Frequently Asked Questions

Our answers to your questions

We are happy to answer your questions and will add new items as our customers ask. If for some reason we have not answered one of your questions please, CLICK HERE to ask us your question. 

Why does my system have a size?  What size do I need?

The size of your heating and cooling system has to do with the size and layout of your home. There are many factors that determine the size heating and cooling system your home needs. The best way to determine the size is by performing a heat loss and gain of your house. Air infiltration is the single largest factor we must consider. A system installed by Godby comes with a twelve month money back guarantee to be properly sized and defect free.

What is the difference in choosing a contractor?  What is the difference in choosing a brand?

There are many manufacturers of heating and cooling equipment. As a heating and cooling contractor we must select what we feel to be the most reliable products available to put our name behind. A poor product is a reflection of the dealer. At Godby we take great pride in associating our name with the products we offer because of the in depth research we do in selecting these products.  At Godby we feel that our task is to provide 100% expertise on our product and our product is service. In these tough times it only makes sense to stand behind products that work and work well. We have chosen products from manufacturers that are leaders in the HVACR industry year in and year out. Combining these elite products with Godby hometown ownership and 100% NATE® certified employees. You get the comfort you want, the quality you need, at the price you can afford!

Why buy a new system if my existing system works?

Well, maybe you should NOT buy a new HVAC system. Maybe you should... It all depends on what your needs and wants are. First you have to look at your existing systems performance.

How efficient is your existing system operating?

How comfortable does your existing system keep your home?

How much money are you putting into keeping your existing system up and running?

Call Godby today for a Free in home estimate from a NATE® certified sales representative. Yes that's right even our sales representatives or as we call them trusted advisors are Nate certified .We can advise and help you determine which option is best.

What are the benefits to owning a maintenance plan?

There are many benefits to owning a maintenance plan from Godby heating and air conditioning.
Godby's NATE® certified service techs will perform routine cleanings and checkups on your HVAC system. Weather your system is old or new, routine maintenance on your equipment will help with your systems performance, efficiency and life expectancy. Research shows the number one reason for equipment failure is poor maintenance. Owning a maintenance plan with Godby gives you preferred service with a 20% discount on the total repair, unlike our competitors who only give a discount on either parts or labor and you never pay overtime rates.

Sign up for a maintenance plan online and save!!!!!

What is two stage heat? How will it benefit me?

Two-stage heating means the furnace has two levels of heat output: high for cold winter days and low for milder days. Since the low setting is adequate to meet heating demands 80% of the time, a two-stage unit runs for longer periods and provides more even heat distribution.
Longer, low-capacity operation has many advantages:

Consistent comfort
Two-stage heating eliminates the temperature swings associated with standard furnaces, regulating temperature to within as little as one degree of the thermostat setting.

Quiet operation
Two-stage furnaces start in the first stage, when the amount of heat required is lower, instead of reaching full capacity all at once. That means there's no sudden "kick" or blast of air.

Improved air filtration
Low-speed operation allows your filters to capture more contaminants (because air is constantly passing through them), so you can breathe easier.

Efficient performance
Because the furnace operates mostly in its lower-capacity first stage, it burns less fuel than a standard furnace that always runs at full capacity and shuts off when the heating demand has been met.

What is SEER®?

SEER® stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio.
The higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is. A higher SEER can result in lower energy costs. This U.S. Dept. of Energy Web site, www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/calculators/homes.html. can show how to calculate potential energy cost savings of a more efficient unit. The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI.org) posts a Certified Ratings directory, which lists SEER ratings of various air-conditioning equipment

What's a ton?

A ton is the unit of measurement for air-conditioning system capacity. One ton of air conditioning removes 12,000 Btus of heat energy per hour from a home. Central air conditioners are sized in tons. Residential units usually range from 1 to 5 tons

What does EER mean? Should I spend more money for a higher EER rating?

EER stands for energy efficiency ratio. The higher the EER rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is. This can result in lower energy costs. The following US Dept. of Energy Web site can show how to calculate potential energy cost savings of a more efficient unit -www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/calculators/homes.html. The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI.org) posts a Certified Ratings directory, which lists EER ratings of various air- conditioning equipment

What does HSPF mean?

HSPF stands for heating system performance factor. The higher the HSPF rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is. A higher HSPF can result in lower energy costs. The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI.org) posts a certified ratings directory, which lists HSPF ratings of various air-conditioning equipment.

What does AFUE mean?

AFUE stands for annual fuel utilization efficiency. The higher the AFUE rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is. A higher AFUE can result in lower energy costs. The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, www.gamanet.org, publishes a directory of certified AFUE ratings

What is a BTU?

BTU stands for the British Thermal Unit (BTU). It is a unit of heat energy in the inch-pound unit system, which is common today in the United States. The Btu is defined as the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit from 58.5 to 59.5.

A BTU is commonly used to indicate the heating and cooling capacity of a system, heat losses, and heat gains. To give an example of system capacity, a 10,000 BTU window air conditioner is capable of removing 10,000 BTU's of heat per hour. To give an example in terms of heat gains, the typical heat gain added to a room by a person at rest is about 230 BTU/hour

What is the recommended indoor humidity level for my home?

A good range is between 30% and 60% relative humidity. You can determine humidity levels with a relative humidity sensor typically referred to as a hygrometer or psychrometer. This level of humidity minimizes the indoor growth of allergenic or pathogenic organisms such as dust mites and molds. A wider range of humidity levels, from a low of 25% to a high of about 80%, can be acceptable in terms of thermal comfort (your comfort level) depending on the type of clothing worn and the level of physical activity.

What  temperature should I set my Thermostat at?

ASHRAE specifies the combinations of indoor space environment and personal factors that will produce thermal comfort conditions acceptable to 80% or more of the occupants within the space. To be specific, temperatures in the winter should range from 68-74° F and 73-79° F in the summer.

What size air conditioner do I need for my house?

Sizing a residential heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) unit depends on such variables as geographic location, orientation to the sun, construction details, insulation values, window area and type, etc. Under sizing a system may lead to warmer or cooler temperatures than desired by some occupants. Over sizing the system may lead to humidity or moisture control problems in the space

What is a heat pump?

A heat pump is an all-in-one heating and air conditioning system that works year-round to keep you comfortable.

During warmer months, a heat pump works as a normal air conditioner. It extracts heat from inside and transfers it to the outdoor air. In colder weather, however, the process reverses-the unit collects heat from the outdoor air and transfers it inside.

Even when the air outside feels extremely cold, the air still contains some heat. The heat pump pulls the heat from this cold outdoor air and sends it inside to warm the space. When there's not enough heat in the outside air to meet the demand of the thermostat setting, an electric heater supplements the outdoor air to warm the space. Extremely efficient, this process produces two to three times more heat than the energy it uses.

Also, a heat pump can be an effective add-on option to use in conjunction with an existing gas furnace. With this dual-fuel option, the two systems share the heating load, but never function at the same time. Each system operates when it is most cost effective. The heat pump will be the primary heating and cooling system. However, when the temperature drops below the heat pump's ability to operate as efficiently as the gas furnace, the gas furnace will take over until the temperature rises enough for the heat pump to operate more efficiently

What is a variable speed furnace?

The term "variable speed" refers to the furnace's indoor blower motor, which moves at different speeds to precisely control the flow of heated and cooled air. Better airflow control has several benefits:

Electrical efficiency
Variable speed motors can actually save you money on your energy bills, as they consume less electricity than standard motors.

Cooling efficiency
Variable speed technology also means you will gain heating efficiency or AFUE.

Zoning
Variable speed motors are excellent for zoning, which allows you to customize your comfort in different areas and control your energy bills.

Air quality
A variable speed motor can also help clean the air. When the fan is in constant operation (indicated by the "Fan" setting on your thermostat), the motor will continue to slowly circulate air, allowing filters to capture more contaminants.

What is two stage cooling?

Two-stage cooling means the air conditioner or heat pump has a compressor with two levels of operation: high for hot summer days and low for milder days. Since the low setting is adequate to meet household-cooling demands 80% of the time, a two-stage unit runs for longer periods and produces more even temperatures.

Longer cooling cycles also translate to quieter, more efficient operation and enhanced humidity control. Compared to a single-stage unit, a two-stage air conditioner or heat pump can remove twice as much moisture from the air. This is important because when moisture levels are high, there's a higher potential for mold and other pollutant problems.

Why all the talk about my new outdoor units refrigerant?  

R22 is an old refrigerant technology that is harmful to our atmosphere
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the Clean Air Act, is regulating the production and use of refrigerants. These changes will eventually eliminate air-conditioning and heat pump refrigerants containing chlorine, due to growing concern about ozone depletion.

R-410A is the new safer refrigerant technology
Because R-410A contains no chlorine, it's ozone- and climate-friendly. Plus, R-410A allows higher efficiencies than R22, so it not only makes sense environmentally, it also makes sense from an economic standpoint.

How does my air conditioner work?

An air conditioner seems as if it cools the air, but it actually makes the space less warm by removing heat from the indoor air and transferring that heat to the outdoor air.

Heat is extracted by passing indoor air across a refrigerant coil in the indoor unit. Refrigerant lines then carry the heat to the outdoor unit, where it is released into the outside air. The cooling cycle continues until the indoor temperature reaches the thermostat setting.


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