control panel, motorized dampers that are installed in the ducts, and thermostats for the various zones. None of the components is especially prone to problems when they are of good quality and installed properly.

We can’t overstate the importance of using an HVAC company that is highly qualified and experienced in doing this type of installation. Subpar installation can typically result in stuck dampers and malfunctions in the thermostats and control panel. The fixes can range from minor to complex and very expensive, so, again, if a problem does arise, it should be diagnosed and repaired only by an experienced HVAC tech.

It’s never a good idea for homeowners to try to repair their HVAC systems, especially one as complex as a zoned system. You could harm the equipment and yourself. But there are things you can and should do to help keep it in good condition and running smoothly.

These include changing the air filter every 4 to 6 weeks; keeping vents, return registers, and condenser units free of anything that obstructs airflow; and scheduling preventive maintenance for the cooling season once a year and for the heating season once a year. These simple things go a long way in preventing many problems and avoidable repairs.

This can happen with poor installation of ductless systems. The blower units and chassis need to be mounted properly and securely. We recommend contacting an HVAC company that is experienced in installing and repairing ductless split systems. The tech can correct the mounting problem and determine if anything else is contributing to the moisture.

A refrigerant leak is one possible explanation for insufficient cooling. Another is a clogged air filter. Either of these would result in insufficient cooling throughout the house. If the cooling problem is happening just in a particular zone, this points to a problem with the sensor, which detects and adjusts to the air temperature in the zone.

The first thing to do is check and change the air filter. If the problem persists with a clean filter, you should schedule a service call with a licensed HVAC company.

If you’ve been getting annual preventive maintenance from a good HVAC company, great! You’re ahead of the game in keeping repair costs as low as possible. If you haven’t, you will still benefit from starting now. Check out our maintenance service online to see what preventive maintenance includes and how it helps you avoid preventable repairs.

Also, schedule a service call as soon as you notice any problems. The earlier a problem is found and repaired, the less expensive it will be. Delayed repairs only lead to worsening damage to equipment and higher repair bills – and, ultimately, to replacing an aging system earlier than you hoped.

All homeowners have one very important maintenance task: Changing the air filter every 4 to 6 weeks.
A dirty or clogged filter strains the heating system by restricting airflow. It also contributes to poor indoor air quality. Beyond that, preventive maintenance should always be done by a licensed HVAC tech.

We do – it’s called the Comfort Club. It provides great pricing on annual maintenance for your cooling or heating system, or both systems. It includes other great benefits as well, like discounted repairs and service calls and priority scheduling. Membership pays for itself for most of our customers.

We strongly recommend scheduling preventive maintenance for your heating system once each year. With regular preventive maintenance, we’re able to catch small issues before they become major repairs, as well as ensure your heater is operating at peak efficiency and lasts for as many years as possible.

That said, any maintenance is better than none at all. You always benefit from a thorough safety check and tune-up. And if we find that you need a repair, we can do it to prevent a heating emergency on the coldest day of winter.

The particular installation requirements depend on whether the furnace is gas or electric. In either case, a furnace must be sized properly and installed correctly. Subpar sizing and installation reduce the efficiency of even the best furnace, resulting in ineffective heating, higher utility bills, and possibly shortened equipment life. That’s why it’s extremely important to have your furnace sized and installed by an experienced licensed HVAC company.

On average, the typical furnace lasts around 15 years before needing to be replaced. But high-quality equipment that has gotten preventive maintenance annually can provide reliable heating for 20 to 25 years.

The upfront cost for equipment and installation put heat pumps out of reach for many homeowners. But the good news is that furnace technology has come a long way, providing plenty of choices in high-efficiency home heating. We can help you sort through and understand your options so that you choose the furnace that’s right for you and your budget.

There are two things homeowners should do regularly. One is to change the air filter every 4 to 6 weeks. A dirty filter makes the system work harder, restricts airflow, and degrades indoor air quality. The second is to make sure the condenser unit (the part that sits outside) is clear of anything that restricts airflow, such as plants and debris. Everything else, such as inspecting, adjusting, and lubricating parts, should be done by a licensed HVAC tech.

It’s always best to have maintenance done before the start of the cooling season. That way we can get it in peak condition and make any repairs, if necessary, before you need it for continuous cooling. But, regardless of where we are in the cooling season, you still greatly benefit from having it done. It’s the best way to protect yourself from a breakdown in the height of summer heat.

We strongly recommend scheduling an AC tune-up – what we call preventive maintenance – once each year for your AC system. It is the most cost-effective way to keep your system performing efficiently and reliably. It will also ensure you get the longest useful life out of your air conditioner.

Yes, we do offer our commercial HVAC customers preventive maintenance plans. Because commercial systems can vary greatly in complexity and equipment, it’s structured a bit differently from our residential plan. Please call us at 770-213-2665 and we’ll be happy to go over the details.

Although the HVAC system will need to be shut down during maintenance, there is no reason to suspend your normal operating hours. For the comfort of the building’s occupants and minimal disruption to your business, it’s always best to schedule maintenance before the start of the heating and cooling seasons.

We always recommend having preventive maintenance done once before the start of the cooling season and again before the start of the heating season. This enables us to ensure your HVAC system is ready to operate dependably and efficiently as soon as you start running it continuously.

To minimize disruption to your business, we always recommend planning a new installation as soon as you know your old system needs to be replaced. This reduces the risk of having to close your business because of total failure of the old system. Ideally, it should also give you some flexibility in scheduling new installation during a time when your business is not at its peak.

Whether you’re replacing an old system or installing one in a new business, there’s a lot to consider. Factors such as building size and layout, the type of business you run, typical occupancy, and many others all figure into the size and type of systems that are right for you. We are experienced in customizing heating and cooling solutions that work best for our commercial customers’ unique needs.

Yes, and you should work only with a company that is licensed in commercial HVAC for all services needed for heating and cooling your business, including HVAC maintenance, repairs, and replacement or new installation.

Absolutely! Just like HVAC repairs or installation, preventive maintenance is one of the services we provide. You don’t have to be a member of the Comfort Club, our preventive maintenance plan, to call on us for service, but we encourage you to look into the Comfort Club. It offers incredible savings and other great benefits.

Maintenance for a zone control system is essentially the same as for other heating and cooling systems.
Ductless split systems are by definition zone control systems; in other words, zoning is designed into the equipment. For air conditioners, furnaces, and heat pumps, zoning is achieved by an HVAC tech installing dampers in ducts and thermostats to control each zone. So, whatever heating and cooling systems you use, we do a thorough system inspection, safety check, and tune-up.

Yes, it does. We offer our preventive maintenance plan, the Comfort Club, for all of the types of heating and cooling systems we service, including zone control systems.

Duct testing detects any leaks in your home’s ductwork. Leaks reduce how efficiently and effectively your heating and cooling systems do their jobs, resulting in higher utility bills and reduced comfort. They also contribute to poor indoor air quality. Testing allows us to find where the leaks are so they can be repaired.

Generally, this can be done every couple of years if there are no obvious signs of damage or leaks. But if you notice an unexpected rise in utility bills or an unexplained poor quality indoor air, such as worsening of allergy symptoms, you should contact us about duct testing.

No, we don’t. But we do provide duct testing and duct repair services. For duct cleaning, we recommend you contact someone who specializes in it.

Yes, there are two things everyone with a heat pump should do. One is to change the air filter every 4 to 6 weeks. The other is to make sure the area surrounding the outdoor cabinet is clear of debris, plants, and anything else that restricts airflow.

Absolutely! Just like HVAC repairs or installation, preventive maintenance is one of the services we provide. You don’t have to be a member of the Comfort Club, our preventive maintenance plan, to call on us for service, but we encourage you to look into the Comfort Club. It offers incredible savings and other great benefits.

Yes, it does. We offer our preventive maintenance plan, the Comfort Club, for all of the types of heating and cooling systems we service, including heat pumps. Because a heat pump is used in both the cooling and the heating seasons, you would want your plan to provide two maintenance visits per year.

Absolutely! Just like HVAC repairs or installation, preventive maintenance is one of the services we provide. You don’t have to be a member of the Comfort Club, our preventive maintenance plan, to call on us for service, but we encourage you to look into the Comfort Club. It offers incredible savings and other great benefits.

If you use your ductless system just for cooling, you should have maintenance done once a year, ideally before the start of the cooling season. If you also use it to heat your home, you should have maintenance done again for the heating season.

To keep it simple: You should have preventive maintenance done once for the cooling season and once for the heating season every year, regardless of the type of HVAC system you have.

Yes, it does. We offer our preventive maintenance plan, the Comfort Club, for all of the types of heating and cooling systems we service, including ductless split systems.

The particular installation requirements depend on whether the AC system is ductless or if it uses ductwork. Regardless of the type of system, all of its components need to work together seamlessly to ensure efficient, effective cooling. The performance of even the best equipment will suffer from subpar installation. So, it’s important to work with a reputable licensed HVAC company experienced in installing the type of AC system you’ve purchased.

It depends on when you got the system and its maintenance history. The latest efficient systems are designed to minimize workload and, in turn, reduce normal wear and tear. With annual preventive maintenance, it could be 15 to 20 years before you need to replace it.

A properly maintained older system typically lasts 10 to 15 years. In either case, annual preventive maintenance is the key to extending your system’s life.

There are more cooling system options available today than ever. The system that’s right for you depends on many factors, such as your budget for equipment and installation and features of your home. That said, most homeowners start the selection process by deciding between a ductless split system, which works well in smaller homes, and a conventional system with ductwork, which is typically needed in larger homes.

Comfort Zone takes the time to educate every customer on the best options for them and their particular situation. We want you to feel confident that you have the information and guidance you need to choose the system that’s right for you.

Short cycling, the condition where the AC turns on and off every few minutes, is often caused by a short circuit that sends the wrong signals to the system or a problem with the compressor. Whatever the cause, prolonged short cycling will lead to additional problems and shorten the life of the AC system. The sooner the cause of short cycling is found and repaired, the less expensive AC repairs will be.

Depending on the type and size of the split system, you can have as many as eight zones.

They provide effective, efficient cooling without the ductwork needed with a forced-air system. Between being ductless and the compact size of the equipment, they don’t take up much space inside or outside the home. Zone control, where different levels of conditioned air can be delivered to different rooms, is a built-in feature of ductless splits. And because a ductless split system can be paired with a heat pump, it’s a great efficient option for both heating and cooling.

They’re most often used for cooling in homes that don’t have ductwork and use a boiler system for heating. But when coupled with a heat pump, they can both heat and cool comfortably and efficiently.

The most likely reason a heat pump doesn’t switch to cool air in the cooling season or warm air in the heating season has to do with either the reversing valve or the refrigerant level.

The reversing valve may be stuck in the wrong mode, which points to a problem with the solenoid. Or, instead, the refrigerant level may be low due to a leak and the heat pump cannot deliver adequate conditioned air.

Again, these are likely reasons, but not a definitive diagnosis. We recommend contacting a licensed HVAC company with experience in heat pump repair to check out the problem.

A number of things can cause heat pump frosting. However, the most common – and easiest to fix – is a dirty or clogged air filter. A dirty filter restricts airflow, often leading to moisture build-up and frosting. We always advise our customers to change the air filter every four to six weeks to avoid a variety of problems in any type of heating and cooling system.

Although that’s the most common cause, it’s not a diagnosis of what’s going on in your case. We recommend having the heat pump checked out by a licensed HVAC company with experience in heat pump repair.

The best thing anyone can do to avoid the inconvenience and cost of expensive, preventable repairs is to have biannual preventive maintenance done. That means you should schedule preventive maintenance once a year for the cooling season and once a year for the heating season. We encourage you to check out our preventive maintenance services, as well as our preventive maintenance plan, the Comfort Club, for even more savings.

Also, schedule a service call as soon as you notice any problem with your heat pump. The earlier a problem is found and fixed, the less expensive the repair will be. In other words, delayed repair only leads to increasing damage to equipment and higher repair bills.

Using a ductless split system can be a great option, but it’s not the only one. Depending on the details of your home and your particular situation, installing ductwork and using forced-air heating and cooling systems is a possibility.

That said, many factors go into deciding which is the best way for you, or anyone, to go. That’s why we always educate customers on the options available to them and help them make an informed decision.

It plays a very important role, affecting everything from the efficiency of heating and cooling systems, indoor air quality, and, ultimately your overall comfort. Damaged, inadequate, or poorly installed ductwork can even result in problems with your other HVAC equipment and shorten its life.

Absolutely. If you use a heat pump to both heat and cool your home, it’s safe to say you have ductwork. Zone control would require an upgrade to your system, consisting of adding dampers to the ducts, thermostats for different zones, and a control panel.

Many people think this is a good way to save energy. Unfortunately, it’s not true and it can damage your HVAC system. Closing or covering a vent only blocks the conditioned air from entering the room. It doesn’t control the amount or temperature of the air delivered to the vent or the energy used to produce it. Also, the built-up pressure in the duct could cause leakage, which wastes energy. So we urge you not to try this.

Zone control systems are designed to deliver customized amounts of conditioned air to specific zones of your home. It is a built-in feature of ductless split systems.
For forced-air heating and cooling systems, zone control is achieved by an HVAC technician installing mechanical dampers in ductwork, along with thermostats for different zones, all linked to one control panel.
Zoning is an efficient way to heat and cool because you’re not wasting conditioned air where you don’t want or need it.

With consistent, professional biannual maintenance the life span is about 15 years. You might think that’s about the same as a typical furnace, but it’s important to remember that a furnace runs only during the heating season, whereas a heat pump does double duty, heating and cooling your home.

Believe it or not, even in winter there is plenty of thermal energy – or heat – in the environment. Air source heat pumps, currently the most popular and affordable kind, extract heat from outdoor air and pump it into your home.

Yes, we do. We both replace older heat pumps with new ones, and install new heat pump systems in homes that currently use conventional heating and cooling equipment.

Yes, that’s true. While there are many good uses for duct tape, using it for any HVAC application isn’t one of them. Instead, HVAC companies use mastic or metallic tape, both of which are engineered for HVAC ducts and other components.

There’s no way for homeowners to visually inspect ductwork that runs behind walls and floors. However, HVAC companies can test ductwork to determine if there are leaks. Duct testing involves sealing off the ducts so that no air can escape, and then pressurizing them to a set level. If the pressure level changes, it means there’s leakage in the ductwork. A skilled HVAC tech will then use the findings from testing to narrow down the location of the leaks.

Some common signs of duct issues are uneven heating and cooling and unexplained spikes in utility bills. An experienced HVAC company would need to determine if ductwork is the cause of these issues. If it is, the next step would be to determine if the existing ductwork can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced.

Grinding sounds suggest a problem with the air handler, a motor with a large fan attached to it. The air handler is what blows cooled air through the ductwork. As the bearings in the motor wear down, friction increases and produces a grinding sound. If not corrected, the motor will eventually overheat and burn out. Our advice is to stop using the AC immediately and call for repairs.

The first sign of significant wear and tear is usually an unexplained increase in electric bills. You might also notice that the AC turns on and off more frequently and that cooling in your home is uneven. The sooner you have it checked out by an HVAC tech, the better. The problem will only get worse and become more expensive to repair.