FAQ

HVAC is short for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. HVAC is often used to refer to your whole heating and cooling system.

To keep your HVAC system running in tip-top shape, we recommend a maintenance appointment twice a year (once for heat, once for air conditioning). This way, a Carlton Heating & Air Conditioning technician can check your filters, coils, wiring, housing, motor, and more to make sure you’re getting the most out of your system.

Don’t worry! Whether your problem happens at three in the morning or on the 4th of July, we offer emergency HVAC service to get your system back up and running. Just call 919-790-3810!

To answer that, you’ll need an appointment with one of our HVAC service experts. We’ll come to your home and evaluate its size, heating and cooling needs, environment, and the work we’ll need to do. Then, we can recommend the best system for you and install it quickly.

• Install a programmable thermostat so you don’t waste air conditioning or heat while you’re not at home.
• Switch your incandescent light bulbs to more energy efficient light bulbs like compact fluorescents (CFLs) or LEDs.
• Install ceiling fans and, when you can, use them instead of your air conditioning to cool you down.
• Unplug any appliance that you’re not using. While it may not be turned on, it will still use power from your electrical outlet.
• Make sure your windows and doors are sealed properly so that they don’t let air in and make your HVAC system work harder.

If your HVAC system requires constant repairs, is 15 years or older, or can’t heat or cool your home properly, we recommend you replace it. When an HVAC system ages, it doesn’t operate as efficiently and could actually end up costing you more money than it should.

An air handler is usually a large metal box containing a blower, heating or cooling elements, filter racks or chambers, sound attenuators, and dampers. Air handlers usually connect to a ductwork ventilation system that distributes the conditioned air through the building and returns it to the AHU.

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It measures air conditioning and heat pump cooling efficiency, which is calculated by the cooling output for a typical cooling season divided by the total electric energy input during the same time frame. A higher SEER rating means greater energy efficiency.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a term which refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.

We spend most of our time indoors, so breathing healthy air where we live, work and play is critical. Indoor air pollution has the same negative effects as environmental pollution.

Ask us how to identify and restore the indoor air quality in your home or office.

The life of your filter depends on your environment and the type of filter you have installed. To put it simply, there really is no concrete answer to this question. Certain things such as:

• The number of people who live in your home
• If there are pets in the house
• If there is a smoker in the house
• If you leave the windows open
• If you have pollen bearing trees or plants in the neighborhood
• If you live in an area with a lot of dampness
• If you live in an area that is dry or arid
• Plus many others..

If several of these factors sound familiar, you'll likely experience a quicker loading of particles on your filters and will consequently have to change it more often. A good rule of thumb is to check your filter every month. If you can hold the filter up to a light and not see through it, it is time to change your filter. At an absolute minimum, you should change your filter every three months. A clean air filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system, which could lead to expensive maintenance and utility bills.

If you still have a more traditional thermostat, upgrading to a smart thermostat or a programmable thermostat is a great way to save energy and give you greater control over your indoor comfort.