Heating, cooling and heat pump questions

We weigh four things together: safety (heat-exchanger integrity checked by camera and CO analyser), system age (typically 12 to 16 years for central AC and heat pumps, 15 to 20 years for gas furnaces), refrigerant type (older R-22 systems versus R-410A, R-454B or R-32) and the repair-cost ratio. A $300 ignitor, motor or capacitor on a 10-year-old unit is an easy repair; a new compressor in a 17-year-old R-22 condenser rarely makes financial sense.

Many original units were oversized by 25 to 50 per cent, or the home has since gained better windows, doors or attic insulation. An ACCA Manual J calculation works out the home's true heat gain and heat loss from floor area, window orientation, insulation R-values and air sealing. Correct sizing stops short-cycling, lowers summer humidity, quietens duct noise and cuts electrical draw.

Yes. Cold-climate variable-speed inverter heat pumps deliver their full rated heating capacity down to 5°F and keep extracting heat down to -13°F. For homes with a gas line we also install dual-fuel systems, where a high-efficiency gas furnace takes over automatically on the coldest nights or whenever gas is cheaper to run.

Four quick checks sometimes save a call: fresh thermostat batteries and the mode set to Heat or Cool rather than Fan On; a tripped AC or furnace breaker at the main panel; the furnace power switch near the unit, which looks like a light switch and is easily bumped off; and the air filter, since a matted filter can trip the furnace limit switch or ice the AC coil. If the coil is iced, set Cooling to Off and Fan to On for three hours before the technician arrives.

Heat rises, the attic radiates solar heat downward, and most two-storey homes have one thermostat in a cool downstairs hallway and undersized upstairs return ducts. Depending on the layout, we fix it by adjusting blower speeds and balancing dampers, adding an upstairs return, fitting motorised two-zone dampers on variable-capacity equipment, or adding a quiet ductless mini-split.

Often, yes. A MERV 12 or 13 filter squeezed into a 1-inch slot restricts airflow badly, straining the blower motor, overheating the heat exchanger or freezing the AC coil. For true MERV 13 allergy and smoke filtration, a 4-inch or 5-inch deep-pleat media cabinet gives about five times the surface area, so air moves freely and filters last 6 to 12 months.

Qualifying ENERGY STAR cold-climate heat pumps, high-SEER2 air conditioners and 97%+ AFUE gas furnaces often qualify for the federal Section 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement tax credit, subject to IRS rules, alongside local electric and gas utility rebates. During your estimate we verify AHRI matched-system eligibility and provide the certificate paperwork.

A furnace-only or AC-only replacement usually takes 5 to 7 hours on a single day. A combined heating and cooling system with plenum changes, a new refrigerant line set, a media cabinet and full commissioning usually takes one full day of 8 to 10 hours, with your heat or cooling running again before evening.