Your heating and cooling system depends on proper air filtration to operate most efficiently. Air filtration is also essential to the health of your family. With substandard filtration, dust and dirt can accumulate in your system. A high efficiency filter can remove more dirt, dust, mold, pollen and other particles from the circulating air. If your family suffers from respiratory problems or allergies, a high efficiency filter is very beneficial. No matter your filter type, it should be replaced regularly.

Air cleaners and humidifiers provide high levels of air cleanliness and comfort. A high efficiency air cleaner can remove up to 99% of the spores and pollen entering your home. They also significantly reduce the amount of household dust, dirt, smoke and other pollutants. Air is cleaner and fresher.

A whole house humidifier can remedy the problem of dry indoor air. It relieves itchy skin, scratchy throats, static electricity and damage to your furnishings and woodwork. It also allows you to save energy because humid air feels warmer than dry air. As a result, you can set your thermostat lower without sacrificing comfort.

In a properly operating system, humid air passes over chilled cooling coils, water condenses and drops through the coils into a continuously drained collection pan. Problems may occur if the system becomes blocked and water collects and becomes stagnant on the coils or in the pan. The pan can grow mold that can infect your home with mold spores very quickly. Also, if there is mold in other parts of your home, problems can occur when HVAC ducting contains mold spores that are continuously present and blown around the home.

There are three ways to prevent mold growth in your heating and cooling system:

1. Scheduling regular preventative maintenance will ensure the collection pan under the indoor coil stays unclogged and clean.
2. Ultraviolet lights next to the cooling coils can kill any mold or bacteria growing there.
3. Clean your ducts and use a high efficiency filtration system.

Technology has greatly reduced the operating level of equipment. Please contact us to show you the sound ratings differences within our product line of air conditioners.

It takes approximately three decibels for the average human ear to discern any difference in loudness. When rating air conditioners or heat pumps, a difference of 6 decibels means the compressor sound is four times as high, although it takes a difference of 10 decibels to double the loudness level.

Yes. We recommend carbon monoxide detectors be installed in your home! A buildup of carbon monoxide (CO) is a serious concern for homeowners. In the United States, CO kills more than 200 people and sends nearly 5,000 to emergency rooms for treatment, as reported by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). When carbon-based fuels like gas, kerosene, oil or wood burn, they produce gases. If this combustion is incomplete, CO is released.

If you wake in the night with a headache or anyone in your home awakes with a headache or is difficult to wake up, get out and seek medical help as quickly as possible. The CPSC says CO detectors are the only way to alert you if CO is in your home.

If you smell propane (LP) gas:

• Leave your home immediately.
• Propane can easily ignite so do not start an engine, light a match, use a cell phone or do anything that can cause a spark.
• Away from your home in a safe area, call 911 and contact your propane supplier.
• If safely possible, turn off the propane supply at the tank.
• Until you have been told it is safe to go back, stay away from your home.

You have propane gas if it is in a tank located outside close to your house. It is stored under pressure in cylinders or tanks as a liquid. It is usually in used as a vapour for residential uses. Propane expands its volume when changing from liquid to vapour. A small leak may mean a large quantity of propane vapour being released. This can be very dangerous especially in a small space. If propane leaks from a tank, it will sink to the floor and spread out because it is heavier than air. Propane has a distinctive smell because a chemical odourant has been added to it. Learn to identify this odour so you can recognize a leak. To check for a propane leak, smell the air all over a room paying careful attention to low spots.

If you smell a strong, persistent odour of natural gas:

• Leave your home immediately.
• Do not start an engine, light a match, use a cell phone or do anything that can cause a spark.
• Away from your home in a safe area, call 911 or contact your gas company.
• If safely possible, turn off the gas at the meter.
• Until you have been told it is safe to go back, stay away from your home.

If you faintly smell natural gas:

• Check all areas of your home for a strong odour.
• If the smell is faint throughout the house, contact your heating contractor to fix the problem within 24 hours.
• Keep your home well ventilated by opening your windows.

You have natural gas as a fuel source if you have a gas meter and pay a natural gas supplier or utility. Like propane, a chemical odourant has been added to the gas to make it identifiable. Get to know this odour.

Most heating and cooling systems have an average lifespan of 10 to 20 years. When a unit begins to age, you have two options: overhaul the system or replace it. You will notice your equipment is becoming older because its efficiency decreases significantly, it gets noisier and/or it needs repairs more often. Especially if your system is 10 or more years old, replacing it with newer, more energy efficient equipment is a good choice.

We can evaluate your heating and cooling needs to give you an estimate of the cost of a new system. We will include a payback schedule showing you how newer technology can save you money through lower energy consumption.

No, the indoor and outdoor units should be replaced simultaneously. By replacing only the outdoor unit, you can lose up to 15% of the unit's efficiency. More seriously, your entire system may fail sooner than normal and you will void most manufacturers' warranties. Always replace the indoor coiling coil at the same time as the outdoor unit.

As dirty air filters reduce the amount of air flowing through a heating or cooling system, they make the system work much harder to maintain an ambient temperature. Filters should be replaced regularly to prevent this. The actual number of days, weeks or months between replacements depends on the type of filter, if you have pets and the size of your equipment. Please give KWS a call and we can provide proper guidance.

Yes, you should have your heating and cooling system serviced every year. This will prevent breakdowns, prolong the life of your equipment and keep the system properly maintained, therefore lowering energy and repair costs. Lack of regular maintenance causes a decline in air conditioner performance while energy use steadily increases. Click here to see our Preventative Maintenance page under Services.

Our service agreements can help you avoid unexpected expenses that result without warranty coverage, including parts and labour. While no warranty can protect against every circumstance, contact KWS to explain the broad range of advantages our service agreements offer.

Duct cleaning is the cleaning of heating and cooling system components in forced air systems. Parts cleaned include the supply and return air ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers, heat exchanger heating and cooling coils, fan motors, fan housing and the air handling unit housing. Duct cleaning is beneficial to increase the healthiness of your home and the efficiency of your system.

Each situation is different and usually requires an onsite examination with specific recommendations to remedy the problem. Uneven heating and cooling can happen for many reasons including: uneven solar heat load through windows, an improperly balanced or clogged system, an undersized system or a single system serving a two-story home with no zoning control. Please call us to arrange an analysis for your home.

SEER, AFUE and HSPF measure energy efficiency, meaning the amount of performance (heating or cooling) per amount of energy (gas, electricity or other fuel) used.

Air conditioners vary according to their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) numbers. The higher the SEER value, the less energy needed to keep your home cool and the more money saved. For example, a 13 SEER air conditioner, the current EPA minimum standard, uses 23% less energy than a 10 SEER unit, the EPA standard up until January 2006. 13 SEER is the minimum efficiency available; however, we offer a line of air conditioners from 13 to 20 SEER. Depending on your use, a higher SEER air conditioner may save you a lot of money on your electric bill.

Heat pumps also use SEER ratings. They are also rated by Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) ratings for heating efficiency. The HSPF scale ranges from 7.5 to 9.0. Like SEER, the greater the HSPF value, the greater the efficiency and energy savings.

AFUE describes the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) used to rate furnaces. The minimum AFUE rated furnace that can be currently sold in the United States is 80%. Many early models (1990 and earlier) have ratings of 65% or less. Today's new high efficiency furnaces can results in 50% savings in operating costs over a 10-year-old model. KWS carries furnaces ranging from 80% to 96.6% AFUE. Depending on your needs, a higher rated AFUE furnace may also decrease your gas bill.

To reduce cooling costs:

• Turn up the thermostat – In summer months, set the temperature above 25°C as every degree below this costs an extra three to five percent on your energy bill.
• Install ceiling fans – Depending on the season, change the direction of airflow on ceiling fans. In summer, blades should turn counter-clockwise to create a gentle wind.
• Check your vents – Do not block vents in well-used rooms. Supply and return air vents should be clear of blinds, carpets and furniture so your system can operate efficiently and cool air is distributed evenly. Close vents in less-used room so you are not cooling areas you are not spending a lot of time in.
• Perform annual maintenance on your cooling system – A licensed technician will make sure your air conditioner is operating at its peak efficiency. An annual maintenance check means any potential breakdowns can be detected before they happen.
• Upgrade to a high efficiency air conditioner – Replacing an old, inefficient system with a highly efficient air conditioner can result in your electricity bill being cut down by a third. Also, a matched system will make sure you are not over- or under-cooling your home with an incorrectly sized machine. Consult one of our professional technicians to help evaluate your needs.

To reduce heating costs:

• Install a programmable thermostat – If you lower your thermostat by 1° for seven hours per day, you save one percent on your heating bill. A programmable thermostat allows you the control to do this while you are away or asleep.
• Install ceiling fans – Depending on the season, change the direction of airflow on ceiling fans. In winter, blades should turn clockwise to push warmer air down into the room.
• Check your vents – Do not block vents in well-used rooms. Supply and return air vents should be clear of blinds, carpets and furniture so your system can operate efficiently and heat your home evenly. Close vents in less-used room so you are not heating areas you are not spending a lot of time in.
• Perform annual maintenance on your heating system – A licensed technician will make sure your system is operating at its peak efficiency. An annual maintenance check means any potential breakdowns can be detected before they happen.
• Upgrade to a high efficiency furnace – Replacing an old, inefficient system with a highly efficient furnace can result in a reduction of fuel use of up to 50%. Because it can save you up to 25% of your home-heating costs in a single year, within a few years, you will have recovered the initial upgrade or replacement cost. A furnace with an energy efficient motor uses 20% to 50% less of the energy needed to continuously operate a fan motor. Consult one of our professional technicians to help evaluate your needs.

Heating and cooling costs account for up to half of a home's energy use. The average household spends approximately $1,900 each year on energy bills. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) outlines important recommendations for identifying energy efficient heating and cooling equipment, including proper sizing, installation and maintenance and other home improvement considerations. These guidelines help consumers get the best value for the products they purchase, save energy and save up to 20% each year on total energy cost.

An Energy Star qualified product helps lower greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

You should set your thermostat to the highest possible setting that is comfortable for you in the summer and the lowest possible setting in the winter. Normal cooling settings are between 75°F and 80°F. Normal heating settings range from 68°F to 72°F. Setting your thermostat higher or lower can result in significant energy savings. On average, every 1° of temperature change results in about 10% of energy savings. For example, if you changed your setting for 75°F to 76°F in the summer, you could save 10% on your energy bill associated with home cooling.

As an alternative to electric heat, heat pumps are very efficient. In the summer, a heat pump works similarly to an air conditioner. In the winter, it runs in reverse to warm your home. A heat pump system is matched with a backup heating source like electric heat for very cold winter days.

Heat pumps are desirable as they work to both heat and cool your home. They have Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings (SEER) like air conditioners. They also have Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) ratings to measure heating efficiency. The greater the SEER and HSPF values, the greater the cost savings for the consumer.

We offer heat pumps with advanced features like two-stage compressors and variable speed fan operations. These can result in more energy savings and increase the comfort of your house.

A hybrid heat system uses intelligent control of both electric and gas heating to provide an intuitive system that reacts to variable conditions. This is in contrast to traditional cooling and heating systems where cost savings are really only attainable through less use.

According to the outside temperature, a hybrid heat system automatically selects the most efficient fuel source, meaning your home stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer, while providing cost savings throughout the year.

To create a hybrid heat system for your specific use, our professionals match a natural gas furnace with one of our heat pump units. Give us a call and we can tell you how much energy you can save over your existing system.

Geothermal units operate using the Earth's heat. The Earth absorbs almost half of all solar energy, resulting in an underground constant temperature of 50°F to 70°F depending on geographical location. Geothermal units use this constant temperature for heating and cooling.

There are many advantages to installing a geothermal unit. You can see up to 60% in energy savings versus traditional heating systems. Hot water, air conditioning and heating can all be produced by the same unit. Also, there is no flame, no flue, no loud outdoor equipment and no odours.

Variable speed fans ensure that even on the hottest days or the coldest nights, your home's comfort level is maintained. They do this by operating on the simple principle that they change their spinning speeds depending on the heating and cooling needs of your home at that particular time. In most cases, they operate at lower speeds, providing steady, reliable warmth or coolness to your home. This controls system noise, energy costs and humidity level. When outdoor conditions become more extreme, the fans spin faster so the system can meet the increased demand.

For cooling, a two-stage system can better handle changing outdoor temperatures, maximizing indoor comfort and energy efficiency. Two-stage cooling systems are considered the most energy efficient systems available. Two-stage cooling can be accomplished with either of two options. You can have one unit with two compressors, one small and one large. Typically, the smaller one has about 50% of the capacity of the larger compressor. The other way to have two-stage cooling is with a single scroll unloading compressor. It can decrease its capacity down to about 66% of its maximum. Both techniques allow the system to run at a lower stage when more is not needed, therefore saving energy.

Two-stage heating works in the same way. The unit adjusts itself depending on the amount of heating needed, also saving on heating costs. A heat pump system uses two compressors, one large and one small. The smaller compressor would be used if only a small amount of heating is necessary. A two-stage gas furnace has a modulating gas valve that regulates the gas flow depending on the amount of heating needed.

A bigger system will not always result in better performance. You do not want your air conditioner or furnace to be too big.

Air conditioners control indoor comfort by cooling air and removing humidity. An air conditioner that is too big may cool your home faster, but it will consume more energy and not effectively remove humidity. An oversized unit will have short run cycles, meaning it takes only a short time to cool the air, but it shuts off before an adequate amount of air blows across the indoor coil. The indoor coil is where moisture condenses into water and is drained from the system. With short run cycles, too much humidity can be left in the system resulting in mildew and mold.

An air conditioner runs most efficiently during long run cycles. Short run cycles cause your system to start and stop more often, using more energy and causing a lot of wear and tear in a similar manner to starting and stopping a vehicle repeatedly.

An oversized furnace does the same thing: it will warm the house quicker, but uses more fuel and can result in greater temperature swings, decreasing continuous comfort.

A heating and cooling system matched to your home and each component is very important for several reasons. One reason is efficiency. Many people install systems that are too large for their homes, using more energy than required. A professional dealer will complete a load circulation for your home to provide a matched system with just the right amount of heating and cooling so your energy costs are controlled.

A matched system allows for greater comfort. When all components are the correct size for your home, it is easy to control the exact levels of heating and cooling and maximize your comfort.

Also, a properly sized matched system allows each component to operate as intended. Correct cycle times are maintained, humidity is controlled and system noise is reduced.

What most people call Freon® is known in the industry as R-22. It has been the common refrigerant used for many years. As of January 2010, R-22 is not allowed as a refrigerant in the manufacturing of new equipment. It has been found to be harmful to the environment by our government. Now new equipment is required to use "environmentally sound" refrigerants, such as R-410A (known as Puron®).

Although R-22 is still the most commonly used refrigerant in residential homes, as per the Montreal Protocol, restrictions have been set in place to eliminate its production. In 2004 there was a reduction of 35% in production; in 2010, 65%; in 2015 there will be a 90% reduction; and by 2020 a 99.5% decrease in R-22 production. During these reductions, demand will be high, resulting in potentially soaring price increases in the cost of this refrigerant.

If you are thinking about replacing your current air conditioner, you will most likely be purchasing a product that has switched to Puron®.