Can I finance my purchase?
Both Simpson Air and Simpson Mechanical offer financing to our clients. Fill out our
online financing application to determine what financing options are
available to you.
Do you offer rebates and specials?
Yes, Simpson often offers rebates and specials. Contact
your Simpson representative for our current rebates and specials.
What does my warranty cover?
Warranty information was included with your homeowner
information packet, and is specific
to the model numbers, serial numbers and installation dates of your
products. If you cannot find your warranty certificate, contact
your Simpson representative who will be able to provide you
with the information.
How often should my system have maintenance?
The manufacturer recommends routine air conditioning maintenance at least once per
year. Simpson Air agrees with this determination. To schedule
maintenance for your system, please fill out our maintenance
request form.
What simple troubleshooting can I do myself?
- Check disconnect switches (indoor and outdoor
if you have a split system). Make sure that circuit breakers (in your main breaker panel) are
ON or that fuses have not blown.
- Check for sufficient airflow. Make sure air filters
are clean and that supply-air and return-air grilles are open and
unobstructed.
- Check the settings on your thermostat. If you
want cooling, make sure the temperature control selector is set below
room temperature and the SYSTEM switch is on the COOL or AUTO position.
If you want heat, make sure the temperature control selector is set
above room temperature and the SYSTEM switch is at HEAT or AUTO.
The FAN switch should be set at ON for continuous blower operation
or AUTO if you want the blower to function only while the unit is
operating.
What simple maintenance can I do myself?
With the proper maintenance and care, your Carrier equipment will
operate economically and dependably. Here are a few simple, routine
maintenance operations you can do to help ensure the best performance
and comfort from your system.
Before performing any kind of maintenance, consider
these important safety precautions.
- Disconnect all electrical power to the unit before
removing access panels to perform maintenance. Please note that
there may be more than one power connection switch.
- Although Carrier takes special care to prevent sharp edges in
the construction of our equipment, it's best to be very careful when
you handle parts or reach into units.
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
- Keep Your Outdoor Condensing Unit Free of Debris
Keep your outdoor unit clear of grass clippings, leaves, shrubbery
and debris.
To help maintain proper drainage, occasionally check the base pan (under
the unit) and remove any debris.
If the outdoor coil becomes dirty, use a
brush or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to clean the surface.
If there is dirt deep in the coil you will need to contact your Simpson
representative.
Every 3 to 4 weeks
- Check The Air Filter In Your Furnace Or Fan Coil
Your filter will need to be replaced or cleaned (if it's a reusable
filter) as needed. Running the system with a dirty filter will
cause your unit to be less efficient and work harder than necessary.
NOTE:
Reusable filters must be fully dry before reinstallation.
- Check Prefilter & Collection Cells on Electric Air Cleaners
The
prefilter and collection cells of an electronic air cleaner should
be checked at least every month and cleaned as needed.
Approximately Every 3 Months
- Clean The Core And Air Filters On A Ventilator
Vacuum the core of an energy recover ventilator: It must be dry and the outdoor
temperature between 60 F (16 C) and 75 F (24 C).
Soak the heat recovery ventilator
cores: These can be soaked for three hours in a solution of warm water
and mild soap and then rinsed.
Vacuum ventilator air filters: Use a vacuum to remove the dust and then wash them
in lukewarm water. Replace them ONLY after they are completely dry.
- Wash Exposed Surfaces and The Coil If You Live In Ocean Environments
Salt is corrosive on most metals. That refreshing sea breeze and ocean mist
can wreak havoc on your coil. If you are located in an ocean area your unit
will require a little extra TLC. New Carrier units are made out
of galvanized metal and are protected by top-grade paint, however, you can
add additional life to your unit by washing all exposed surfaces and the coil
approximately every three months. (Ask your Simpson Representative about the
appropriate interval in your area.)
Before Each Heating Season
- Inspect Your Furnace's Combustion Area and Vent System
Look for dirt, soot or rust. If this is apparent, your system may
not operate properly or at its peak efficiency. Call
your Simpson representative and do not operate your furnace until it is professionally
inspected and/or repaired.
Annually
- Have Your System Inspected By A Trained Service Technician
In addition
to the routine maintenance you perform, your system
should be inspected at least once a year by a properly trained
service technician. They will make sure your system operates
safely and gives you the best performance at the lowest cost.
What questions
should I ask my rep or builder before I purchase a system?
- Brand: Ask questions about the brand's
reputation for quality and reliability. A system with a good reputation
for reliable quality performance can save you money in the long run.
- Efficiency
Ratings: Ask questions about the efficiency rating for the
system. This tells you how efficiently the unit will use fuel.
As a general rule of thumb, the higher the efficiency rating of
a system or unit the more it will cost initially. However, it will
use less fuel to heat or cool your home.
For both air conditioners
and heat pumps you will need to know about the SEER
(Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio).
For heat pumps you will also need to know the HSPF
(Heating Seasonal Performance Factor).
If you have an outdoor
unit (condenser)
and an indoor unit (evaporator
coil) you have what is known as a split
system. In this case you
will want to discuss with your Simpson representative replacing
both units in order to get the best possible performance and comfort.
- Sound
Ratings: Ask your Simpson representative about the sound
level of the unit. The lower the sound level the better. You
want a unit that will not interfere with your everyday tasks.
- Comfort
Features: Ask your Simpson representative about the
additional features that can offer you greater comfort and
possibly additional energy savings. For instance, two-speed
units can run on two separate speeds to deliver more consistent
heating and cooling throughout your home with fewer
drafts, smaller temperature swings, and better air circulation.
- Warranties: Ask your Simpson representative about
the
manufacturer's warranty that comes with your new heating and cooling
system. Your representative will be able to tell you how long the
warranty covers your system and specifically what parts of the system
are covered. Your representative may also be able to offer you a
Simpson extended warranty.
- Service & Maintenance Agreements: Ask
your Simpson representative about a Simpson service and maintenance
agreement. This will help keep your system in tip-top operating condition.
Why
is the SEER rating on the Energy Guide different than my dealer quote?
Each split system cooling unit has a nominal SEER rating. This rating can
be increased with the upgrade of the indoor unit. The SEER rating of a system
is derived based on the combination of equipment installed in the home. The
outdoor equipment (heat pump or air conditioner), as well as the indoor equipment
(evaporator coil and furnace, or air handler), play a vital role in the rating.
Please contact your Simpson Representative for
additional information.
Why do I need to "match" my condensing unit and indoor coil?
Your condensing unit and indoor coil are a team. As a team you need
to ensure they are both in good operating condition at all times. By
upgrading one member of your team and leaving the other in less than
optimum condition you are holding back the whole team.
When you match your system components you will get the most efficient
system.
By replacing only your indoor unit your system could be up to 15%
less efficient than stated! That means less comfort.
By replacing only your outdoor unit you not only sacrifice comfort
but this can also lead to undue stress on your cooling system. That
means components could require more repairs.
Matching your indoor
and outdoor units gets you the most efficient and comfortable system.
How do heat pumps and
air conditioners work?
Most central heating and cooling systems are classified as forced
air systems, because they send air through ductwork for distribution.
The ductwork can contain products that filter
or clean the air.
Radiant systems create heat and deliver it using components such as
radiators that distribute the heat into the home. Boilers are
a traditional radiant heat source.
Whole-home air conditioning systems are central systems that rely
on ducts to deliver cooled air throughout the home. An air-conditioning
system provides cooling, ventilation, humidity control and even heating
(if using a Heat
Pump ) for a home. Air
conditioning units cool refrigerants like Puron Refrigerant
and Freon and deliver them to evaporator
coils, which dissipate the refrigerant and blow cool air into
ducts for delivery throughout the home.
Products such as room
air conditioners are local cooling options for smaller areas
within homes. Instead of delivering cooled refrigerant to a coil
and then to ductwork, a room air conditioner contains all the components
in a single unit and blows air directly into a room.
How do zoning systems
work?
Zoning is simply a way of dividing a home into areas with similar
cooling and heating needs. You wouldn't have just one light switch
for your entire home. With zoning, you can have the same flexibility
with your temperature as you do with your lighting, by independently
controlling different areas of your home according to their needs
and occupancy.
By incorporating a zoning system into your home you can eliminate
hot and cold spots so all areas of your home are equally comfortable.
This will help to maximize energy savings by conditioning only the
areas of a home that are occupied. You will have the flexibility to
customize your system with up to eight distinctive comfort zones.
Please note that you should not attempt to "zone" your home by closing vents
in unused rooms. This only causes undue stress on and leads
to inefficiency in the whole system.
How is energy use measured?
Think of efficiency like gas mileage. While any car can get you from
one place to another, cars with higher gas mileage use less fuel
to get there. Similarly, while any system can provide heating and cooling,
higher efficiency systems keep you comfortable while using less energy.
Cooling efficiency is measured by "SEER" (Seasonal Energy Efficiency
Ratio) while the heating efficiency of heat pumps is measured by
"HSPF" (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) and the heating
efficiency of gas furnaces is measured by "AFUE" (Annual
Fuel Utilization Efficiency). Gas furnaces also use electricity, and
variable speed motors can save even more money by reducing the electricity
needed to operate the furnace.
Although different systems have different efficiency
ratings, the most important thing to understand is that the higher
the efficiency rating, the greater the savings.
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