Do you offer emergency service?

Yes we do! Do you have an urgent or emergancy HVAC system need? We offer emergency services. Give us a call to schedule - our online booking will not reflect emergency appointment availability. If you reach voice mail, leave a voice message. Our oncall technician may be in the middle of a repair, but we will call you back as soon as we get the message.

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What types of systems do you maintenance, diagnose and repair?

We can do all major brands.

 

*Most brands that can be purchased online by homeowers do not provide any technical support, and our parts vendors are not able to obtain parts for those systems. We can try to diagnose the system, however, we may not be able to obtain parts. That would fall back onto the homeowner to contact the manufacture to see about obtaining the part.*

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Is frost or ice on my heat pump normal?

Yes. During cold weather the outdoor unit may develop frost. Most heat pumps automatically enter a defrost cycle to melt the ice. However, heavy ice buildup may indicate a problem and should be inspected by one of our technicians.

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"My heat pump is smoking"

Its not smoke, its steam! Similarly to when you step out side and see your breath when it is cold, your outdoor unit needs to defrost. Because of the temperature differences of the heat going though the outdoor unit to defrost the frost build up, you will see what looks like a puff of smoke as the unit enters the defrost cycle. This is completely normal.

 

If the puff you see smells like smoke, and lasts longer than the defrost cycle, turn your outdoor unit off, and give us a call to complete a system diagnostic.

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How often should my HVAC system be serviced?
Most HVAC professionals recommend having your heating and cooling system serviced at least once per year, and ideally twice per year — once before the cooling season and once before the heating season. Regular maintenance helps identify small issues early, improves efficiency, and can extend the lifespan of the system.
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How long does an HVAC system last?

Most HVAC systems last 15–20 years with proper maintenance. Heat pumps typically average 10–15 years, although well-maintained systems may last longer. Poor maintenance can significantly shorten a system’s lifespan.

Here in the PNW, we recommend whole home surge suppressors or individual surge suppressors at the outdoor (if you have one) and indoor unit to help protect the system from brownouts, and surges. Especially if you have a variable speed system.

 

How often should I change/clean my HVAC air filter?

• 1"-2" pleated filters should be checked and changed anywhere from 1-3 months.

• 4"-5" pleated filters are 3-6 months

• Mini-Split filters -cleaned every week at minimum monthly

• EAC (electronic air cleaners) pre-filters should be cleaned monthly, cells cleaned every 3-6 months

This range is due to filter location and in home enviormental factors. If your return air grill is floor level and you have animals, you would want to consider changing the filter closer to the 1 month mark. However, a return air grill on the ceiling, you may be fine at 3 months. If it looks dark gray, its time to change. 

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Why is my furnace blowing cold air?

Common causes include:

• Thermostat set incorrectly (check if it is in heat mode)

• Dirty air filters (will cause system to over heat and shut down on safety due to not enough air flow)

• Ignition or flame sensor issues (these are checked during routine annual maintenance to try to prevent failures when you need heat)

• Heat pump defrost cycles 

• Ductwork problems

If the issue persists, give us a call to scheudle a diagnotic, or book online for immediate appointment availablity and confirmation.

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Should I cover my heat pump in the winter?

No. Heat pumps are designed to operate outdoors year-round. Covering the unit can block airflow and severly damage your system.

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When should I replace my HVAC system?

Signs your system may need replacement include:

• System older than 15–20 years

• Refrigerant is rated R22

• Frequent repairs

• Rising energy bills

• Uneven heating or cooling

• Loud or unusual noises

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It is important to remember that costs of a new unit, labor to install etc, has drastically increased over the last 20 years. When searching online, a lot of the time prices given will be national averages. Its important to remeber, the PNW is hiring in labor, and costs in general, so the cost for system and installation will typically be higher than that of a lower cost of living state. 

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With that said, we have been able to come in thousands under other larger companies and utilize some local rebate options to get the price even lower for our clients. Give us a call or schedule an estimate here.

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Do you have to come to my house to give me an estimate?

Yes. Per the WAC we are required to do a heat load calcuation to ensure the system is properly sized which will make sure the system runs efficiently. This is also how we keep our bids low, we gather a material list for only what we need. We can then provide a bid that doesn't include "fluff" and directly saves our clients and us time and money. 

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What temperature should my thermostat be set to in winter?

For most homes, 68–70°F is recommended for comfort and efficiency. The Washington State Energy Code uses 70°F as the standard indoor heating design temperature when sizing HVAC systems.

 

However, if you have a temperature you are comfortable at that is outside of that range, once your home reaches that temp, it is only turning on to maintain, so it is not running any longer by being set higher. We like the term "set it and forget it".

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What temperature should my thermostat be set to in summer?

Most energy efficiency guidelines recommend setting cooling temperatures around 76–78°F when you are home to balance comfort and energy savings. Washington energy design standards commonly use 78°F as the cooling design temperature.

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However, if you have a temperature you are comfortable at that is outside of that range, once your home reaches that temp, it is only turning on to maintain, so it is not running any longer by being set higher. We like the term "set it and forget it".

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A good tip to keep the home cooler in the summer is to keep all windows covered- especially on the sun facing side. 

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Do not turn your AC off over night or in the morning. It will take longer than normal, using more energy to try to "catch up" to meet the desired temp once you discover you are hot. This can result in a diagnostic call that doesn't find anything wrong. Remember, if the home temp inside, is the same as you set temp on your thermostat, the system won't run until the temp rises. So even if you opened your windows at night for the cooler air, the system will not turn on.

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