Cote

HVAC, Heating, & Cooling Unit FAQs

Please find the following answers from our expert team at Cote’s Mechanical to some of your most frequently asked questions relating to your HVAC, heating, and air.

If you have additional questions or need maintenance, repair, or HVAC installation services, contact the hard-working and dedicated team at Cote’s Mechanical today! We are ready to put our expert knowledge and skills to work to ensure that your home stays at just the right temperature.

What Is the Proper Size HVAC System for My Home?

Many residential homeowners often struggle with finding the correct size HVAC system for their home. This can often result in a homeowner buying an incorrectly-sized unit, which will not effectively heat or cool the home or will use more electricity than necessary. Determine what size unit you need for your home based on its square footage. Refer to the chart below to determine how many BTUs (British Thermal Unit) are needed.

House Square Footage

BTUs Needed

100-150

5,000

150-250

6,000

250-300

7,000

300-350

8,000

350-400

9,000

400-450

10,000

450-500

12,000

500-700

14,000

700-1,000

18,000

1,000-1,200

21,000

1,200-1,400

23,000

1,400-1,500

24,000

1,500-2000

30,000

2,000-2,500

34,000

What Is Emergency Heat?

When the temperatures outside are too cold for your heating unit to pull air from the outside to warm your home, your emergency heat will kick in. Emergency heat is a back-up plan for your unit, ensuring that it can heat your home when the temperature outside drops to below 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

How Does Emergency Heat Work?

Emergency heat can either be produced by an electric source, which is the most common, or it can be produced by a gas-powered unit. Learn more about the differences between electric and gas heat.

For electric models, the coils inside the air handler heat up, warming the air that passes through the system, resulting in the emergency heat. Click here for electric heat troubleshooting tips from our experts at Cote’s Mechanical. 

Gas-powered units are connected to your furnace. The furnace produces the heat and then distributes it around your home.

Emergency heat should never be turned on manually. It is automatically set to kick on if the temperatures outside reach 35 degrees Fahrenheit or below, as these temperatures are too low for traditional heating. If you are finding that you have to manually turn on your emergency heat, this is a strong indication that there is a problem with your heater. You will want to contact the team at Cote’s Mechanical, LLC to inspect and repair your unit to avoid further damages.

What Does SEER Mean?

A representative discusses options with Lantana homeownersWhen you are shopping around for a new HVAC unit or if you are looking for a replacement, you have probably heard the term SEER. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This term was created to help describe how many watts (power) it takes for your unit to achieve the desired temperature in your home.

This is one of the most important aspects of your HVAC unit. If your HVAC unit has a poor SEER score, then it means you will most likely pay more than necessary to heat or cool your home. If you are looking for the best deal on your HVAC unit, always compare the SEER ratings first. While one unit may initially cost more, you could end up seeing more savings from the more costly unit due to its better SEER score, similar to how one compares cars by their gas mileage.

How Do I Improve my HVAC System’s Energy Efficiency?

Improving your energy efficiency is as simple as ensuring your unit is properly maintained. This involves:

What Is Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor air quality refers to the quality of the air within and around homes and commercial buildings. Indoor air quality is used to determine the health and comfort of those within a building.

What Are Some of the Health Effects from Poor Indoor Air Quality?

Poor indoor air quality can leave individuals exposed to pollutants that can make them sick. Often, poor indoor air quality can be felt by irritation of the nose, eyes, throat, skin, as well as headaches and dizziness. Those who are elderly or have pre-existing medical conditions, such as asthma, can feel the effects of poor indoor air quality more strongly. This can result in individuals having more extreme reactions that may require medical attention, such as an asthma attack.

How Do I Improve My Indoor Air Quality?

Here are just some of the ways that you can improve the air quality inside your home:

  • Change your air filter regularly
  • Invest in yearly air duct cleanings
  • Use stove vents or fans when cooking
  • Keep rugs and carpets clean by regularly vacuuming
  • Use indoor plants to help freshen the air by replacing the oxygen
  • Control the humidity within your home.

How Often Should I Replace My Air Filter?

Air filters work hard to ensure that your home’s air is free of dangerous allergens and air contaminants that could make your household ill. This includes getting rid of pet dander, harmful airborne bacteria, and dust. Air filters, depending on where you live and the quality of your air, should be changed every 2-3 months. If an individual in your home has any respiratory concerns, such as asthma or pet allergies, then you may find that you need to replace your air filter every month.

Why Is Indoor Humidity Important?

Indoor humidity determines the amount of moisture that is within the air of your home. If the humidity in your home is too high, then the air can feel heavy and stifling, as if you were sitting in a sauna. On the other hand, too little humidity can leave your home feeling too dry. This can cause irritation to the eyes and skin.

Controlling Home Humidity With a Humidifier

A humidifier was designed to help control the humidity in your home. It is used when there is too little moisture in your home. It operates by using the water, which is kept in a tank, and turning it into a small blast of mist. The water adds moisture to the air, which makes it easier for your family to breathe and helps alleviate dry skin and eyes.

What Falls Under Emergency Repairs?

A woman adjusts the AC temperature while her husband looks onWhen people hear the term emergency repairs for their HVAC unit, it may be unclear about what problems fall under this umbrella term. When it comes to emergency repairs for HVAC units, it is not only the problem the homeowner or commercial building is experiencing but also what season it is and who is primarily in the building. Here are the types of breakdowns and situations that call for emergency repairs of your unit.

  1. Your Air Conditioning Unit Breaks Down in the Summer. Texas is known for its sweltering hot heat. No one wants to come home from a long day at work only to find stifling temperatures inside their home. When the AC breaks down and the heat in the home rises, heatstroke becomes a serious possibility. Emergency repairs for broken down units during the summer months will always be a top priority. If your AC unit gives out on you during the summer, call the emergency repair team at Cote’s Mechanical right away.
  2. Your Heater Goes Out in the Winter. When the temperature drops, you want to come home to a warm house. When your heater isn’t working properly, your home can drop down to freezing temperatures, making for a difficult night’s sleep, which can negatively affect individuals with upper respiratory issues and leave them feeling lethargic.
  3. Air Is Not Circulating Due to Faulty Vents. When your air vents stop circulating the air, a couple of things can happen. First, the quality of your air can drop significantly, leaving your home vulnerable to various airborne allergens and contaminants. Secondly, your home will be unevenly heated or cooled, leading to uneven temperatures throughout your home. If your air vents are not circulating properly, this is considered a health concern and a need for emergency repairs.
  4. Residents of the Home Include Elderly Individuals or Infants. Infants and the elderly are the most sensitive and vulnerable to the changes in temperature and air quality throughout the home. Infants and the elderly have weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to diseases and illnesses that can be caused by poor indoor air quality. Also, infants typically need a stable temperature within the home, ranging anywhere from 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.

What Does “Trane Comfort Specialist” Mean?

Trane Comfort Specialists are authorized Trane retailers and installers. They can help you find and install the perfect Trane HVAC system for your home while also providing your unit with an extended warranty. This helps protect your investment and ensure that you are covered in case something were to go wrong.

As a Trane Comfort Specialist, Cote’s Mechanical holds itself to a high standard. We use only the best practices when it comes to installation, employee training, and providing outstanding customer service. Cote’s Mechanical is proud to be a certified Trane Comfort Specialists and as such, we are committed to the ongoing education of our team to ensure that we are up-to-date with all the latest technology and improvements.