RESIDENTIAL HEATING AND COOLING FAQ
Where can I buy furnace filters for my furnace?
We carry many brands of furnace filters for all brands of funaces in stock and can ship them directly to your home or office.
Do you sell furnace and AC parts to the public?
Yes, we carry ALL major brands of furnace and air conditioner parts, specializing in Lennox parts.
How often should I change my furnace filter?
Media Filters 4-5" minimum, 2 times a year. If the filter is 1 inch or thinner it should be replaced once a month. When you need to change the filter also depends on the filter for your furnace. We sell a few different types of filters. Typically, we provide filters by determining the filter thickness and Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV rating, which is from 1 to 16. The MERV rating is based on an air filter’s efficiency, so the higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the air filter is at removing particles. MERV 8 would be yesterday’s standard, MERV 10 is today’s standard. However, MERV 16 is the best you can get, and is one of our more popular filters.
When should I change my humidifier pad?
Once a year after the heating season, meaning that it should be done in the early spring just before you turn your air conditioner on. This will prevent mold and dirt from building up in the pan and on the pad.
My furnace is not working correctly. What can I do (prior to calling)?
1. Make sure you have power to your furnace: in the lower portion of the furnace you’ll see a small sight glass, it will be round and about 2 inches in diameter. Check and see if you can see two lights flashing. If you can see these lights, then you know you at least have power to the furnace.
2. Next, listen to the furnace while it’s running. Do you hear any unusual noises? Is the fan running? You should be able to hear the whirring noise that a fan would make. If not, then your fan is not working properly.
3. Next, lift the access panel off the furnace, there should be a listing of fault codes. If you can determine what the possible problem is based on those codes, you can help us establish the proper course of action. This step can save you the time and money of our technicians having to come to your home and fix a problem that you might be able to fix yourself.
What should you look for in a good heating and cooling contractor?
1. Make sure that they are licensed and insured.
2. Make sure that they use name brands.
3. Verify that their technicians are qualified.
4. Your contractor should make you feel comfortable.
5. Your contractor should have excellent references.
For More information on choosing a heating and cooling contractor, view our guide to choosing an HVAC contractor.
What is an energy efficient furnace or a high efficiency furnace?
Furnaces are rated with efficiency levels utilizing the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency standard (AFUE). The minimum AFUE number that is required is at least 80, so the higher AFUE number, the better! So, if you have an 85% efficient furnace, it means that for every dollar that is spent to fuel your furnace, 85 cents is used to heat the home while the other 15 cents is lost. It may not sound like much to lose, but it definitely adds up over time.
Another company installed our furnace. Now, they won’t come out and service it.
Will you check the furnace for us?
Yes, we charge a diagnostic fee and if we discover a problem that needs correcting, we'll explain it to you and quote a flat fee to do the work. We'll do the same for air conditioning and other products installed by companies that won't follow up with maintenance service. We offer 24 hour service!
What's the best way to get my air conditioning running in the spring?
1. Remove the air filter on the furnace and clean it out.
2. If you have a humidistat, turn it from 35% to 0%.
3. 24 hours before starting your air conditioning, turn the disconnect back on.
4. Wash the condenser unit (that's the unit outside your house). Set your hose nozzle for a fine spray of water and spray from the top down.
5. Turn on your air conditioning and enjoy the cool comfort inside.
How do I clean an electronic air cleaner?
You can put it directly in your dishwasher or spray it with 409 cleaner. If you use 409 cleaner, let it dry and reinstall it. If you put it in your dishwasher, use a soap that leaves no film and be sure to protect the thin wires in the cleaner from the spikes in the dishwasher tray. One way to protect them is to set the cleaner on top of glasses that are placed over these spikes in the dishwasher.
What can I do to improve my indoor air quality?
1. Keep windows and doors closed during prime ragweed season.
2. Ventilate your home. Use exhaust fans when you cook or shower.
3. Filter the air with an air cleaner and make sure you clean the filter regularly.
4. Treat the air with an ultraviolet air treatment system.
5. Maintain the right relative humidity between 45%-65% as recommended by the EPA.
What heating and cooling services do you offer?
We provide NEW Furnace and Air Conditioner Installations. We also handle ALL residential furnaces and air conditioners Repair & Maintenance in Michigan. We also offer:
- Exhaust Systems
- Custom Design/Build
- Heating Repairs
- Boiler Repairs
- Furnace Repairs
- Air Conditioning
-
Sales Service & Repairs
- Commercial Heating and Cooling
- Residential Heating and Cooling
-
Sheet Metal Work
- Preventative Furnace and AC Maintenance
- Make Up Air Systems
- Humidifiers/Air Cleaners
- Thermostat Installation
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Hot Water Tanks
- Commercial Furnace Repairs
- Commercial Rooftop Unit Repair
- Commercial Boiler Repairs
- Commercial Air Conditioning
I live in Birmingham, but I work in Troy, can you service both locations?
Mr Furnace on the Residential HVAC side and A.S. Contrera on the Commercial HVAC side serves Macomb County, Oakland County and Wayne County as our primary HVAC service areas, but we also serve all of SouthEast Michigan.
Macomb County Heating and Cooling Service cities:
Armada, Center Line, Clinton, Eastpointe, Fraser, Grosse Pointe Shores, Harrison, Memphis, Mount Clemens, New Baltimore, New Haven, Richmond, Romeo, Roseville, St. Clair Shores, Shelby, Sterling Heights, Utica, Warren
Oakland County Heating and Cooling Service cities:
Auburn Hills, Berkley, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Clawson, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Franklin, Hazel Park, Holly, Huntington Woods, Keego Harbor, Lake Angelus, Lake Orion, Lathrup Village, Leonard, Madison Heights, Milford, Northville, Novi, Oak Park, Orchard Lake Village, Ortonville, Oxford, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Southfield, South Lyon, Sylvan Lake, Troy, Village of Clarkston, Walled Lake, Waterford, West Bloomfield Township, Wixom, Wolverine Lake
Wayne County Heating and Cooling Service cities:
Allen Park, Belleville, Canton, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, Ecorse, Flat Rock, Garden City, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Highland Park, Inkster, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Melvindale, Northville, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Redford, River Rouge, Riverview, Rockwood, Romulus, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton, Wayne, Westland, Woodhaven, Wyandotte
I have a no heat situation, my furnace stopped and its 3:00AM do you have emergency heating and cooling services that can take a look at my situation right now?
We are available for Emergency Service 24/7 at (586)-754-6700.
Our products are quoted accurately. The work is completed on time without cost overruns or hidden extras. Contact us today for a free quote on a new heating or cooling system, or for maintenance/repair of your existing one.
