FAQ
Q: What temperature should I set my thermostat?
A: Each individual has different comfort levels, and not all thermostats are calibrated exactly the same; we suggest starting at 70 degrees and if that isn’t warm enough, turn your thermostat up one degree until your comfort level is reached.
B: When cooling, our recommendation is to set your thermostat at 78 degrees and if that isn’t cool enough, turn it down one degree until comfort level is reached.
C: When using a setback thermostat, we recommend changing the temperature a maximum of 4 degrees overnight. Then program the thermostat to turn on your furnace or AC 1 hour before you plan on being comfortable. An oversized furnace or AC may change the temperature more quickly, however an oversized system is very inefficient, will be prone to more repairs, and wear and tear will occur rapidly.
Q: Why isn’t the airflow as warm as my old furnace?
A: A properly sized furnace will not be able to heat a home quickly and have the “hair dryer” effect.
B: A 2 stage furnace will operate in “low” heat most of the time, which will provide a more even comfort throughout your home.
Q: Why is my display on my thermostat getting dimmer and dimmer?
A: Some thermostats require batteries;
Q: Do I have to leave the fan on all the time?
A: No, Ultimately it’s the client’s preference. If you have invested in a furnace which has a Variable Speed Blower motor, or runs on DC Electrical Current, running your blower 24/7 will use very little electricity and balance temperatures throughout the home helping to eliminate warm and cold spots.
Q: Why does it take so long in the morning to heat up to the desired temp?
A: If you have programmable thermostat and you setting it back more than 2-3 degrees at night that is why. This furnace is designed for consistent comfort, the fact that this furnace runs 90% or more in low-stage, it is going to take your furnace some time to catch up to the desired temperature if the temperature was set back 4 or more degrees at night especially when it’s really cold outside
Q: How does it know when to run in Low and High heat?
A: The computer inside the furnace will decide how long to run your furnace in low heat before switching to high heat.
Q: Does my existing thermostat work on the new furnace?
A: In most cases, your thermostats will function properly with your new furnace.
Q: How often should I change my Furnace Filter?
A: One inch filters should be changed monthly. 4” filters should be changed every 3-4 months. If you own electronic replaceable media, please change it every 3-4 months.
*Do not operate your furnace without a filter, even if you’re running to pick up a new one!
Q: I see blinking lights, do the blinking lights mean anything?
A: If you furnace is not working, the blinking lights mean that there is a fault in the furnace. You are able to reset the power switch on your furnace, and 1 out of 10 times your heat will work. It is a minor problem that needs attention from a service technician.
Reset your furnace by turning the main power switch off which is usually on the side of the furnace and looks like a regular light switch, or at the circuit breaker box. Leave off for 10 seconds before turning back on.
This problem will happen again soon, and it is a good idea to get a service technician scheduled to take a look at it.
If the heat cycle doesn’t start within 2 minutes, you will need to get a service technician out.
Q: Why does my home thermometer say it’s 68 degrees and your thermostat that you installed say 70 degrees?
A: Unfortunately not all thermostats or thermometers are created equal, different manufacturers calibrate and build there products differently, not all thermostats are 100% accurate.
Ask yourself is the number displayed feel warm or cold and then adjust the setting accordingly to your comfort level. Thermostats do fail but it is not very often, it comes down to getting to know your thermostat because there is a good chance your new one is different from your old one.
Q: What is that smell coming from my new furnace and is it normal?
A: From the factory they put an oil-based coating on the heat exchanger to help protect it. The smell is coming from the heat exchanger heating up and burning that coating off. This is 100% normal and the smell does go away after 1 hour of run time. If the smell is irritating, open up a couple windows for that initial 10-15 minutes of run time and it will go away.
If your thermostat has batteries make sure to change them every six months or earlier if needed
- The way to tell if it has batteries is unclipping the front panel or cover and looking on the back or your stat or behind the cover.
- Another way is to see is if the front panel has a flip up or flip down cover, the batteries usually hide behind it.
- If the thermostat takes batteries, most of the thermostats will take 2-3 AA batteries.
- The thermostat will blink or give a symbol telling you the batteries are low, when this is noticed, change them out immediately.
- Weak or dead batteries could be the result of a no heat/cool
General Maintenance:
- To help obtain many trouble-free years out of your new furnace, have it cleaned and checked every year.
- Remember to check air filter every month and put in a new one if necessary
- Remember to change batteries (if applicable) in thermostat every six months
Misc:
- Your furnace is designed to run in low stage heating 90% of the time that it is on.
- A colder day means the furnace will run more and for longer.
- Today’s furnaces are completely different that what was made 15 years ago. You will notice that your new furnace does not blow hot air like a “hair dryer.”
- In low stage heating, 9 out of 10 times you can barely hear or feel the heat is on (soft airflow) that.
- The design behind 2stage heating is to bring you comfort, by maintaining quietness, temperature, and keeping operating costs down by running in low stage 90% of the time.
- Just a reminder, this furnace is designed for comfort, it is advised to not set your thermostat back more than 4 degrees at night. This will avoid a long catch up in temperature in the morning.
- The blower motor on the furnace may be designed to run all the time. The benefits of this is more even temperatures throughout the home, and constant filtering of the air.
- The approximate cost of running the variable speed blower motor is equal to a 100-watt light bulb. Much less than a traditional blower motor. Typically non-variable speed furnaces use approximately 600-700 watts of electricity during continuous fan operation.