Frequently Asked Questions

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) measures how much cooling your system delivers per unit of electricity over a typical season. Higher SEER means higher efficiency — most units rate from about 13 to 21, and the installed outdoor + indoor combination sets the system rating.

Because SEER is a system rating, not a single-box rating. Upgrading the matching indoor unit can raise the nominal outdoor SEER — the Energy Guide reflects one combination, while your quote may specify a higher-efficiency match.

The right equipment is the one sized to your home's load — square footage, insulation, windows, ductwork, and climate — not a catalog pick. Feistritzer runs an in-home load analysis; depending on construction, one ton of cooling may cover roughly 300 to 800 square feet.

A well-matched, well-maintained system can last for decades. Maintenance frequency is the biggest controllable factor — neglected equipment fails earlier than systems on a spring/fall tune-up plan.

Preventive maintenance extends equipment life and catches failures before they strand you — ideally twice a year for heat pumps and AC (spring and fall), and before heating season for furnaces. Inspections uncover leaks, rust, frayed wires, and dirty coils while they are still inexpensive to fix.

Heat pumps and air conditioners need professional tune-ups twice a year; furnaces and boilers need a preseason inspection covering heat exchangers, fuel lines, blowers, and safety controls. Skip maintenance and you usually pay for it in emergency repairs.

Use a filter rated for your blower — standard filters protect the equipment, while media cleaners improve indoor air quality up to about seven times over a basic filter. Replace disposable filters on the schedule your system needs (often every 1–3 months); never starve airflow with an oversized MERV your fan cannot handle.

Some systems use media sizes or grades retail shelves do not stock. Your HVAC contractor can supply the correct filter — and some filters are reusable and washable in cold water.

Repair first when repair is responsible. Feistritzer evaluates condition, repair cost, efficiency, comfort, warranty, and remaining life — then shows what can be fixed, monitored, or replaced. If another company said replace, we will verify whether a responsible repair still exists.

Call Feistritzer — we are your local troubleshooting team for all major brands. When a factory part or bulletin is required, we work through distribution and manufacturer support without locking you to a single logo.

Programmable and smart thermostats hold setpoints more accurately than old mercury dials and can change temperatures automatically by schedule — so you stop paying to condition an empty house.

From your local HVAC contractor. Feistritzer identifies and sources the correct current parts for all major brands, with clear pricing and availability.

A standard factory warranty covers defective parts during the warranty period — not labor. Equipment we install is registered so your parts coverage is protected; ask about plans that add labor coverage when you want longer protection.