Bunn’s and Bennett Heating and Air Conditioning has been serving Huntsville and The Tennessee Valley for more than 30 years. During that time, we’ve been asked about a million questions about peoples heating and air conditioning needs. Below are just a few of the quesstions and their answers.
How can I reduce my energy costs?
Cooling System
Upgrade to a high-efficiency air conditioner– Replacing your old, inefficient air conditioning system with a high-efficient one can cut electricity bills significantly. Consult one of our professional technicians to ensure your system is the right size for your home, and you are not over- or under-cooling for your space needs.
- Turn up the temperature– To save electricity during the summer, set the temperature above 75° as every degree below this will add an extra three to five percent to your energy bill.
- Install ceiling fans– Change the direction of airflow on your ceiling fans. In the summer, the blades should operate in a counter-clockwise direction as a way of creating a nice, gentle wind.
- Have an annual maintenance performed– Having an annual maintenance performed on your air conditioner by a licensed technician will help ensure it operates at its peak efficiency and catches any potential breakdowns before they occur.
- Don’t block vents in well-used rooms– Keep your supply and return air vents free of objects like blinds, carpets or furniture so your air conditioner can operate efficiently and there is even cool air distribution.
- Close vents in less-used rooms– By closing the vents, you will not be spending money cooling rooms that are used less.
Heating System
- Upgrade to a high-efficiencyfurnace – New high-efficiency furnaces use up to 50% less fuel than an older system. It can save you up to 25 percent of your home-heating costs in one year, and within a few years, you will have recovered the initial cost of replacing/upgrading your furnace. Choosing a model with an energy efficient motor can save 20 to 50 percent of the energy needed to continuously operate a fan motor. Let us show you the advantages of replacing your old furnace today.
Have an annual maintenance performed – Having an annual maintenance performed on your furnace by a licensed technician will help ensure it operates at its peak efficiency and catches any potential breakdowns before they occur. - Install a programmable thermostat – A programmable thermostat enables you to control your home’s temperature when you are away or asleep. For every one degree you lower your thermostat for seven hours per day, you save one percent on your heating bill.
- Don’t block vents in well-used rooms– Keep your supply and return air vents free of objects like blinds, carpets or furniture so your furnace can operate efficiently and there is even heat distribution.
- Close vents in less-used rooms– By closing the vents, you will not be spending money heating rooms that are used less.
- Install ceiling fans– Change the direction of airflow on your ceiling fans. In the winter, the blades should operate in a clockwise direction helping to push the warm air from the ceiling down into the room.
How do I choose an HVAC contractor in the Huntsville area?
Choosing an A/C contractor is much like choosing any other contractor. Quality work should carry a higher priority than a cheap price. There are many “moon lighters” that are not licensed and will work for a very cheap price, but when something goes wrong, you can’t find them anymore. It’s a good idea to select a contractor that relies on you, the customer, for their livelihood. Taking care of customers’ needs is the highest priority for a company that depends on them to call them back when their expertise is needed.
The best way to find a reputable HVAC contractor is to ask your friends, family and neighbors whom they use.
Find a contractor who has been around a while. The failure rate in HVAC is around 20% per year. That means that one out of five will not be doing business next year. The failure rate drops off for HVAC companies that have been around for 4 years. Bunn’s and Bennett was established in 1983.
You want to make sure any company you do business with is properly licensed and insured, and it is always a good idea to check out a company’s rating with the local Better Business Bureau and with Angie’s List. Additionally, many equipment manufacturers list their dealer’s customer satisfaction ratings on their dealer locator section of their websites. Check out our satisfaction rating with American Standard.
At Bunn’s and Bennett, our priority is serving your needs.
I have no cooling from my AC or heat pump. What should I do?
- Check the settings on your thermostat. Make sure the temperature control selector is set below the current room temperature, and the system switch is on the COOL or AUTO position. The fan switch should be set to ON for continuous airflow or AUTO if you want the blower to operate only while the air conditioner/heat pump is operating.
- Try to get the air conditioner/heat pump to turn on by lowering the thermostat to its lowest temperature setting.
- If the air flow out of your registers seems low, check the air filter. An extremely dirty air filter can block air flow.
- Make sure all registers are open and not obstructed.
- Check the power disconnect switch by each unit (outdoor and indoor).
- Check the fuse/breaker at the electrical panel for both the outdoor and indoor unit.
- If the problem persists, please contact us.
These are just three answers to frequently asked questions which we receive from homeowners about their HVAC systems. We answer many more questions on our website at https://bunnshvac.com/resources/tips-facts/.
Bunn’s and Bennett Heating and Air Conditioning has been serving the Huntsville, AL and Tennessee Valley area for more than 30 years. We are fully licensed and insured and employ factory trained technicians and installers. For more information about our service, email is at info&bunnshvac.com or call us at 256-536-0967.
