FAQ

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. You may hear the phrase when doing search for Air Conditioning or Heating solutions for your home or business. What's included in an HVAC system depends on the type of equipment you have. A standard HVAC system includes the heating equipment components: furnace, heat pump or boiler; cooling equipment components: air conditioner, evaporator coil and the condenser unit; ventilation and air movement components: air handler, ductwork, vents and registers; air quality components such as the filters and lasty the control and accessory components like your thermostat.

The most common problems that homeowners face with their HVAC system is unexpected repairs, because they don’t perform regular maintenance. Often times, we find that customers don’t know they need to do maintenance, and think just changing their filters is enough. Most customers are surprised when we find their system completely clogged and filled with dirt, when we're called because their system stopped working. When the system is clogged it is not breathing as it should, causing it to work harder; having the motor, compressor and other components work harder than they should, and eventually leading to a breakdown. On those really hot days the system is working even harder. By scheduling your regular maintenance it is more than just a filter change but a comprehensive thorough cleaning and inspection of the entire HVAC system. Most HVAC issues can be caught ahead of time, avoiding an unexpected breakdown in the middle of summer heat.

The easiest way to improve energy efficiency with your HVAC system is by doing regular maintenance. By doing regular maintenance you are keeping your system running efficiently and not having it work as hard, keeping those energy bills lower. If you are  considering upgrading your system, all new HVAC systems are the most energy efficient, as new refrigerant is regularly coming out that meets environmental standards more efficiently. Many customers look for high SEER ratings when researching new HVAC equipment. Other ways to improve energy efficiency if upgrading your system is not an option right now is: ensure your ductwork is properly sealed, upgrading to a smart thermostat, change your air filters every 3 months and adding zoning systems to your home or business for better air flow and control

It might be a good idea to start looking into upgrading your system if you find that your current HVAC system keeps breaking down and you are spending money on costly repairs on a regular basis. A regular basis would be considered 1-3 times per year. If you have not been keeping up with your maintenances and your system is over 10 years old, it might be time. Often times, what we see is that due to lack of maintenance pinhole leaks will occur as system is starting to deteriorate which then causes freon to leak out. When freon leaks out, often times attempting to find the leak and then refilling with freon is a quarter the cost of changing out the system, and there is no warranty or guarantees if another leak or component will happen. At this point, might make more sense to get a new HVAC system.

It depends how big your home or business is, and how the ductwork is set-up. Generally speaking though, for every 400 square feet you will need about a 1 ton unit to properly work for your space.

This will depend on the HVAC contractor you hire. At C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling it will take around 6-10 hours to do a system change out, depending on the complexity and set-up. This is when there is already duct work and a current system and it is being changed out to an upgraded HVAC system. For brand new installations with no HVAC system in place this will require adding duct work and a bit more work, which can take 2-3 days on average.

If you notice your system is blowing warm air, check your condenser (outdoor unit) and see if it is running. If it is not running it is best to turn off your system to avoid any further damage. Take a look a look around condenser or filters if you notice anything freezing. Take pictures or videos of your observations, and then contact your HVAC contractor with what you are experiencing and seeing with your system. We highly recommend to avoid any kind of DIY repairs as this more often than not leads to more damages and more costly repairs.

Your furnace making loud or unusual noises is a common service call we get at C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling, and its most common with gas furnaces. The most common reason we find is that the blower motor or induced motor is going out. If this is happening it is best for you to take picture or video of what you are observing, and turn off your system, and call your trust HVAC pro to service to avoid any further damage.

Common signs of your ducts leaking in your HVAC system can be several things and would require a professional diagnosis from an HVAC pro. Some of the signs could be: weak air flow, attic is cooler than normal, air flow is not as cold as air is sucking through the return to the attic.

All HVAC contractors provide different maintenance service plans. At C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling we believe in transparency and have 1 maintenance plan that is fully comprehensive including: cleaning or changing out filters, inspect and wash the condenser coils, inspect and wash evaporator coils, inspect and clean the drain pans, flush out all condensate drain lines, check the system's electrical components, check freon levels, make sure system is operational once maintenance completed, and check out with customer recommending any repairs at the time or may need in the future (if applicable)

This will depend on the HVAC contractor that you go with for your project. Most pros will offer some kind of financing options as upgrading your system can be an investment and we understand that not every customer has the cash available, on hand. At C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling we offer a few different financing options for our customers, call us at 661-670-7884 to learn more.

Filters should be changed every 3 months. You can find great deals on filters off Amazon. If you prefer not to keep filters on hand, be sure to let your HVAC technician know and they can replace at an extra small charge to supply during your scheduled maintenance visit. Another helpful tip regarding filters you do not need any special expensive filters, a MERV 8 in a standard 1 inch slot will do the job just fine, just make sure to change out every 3 months.

Yes, all HVAC systems are sealed systems. As long as they are properly maintained and repairs are done timely when they arise, the system is designed to remove humidity from the air as long as the system is sized properly and not oversized.

This will depend on how often the system has the proper maintenance or if its neglected. We have customers that have 20-30 year old systems still running great, because they do their maintenances, and if a repair is needed, they take care of it right away. (Just like a car…some cars have 300,000 miles, and are still going strong because owner invests in the maintenance and takes care of any repairs as needed - your HVAC system is no different). However, since this is normally not the case, neglected systems typically last on average 8-15 years before completely breaking down.

Yes, for emergencies services we are available at C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling. Any after hours or weekend emergency service calls may incur additional pricing taking into account: overtime of our technicians, opening up supply houses for parts, etc. We understand emergencies happen, and if you need us, we'll be there.

At C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling we work on and service all HVAC systems for both commercial and residential. No project or job is too small or too big. We work on all brands from top of the line like Carrier, Payne, Bosch or middle shelf like Goodman or Innovair. In all honesty, it really comes down to the customer's personal preferences and their budget. Every manufacture's equipment and products are good, and we don’t personally partner with one company to push their products, because we believe in giving the customer all their options. The key to your system running efficiently from the start is making sure you hire an honest and reliable HVAC contractor such as C&M Mechanical Heatin and Cooling who do exceptional installation jobs. We are happy to answer any questions regarding any brands or manufactures, we pride ourselves on over 25 years of expertise in the trade and know all brands inside and out.

Yes, we are, and you should never hire a contractor who is not. Our license # 1089755 can be verified with the California Contractor State License Board at  Check A License - CSLB (ca.gov) 

Yes, C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling provides free estimates for all HVAC  and projects. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a free estimate for your HVAC project. 

Great question! This is a common question we get from customers....

If a customer calls C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling not knowing what service or repair is needed, just that something is wrong with their HVAC system  it is considered a service call. 

C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling charges a $125 diagnostic fee for each service call, that takes into account our technician's travel, time troubleshooting the unit, and our HVAC tradesman expertise. We will tell you the exact issue and what the total repair cost will be. If you decide to move forward with the repair the $125 diagnostic fee will be waived. If you would like to get other quotes or wait to repair, you have 30 days to have your diagnostic fee credited back. 

If a customer calls C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling for a project (thinking of changing out your unit, want to add a mini split to their ADU or garage, add a zoning system to their existing system,, etc.) OR you know exactly what service/part you need repaired (e.g. Another company gave me a quote of this much to change out a blower motor, how much do you charge?) we can give you an Estimate or Estimated Repair cost for FREE.

Whether you go with C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling or another contractor be aware of those offering FREE Estimates for repairs! 99% of the time they will tell you your system can't be fixed and need to change out. If they do, get a second or third opinion from C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling or another reputable HVAC contractor, pay the diagnostic fee and most likely you will find your system is repairable, saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars.

There are several ways to improve the efficiency of your HVAC system. The best way is to make sure you are doing the proper maintenance. For residential it is recommended to do every 6 months but at minimum annually (between March-May to prepare for those hot Summer days), and for commercial to be performed quarterly. Regular maintenances are a way to be proactive in not just replacing the filters and cleaning the units thoroughly but finding any issues with the unit before they become a bigger and more expensive problem.  Additionally, sealing any air leaks in your home or business and upgrading to a programmable thermostat also help.

If your HVAC system breaks down, contact C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling immediately. We offer emergency repair services 24/7 to ensure that your heating or cooling system is back up and running as soon as possible.

If you want a trusted, reliable, and professional HVAC contractor who will offer a fair and competitive price for all services and guarantees customer satisfaction contact C&M Mechanical Heating and Cooling today. Our #1 priority is to provide timely HVAC solutions for your service needs or project.