Frequently Asked Questions

  FAQ's for Air Conditioning and Heating


Q: Are there any other ways to cool or heat those rooms, short of changing the ductwork?
Q: Besides temperature, what is it that makes my home comfortable?
Q: Can newer equipment really save me money on my utility bills?
Q: How do you determine what size equipment my home needs?
Q: How many years can I expect to get from my air conditioner and furnace?
Q: I need to replace my central air conditioning, but my heater is still okay. Is it true they need to be replaced at the same time?
Q: If I don’t have any “too hot” or “too cold” rooms, should I run the fan all the time?
Q: It’s really hot here in the summer - Is it possible to have too big an air conditioner?
Q: My family has lots of allergies. How can we improve the indoor air quality?
Q: Should I have a programmable thermostat?
Q: What about mixing different brands of equipment – is that a bad idea?
Q: What is SEER?

Q: Are there any other ways to cool or heat those rooms, short of changing the ductwork?
Running the blower continuously may provide better energy management. It uses a little more electricity, but it tends to even out temperatures and ventilation throughout the house. There are other benefits, too. Continuous operation will provide clearer air because it’s constantly filtered – something made even better with the addition of the new American Standard AccuCleanTM whole-house air filtration system. Also, blower motors usually last longer when they’re not repeatedly starting and stopping.


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Q: Besides temperature, what is it that makes my home comfortable?
Temperature is the one most people think of first, and it’s important, but not to the exclusion of air cleanliness, humidity and overall system control. The air people breathe in many homes is actually more polluted than outside air! All that suspended matter circulating in your home can make you physically ill. Proper filtration is a must. Having more humidity in winter makes your home feel warmer, while reducing static electricity, dry, itchy skin and damage to furniture. Conversely, removing humidity in hot months makes the air feel cooler and less “sticky”. Finally, system control – thermostats, humidistats, and zoning design – must be adequate to keep temperatures, cleanliness and humidity consistent throughout the house. Deficiencies in any of these key areas will lead to discomfort and inefficiencies. Berkey’s has the know-how and state-of-the-art equipment to make certain your heating and air conditioning system delivers in all these critical areas.


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Q: Can newer equipment really save me money on my utility bills?
Absolutely, by as much as 50%! At today’s utility prices it doesn’t take long to recover the cost of a new air conditioning and heating system. As Berkey’s for details, 817-481-5869.


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Q: How do you determine what size equipment my home needs?
We conduct a complete energy analysis of your home. By measuring windows, checking insulation, ductwork and building materials, as well as a variety of other factors, he can determine the right size system and equipment for your home. We also will ask you if there are rooms in your home that are always too hot or too cold? If so, you may need ductwork modifications in addition to a new system.


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Q: How many years can I expect to get from my air conditioner and furnace?
About 10-12 years is normal in the Southlake, Keller, Grapevine and Colleyville, Texas, area. This is a harsh climate, so regular maintenance is essential to get the most from your equipment. With current utility prices you should consider replacing sooner rather than later. Newer, higher efficiency equipment can help keep utility price increases in line.


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Q: I need to replace my central air conditioning, but my heater is still okay. Is it true they need to be replaced at the same time?
Your air conditioner and electric or gas furnace are parts of a total HVAC system that will work better, longer and more efficiently if all of its components are matched in capacity and efficiency. For example, your new air conditioner will be rated with a specific SEER efficiency rating. Your existing furnace and indoor coil can significantly affect this efficiency because of technology differences and an imbalance in capacity. A mismatched system that mixes old and new technologies diminishes its performance and your comfort.


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Q: If I don’t have any “too hot” or “too cold” rooms, should I run the fan all the time?
We recommend that you try both ways to see which you prefer. Some of the new furnaces allow for this and let you use different speeds, depending on whether the furnace or air conditioner is running.


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Q: It’s really hot here in the summer - Is it possible to have too big an air conditioner?
Yes. An oversized unit will provide cooling faster, but will not remove humidity adequately. Also, if your ductwork isn’t big enough to match the air conditioner the airflow will be too slow and you could freeze the coil, which would make it cease to function at all. Size matters; bigger isn’t always better.


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Q: My family has lots of allergies. How can we improve the indoor air quality?
This actually is a problem in millions of American homes. The American Standard AccuClean whole-house air filtration system offers the absolute best solution. It gets the air 100 times cleaner than standard throw-way filters, and 8 times better than HEPA filters. Pollen, dust, bacteria, tobacco smoke, animal hair and dander all pollute indoor air. AccuClean removes more than 99% of them. Not only will your family be healthier, your furniture, drapes, carpet and walls will be cleaner, too.


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Q: Should I have a programmable thermostat?
Programmable can provide increased comfort and reduced utility costs by raising and lowering the temperature for you automatically at specific times each day. A programmable thermostat could be a good investment if you have a fairly regular household schedule.


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Q: What about mixing different brands of equipment – is that a bad idea?
Most brands of air conditioners are compatible with each other as long as you take care to ensure that coils and blowers are the correct size. Still, the best way to assure a match is to stick with one brand so you can be certain of the benefits of a fully integrated system.


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Q: What is SEER?
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Think of it as similar to mileage ratings for cars and trucks – a higher number is better. For example, a 14 SEER rating unit will provide about 40% better efficiency than the 10 SEER units installed in many homes in the early 1990s. For even greater utility savings, we offer equipment rated up to 18 SEER.


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