Frequently Asked Questions

Everyone knows air conditioners reduce the temperature of the air in your home or business, but air conditioning systems have another equally important job to do while they run: dehumidification! A properly sized, professionally maintained air conditioning system is designed to not only drop the sensible temperature of the air inside of a home or building but it is also removing humidity while it runs because the evaporator coil is below the dew pointbof the air going through it. The humidity it removes is what we call latent (or hidden) heat because you can't just measure it with a thermometer, it requires special tools to get both latent & sensible heat readings. Properly sized equipment is critical to effectively condition air. Example: an oversized AC will quickly drop the temperature inside of your home but only run for very short times which makes it impossible to ever actually remove moisture from the air, leaving the home feel cool but clammy. If your AC isn't keeping up with the temperature or high humidity is a recurring issue in the warm months call Alpine Air to schedule air conditioning service. 

Traditional water heater storage tanks, provide hot water by slowly heating a larger volume of water (most common sizes are 40-50 gallon, but sizes can vary widely) to a certain temperature determined by the gas control valves integrated thermostat, then constantly cycling on & off as needed to maintain that temperature. If that volume of water is used up, usually by long showers, back to back showers or a mixture of different fixtures using hot water simultaneously, then you can run out of hot water and need to wait anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours without running the hot water for it to effectively warm up enough to use again! Water heater tanks also heat water 24/7/365 even when you don't need it due to standby heat loss, further reducing their efficiency. Tankless Systems eliminate standby heat loss and use energy only when you turn on a hot tap, providing as much hot water as you could ever use. This and the fuel efficiency can make tankless more energy-efficient, however we have found that this doesn't always result in lower utility bills, as many times families tend to increase their shower times / hot water usage, wiping out any potential utility savings. To make the switch from tank to tankless, there will always be a higher upfront installation cost due to the plumbing, venting and electrical changes necessary. The cost of the water heater itself is also higher than the cost of a traditional tank. Modern water tanks typically last 8-12 years while a tankless water heater can last 15-20+ years when professionally maintained and descaled per manufacturer instructions. 

We highly recommend calling in advance to schedule your maintenance so that the schedule is open and you can pick the perfect day time to accommodate your busy schedule. Alpine Air offers multiple tiers of maintenance program levels with basic through comprehensive perks and equipment protection as well as one time only maintenance visits. We have offerings for all budgets! All major HVAC manufacturers recommed (and in many cases require for warranty purposes) having a professional HVAC service company preform biannual maintenance (two maintenance visits per year - one heating and one cooling) to maintain the manufacturer's warranties and may require complete records as proof before approving warranty claims. Call today for more information about our maintenance offerings or to get on the maintenance schedule. 

Heat pumps run year-round, in both heating and cooling modes, many times in our region accumulating more than double the operating hours that a regular air conditioner would run over the course of one year, doing so in both extreme heat and below freezing temperatures. Reversing valves, defrost controls/sensors and auxiliary heat are operational components that require attention that AC-only systems simply don't have. 

Humidity extremes during summer and winter, airborne particles from seasonal pollen, pet dander, smoke, off gassing and VOC's and stagnant air in tightly sealed homes all affect comfort and indoor air quality. Solutions range from whole-home humidification, whole home dehumidification, air filtration system upgrades, air scrubbers / purifiers (electrostatic and UV integrated set ups), energy/heat recovery ventilators, zoning, smart thermostat/smart home integration, attic fans and ventilation systems, radon mitigation systems and more. Each home or buildings needs as well as customers individual preferences vary widely. Always bring up all comfort issues, big or small to your technician when they're in your home or call to schedule a service assessment today!