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Frequently Asked Questions



Why should I purchase a new heating or air conditioning system?

 
Purchasing a heating or air conditioning system is not a small matter and if your existing system is old, in need of repair or simply inefficient, you should consider it.  Purchasing a new unit, one which can be 60% more efficient than a system purchased just 10 years ago, can offer substantial long-term cost savings.


 
How can I find the system that’s right for me?

 
Concom Home Comfort Services can draw on a vast degree of heating and air conditioning knowledge and experience to help you decide on the system that best fits your specific needs. Factor such as the size and age of your home, as well as the number of rooms, climate, utility costs, and utility incentive/rebate programs are all factors that will affect the functionality and, therefore, selection of your system.

Consumers seeking to replace an existing system often choose a new unit with equal or higher efficiency ratings compared to their previous system. Replacing a unit that is 10- to 15-years-old may reduce natural gas or electricity costs by 30 to 50%.

 
How do I determine the size, or capacity, of my HVAC system?

 
Factors affecting the size of your new system include the total square footage of your home, humidity levels, the number of windows in your dwelling, the direction your home faces, the number of heat-producing appliances in your home, and the type of insulation you have.

 
What goes into installing a new system?

 
Putting a new system in a home that has not had central air and heat before will require the installation of ductwork, insulation, refrigerant piping, electrical service, wiring, thermostat, condensate piping, flue piping, flue terminations, chimney liner, slabs, filter, driers, registers, grills, drain pans and evaporator coil. Beyond equipment, the most important component installed with a new system, however, is the ductwork.

Ductwork is composed of two parts, supply and return. Supply duct is attached to the outflow of the new system, delivering air to each zone in a home. The amount of air reaching each zone is determined by the size of supply ductwork connecting it to your system. Your dealer will help you determine the size of all the supply ductwork in your home.

The second part of the ductwork, the return duct, attaches to the inlet of the new system and draws air out of the spaces to be heated or cooled. Attached to the return duct is the filter. The filter should be placed as near to the furnace or air handler as possible. Ductwork can be either fiberglass or metal and must be properly sized in order to evenly distribute the proper amount of air to each room.

 
What happens when I replace my old system?

 
To install the most efficient HVAC system in your household, a detailed inspection should first be performed . This should include the inspection of your home’s ductwork, insulation, refrigerant piping, electrical service, wiring, thermostat, condensate piping, flue piping, flue terminations, chimney liner, slabs, filter, driers, registers, grills, drain pans and evaporator coil.

 
How long will my system last?

 
Maintenance and service play a key role in the life-cycle of a heating or air conditioning system. If all recommended maintenance and service actions are taken, an air conditioner can last 12 to 15 years and a gas furnace 20 to 25 years.

 
Do I need to change my indoor coil?

 
It is generally a good idea to replace the indoor coil if you are also replacing your air conditioner or heat pump. There is a correlation between the efficiency of your heating or cooling system and the performance of the indoor coil and changing out the current indoor coil for a new one may be critical to optimizing the performance, the efficiency and the savings potential of your new system.

 
What is a heat pump?

 
A heat pump is a device used for either the heating or cooling of a space by transferring hot and cold between two reservoirs.  A heat pump can act like an air conditioner, transferring heat from inside to out, or like a heater as it transfers exterior heat to the interior.

 
What can I do to control the humidity levels in my home?

 
Humidity levels can be reduced by using a variable-speed furnace or air handler as part of your HVAC system. Variable speed units run longer, at lower speeds, allowing air to constantly circulate against the cooling coil and remove more moisture.  They also use less electricity than regular motors, thereby reducing your energy costs.

 
What can I do before calling someone to service my system?

 
HVAC systems can be complicated networks that generally should be serviced by a certified professional. However, if your HVAC system seems to be malfunctioning, you can try to troubleshoot yourself, which may or may not correct the problem. If you do not feel comfortable performing any of these tasks, however, do not hesitate to call us directly at 416-702-8757.

Disconnect and reconnect your indoor and outdoor switches.
Make sure your circuit breakers are in the ON position.
Make sure your filters are clean.
Open supply and return vents and make sure they are unobstructed.
Check the settings on your thermostat.
Make sure the system switch is on the appropriate COOL or HEAT setting.