FAQ

I change my throw-away filter every month. When the technician did my last tune-up my evaporator coil was very dirty. Why?

Most throw-away filters don't actually stop anything but the very largest pieces of dirt. All other particles are stopped by your coil costing you higher utility bills. The coil does not have the air flow needed so it works harder and longer to cool. You might want to consider purchasing an air cleaner that has a higher MERV rating which stands for MINIMUM EFFICIENCY REPORTING VALUE (MERV).

My house is dry in the winter. What can I do?

Humidifiers are the answer. Either yours is not working properly, or has not been maintained, or you are in desperate need of one. In our climate, we recommend an Aprilaire Automatic Humidifier. In most homes this will add the most desirable needed humidity that your home requires.

Why do I need a tune-up on my heating system every year?

Keeping your system in top efficiency through regular annual tune-ups is the best way to prevent unnecessary breakdowns during the heating season. Preventative maintenance is the answer to costly breakdowns. Tune-ups can also save you in energy dollars. It extends the life of your equipment and ensures you and your family of comfort and safety. If your system is dirty it has to work much harder then designed. More importantly, we also inspect your system for cracked or defective parts. Most of our customers are on our Smylie One Partnership Plus Plan. We service their heating system once a year and offer them other great benefits and priority service such as no overtime charge for after hours, weekends, or holidays.

At what temperature should I set my thermostat, if I go away for a few days or even longer during the winter?

We recommend about 62 to 65 degrees. In our climate, we can always depend on a cold front hitting us from Canada at any time. Therefore, we do not want to keep the home too cold. We want it warm enough to protect your pipes and other vital parts of your structure. It is also a good idea to keep your main water supply off even if you're only going to be gone for a few days. A water leak could cause very costly damage to your home. If you do not have a plumber, Smylie One's Plumbing Department can handle that for you.

Can I troubleshoot my heating system before I call for service?

The answer is “Yes”, but be careful. Here are some simple procedures that you can perform before calling in for emergency service.

1. Check your circuit breakers. Make sure you know which ones handle your heating and cooling system. Check to see if they are in the ON position or that you haven't blown any fuses.
2. Make sure your air filter is not blocked. Verify that your supply-air grilles are all open and unobstructed. Your system needs air flow to operate.
3. Check the settings on your thermostat. Make sure all of the switches are in their correct position. The temperature that you desire should be higher then the room temperature for heating, and lower for cooling.
4. Make sure that nobody turned the switch on the side of your furnace to the off position. This occasionally happens by accident, especially when the furnace is in the same room as the laundry room.

Does the refrigerant in my air conditioner need to be changed with the new laws?

No. Refrigerant will not become old, worn out, or against the law if you currently have a R-22 system. It should last the lifetime of your system.

In the winter, my furnace turns on and off very frequently causing hot and cold spots in my home. How can this be resolved?

Chances are your old heating system is oversized. On top of that, you have a single stage heating system with a single speed motor. Today's systems are properly sized and come with two-stages of heating and variable speed technology which provide longer heating and cooling cycles for consistent temperatures throughout your home, providing money saving energy efficiency and extra-quiet operation.

When we first moved into our home many years ago our air conditioner worked fine. Now it doesn't, do you know why?

An air conditioner's primary responsibility is to transfer heat from the inside of your home to the outside air. You may be having one of the following problems.

1. You may have an improper refrigerant charge. Both undercharged and overcharged.
2. The supply registers in your home may be shut off causing poor circulation.
3. Inadequate ducting may be the cause.
4. Dirty filters that are plugged solid.
5. Your evaporator coil may also have a leak in the drain pan causing the water to come out of the furnace top and find its way to the floor.
6. Your coils, both indoor and outdoor may be dirty. When was the last time you had them cleaned?
7. You may have a refrigerant leak. This must be found and repaired before you can add refrigerant to the system again.

The average life of air conditioning in Northeast, Ohio is 12-15 years. You can prolong that lifespan by having your cooling system professionally maintained on a regular basis by a qualified service technician from Smylie One.

How long should my air conditioning run before I feel it working?

Please give your air conditioner 24 hours to dehumidify your home. So, if you're watching the weather and it calls for a hot humid weekend, turn your air conditioning on by Thursday. Don't turn it on Saturday afternoon and expect it to cool your home by Saturday night when your friends are coming over.

I can get a new A/C and Heating system at a cheaper price. Why should I buy from you?

When you make a major purchase it is usually based on three criteria. Quality of your product, the best service and warranties to stand behind it, and the lowest price. Unfortunately, you can't have all three. No one company can possibly offer all three! We can't offer the finest quality and the best service for the lowest price. For your long term happiness which of the three would you be most willing to give up? Fine Quality? Excellent Service? Or the lowest Price? Quality and excellent service are always going to cost more because it costs more to provide it to you. Ask yourself this one question, when was the last time you got mad at yourself for owning the best?