FAQ

  • General HVAC

    • Why does my home comfort system need regular maintenance?

      Just like you need to take your car into the shop for normal tune-ups, such as oil changes or checking out potential issues, your home comfort system should be subject to the same kind of attention. Regular maintenance by a trained technician provides various benefits to your HVAC equipment, which can help your systems operate efficiently and prevent costly breakdowns.

    • How much should I expect to pay for a new heating and air conditioner?

      Call Air Houston Mechanical LLC at (832) 501-3419 to get a comprehensive quote on replacement equipment.

    • Will my new furnace work differently than my old one?
      Depending on how old your previous furnace was, you could experience a variety of differences. Furnaces today are created to give more even and efficient heating than ever before. Modern furnaces also better regulate temperature and airflow, moving more air over the heat exchanger than older furnaces.

      Additionally, new furnaces are crafted to work with other high-efficiency HVAC products, such as air conditioners. The air conditioner blowers offer your heating system an extra bump so it can deliver cool air around your home efficiently. Special features like variable speed motors will also help reduce noise associated with operating your equipment and easily meet your family’s airflow needs.

    • What is two-stage heating?
      Two-stage heating enables the furnace to heat at two levels of output: high for cold winter days and low for mild ones. Around 80 percent of the time, your home’s heating requirements can be met when the furnace is set on the low setting, allowing your two-stage unit to run for longer periods. Two-stage units also provide more even heat distribution, fewer temperature swings, quiet operation, increased air filtration, and energy efficiency.
    • What is the energy efficiency standard for air conditioners?
      The Department of Energy recently raised the minimum efficiency levels for air conditioners, heat pumps, and packaged units made after Jan. 1, 2015, since heating and cooling contribute significantly to a home’s total energy usage. The requirements vary by region, so call Air Houston Mechanical LLC for the efficiency standards for Huffman.
    • What kind of technology comes with the HVAC systems that Air Houston Mechanical LLC carries?

      Air Houston Mechanical LLC has a selection of brands and models that are more efficient than ever and make it easier to find the right fit for your home. There are innovative systems that make heating or cooling your home more automatic, running similar to cruise control to make tiny adjustments to help meet your comfort demands with energy efficiency. You can reach us at (832) 501-3419 to learn more about the technology we carry.

    • How can I reduce my energy costs?

      Air Houston Mechanical LLC offers several HVAC products with high-efficiency ratings, which can help cut back the amount of energy they require to work. Aside from choosing products that have received Energy Star® certification or achieved high SEER ratings for air conditioners or AFUE ratings for furnaces, you can consider the following:

      • Making certain that your system receives regular maintenance by a trained technician can keep your system operating at its top performance.
      • Zoning systems enable you to heat or cool only specific areas of your home, so you won’t have to pay to heat or cool spaces that you don’t typically utilize.
      • Using a programmable thermostat allows you to set the temperature in your home around your schedule. They can be programmed to give you the comfort you need when you’re home and increase or decrease the temperature while you’re not around, helping you save on heating and cooling costs.
    • Why should I get my new HVAC system from Air Houston Mechanical LLC?
      Air Houston Mechanical LLC is well-known in the Huffman area, and you can trust them to provide quality home comfort products. We carry a variety of innovative and high-quality products. We are dedicated to providing customers with high-quality service and will make sure you find the best solution for your home.
    • How can I improve my home’s indoor air quality?

      Improving your home’s indoor air quality starts with four basic strategies:

      • Poor indoor air quality leaves your home with lots of air pollutants floating around. So, to increase IAQ, the first step is to get rid of as many pollutants as possible. You can easily do this by cleaning and vacuuming at least one time during the week, frequently washing linens, and storing cleaning products safely.
      • Proper insulation is ideal for keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, but it also makes it difficult for airborne pollutants to escape. We carry products that help swap stale air for fresh, filtered outside air.
      • Good ventilation and routine cleaning are a start, but air filters, germicidal lights, and purification systems take your IAQ to the next level by capturing microscopic particles, killing germs, and getting rid of particles while destroying chemical vapors.
      • Programmable thermostats will help control the humidity levels and temperature to help avoid particles and germs from building up while also keeping your home comfortable.
    • How do I know which indoor air quality product will work best for my home?
      We recommend that you meet with one of the professionals at Air Houston Mechanical LLC and have them evaluate your home and current indoor comfort system. We can help you determine which equipment will be best suited to meet your needs.
    • How does an air conditioner work?
      Many homeowners believe that air conditioners make the air in your home cooler, but it removes the heat from inside your home, sending the hot air outside. That hot air moves across a cold indoor coil where refrigerant in the lines sends the heat to the coil in your outdoor unit, releasing it outside. This procedure continues until the indoor temperature reaches the desired level that you set on your thermostat.
    • What is the minimum energy efficiency standard for air conditioners in my state?
      Due to the amount of energy used by heating and cooling systems, the Department of Energy (DOE) raised the minimum efficiency levels for air conditioners, heat pumps, and packaged units manufactured after January 1, 2015. These levels are determined regionally and carry varying requirements based on your location. Air Houston Mechanical LLC will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding these minimum requirements and let you know what choices are available when you’re searching for a replacement system.
    • How can I confirm the model and serial numbers for my cooling unit?
      These numbers are located on a nameplate or sticker that is near your systems service panel. The sticker will be white with black letters and have both of these numbers located at the top of the sticker. M/N signifies the model number while S/N is your serial number.
    • How do I guess what size equipment I should purchase?
      There are a couple of ways to determine what size system is right for your home, but the most reliable way to determine the right size system is by having your local Air Houston Mechanical LLC technician come out and perform a load calculation. This calculation considers your home: square footage, insulation value, amount of insulation, and a variety of other factors.
    • Can frost, ice, dirt, or other debris keep the outdoor unit of my cooling system from operating effectively?
      The short answer is Yes because dirt and other debris can hinder your system’s ability to work efficiently. For heat pumps, it is normal to have frost or ice on them during the winter, but they also include defrost controls to ensure they work efficiently in those types of conditions.
    • What is two-stage cooling?
      Two-stage cooling means that your cooling unit has two levels of operation. When summer is its warmest, the high setting starts up, and when it’s cooler or milder, it operates on the low setting. Most of the time, the lower setting will take care of your cooling needs, but even when the high setting starts up, you may not realize it because it can generate such even temperatures for your comfort. This can also mean a quieter cooling system, greater efficiency, and better humidity control.
    • Why is my cooling unit freezing up?
      When your cooling unit freezes up, there are a variety of reasons why it could be doing so. The most common reasons include dirty filters, low refrigerant, a dirty evaporative coil, and a faulty blower motor or relay. A dirty filter is something you can fix as a homeowner, but the others need to be done by a professional like those at Air Houston Mechanical LLC. Contact them at (832) 501-3419 with any additional questions.
    • What is the best thermostat to use for my cooling system?
      Choosing the best thermostat for your cooling system comes with a lot of considerations. That’s why it’s nice to have such a wide variety of choices from Air Houston Mechanical LLC. Whether you’re looking for a programmable or non-programmable thermostat or want to join the smart home trend, there are several thermostats that you have to select from. Some thermostats will depend on what type of heating and cooling system you have, but the team at Air Houston Mechanical LLC will be able to help determine what options meet your needs and your budget.
    • What is a heat pump?
      Heat pumps can be a tad confusing due to their name, but they cover both your heating and cooling needs throughout the year. When it’s hot outside it works like an air conditioner in that it removes heat from your home, but when it cools off, the process gets reversed, and it collects heat from outside and brings it inside. Heat pumps are also very efficient and may produce up to two or three times more heat than the energy it uses.
    • When replacing the outdoor unit, should the indoor unit also be replaced?
      Of course, we advise you to also replace your indoor system, but this is why:
      • All outdoor cooling systems have a matching indoor unit that they are intended to work with to ensure efficient performance. When they aren’t paired with the other piece as a total system, efficiency might suffer.
      • As with a lot of products, advancements have brought about newer, more efficient ways of doing things. Heating and cooling systems are no different. These improvements most importantly include greater heating and cooling efficiency, but also include improved air handling, filtering, and noise pollution reduction to name a few.
      • Heating and cooling systems that are more than 10-15 years old typically need to be replaced. Not only do they consist of outdated technology, but they are also less efficient than today’s models. Buying a new indoor unit at the same time means you’ll have a matched system to provide you with even more comfort and efficiency for years to come.
    • How do I know my solar HVAC system is performing to its potential?
      The communication module on your home energy system may send the system’s performance records for each module to a website. You should visit this website to learn more about the system’s status, energy production, and environmental benefits. The site also shows carbon offsets as it happens.
    • Do my solar modules need to be cleaned?
      In most areas, the rain will be enough to keep the solar modules clean. If you reside in a dusty or industrial area, periodically spraying the modules with water can help improve performance. However, detergents and high-pressure hoses should never be used to clean solar modules.
    • What is the best thermostat for my HVAC system?
      The proper thermostat for you depends on your heating and cooling equipment. Air Houston Mechanical LLC has programmable and nonprogrammable thermostats that can help enhance the efficiency of your HVAC systems. View our available products or contact us at (832) 501-3419 to learn more.
    • How can I control my energy bills?
      Heating and cooling can make up a big amount of your utility bill. The innovative and high-efficiency heating and air conditioning products available from Air Houston Mechanical LLC can help decrease these costs. If you’re searching for a new heating or cooling system, look for products with high SEER ratings for air conditioners and AFUE ratings for furnaces. SEER and AFUE are a measure of system efficiency, and the larger the number, the more efficient the product. Besides purchasing a new home comfort system, don’t forget about these additional factors:
      • Is your system consistently maintained? Whether it’s a furnace or an air conditioner, HVAC systems will work more efficiently after regular maintenance checks.
      • Would you benefit from a zoning system? If there are rooms in your home that are rarely used, a zoning system will allow you to heat or cool only the most used areas of your house.
      • Does your home have a programmable or smart thermostat? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, programmable thermostats may decrease your heating costs by up to 35 percent, and your cooling costs by up to 25 percent.
    • What are the benefits of zoning systems?
      Zoning systems give you the comfort of sectioning portions of your residence and control the thermostat differently in each room. Zoning equipment is best for when you have areas of your home that are infrequently used or when you and your family are always in disagreement about how hot or cold it ought to be inside. Zoning systems are nearly silent and efficient, allowing you more control over the comfort of your family home. Find out more about the equipment available from Air Houston Mechanical LLC.
Back to Top