Heating and Cooling FAQs


Q: Where do I buy filters for my furnace?
We sell all types of filters, parts and accessories on our web store. We carry many brands in stock and can deliver them to your home or office.

Q: Do you sell parts to the public?
Yes, we carry ALL major brands of furnace and air conditioner parts.

Q: I see ice forming around the system. Should I do anything?
Yes, when you see water or ice forming/melting anywhere on the system in A/C mode you'll want to be sure that your furnace filter is clean. Most calls we get about ice or water are due to a dirty filter. What happens is that a dirty filter will cause air restriction across the cooling coil and cause the air to move too slowly in the system. This will cause the moisture in the air to freeze and form ice in the furnace (coil). Another cause of ice forming can also be a low refrigerant charge. If the filter is clean, contact Strayer as soon as possible. Be sure to allow time for the ice to completely melt prior to a Strayer technician arriving.

Q: How often should I change my furnace filter?
Almost anything that is 16 MERV 16 should be replaced once a year. If the filter is 1 inch it should be replaced every 30-60 days. A MERV 8 or 10 (4 inch) should be replaced every 3-4 months, or every six months if there are no smokers, pets, or candles. When you need to change the filter also depends on the filter for your furnace. We sell a few different types of filters. Typically, we provide filters by determining the filter thickness and Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV rating, which is from 1 to 16. The MERV rating is based on an air filter’s efficiency, so the higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the air filter is at removing particles. MERV 8 would be yesterday’s standard, MERV 10 is today’s standard. However, MERV 16 is the best you can get, and is one of our more popular filters.

Q: When should I change my humidifier pad?
Once a year after the heating season, meaning that it should be done in the early spring just before you turn your air conditioner on. This will prevent mold and dirt from building up in the pan and on the pad.

Q: My furnace is not working correctly. What can I do (prior to calling)?
Make sure you have power to your furnace: in the lower portion of the furnace you’ll see a small sight glass, it will be round and about 2 inches in diameter. Check and see if you can see two lights flashing. If you can see these lights, then you know you at least have power to the furnace.

Next, listen to the furnace while it’s running. Do you hear any unusual noises? Is the fan running? You should be able to hear the whirring noise that a fan would make. If not, then your fan is not working properly.

Next, lift the access panel off the furnace, there should be a listing of fault codes. If you can determine what the possible problem is based on those codes, you can help us establish the proper course of action. This step can save you the time and money of our technicians having to come to your home and fix a problem that you might be able to fix yourself.

Q. What should you look for in a good contractor?
Make sure that they are licensed and insured.
Make sure that they use name brands.
Verify that their technicians are certified.
Make sure that they file city permits for all installation work.
Your contractor should make you feel comfortable.
Your contractor should have excellent references.

Q: What is an energy-efficient furnace?
Furnaces are rated with efficiency levels utilizing the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency standard (AFUE). The minimum AFUE number that is required is at least 80, so the higher AFUE number, the better! So, if you have an 85% efficient furnace, it means that for every dollar that is spent to fuel your furnace, 85 cents is used to heat the home while the other 15 cents is lost. It may not sound like much to lose, but it definitely adds up over time.

Q: Another company installed our furnace. Now, they won’t come out and service it. Will you?
Yes, we charge a diagnostic fee and if we discover a problem that needs correcting, we'll explain it to you and quote a flat fee to do the work. We'll do the same for air conditioning and other products installed by companies that won't follow up with maintenance service.

Q: What's the best way to get my air conditioning running in the spring?
Remove the air filter on the furnace and clean it out or replace it.
If you have a humidistat, turn it from 35% to 0%.
Before starting your air conditioning, turn the electrical disconnect back on.
Wash the condenser unit (that's the unit outside your house). Set your hose nozzle for a fine spray of water and spray from the top down.
Turn on your air conditioning and enjoy the cool comfort inside.

Q: How do I clean an electronic air cleaner?
You can put it directly in your dishwasher or spray it with 409 cleaner. If you use 409 cleaner, let it dry and reinstall it. If you put it in your dishwasher, use a soap that leaves no film and be sure to protect the thin wires in the cleaner from the spikes in the dishwasher tray. One way to protect them is to set the cleaner on top of glasses that are placed over these spikes in the dishwasher.

Q: What can I do to improve my indoor air quality?
Keep windows and doors closed during prime ragweed (cotton wood) season.
Ventilate your home. Use exhaust fans when you cook or shower.
Filter the air with an air cleaner and make sure you clean the filter regularly.
Treat the air with an ultraviolet air treatment system.
Maintain the right relative humidity between 45%-65% as recommended by the EPA.

Still have questions, no problem. Contact us now.