Home Heating & Cooling FAQ

Review the following frequently asked questions for home heating and cooling tips and more. Serving Columbia, Irmo, and Lexington, SC, let All American Heating and Air help you learn about selecting the right HVAC equipment for your home, getting the best performance from your unit, and maintaining your system for years to come.

What is the difference between a warranty and a service agreement?

A warranty is provided by the manufacturer to cover parts or parts and labor for a specified time period, typically 5-10 years. Some manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty. The service agreement differs in that it is offered by the company that installs or services your heating and air system. The service agreement is a maintenance agreement allowing us to take care of little heating and air conditioning repairs before they become major expenses.

What causes ice to build up on my air conditioner in the summer?

Ice buildup is a direct result of impaired air flow. Air flow problems can be due to a number of conditions: dirty filters, fan not blowing properly, a unit low on freon, or a leak in the coil. These problems can be detected and resolved early thanks to a service agreement.

How does mold occur?

As you probably remember from Science class, mold grows in damp, dark places. The way an air conditioner works is by taking moisture out of the air. If the humidity is not removed from the air, mold grows. This is where proper sizing of your air unit is very important. Bigger is not always better. If the unit is too large for your square footage, it will cool so fast that is doesn't allow the unit to run long enough to remove the moisture from the air. Then you have cold, damp air blowing into your home, aggravating mold buildup.

Is there a way to get rid of mold from my air conditioner, or do I have to replace it?

There are several options available to rid your system of mold. A clean duct system is the first step. The Rotobrush Duct Cleaning System used by All American Heating and Air for air duct cleaning services not only vacuums debris from your ducts, but also brushes and scours the duct walls. Ultraviolet lights kill mold-causing spores. Also, there is an innovative device called an Activ-Tek. This device can be installed in the intake of your system and will literally kill bacteria, mold, viruses, and fungi. Activ-Tek air purification systems not only clean the air your family breathes, they also clean the surfaces of your home while you sleep.

Why does it take so long for my living room to cool on a hot day?

To answer this question, let's review how an air conditioner works: First, warm air enters the return duct, where you change the filter. This warm air blows across the evaporator coil, decreasing the air temperature about 15 degrees. This same process continues until the air in your room reaches the predetermined setting on your thermostat. It will not cool any faster at a lower setting. The end result will just be cooler.