FAQ's

Sometimes homeowners turn the fan switch to "On" versus "Auto" which causes the indoor fan to run continuously. Turn the switch to "Auto" and the fan should stop running continuously. There are several other causes of a continually running fan that require deeper on-site diagnosis. Call us, we are here to help.

Yes, there are a couple. The first is that you get constant filtering of the air in your home. The second is that because the air is moving, you have a more even temperature throughout the home. However, continuous fan mode during the cooling season may not be appropriate in humid climates. If the inside of your home feels uncomfortably humid, it is recommended that the fan be used in "Auto" mode.

A matched system is important for a variety of reasons. One is comfort. When all our components are properly sized to your home, you can control exactly how much heating or cooling you need so you can relax. Also, a properly sized matched system enables every component to perform as designed, meaning proper cycle times are maintained, humidity is controlled, and system sound is minimized. Another reason matched systems are important is efficiency. Most people buy systems that are too large for their homes, meaning they pay to heat and cool space that isn't even there. A matched system outlined by a dealer who has completed a load calculation for your home provides just the right amount of heating and cooling you need so you get the most value for your utility dollar.

While a heat pump is perfectly capable of effectively heating your home, the temperature of the air coming out of the registers is heated to about 90 to 95 degrees, depending on the outdoor temperature. This temperature is approximately 20 - 25 degrees warmer that the indoor air temperature and will warm your house. It is, however, below body temperature (98.6 degrees) and can feel cool when someone puts their hand in the airflow.

In the North Georgia area, all heat pumps require some sort of auxiliary heat – also known as backup heat or emergency heat – due to our winter temperatures dipping below 42 degrees. Heat pumps are not as effective at producing heat when the temperature drops into the freezing range so auxiliary heat is installed to assist the heat pump in heating the home. Under normal operating conditions, the auxiliary heat is brought on automatically by the thermostat when the indoor temperature drops during heat pump operation. Electric heat kits are the most common form of back up heat in the North Georgia area. A higher end option is a dual fuel system which consists of a furnace as backup heat the electric Heat Pump.

Also, there are also times during cold, wet weather when the outdoor coil may ice up and your heat pump must go into a defrost cycle. This is nothing more than reversing the process back to cooling mode. Cooling mode makes the outdoor coil hot and melts any ice. The defrost cycle should only last a few minutes and then return to heating mode. During the defrost cycle, your comfort system is in cooling mode and the supply air is cool. To offset this cool air, the auxiliary heat clicks on to help heat the home. A mist or fog may be visible from the outdoor unit during defrost.

On average, a furnace will last 15-20 years and an air conditioner heat pump will last 12 - 15 years. Sometimes it pays to replace the old system sooner because of the higher efficiency (lower gas and electric bills) provided by newer equipment. Life expectancies can vary greatly. The major factors influencing life expectancy are proper sizing, proper installation and regular maintenance. Many air conditioners and heat pumps are oversized for the space they serve which leads to short cycling. The unit turns on and off very rapidly, repeatedly. This wears the components out more quickly. Dirt also wears out components more quickly by reducing airflow and creating friction. Regular maintenance is a must to maximize efficiency and protect your investment.

Beyond equipment, the most important component installed with a new system is the ductwork. Ductwork is classified according to its job – “supply” air to the home and “return” air from the home to the unit. Supply duct is attached to the outflow of the new system, delivering air to each zone in a home. The amount of air reaching each zone is determined by the size of supply ductwork connected to your system. James Thomas Heating and Cooling will calculate the size of all the supply ductwork in your home. The second part of the ductwork, the return duct, attaches to the inlet of the new system and draws air out of the spaces to be heated or cooled. Attached to the return duct is the filter. The filter should be placed as near to the furnace or air handler as possible. Ductwork can be either ductboard, flexible duct, or metal and must be properly sized in order to evenly distribute the proper amount of air to each room.

YES! A new 14 SEER air conditioner or heat pump could save you as much as 50% on your operating cost of the system. 14 SEER is the minimum efficiency standard allowed by law for the Southeastern region of the United States. Depending on your current operating costs, higher efficiency systems could save you even more. Newer gas furnaces are 30 - 40% more efficient than some older models. Depending upon gas prices, this could mean big savings.

This stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The size of an air conditioner is rated in BTU or tons, however the efficiency is rated in SEER. This ratio is calculated as cooling output divided by the power input for the average U.S. climate. It's like MPG (miles per gallon) in a car - the higher the MPG (or SEER) the lower the gasoline (electricity) bill.

A heat pump is an electric powered piece of equipment that both heats and cools your home. In the summer, a heat pump is no different than an air conditioner. In the winter a heat pump operates in reverse and heats the indoors. Heat pumps need auxiliary heat (electric heat or gas furnace) to help them when it is very cold (below 42 degrees in the North Georgia Mountains) or when the thermostat is moved more than 2 - 3 degrees at a time. The initial investment for a heat pump is higher than for an air conditioner, and the ductwork must be exactly right for proper operation. One common complaint of a heat pump is that the air coming out of the registers is not hot enough (compared to a gas furnace). Despite the drawbacks, heat pumps will reduce the winter heating bills. The savings compared to heating with gas can be dramatic as the price of gas increases.

Most brands of equipment will work with others as long as the coils and blowers are the proper size. You may, however, experience some loss of efficiency and capacity.

Our Comfort Consultant will measure your home and calculate the actual heating and cooling load on your home (calculation based on window size and direction, walls, ceiling, floor, appliances, insulation, etc.) This will determine the proper size of equipment that is needed. This will be compared to your current equipment and ductwork and will be adjusted based on your lifestyle, etc.

Certainly. There are a variety of causes for airflow problems. Sometimes the problems are due to a dirty filter, coil, and/or blower which results in reduced air flow passing through the air handler and causing the air to die off in the outer branches of the duct system. From time to time the duct work comes loose and a minor reattachment repair can solve the problem. In a lot of cases, there are duct design issues. In these cases, a professional from James Thomas Heating and Cooling should be called in to troubleshoot the situation. Solutions can range from some simple air balancing to replacement of ducts to advanced climate control systems such as a zone system.

For installation of new equipment, we do not require any down payment, however we ask for payment the day we complete the installation (unless other arrangements have been made in advance). We accept cash, checks, VISA, Mastercard, and Discover. We also offer financing through a local financing company and often run same as cash specials to customers with good credit.

They should be checked and cleaned to ensure they are operating efficiently, properly, and safely. We recommend checking the air conditioner in the spring and the furnace in the fall so that we can fully operate the system to check its operation. When checking your refrigerant level in your air conditioner, we obtain a more accurate reading at higher outdoor temperatures.

Programmable thermostats are an excellent tool to save energy. You can program the thermostat so that it raises and lowers the temperature automatically to coincide with your needs. They are particularly effective when your household is on a regular schedule and the program operates continuously. Aside from lowering your energy bill, a programmable thermostat offers additional comfort (i.e. Wake up to a warm bathroom.)

Your forced-air heating system will perform more efficiently (i.e. save you money on energy bills and repair costs) if you...

• Inspect filters once a month and replace them when they are dirty.
• Make sure air supply and return vents in your home are not obstructed. Make sure nothing is in front of them or on top of them such as furniture, curtains, boxes, toys, etc.
• Check chimney and venting systems once a year for secure fittings, leaks, corrosion, or damage.
• Keep area around furnace clean and clutter free. Keep at least 3 - 4 feet totally clear all the way around your furnace.
• Do not block the source of furnace combustion air by enclosing furnace in a small closet or by making the room it is located in too air tight. The furnace needs to pull air from its immediate surroundings.
• If your system operates on propane gas, regularly check your propane gas percentage to make sure you do not run out.

Regular maintenance will extend the life of your equipment and reduce repair costs. Here are some simple tasks that should be done.

• Keep debris, grass clippings, dirt, and leaves away from outdoor unit.
• Use a hose to clear the aluminum fins from airborne debris (be careful, the fins bend easily. Use a regular hose without a spray nozzle, and a very soft brush with light to no pressure).

Furnaces eventually wear out just like any piece of machinery. Your professional HVAC service technician will see certain indicators that tell them your furnace is wearing out. Some of those symptoms are:

• Frequent pilot light outages
• Delayed ignition
• Yellow flame or wavering flame
• Excessive soot or corrosion
• Too much or too little heat
• The smell of sulfur or burnt eggs

First, make sure the unit is properly sized. Your Comfort Consultant will provide a load calculation for your home. Also your contractor should provide an energy analysis to determine operating cost. Next, consider any comfort issues in the home. Some products can reduce air stratification and uneven temperatures from room to room. If you have allergies, an indoor unit with an ECM motor will allow you to circulate the air in your home continuously while filtering the air for about the same cost as operating a standard light bulb. Finally, know your budge parameters and the efficiency of the system being proposed. Does the system offer a payback? In other words, will the monthly savings over time offset the cost of the new unit or efficiency option being considered? There are many factors to consider when selecting a new heating and/or cooling system.

First, make sure the unit is properly sized. Your Comfort Consultant will provide a load calculation for your home. Also ask for an energy analysis to determine operating cost of any proposed system. Next, consider any comfort issues in the home. Some products can reduce air stratification and uneven temperatures from room to room. If you have allergies, an indoor unit with an ECM motor will allow you to circulate the air in your home continuously while filtering the air for about the same cost as operating a standard light bulb. Finally, know your budget parameters and the efficiency of the system being proposed. Does the system offer a payback? In other words, will the monthly savings over time offset the cost of the new unit or efficiency option being considered? There are many factors to consider when selecting a new heating and/or cooling system.

In the majority of homes, cleaning and inspection once every three years is adequate. The type of air filter you are using and the frequency of maintenance on your heating and air conditioning equipment can have a significant effect on the duration between cleanings. The purchase of a good quality air cleaner will protect your heating and air conditioning equipment, duct system, and your home, while scheduled maintenance will extend the life of the equipment and increase its efficiency.

During the summer months we recommend you set your thermostat back during the day when you are not home. However, we do not recommend that you go over your desired temperature more than 5 to 7 degrees. An exception to this rule is if you live in a singlewide mobile home. The insulation is so poor that you would save more by turning off the unit when you are away. Another recommendation would be to install a programmable thermostat installed that automatically changes the setting for you. Our customers have saved as much as 30 percent on their utility bills just by setting the temperature back when no one is home.

Check your propane tank to make sure you have gas. To check the tank, flip open the dome lid on top of the tank. Look at the gauge. It will have numbers (percentages) from 0 to 100. Make sure the needle is not on zero. Be aware that propane tank gauges can stick thus giving an inaccurate reading on the gauge. Lightly bump or tap the gauge and see if it changes.