Doug Mapstone Inc.

Heating and Air Conditioning equipment should be serviced, at the very least, once a year. The best scenario is to have the heating system checked in the Fall and the air conditioning checked in the Spring. Oil-fired equipment should definitely be cleaned and serviced annually. By becoming a member of Doug Mapstone Inc's “Customer Care Network” we will keep track of all this for you.

Annual servicing includes cleaning the system, checking for any problems or potential problems and adjusting for Peak efficiency. The benefits include:

• Increased dependability
• Find potential problems and fix them quickly
• Provide maximum efficiency which lowers energy costs
• Prolongs the life-span of the equipment
• Maintains safe and healthy operation
• Can help to protect the environment
• Drastically reduces the chance of a break-down which usually happens at night or on weekends when repair rates are higher.

Ask about our "Comfort Club" Service Plans, they include many extra benefits, including:

• Discounts on repairs
• Discounts on purchases and future replacement
• Priority Status for Scheduling
• Increased warranty duration

Having your HVAC system properly sized is extremely important.

A system that is too large will cool or heat your house quickly, but you may not feel comfortable. That's because it will satisfy the thermostat before it can adequately remove sufficient moisture from the air during the cooling mode, leaving you feeling sticky and humid. This could even lead to moisture and mold problems. And, the stress of short-cycling (too many starts and stops) will shorten the life of your equipment and increase your heating and cooling bills.

On the other hand, a system that is too small just cannot get the job done, especially in extreme weather conditions. The furnace will run constantly in the winter and the air conditioner will struggle to keep up in the Summer

But a correctly sized system isn't just based on the size of the structure. Many factors go into determining the size of the system. Including type of house and walls, type and size of windows, insulation, basement and attic conditions, house orientation, and so on. To determine whether your system is sized properly or to provide a quotation on correct system replacement we must visit the house and take detailed measurements and notes while conducting the survey.

At Doug Mapstone Inc, we use a computer-aided Heat load/loss calculation to properly determine the correct system size needed for your home. We even do a room by room load calculation. This heat loss/heat gain analysis is the best indicator of the correct system size and provides the optimum results for efficiency and comfort.

Understanding that each situation is different, Doug Mapstone Inc encourages the home owner to look at several criteria before investing in a new heating or air conditioning system. There are five main questions that need to be considered:

1. How old is your system? – If your system is more than 10 years old, it may be wiser to invest in new, higher efficiency equipment, which could cut your energy costs by up to 40%.
2. What is the efficiency level of your current home comfort system? – Unfortunately, replacing parts of your old system will not improve the efficiency. If the energy savings of using a higher efficiency system will cover all or part of investing in new equipment, you should seriously consider replacement of the old system.
3. What is the overall condition of your system? – If your system is in solid condition, it could be wiser to simply repair it. But is your system breaks down often, you should consider replacing it.
4. How often is your system operating? – If your system has been used extensively, it may be time to replace it.
5. How long are you planning on staying in the home? – If you are moving in the next year or two and believe investing in a new home comfort system will improve the value of your home, you should consider making the investment. Although, if you plan on staying for many years it may also be wise to go ahead and invest in your future comfort.

Is it starting to make noises? Is it cooling and/or heating all areas of the house sufficiently? Have your utility bills gone up for no apparent reason? Has it been taking longer to cool down or heat up the space?

Any of these are signs that you may need service to avert any further serious damage to your system as well as keep your home or business comfortable for the people and pets in it.

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The higher the SEER number, the more efficient the system is and the less it will cost in the long run to own and operate it.

Maintenance agreements are an easy and inexpensive way to protect your home, your family or your business from sudden failure of your system.

You always want to be sure that your system is up and running when you need it on that first hot or cold day of each season!

With our maintenance agreements, you'll enjoy twice yearly annual season tune-ups and as a maintenance customer you receive discounts on parts as well.

The most popular annual service agreement starts at just $235 per year, per unit ( for gas furnace with central air). This agreement covers 2 visits per year, offers 10% discount on all parts & labor, 50% off standard service rate of $72.50 and an additional 5yr parts warranty. This is a very inexpensive way to protect your system from sudden failure and discomfort when the seasons change. There are several plans to choose from, contact Doug Mapstone Inc. for further details.

And, our service agreements are transferable and may increase the value of your home if you sell it!

R410a is the earth friendly "green" coolant that is replacing Freon. Beginning in 2010 Federal law will require that Freon will no longer be produced.

Yes.

Yes. We stand by our service and guarantee to get it right.

Yes. Special promotional financing options change from time to time. When available, six month's same as cash financing is available to all qualified consumers. Simply email us for information and details about the latest promotional offers.

On average an in-house installation will take approximately 1-2 days. Commercial installations may take longer depending upon the size of the system.

Yes, we make our appointments for estimates convenient for our customers. Service appointments for evenings or weekends do carry an emergency billing rate.

Yes, but it is the Federal Government that issues these tax credits. There are new initiatives to help you improve the energy efficiency and environmental conservation in your home.

Contact your tax professional for more details and specific instructions.

Please contact Doug Mapstone Inc, for pricing or to schedule a free in home estimate. There are certain factors that will determine pricing.

There are many factors that affect the sizing and specifications of your system, including square footage, insulation, window surface and configuration, geographic location of your home, duct sizing and arrangement, and many others. Doug Mapstone Inc. will provide a free in home estimate to set you up with the right equipment.

We recommend that your replace the indoor coil or air handler when replacing the outdoor unit. Both of these components are integral to the closed refrigerant loop and together determine the capacity and efficiency of your system. If you do not replace the indoor unit, there will be no test data available for the new combination to establish the expected capacity or efficiency of your system. Also, the indoor system may be partially blocked by particles that will decrease efficiency, and you may be faced in the near future with replacing the indoor unit after it fails and having to pay to have the closed refrigerant system opened again. It would be expensive and be another opportunity for contamination. You end up paying more. If your whole system is replaced, you will be less likely to need service in the near future.

A matched system is important for a variety of reasons. One is comfort. When all your components are properly sized to your home, you can control exactly how much heating or cooling you need so you can relax.

Also, a properly sized matched system enables every component to perform as designed, meaning proper cycle times are maintained, humidity is controlled, and system sound is minimized.

Another reason matched systems are important is efficiency. Most systems people buy are too large for their homes, meaning they pay to heat and cool space that isn't even there. A matched system outlined by a dealer who has completed a load calculation for your home provides just the right amount of heating and cooling you need so you get the most value for your utility dollar.

Variable speed fans operate on a simple principle: they are able to spin at different speeds depending on the heating and cooling needs of your home. Usually, they operate at lower speeds, delivering a steady, reliable stream of warm or cool air to your home. This helps control humidity levels, utility costs and system noise. When conditions become more extreme, the fan speed increases so that the system can meet increased demand, guaranteeing that on even the hottest days or coldest nights, you're comfort needs will be met.

Units using refrigerant, R-22, will always be serviced with R-22, however, due to the effect on the environment R-22 refrigerant is being phased out. This phase out is also making equipment and parts for R-22 more difficult to locate and more expensive, driving repair costs up.

The current coolant is R410a and is the earth friendly "green" coolant that is replacing Freon. Beginning in 2010 Federal Law requires that Freon will no longer be produced.

Our new product offerings, for high efficiency comfort systems, all use R-410A refrigerant. Our gradual introduction of these products has allowed technicians in the field the opportunity to adapt to the required installation and service techniques, to ensure homeowners continue to receive the comfort and value they have chosen.

It is recommended to have your Air Conditioner cleaned and checked every spring and your furnace every fall to assure they will be ready for the season. Doug Mapstone Inc. often has clean and check specials around these times, you can also become a member of our “Customer Care Network” and we'll keep track of your service so you don't have to!

Doug Mapstone Inc. is your troubleshooting expert, and is glad to help you. Give us a call today 315-682-7181.

Manufacturers generally agree that plants should not be closer than 18 inches. Air conditioners need intake and exhaust air to operate efficiently. If air cannot circulate, the unit could build up heat and require service.

Covering the unit is not necessary. Air conditioners are manufactured to withstand all possible climate changes. In fact, rain helps keep your unit clean. Of course, because heat pumps run all year long, they should never be covered.

We spend 90% of our time every day indoors. Some other interesting Indoor Air Quality facts include:

• The EPA ranked indoor air pollution as a high-priority public risk.
• According to the EPA, levels of indoor air pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher than outside.
• 99% of the particles in the air are smaller than 1 micron (1 millionth of a meter). Because they are so small, they remain airborne.
• Household dust is present even in clean homes, and can be composed of mold spores, bacteria, viruses, animal dander, human skin particles, fabric fibers, dust mites, parts of cockroaches, food particles and other debris.
• Inexpensive filters found at local hardware stores are only about 10% efficient for the largest particles.
• Seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) affects more than 35 million people in the U.S.
• Fifty million people in the U.S. suffer from allergies.
• Allergic disease is the fifth leading cause of chronic disease among all ages and the third common chronic disease among children under 18.
• 54% of U.S. Citizens test positive for one or more allergens.
• There are approximately 20 million asthma sufferers in the U.S., 6 million of them are children. It's the leading chronic illness in children.
• A sneeze can add 100,000 droplets of pathogen-containing moisture to the air. These droplets are called “fomites”.
• The average human inhales about 2,300 gallons of air per day.

Humidity is a problem in many areas. The best way to control excessive humidity is to have a system that runs longer at lower speeds. Variable-speed air-handling equipment runs at very low speeds, which keeps the air circulating against the cooling coil and removes much more moisture than conventional systems. At these low speeds, the variable-speed motor also uses much less electricity than conventional motors.

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is recognized by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a fair and objective measure of various air cleaner technologies. CADR provides the number of cubic feet of clean air a unit delivers each minute. A higher CADR means a greater amount of clean air is being delivered to your home.

Light flicker associated with the starting of appliances usually does not pose any safety problems and does not damage appliances. Proper wire connections and grounding are necessary to reduce flicker. Contractors and homeowners should check with their local utility regarding the appropriate wire size and transformer servicing the home. In cases where light dimming is related to the starting of a central air conditioner, and the previously discussed steps have not resolved the situation, manufacturers offer start assist kits that can be purchased which may help reduce flicker.

Unlike older-model gas furnaces that used a standing pilot light to ignite the burners on the furnace, many of today's models use an electronic ignition system. This includes a Hot Surface Igniter, sometimes referred to as a glow plug or glow stick. When there is a call for heat, the igniter receives electrical current in order to heat its surface and ignite the burners in the furnace.

The major components enclosed in an air handler's cabinetry are the blower and motor, controls, heater compartment, and an evaporator coil. This is why it is also sometimes referred to as a fan coil. A standard air handler, like the single stage furnace, delivers the same amount of airflow no matter what the temperature inside.

There are several things that can cause your HVAC system to freeze up. Most need to be corrected by our service technicians.

Making sure the filter is clean or replaced and making sure the airflow is not restricted are about the only things you can check or handle yourself.

Low refrigerant: In some cases, freezing up is caused by a leak in the refrigerant lines. Weak solder joints, friction from piping rubbing or vibrating against an object, leaking valves or loose fittings can cause leaks. The age of the system and the nature and location of the leak are the determining factors on whether to have the system repaired or replaced.

Dirty evaporator coil: Over time, the evaporator coil will become dirty. When this happens, the results are similar to those of having a dirty filter. Gradually you will lose airflow, slowly enough that you probably would not realize it until it freezes up or is not cooling adequately. You will need to contact your local Service Experts sales and service center to correct the problem.

Defective blower motor or relay: A blower motor not running at the proper speed or not running at all can cause freezing. It can also be intermittent, starting at full speed and slowing down after it heats up. Or a relay could cause it to start one time and not the next. In either case, you will need to contact your local Service Experts sales and service center to correct the problem.

Yes, we remove all old equipment and recover any refrigeration according to EPA guidelines.

If you have much older furnace your system could have an efficiency rating of 65% or less, so installing a new high efficient furnace could save you 25% or more. Keep in mind every system/scenario is different; there are many factors to take into consideration to make an accurate assessment.

Our crew starts their day at 7:30 am, they load their trucks and review any specific details of the project with our estimating department. They typically arrive at our customer's homes between 8-8:30am. Alternate schedules can be arranged with our estimating department.

Yes, we have large drop cloths on every truck and make every effort to leave your home as clean as it was when we arrived.