HVAC FAQs

• We have been in business for over 40 years with little to no advertising. We rely on word of mouth which means we do the best job possible every time. We are installing systems that we initially installed 20-40 years ago!  Also installing systems for the children of customers as they grow up and move into their own homes.
• Everyone works for us. We do not subcontract any of our work other than the crane service as needed. If there is a problem, you are making one phone call to our office and we’re taking care of it ASAP.
• We have two employees that have been with the company for over 35 years. Two have been with us over 20 years. Two technicians over 10 years, and our office staff all over five years. This hopefully reflects how we are as an employer that our staff want to stick around through the good times and the slower times.
• A real life human will answer the phone during business hours, sometimes even the boss! While voicemail trees are nice when we are out of the office, we pride ourselves on knowing when you call, we will pick up the phone to help.
• Quick quotes by email.  If you have a need to replace your system, but aren’t quite ready to commit to the time required to have us come out on site to go over your options, we have a simple questionnaire that can dial in a pretty accurate quote right over email.
• Flat rate pricing. Whether it is for a repair or installation, the price you are quoted is the price you are paying. If we miss something or the job is taking longer than anticipated; this is a PHS problem, not a you problem.
• Protecting your home. Any time we are in your home we’re using shoe covers, drop cloths, and plastic wrap to protect your home and belongings. If something happens and there is damage caused accident, we will immediately be rectifying the problem to your satisfaction.
• Pulling permits on every installation. It is required by every city and county and we don’t try and cut corners. Would it save you and us some money? Sure. But we don’t want to be fined and you don’t want any headaches down the road should you sell your house with unpermitted work performed.
• We go the extra mile. Have a burned out light bulb in your spare bathroom? We’ll replace it! Need a troublesome hedge removed? We can cut it out for you! Fence gate out of alignment? Let us fix it while we are there. Little things that we can help you with while we are there, at no extra charge. Just ask!
• Highly rated and reviewed. Check out what others have experienced and you’ll see that we stand behind our work.

• Of course, every home is different, and many factors are taken into consideration when sizing. Age, construction type, windows (size and efficiency), insulation, sun direction, shade, and much more.
• Bigger is not better when it comes to sizing an air conditioner. A system that is sized too large will often have issues with short cycling. This could lead to higher humidity in the home as well as shortening the life expectancy of the equipment.
• It is important to have the project surveyed correctly so that the properly sized system is designed for your home.

Note:  Think of all these ratings like MPG on a car- the higher the number the less energy is consumed to keep you comfortable.

• SEER2 (formerly SEER) stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and measures the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner. This is an average calculated over a typical cooling season.
• EER2 is calculated at an exact outdoor temperature of 95° – most utilities in our region like to use this rating as it is more concrete with our cooling usage. 
• HSPF2 or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor is a rating given to heat pumps for calculating heating efficiency. Like how SEER2 it is based on an entire heating season, not a specific outdoor temperature. 
• AFUE stand for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency and is how we measure gas furnace heating efficiencies. This is the easiest one to see how it benefits your wallet.  For every $1 you spend on your gas bill, an 80% AFUE furnace means you’ll get 80 cents of that dollar in heat, losing 20 cents out the flue. A 95% AFUE furnace will get you 95 cents in heat, only losing 5 cents out the flue.

All these ratings are federally regulated and there are minimum requirements based on regions. 

It is important to know that all equipment is rated when running at 100% capacity – systems with multiple staging will actually use even less gas or electricity but have to be rated in a worst-case scenario.

• Depending on the type of system you have currently it is usually the least expensive to keep the same set up. In some instances, it makes sense to go a different direction.
• If you have a wall or floor furnace with a window or wall air conditioner – the world is your oyster! You have many choices when starting from scratch. Ductless or central HVAC systems are both great options depending on the house and how it is lived in.
• Combo heat and air package units on the roof or ground have many options from gas to hybrid to all electric heat pumps.
• Split systems where the blower is somewhere inside the house and the air conditioner sits outside- did you know if your heater is in the closet, we can typically move it to the attic? Can you see another closet in your future? We can! 

Do I need to replace my heater and air conditioning at the same time?

• You may not necessarily need to replace both the heater and the air conditioner, again depending on the age and how it is set up. 
• If you recently had a furnace replaced it probably won’t be necessary to replace it again now that you want to upgrade your air conditioner. 
• If you want to replace your air conditioner, at minimum you’ll likely need to replace the indoor cooling coil at the same time.  Since refrigerant (Freon) runs between the two components they will need to match. Older R-22 equipment cannot be intermixed with newer R-410a systems. 

• When we are discussing your home, how you live in it, and your future plans we are taking an assessment of what options make the most sense for you.
• Sometimes it makes the most sense to stick with what you have (or you have no other options in some circumstances). Other times it is worth exploring alternatives.
• We love giving you a few options to then let you decide what feels like the best decision for you and your family.
• Check out our article here for more information on if a heat pump makes sense for you.

• We prefer to work with brands that are reliable and use high quality materials.  Our technicians are trained on many brands, but we prefer to install heating and air conditioning systems that historically have had the least amount of call backs from our customers. 
  • American Standard for central HVAC installations
  • Fujitsu Ductless Mini Split Heat Pumps

• This is hard to answer. A lot of factors come into play.
  • How often is the system used? Total run hours matter.
  • How well has it been maintained? Keeping up on the filters and tune-ups are critical.
  • Was it properly installed? Of course, if it was installed by us, you can be confident that the system will last as long as possible. And you’ll have the HERS testing documentation to see that it was installed correctly.

• Do you have any hot or cold spots in your home? If yes, you may need new ductwork.
• Have you had rodent issues or other major breeches in the system?  You may need to replace the ductwork.
• Was there standing water under your home and the ducting is under the house? Probably would be best to replace the ductwork.
• We will do a visual inspection to see if ductwork needs to be replaced. If we feel it will pass the state required testing, we will utilize your existing ductwork when possible.

Should I have the ductwork cleaned?

• Unless you have had a major breech in the system where attic/crawl space air has been pulling into the ductwork it typically shouldn’t need to be cleaned.
• Most people don’t realize but if there is no filter, the equipment itself becomes the filter before the dirt can ever make it downstream to the supply ducting.

• That depends- if the ductwork is accessible to add zone controls, dampers, and boxes we love to give the option of zoning. Especially for two-story homes!

What type of thermostat and control options are available?

• We have both Wi-Fi enabled smart thermostats as well as standard programmable thermostats depending on what makes the most sense for your needs.

• In ever application possible we include a filter cabinet that can hold a 4” pleated filter. Typically, these filters only need to be replaced annually which is great for the homeowner. You have less maintenance and higher indoor air quality than a standard 1” filter.
• If we cannot install the upgraded filter cabinet, we will install a grille or box that can house up to a 2” filter for better air quality than a standard filter when possible.

• If you have a noisy air conditioner or outdoor heat pump right outside your bedroom window or on your patio, we can typically relocate them to a more discreet location.

I hate how the system looks up on my roof, can it be moved to the ground?

• When you have a combo heating and cooling system on the roof and all the ductwork in the attic, the best option for relocation would be installing a split system with the blower in the attic and the a/c on the ground if possible.

You would be responsible for hiring a roofer to patch the opening left by the packaged system.

• The same for a ground packaged unit, if you don’t want it on the side of the home, cutting in a split system can usually be done for an added investment.

I’d love to gain a closet and move my furnace out from inside my home, is that possible?

• If there is adequate clearance up in the attic and we can relocate the electrical, refrigerant, and condensate lines properly we are happy to give you the option of moving the indoor portion of your HVAC system into the attic!

• The best time would be during the off season when it is still working. 
  • There are usually incentives from the manufacturer or contractor in the shoulder seasons (Spring and Fall).  
  • The weather is nicer, so you won’t be worried about being without heating or air conditioning while the technicians are working.
  • Lead times are much longer when we get busy in the peak seasons.
    • It is important to note- we do not raise our prices in the peak seasons, but the wait can be much longer. 
• Once the system gets to be 15-20 years old you should start to consider replacement. Especially in large tract home communities where builders may have not used the highest quality equipment with the longer track records. 

• This is determined at the site visit with our installation manager ahead of starting work.  He assesses the project, takes photos and measurements, and determines how many days we’ll need on site to do the work.  This also gives us a chance to get all the materials needed ordered and have a meeting with our installation team the morning of your project, so they know what is expected before leaving our shop.

• Our installation manager will point out if any furniture needs to be moved for better access (sometimes we can move it for you, and he will let you know).
• All rooms will need to be accessed for the state required duct air flow testing.
• If you have an attic access in a closet, we recommend removing some of the clothing directly where the ladder will be set up, however we can also drape plastic to help protect your belongings.

• Each individual project is different and that is why we provide personalized quotes for every job.
• Every proposal we write will include the equipment, installation, permits, state testing, miscellaneous materials, complimentary tune-ups, and taxes. 
• There will never be any change-orders due to our oversight. Once we’ve bid a job and our installation manager has done his pre-installation survey, if there is something that we missed, that is on us.  However, if you decide you want to have us move something or add something as an extra, there could be an additional charge. 

• We offer long term financing as well as no-interest if paid in full short-term financing. Terms change from time to time so reach out to us for the current offerings.
• Reach out to us for the application for either finance option or you can see if you’re prequalified HERE.

• Currently SMUD, Roseville Electric, TECH Clean CA, and the Federal Tax Credit are available on qualifying equipment.
• During the shoulder seasons manufacturer rebates are available. 
• Discounts for payment by check.
• Hop on over to our Specials page for the latest HVAC incentives available. 

• Of course! We have a handful of customers who have given their blessing to pass their information on to potential customers.
• We are always happy to contact customers in your neighborhood or who have had similar work done as well. 

• We are rated and reviewed on many popular sites including Google, Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and more.

• We have a lot of photos posted on our website as well as the popular search sites mentioned above.

• We pull the local city/county permit and there is nothing that you need to do on your end. This is done before work starts. If the job is cancelled by you after the permit has been pulled, you will be responsible for reimbursement of any fees not credited back by the city/county to us.
• After the installation is complete and the state testing paperwork has come back to our office, our dispatcher will help you coordinate a day for your final inspection. 
  • You will need to provide access to the city/county inspector for your inspection.
  • The cities and counties typically only schedule for a full day 8am-5pm window. The day of your inspection we try to reach the inspector for a smaller window of time. It doesn’t always work out, so we recommend having someone that is available all day for the inspector. 

• The State of California requires that the ductwork be sealed and air flow tested. This is in addition to the refrigerant charge test (on split systems).
• After the installation of the system at your home, we perform these required tests to make sure that the system is installed for maximum performance and efficiency. 
• A third-party HERS (Home Energy Rating System) tester will then come out and verify our testing (at no additional cost to you). This typically happens in a bundle of up to seven jobs. Once the one chosen job has passed the third-party verification, that group is considered passed. Not every customer is required to have the third-party test. You can decline if you so choose.  Conversely if you would like to have the third party test your installation, please let our installers know so we can make the proper arrangements. 
• Sometimes these tests can be delayed due to outdoor temperatures. Standard practice is that it needs to be over 70 degrees outside for the refrigerant test. This can delay getting your city/county permit finaled. Know it is normal, and we get them scheduled just as quickly as we can. Winter just seems to add a twist to the process!

• Once our installation manager has reviewed the project on site we’ll know how many days the job will take.
• We verify equipment availability locally and luckily haven’t run into as many supply chain issues as in the early post-COVID years. 

• Occasionally if we have enough advanced notice we can schedule a job into a Saturday.
• If you have a dire need and we can move you up sooner in our schedule, we will. We are very grateful for our customers who have a working system when they can move to accommodate an emergency situation. It doesn’t always work out, but we really do try.

• Most systems include a 10-year parts warranty with a 2-year labor warranty.  
• Optional extended labor warranties are available up to two years from the date of installation. Contact our office for pricing. 
• Just out of warranty? American Standard has a very cool concessions program. As a Customer Care dealer, if your system is just out of warranty and a part failed that really shouldn’t have, we can get the part at no cost from American Standard as long as we don’t charge labor.  This is at our technicians’ discretion to decide.  Can you imagine if a car manufacturer did that? Because you know that things only go wrong once you’ve ticked passed 36k miles!

• Keeping the filter clean is your #1 responsibility for keeping your warranty valid. This is why we try to upgrade to lower-maintenance filter replacement options as often as we can. 
• All manufacturer fine print notes that maintenance is required to keep a warranty valid. Typically on new systems we recommend at minimum once per year. 
• We include a complimentary tune-up on each piece of equipment. Example: furnace – one tune-up, a/c – one tune-up, complete system replacement – two tune-ups.