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Q: Is Duct Cleaning Worthwhile?
A:
Heating and Cooling Systems can collect a wide variety
of particles that can have a detrimental effect on
your health. Molds, bacteria, small particles of dust,
and other contaminants can be removed through duct
cleaning.
Q: What is a UV Light and how does it work?
A: Ultraviolet
Air Treatment Systems zap mold spores and certain live,
airborne bacteria passing by the lamp to prevent them
from being re-circulated into your home's air. The
shortwave lights, similar to those used in hospitals,
laboratories and commercial kitchens, are easy to add
to your existing heating and cooling system.
Q: The air in my house is so dry. What is the best
way to solve the problem?
A: A whole house humidifier is the best solution to
dry air. Installed in your ductwork and supplied with
a constant water source, whole-house humidifiers are
worry free.
Q: What is a HEPA Air Filter?
A:
HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particle Arresting,
which is the standard that achieves 99.9% air filtration.
The HEPA Air Cleaner provides powerful, 3-stage filtration
to deliver the cleanest air possible throughout your
home. It captures 99.97% of pollutants from the air
that passes through it, including cat dander, certain
bacteria, pollens and more.
Q: What about units that use ozone to clean
the air?
A: We do not recommend any type of
air cleaner that uses ozone as a primary or secondary
method of cleaning the air. These units have not been
approved for use by the EPA and ozone has not been
found to reduce indoor air pollution.
Click
here to see what the Environmental Protection Agency has
to say about these systems.
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Q: When should I replace my system?
A: It’s important to take into consideration
a number of factors when contemplating system replacement.
Those factors include:
- The age of your system. Generally, heating
systems older than 20 years and cooling systems older
than 10 years should be considered for replacement.
The energy savings you can experience from new equipment
will make the payback period relatively short, not
to mention the reduction in the costs associated with
system breakdowns.
- How long you plan to stay in your home.
If you’re staying at your current residence more
than five years, then replacement is the way to go.
If not, repair may be the most economical option.
- Is the system keeping you comfortable?
You spend a lot of time in your home, shouldn’t
you enjoy it?
Q: Why do estimates for the same equipment vary
from company to company?
A: Equipment installations vary because the work
can be done in many different ways. A quality installation
with quality materials costs more than substandard
work performed by inexperienced technicians. Installations
are probably the easiest place a dishonest contractor
can cut corners and cheat customers. Few consumers
install more than two home comfort systems in their
lives and are unfamiliar with specifics, so it’s
very easy for an unprincipled contractor to use substandard
equipment or materials or fail to comply with city
and state building codes. The result is that consumers
wind up with low quality, low efficiency equipment
or a system that doesn’t heat and cool their
home properly.
Q: What is a superior material for boilers, steel
or cast iron?
A: While both are acceptable materials found in
many different brands of Boilers, Weaver Petroleum
recommends cast iron boilers because they have a longer
life expectancy. Cast iron is heavier than steel, so
many contractors prefer not to install cast iron boilers
because they are hard to transport.
Q: I have forced hot air in my house. Is it easy
to install air conditioning?
A: Much of the work is already done if you have
forced air as your heat source. No or little ductwork
needs to be modified and the cost is significantly
lower than if you have hot water heat.
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Q: Is Annual Maintenance Necessary?
A: Yes! Heating and Air Conditioning Systems are
tough pieces of equipment, designed to endure all sorts
of abuse and keep on running. However, without regular
maintenance you’ll lose efficiency and money.
Like a car, your heating and cooling systems need regular
tune-ups to run properly. Additionally, it gives our
technicians a chance to catch small repairs before
they turn into big problems!
Q: What is done to my Air Conditioning System During
Annual Maintenance
A: Most importantly, we check for adequate refrigerant
charge – a system just 10% low on refrigerant
is 20% less efficient. We also inspect all electrical
components, check condensate drain line for blockage,
lubricate moving components, clean or replace your
air filter, wash the indoor and outdoor coils, check
for loose ductwork, and check your thermostat.
Q: What is done to my Heating System During an Annual
Maintenance
A: We clean the entire burner, including electrodes,
nozzle assembly, and fuel pump. The oil filter, air
filter, and burner nozzle will be replaced. We vacuum
out the whole unit, as well as your chimney base and
smoke pipe. All safety and operating controls are checked,
and tests for smoke and carbon dioxide are taken and
recorded. We use the latest technology to insure your
system is running at maximum efficiency.
Q: How often should I change/wash my air filter?
A: Generally you should check it about once a month.
Each home is different, however, homes with pets should
be extra vigilant about checking and changing air filters.
If air flow to the unit is restricted, the system will
function much less efficiently.
Q: How many times can I push the reset button on
my oil burner?
A: Only once. If the unit does not start on the
first try, pushing the reset multiple times will only
add more fuel to the combustion chamber, creating a
mess for the service technician when he arrives.
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Q: What is a Degree Day?
A: A degree day is the unit we use for measuring
how cold it has been over a 24-hour period. By using
degree days, we can determine how much fuel you have
used and what remains in your tank. The starting point
for calculating degree days is 65 degrees. Any day
that the average temperature is below 65 degrees, you
will have degree days.
Q: Oil Heat has gotten more expensive over the past
few years. Does it make sense to switch fuels?
A: Fuel prices rise and fall on a daily basis. When
one fuel is more expensive, consumers may consider
switching to another fuel source or system. According
to the Consumer Energy Council of America, energy sources
track each other over time, even though one fuel may
be less expensive today. CECA recommends upgrading
old equipment or investing in efficiency measures to
save money.
Q: Is Oil Heat Clean?
A: Oil heat is 95% cleaner than it was 25 years
ago. If you have an old burner and boiler system, they
are less efficient than newer ones, so they may burn
less cleanly. New oil heating systems built with "Clearburn
Science" technology are 99.9% cleaner than oil
heating systems which are not based on Clearburn Science.
Q: What’s more efficient, natural
gas or oil?
A: Technically, heating fuel oil generates 138,000
BTU's of heat for each gallon of fuel oil burned. That's
40% more heat than is generated by burning a corresponding
amount of natural gas. Oil heats hot water better than
gas, because it gets hotter, faster than natural gas
or electric hot water heaters.
Q: Is Oil Heat Safe?
A: While all the major sources of heat generation
have excellent safety records, equipment malfunctions
can occur. With oil, a leak in the supply line will
not generate an explosion source. Heating oil is non-explosive.
A match dropped into a pool of oil will simply go out.
The same cannot be said of propane or natural gas.
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