Since we’ve been doing business for more than a hundred years, Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air has answered a lot of questions from our customers. We thought you might like to see a sampling of the most common questions we get, and the answers.
Is there really any reason to spend money on a programmable thermostat? Some of my friends have them but say they don’t really use them.
We assure you that depending on your lifestyle, the correct use of a programmable thermostat will save money. It’s especially true if your house is empty for several hours during the day because the adults are working and the kids are in school or daycare. In those situations, the programmable thermostat can keep the temperature much lower (higher during the summer) while you’re gone, then start to warm the house before you come home.
Many people tell us they don’t use their programmable thermostats because they are afraid they will do something wrong. It’s like any other piece of technology, you need to use your owner’s manual to learn how it works. If you have any questions, our expert technicians have the answers and will be glad to help you with any thermostat we’ve installed for you.
It’s worth remembering that even if someone is home all day, there are situations where a programmable Wi-Fi connected thermostat is really convenient. It allows you to monitor your system and change the settings while you are away for the weekend or on vacation.
I’m new to the area. What kind of a winter does my home need to be prepared for? Does it get down to freezing here?
First, welcome to Alabama. Yes, you do need to be prepared for winter-like weather. January is our coldest month with an average overnight low of 35℉, and nights below freezing certainly aren’t unusual. Your home heating in Montgomery, AL needs to be prepared for the worst. The record all-time low temperature was -5℉ way back in 1899, so as rare as it is, your home should be prepared to handle that sort of event. Don’t take a chance. If you feel like your heating system needs help, call Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air for any needed heating repairs in Auburn, AL or the surrounding area.
We’re building a new home and can’t decide whether to go with a forced air furnace and separate air conditioner? Or an electric heat pump for heating and cooling?
First, let us say Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air considers each to be a good choice. Energy experts generally consider natural gas to be the more economical choice for home heating as it’s cheaper than electricity. But many homes, especially in rural Central Alabama, don’t have access to natural gas and don’t want the hassle of dealing with propane tanks. For them, a heat pump might be the better choice.
Both are forced air systems because the conditioned air is blown throughout the house by fans and a series of ducts, but the home heating process can feel different. A furnace burns fuel to heat the air until it is very warm, about 130 to 140 degrees when it comes out of the register. A heat pump is really a heat exchanger that “wrings” existing heat out of the air. The heated air will be around 85 to 95 degrees, which is actually cooler than your body temperature. When the air is blowing around the house, it can actually feel cool and some people don’t like that.
Do you have any more questions? We’d be glad to answer. Call the experts at Dixie.
Get the information you need to keep your HVAC system running smoothly and efficiently. No matter what kind of system you have or choose, when you need HVAC maintenance and repair in Auburn, Montgomery, Opelika, AL or points in between, your first and only call should be to Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air. Call Dixie and it’s done!
