Aire Serv of Southwest Connecticut: Frequently Asked Questions

Think of your air filter as the “lungs” of your HVAC system. We recommend checking them monthly and replacing them at least every 90 days—though if you have furry friends at home, you’ll want to do it more often.

If you forget, your system has to work twice as hard to breathe. This restricted airflow can cause your fan motor to burn out or lead to “icing up” in the summer. In the winter, a clogged filter can cause the heat exchanger to overheat and crack, which is a serious safety hazard. A simple filter swap can literally save you thousands in replacement costs!

Our Advantage Plan Membership is all about peace of mind. As many of our long-term neighbors in Southwest Connecticut have seen, our biannual Spring and Fall check-ups catch the “small stuff”—like a mouse nest or a failing capacitor—before they turn into a 2:00 a.m. “no-heat” emergency. Plus, a tuned-up system runs more efficiently, which keeps your monthly utility bills from creeping up.

Before you panic, check the basics: ensure your thermostat has fresh batteries and is set to the correct mode, and check your electrical panel for a tripped breaker. If those look good and things still aren't running, give us a call! We can fix virtually any make or model. Our techs arrive with fully stocked “warehouses on wheels” to get your comfort back on track as quickly as possible.

Absolutely. A standard home inspection often only checks if the unit turns on. Our specialized HVAC inspection dives deeper into the heat exchanger's integrity, refrigerant levels, and overall life expectancy. It’s better to know the “health” of the system before you close, so you aren't surprised by a major expense in your first month of homeownership.

Communication is our specialty. You won’t be left wondering when we’ll show up. You’ll receive prompt phone responses and a confirmed time slot. For added security, we’ll often send a photo of your technician via email or text before they arrive, so you know exactly who is knocking at your door.

We do! We know a new boiler or AC system is a significant investment. To help, we work with local credit unions and offer various financing options, including state-sponsored low-interest loans (likeEnergize Connecticut programs), to ensure your home stays comfortable without breaking the bank.

We treat your home like our own. Our techs wear protective booties, lay down floor tarps, and clean up our workspace so thoroughly that your home often looks better than when we arrived.

Yes. HVAC emergencies don't wait for business hours, and neither do we. We offer 24/7 emergency service, including weekends and holidays. Best of all, we charge by the job, not the hour, so you don't have to worry about overtime fees when things go wrong at the worst possible time.

We certainly can. Heat pumps are becoming incredibly popular in Connecticut. Whether you have a ducted system or a ductless mini-split, our technicians are factory-trained to service, repair, and install these high-efficiency systems.

Absolutely. We stand behind our work with some of the best guarantees in the business. This includes our Neighborly Done Right Promise^®—if it’s not fixed correctly the first time, we’ll come back and make it right at no cost to you. We also honor all manufacturer warranties on the parts and units we install.

We proudly serve a large portion of Southwest Connecticut.

Our primary service areas include:

• Fairfield County: Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich, Fairfield, Westport, Darien, and Ridgefield.
• New Haven County: Milford, Orange, and surrounding shoreline communities.

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Think of it like MPG for your car. The higher the SEER rating, the less electricity the unit uses to cool your home. While higher SEER units might cost more upfront, they significantly lower your monthly power bills over time.

A smart thermostat learns your habits and adjusts the temperature automatically when you're sleeping or away. Most can be controlled from your phone. Is it worth it? Usually, yes! Most homeowners see enough energy savings to pay for the device within the first year or two, plus the convenience of cooling down the house while you’re driving home from the office is hard to beat.

We pride ourselves on saying “yes” when others say “next week.” We prioritize emergency repairs during peak summer heat and have a track record of getting systems back up and running within 24 hours, even when it's 90 degrees outside.

We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We’ll provide you with a consultation featuring “Good, Better, and Best” options. Whether you want a budget-friendly repair, a high-efficiency replacement, or a sleek ductless system, we’ll explain the pros and cons of each so you can make an informed choice.

First, check your outdoor unit to make sure it isn't buried in leaves or debris—it needs to breathe to release heat. Also, double-check that your thermostat wasn't accidentally set to “fan” instead of “cool.” If the unit is clear and the settings are right, you likely have a refrigerant leak or a failed compressor component. In those cases, it's best to turn the system off and contact our professionals to prevent further damage.

More Connecticut homeowners are making the switch! Modern cold-climate heat pumps are incredibly efficient. Hybrid systems use a heat pump for most of the year, with a gas furnace backup to keep things cozy during those rare Polar Vortex nights.

Generally, yes. Furnaces should be relatively quiet. If you hear whistling, banging, or a loud “whoosh,” it’s your system’s way of asking for help. Our techs are masters at troubleshooting those annoying intermittent noises that always seem to stop right when you walk into the room.

Yes! A furnace creates heat by burning fuel (gas or oil). A heat pump is more like a reversible air conditioner—it moves heat from the outside air into your home. Because they move heat rather than create it, they are incredibly energy efficient.

It matters tremendously! If a system is too small, it will run constantly and never get the job done. If it’s too big, it will short-cycle, turning on and off so fast that it never removes the humidity from the air, leaving you feeling clammy. We perform professional sizing calculations to ensure you get the “Goldilocks” fit—just right.

Yes, we do. While many people are switching to gas or heat pumps, we know that oil is still a staple for many Connecticut homes. We can replace your old, inefficient oil unit with a modern, high-efficiency model that burns cleaner and saves you money on fuel deliveries.