Heating & Air Conditioning - Questions

Following are answers to questions we frequently hear from customers for our residential heating and air conditioning services in Nashville and the Midstate:

Q: How often should my filter be changed? 
A: 4" pleated filters should be changed twice a year and 1" filters should be changed every 1 to 3 months. If you have pets or smokers in the house, you may want to change your filter more frequently.

Q: What is the average life expectancy of an HVAC system?
A: Typically a heating/air conditioning system will last 10 to 12 years.  Beyond that, efficiency steadily declines.  New, more energy-efficient systems can cut electrical consumption up to 50%. Regular maintenance is a must to maximize efficiency and protect your investment. 

Q: What does SEER stand for?
A: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.  It’s like miles per gallon in a car -- the higher the SEER, the lower the electricity bill.  The current minimum is 13 SEER for new installations

Q: How can I lower my utility costs?
A: Studies have shown that the installation of an energy-saving programmable thermostat can cut as much as a third off your utility bills. Twice-yearly HVAC maintenance can also lower utility costs.

Q: Why do I have hot and cold spots in my home and how can they be fixed?
A: Hot and cold spots can be caused by an improper air balance.  This can be resolved by simply opening or closing the dampers in your duct work system. This will increase or decrease the amount of air traveling to that room.

Q: What can I do to reduce the dust in my home?
A: This question has many answers, but the most common reasons are dirty and leaking ductwork and improper air filtration. This problem can be solved with duct cleaning and sealing, also we would recommend upgrading your air filtration system. 

Q: How can I have healthier air in my home?
A: To save on energy costs, homes are sealed tighter than they used to be, which can create some environmental issues. There are many Indoor air quality products that can address these problems. Please see our product section for more information.

Q: What is flat rate pricing?
A: Flat rate pricing gives a customer a guaranteed cost for a repair, before repairs are made.

Q: What brands does Lee Company service and replace?
A: Lee Company services and replaces all brands of heating and air conditioning equipment.  Our technicians are factory trained and specialize in geothermal and mini split systems as well.

Q: What does it mean to be NATE Certified?
A: NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence. This is a very thorough training and certification program that all of our technicians are required to complete. 

Q: How many HVAC systems do I have in my home?
A: Typically the number of thermostats in your home defines the number of units you have. 

Q: What does the word “ton” mean when it comes to air conditioning?
A: A ton is the unit of measure for an air conditioning system's capacity. Residential air conditioners usually range from one to five tons.

Q: What is a “coil” in an air conditioning system?
A: A coil is a network of tubes filled with refrigerant that looks and functions like a radiator in your car. 

Q: What is a “compressor”?
A: An air conditioning compressor is the pump that circulates refrigerant from the coil to the condensing unit and back again. It's typically called the heart of the system.

Q: What is “refrigerant”?
A: Refrigerant is the substance that transfers heat from your home to the outdoors.   

Q: What does air flow volume mean?
A: Air flow volume is the amount of air the system circulates through your home. It is measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm). Good air flow depends on the proper functioning of the outdoor unit, the indoor unit and the ductwork and even whether the filters are clean.