Frequently Asked Questions

1. What makes my home comfortable
2. What kind of system is right for me?
3. What factors affect my choices in making my home comfortable?
4. How can I save money?
5. What maintenance can I do myself?
6. What routine maintenance do I need help with?
7. Can I troubleshootbefore calling landry's?
8. Should I repair or replace old equipment?

1. What makes my home comfortable
The four biggest factors in your home's comfort are:

1. Temperature
   To most people, temperature is both the beginning and the end of any discussion involving comfort. To Landry's Heating and Air Conditioning, simple temperature management is only the beginning. To achieve superior indoor comfort, you've got to start with the basics -- heating or cooling -- as the foundation for your system. We offer four main product families for heating and cooling: Furnaces, Heat Pumps, Air Conditioners, Package Units.
   
   
2. Cleanliness/freshness of air
   Dusty, dirty homes at any temperature can cause feelings of discomfort to many people, especially allergy sufferers. And, the air in today's tightly-sealed, well-insulated and energy-efficient homes can become stale as the same indoor air is circulated and re-circulated. The fact is, with dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, skin flakes, chemical fumes, cigarette smoke, Radon gas and more, the air inside your home can be even more polluted than the air outside. Landry's Heating and Air Conditioning can alleviate these problems and therefore add another level of comfort with air cleaners and ventilators.
   
   
3. Humidity
   Humidity is a funny thing. In the winter, dry air can cause static electricity, itchy skin, damage to home furnishings and more. Adding humidity is a good thing because it makes the air feel warmer and more comfortable while minimizing damage to furnishings. In the summer, it is preferable to remove humidity so indoor air feels cooler and less sticky. Landry's answer? Improved comfort through humidity control with humidifiers and dehumidifiers.
   
   
4. System Control
   Some of the common comfort complaints from homeowners include: inconsistent temperatures from one room to the next, up and down temperature swings, constantly adjusting the thermostat, and more. System controls of varying degrees of sophistication can help with these issues, offering straight temperature control, programmability that allows setting a "comfort schedule," temperature and humidity control combined, and dividing the home into zones which can be controlled separately. Landry's Heating and Air Conditioning provides this kind of control with thermostats and zoning systems.

2. What kind of system is right for me?
The system that is right for you will depend on a number of factors: your budget, your comfort expectations, physical factors such as what type of system currently exists in your home, the unique features of your home, and more. Below, you can explore the system options available and some of the key factors that affect your choice.

1. Types of systems
   For the basics of heating or cooling temperature control, you typically will have three system options. Below is a list of those options followed by the approximate percentage of U.S. homes using that particular system.
   
   • Gas Furnace/Air Conditioner (60% of homes)
   • Heat Pump (25% of homes)
   • Small Packaged System (5% of homes)
     
     
2. Key Accessories
   Additional comfort comes from having clean, fresh air as well as proper humidity levels inside. These products will fine-tune your system to help improve your overall comfort and the efficiency of your indoor comfort system.
   
   • Air Cleaners
   • Ventilators
   • Humidifiers
   • Dehumidifiers
     
     
3. System Control
   Most people are familiar with the basic thermostat. But, system control is more than picking a temperature and walking away. It includes being able to program a comfort schedule for different times of day, setting humidity levels, and even setting different temperatures for different areas of the home. Here's how:
   • Humidifiers
   • Dehumidifiers
   • Zoning System
     

3. What factors affect my choices in making my home comfortable?
Some of your home comfort decisions will be made for you based on some of the physical considerations involved, including:

1. Your home
   Everybody's home is different. Some are big, some are small. Older homes are not as tightly sealed as new ones, which means efficiency is reduced. The number and size of windows, what direction the home is facing, number of mature trees in the yard and many more factors can affect your comfort, and may play a part in deciding what type of system is best for you. Your local heating and cooling contractor should have the expertise to assess any unusual circumstances surrounding the specific needs of your home.
   
   
2. Your existing system
   If you are replacing an existing system, there are physical and financial reasons to stay with the same type of system. For example, if you currently have a boiler, it will be very expensive and physically challenging to install the ductwork you need for a forced-air furnace or heat pump.If you want a new type of system because you were dissatisfied with your comfort, remember that a new system will bring newer comfort technology and energy efficiency. Also, your comfort problem could be related to other issues, such as improper ductwork, system balance, cleanliness or freshness of air, humidity control and system control.
   
   
3. Your geographical region
   Although there are exceptions to every rule, geography can play a role in what type of system will work best in your home. Here's the general idea:
   • Colder regions - Furnace or Boiler/Air Conditioner combo
   • Warmer regions - Heat Pump or Air Conditioner w/ supplemental heat
   • Regions with land or space issues - Small Packaged Rooftop systems
   • Energy sources available
   • Some systems simply won't work if the proper energy source isn't available or too expensive to consider. The three most likely energy sources for your comfort system are electricity, gas or oil.
     
     
4. Energy sources available
   Some systems simply won't work if the proper energy source isn't available or too expensive to consider. The three most likely energy sources for your comfort system are electricity, gas or oil.
   • Electricity
     If you have no gas or oil service, you will need to go with an all-electric system, which means a heat pump or air conditioner. You may be able to have a gas line installed at your home, but that could be an additional cost. In some areas, electrical rates are so low that an all-electric system can still be the best option even if gas or oil are available.
   • Gas
     If natural gas is available, furnaces and boilers become options for you. You may still opt to have an all-electric system if that suits your home or your personal preference.
   • Oil
     If natural gas is available, furnaces and boilers become options for you. You may still opt to have an all-electric system if that suits your home or your personal preference.
     

4. How Can I Save Money?
Shopping for bottom line price is easy. But, will the lowest priced system end up costing you money in the long run with higher operating costs or by needing to be replaced sooner? Will the lowest priced system provide the comfort you expect?

Comparing energy efficiency of different brands of heating and cooling equipment is relatively easy. Although the rating systems are standardized, allowing you to make a fair comparison, there are three different rating systems used. Each rating is used for a specific type of product (in other words, all furnaces use the same system, heat pumps use a different system, an so on). The ratings are:

• AFUE (gas heating)
• SEER (cooling)
• HSPF (heat pump heating)
• AFUE (gas heating)

The efficiency of a furnace is measured in a rating known as AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). A lot like your car's miles per gallon rating, AFUE tells you how efficiently the furnace converts fuel (gas or oil) into heat. An AFUE of 80% means that 80% of the fuel is used to heat your home, while the other 20% basically goes up the chimney.

The government mandated a minimum AFUE rating for furnaces installed in new homes is 78%. (In contrast, many furnaces manufactured before 1992 had AFUE ratings as low as 60% - so nearly half the fuel was being wasted.) Furnaces with AFUE ratings of 78% to 80% are considered "mid-efficiency"; those with ratings of 90% or higher are known as "high efficiency." The maximum furnace efficiency available is around 96.6%.

In general, a higher efficiency furnace usually means two things:

1. higher price
2. lower monthly operating cost

If you have an older furnace (with an AFUE of about 60%), you could save up to 60% on your heating bills by replacing it with a new high-efficiency furnace. So the cost to replace your old, inefficient furnace is paid back through lower utility bills.

• Payback
  If you live in a cold climate, you could see a payback in a few short years. If you live in a moderate climate, it might make more sense to purchase a mid-efficiency furnace. Landry's Heating and Air Conditioning can use heating data from your area to help you determine about how long it would take you to recover the additional cost of a high-efficiency model in energy savings. (Of course, after the payback, you continue to save on your energy bills for the life of the system.)
  
  
• SEER (cooling)
  Cooling efficiency for air conditioners and heat pumps is indicated by a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, which tells you how efficiently a unit uses electricity. The higher the number, the greater the efficiency. The typical SEER rating of units manufactured prior to 1992 is about 6.0.Now, the government mandated minimum is 10.0 SEER. High-efficiency units have a SEER of at least 12.0; the maximum available is about 17.
  
  
• HSPF (heat pump heating)
  Heat pumps also have heating efficiency ratings, indicated as an HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). In general, the higher the HSPF rating, the less electricity the unit will use to heat your home. The government mandated minimum heating efficiency standards for new heat pumps is 6.8 HSPF. Most heat pumps manufactured before 1992 have HSPF ratings below 5.0. Today, an HSPF of 7.5 or higher is considered "high-efficiency"; the maximum available is 10.0.
  
  
• Matching Your System for Optimum Efficiency
  There's one other factor that affects the efficiency of your air conditioning or heat pump system: the indoor coil. (Your heat pump or air conditioner is a "split system," which means that there is an outdoor unit, or condenser, and an indoor unit, or evaporator coil.) If your condensing unit is not matched with the proper indoor coil, it may not give you the stated SEER and/or HSPF ratings and could even develop performance problems. (It's kind of like putting two new tires on one side of your car and leaving the old, worn-out ones on the other side. You'd probably be disappointed with both the performance and the miles per gallon you get.) When you're replacing an existing system, make sure you replace both units so your new condensing unit will give you optimal performance, efficiency and comfort.

5. What Maintenance Can I do Myself?
With the proper maintenance and care, your equipment will operate economically and dependably. There are a few simple, routine maintenance operations you can do to help ensure the best performance and comfort from your system. SAFETY FIRST: Before you perform any kind of maintenance, consider these important safety precautions.

• Disconnect all electrical power to the unit before removing access panels to perform maintenance. Please note that there may be more than one power connection switch.
  
  
• Proceed with caution. Although Manufacturers takes special care to prevent sharp edges in the construction of our equipment, it's best to be very careful when you handle parts or reach into units.
  
  
• Check the air filter in your furnace or fan coil every 3 to 4 weeks. A dirty filter will cause excessive strain on your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump. Replace your filter when necessary, or clean it if you have the reusable type. (If you have a reusable filter, make sure it's completely dry before you re-install it.) The prefilter and collection cells of an electronic air cleaner should be cleaned at least two or three times per year
  
  
• Clean dust off of your indoor coil. With a vacuum cleaner and soft-brush attachment, you can remove any dust from the top and underside of the coil. Make sure you only do this when the coil is dry. If you can't get the coil clean this way, call us for service.
  
  
• Keep your outdoor condensing unit free of debris. If you keep grass clippings, leaves, shrubbery and debris away from your outdoor unit, it should only require minimal care to operate properly. Check the base pan (under the unit) occasionally and remove debris, to help the unit drain correctly. If the outdoor coil becomes dirty, use a brush or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to clean the surface. To clean dirt that is deep in the coil, contact Landry's Heating and Air Conditioning.
  
  
• Take special care of outdoor condensing units in ocean environments. If your unit is located near a sea coast, you can help preserve its optimal condition with a little extra care. Ocean mist and sea breezes carry salt, which is corrosive to most metals. Although new Carrier units are made out of galvanized metal and are protected by top-grade paint, you can add life to your unit by washing all exposed surfaces and the coil approximately every three months. (Ask your installing contractor about the appropriate interval in your area.)
  
  
• Make sure your outdoor unit stays in a level position. If the support for your split-system outdoor unit shifts or settles and the unit is no longer level, re-level it promptly to make sure moisture drains properly out of the unit. If you notice that water or ice collects beneath the unit, arrange for it to be drained away from the equipment.
  
  
• Inspect your furnace's combustion area and vent system before each heating season. If you find dirt, soot or rust, your system may not operate properly or at its peak efficiency. Call Landry's Heating and Air Conditioning and do not operate your furnace until it is professionally inspected and/or repaired.
  
  
• Have oil-fired boilers inspected annually. Call Landry's Heating and Air Conditioning before each heating season to replace your oil filter cartridge and conduct a thorough inspection of the unit's operation.
  
  
• Clean your humidifier at the beginning of every heating season. Review your owner's manual for the proper procedure to clean the external and internal components of your unit. The evaporator pad should also be replaced before each heating season. If the water in your area is hard or has high mineral content, you may need to clean or service your humidifier more frequently.
  
  
• Clean the core and air filters on a ventilator at least every three months. You can vacuum the core of an energy recovery ventilator as long as it is dry and the outdoor temperature is between 60 F (16 C) and 75 F (24 C). Heat recovery ventilator cores can be soaked for three hours in a solution of warm water and mild soap and then rinsed. Ventilator air filters are washable: just use a vacuum to remove the heaviest accumulation of dust and then wash them in lukewarm water. Replace them after they are completely dry.
  

6. What Routine Maintenance do I Need Help With?
Think about how you take care of your car. Sure, most people can handle the little stuff - checking and topping off fluids, keeping tires inflated to the correct pressure, changing the wiper blades. But, to keep your car operating at its best, you need an occasional tune-up from a trained professional.

Your heating and cooling system is no different. To get the most performance and longest life from your system, it's a good idea to have a professional perform routine checks in the spring and in the fall.

• Spring maintenance
  In the spring, Landry's Heating and Air Conditioning can typically check a heat pump or air conditioner for all or some of the following:
  • operating pressures
  • refrigerant charge
  • filter condition
  • compressor
  • fan motor
  • capacitors
  • belts
  • crankcase heaters
  • coils cleaning
  • lubrication of moving parts
    
    
• Fall maintenance
  In the fall, you can expect Landry's Heating and Air Conditioning to check your furnace in the following areas:
  • burner and pilot assemblies
  • cracks in the heat exchanger
  • check the pilot thermocouple
  • examine the filter and check vent piping
  • test the electronic ignition
  • test the fan
  • test the limit switch
  • burner adjustments
  • measure manifold gas pressure
  • measure temperature rise
  • carbon monoxide test
  • set the heat anticipator
  • check and adjust belt tension
  • examine the draft diverter
  • lubricate the fan motor

7. Can I Troubleshoot Before Calling Landry's?
The answer is, "Yes." Here are some simple procedures you can perform before going to the expense of a service call:

• Check disconnect switches (indoor and outdoor if you have a split system). Make sure that circuit breakers are ON or that fuses have not blown.
• Check for sufficient airflow. Make sure air filters are clean and that supply-air and return-air grilles are open and unobstructed.
• Check the settings on your thermostat. If you want cooling, make sure the temperature control selector is set below room temperature and the SYSTEM switch is on the COOL or AUTO position. If you want heat, make sure the temperature control selector is set above room temperature and the SYSTEM switch is at HEAT or AUTO. The FAN switch should be set at ON for continuous blower operation or AUTO if you want the blower to function only while the unit is operating.

In addition to the routine maintenance you perform, your home comfort system should be inspected at least once a year by a properly trained service technician. Landry's Heating and Air Conditioning can make sure your system operates safely and gives you the best performance at the lowest cost. You may also want to ask us about an economical service contract that covers seasonal inspections for a flat fee.

8. Should I Repair or Replace Old Equipment?
Three main factors to consider are:

• Life expectancy
• Operating cost
• Looking at the big picture
• Life Expectancy of Current System

When you're frustrated with an equipment break-down, it can be tempting to find the least expensive "quick fix" to get on with your life in relative comfort. That "quick fix" may be the least expensive now, but it may not give you the most value - or cost you the least - in the long run.

Paying for repairs to an old or inefficient system often simply prolongs the inevitable. It's almost like putting a bandage on a serious injury. An older system that breaks down once is likely to break down again ... and again. That means more emergency service calls or, worse yet, the risk of damage to your home or to other components of your heating and cooling system.
Operating Cost

There's also an ongoing cost factor to consider. Restoring your old system will only bring it back to its current level of energy efficiency. After you've recovered from the repair bills and the frustration of system breakdowns, you still won't save on your energy bills.

Even six-year-old heat pumps and air conditioners are considered grossly inefficient by today's energy efficiency standards. So are most furnaces built before 1980. So you could save up to 60% on your energy bills with new high-efficiency equipment. That's why installing a new heating and cooling system can actually pay for itself in energy savings within a relatively short time.

Looking at the Big Picture
When one component of your system breaks down unexpectedly, it's easy to just focus on repairing or replacing that component. But each part of your system works with the others to boost efficiency and reliability, so it helps to keep the big picture in mind.

Replacing your old furnace with a new higher-efficiency model but leaving your old mechanical thermostat in place, for example, won't allow you to enjoy all the efficiency advantages the furnace has to offer. Likewise, if you install a new furnace but don't get a humidifier, the air may seem cooler, forcing you to operate your new system at a higher temperature to be comfortable. Plus, you can often save on installation costs if you have several components of your system (for example, a furnace and an air conditioner) replaced at the same time.

Hot Weather Preparation
Things a homeowner can do during extreme hot spells:

• Keep grass clippings and leaves away from the outdoor unit. This keeps dirt and debris from getting into the system. It also keeps the airflow path clear.
• Keep furniture and carpeting away from grills and ductwork. If you block your air conditioning system's ability to deliver air, you rob yourself of the cooling necessary to keep your home comfortable.
• Keep the west-facing drapes, shades or blinds drawn in the afternoon. Keeping the sun out will keep your home cooler.
• Run your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer in the evening hours.
• Don't use your oven.
• Keep your fan running. It helps to keep the air moving.
• Don't overrun an exhaust fan. It pulls the air conditioning out of the home.
• Use a programmable thermostat. This allows you to cool your home only when you need it.
• Zone your heating and cooling system. If you spend most of your time in one part of your home or if different people in your home want the temperature at different settings, then zoning can help you be more comfortable and save money on your utility bills.
• Use an attic ventilator. By pulling hot air out of your home, you keep your home cooler in the summer.
• Have your cooling system checked at least once per year by an ACCA member contractor. Your equipment works more efficiently when it is clean and running properly.

Going on Vacation?
DO NOT turn off your air conditioning unit!
Set your thermostat at 85 degrees. This keeps the air circulating in your home. High temperatures and humidity can cause damage to your home, your workplace and your health! Humidity can cause wallpaper to peel, floorboards to warp, and most importantly, mold and fungus to form in bathrooms, on furniture and in your air conditioning ducts.