Residential Service

What does “simply great service” mean to you?

Providing an enjoyable experience for our clients by putting their needs above all else. We want them to see positive results in their homes, and we want to achieve their comfort goals.

I feel uncomfortable in my home! What could be causing this?

The top two causes are high humidity and uneven temperatures.
Many things can cause high humidity. Humidity is naturally higher in kitchens and bathrooms because of the plumbing and associated moisture. You may only be trying to remove humidity with your A/C unit, meaning you might benefit from adding a dehumidifier. Your HVAC unit may also have a high evaporator coil temperature.
Uneven temperatures can result from restricted airflow, duct leaks, an HVAC unit that’s too small, or poorly sealed windows.

What air filter should I use, and how often should I change it?

If you are using a 1″ thick filter, we would suggest using a MERV 6-7 filter. If you have a filter that’s 4″ thick, then we would recommend using a MERV 8-13.

This can get complicated and depends on the system and filtration setup. For HVAC systems, we have to have the appropriate airflow for the system to work properly. As a result, we are limited as to how restrictive the filter can be. If you are interested in going above and beyond to reduce dust, we suggest looking into a whole-home HEPA filtration system that filters the air 24/7.

What can I do to make the air in my home safer and cleaner?

We have three main suggestions:

1. Use a media air filter. These filters trap airborne particles in the return duct before they reach your indoor atmosphere. Media air filters are much thicker than conventional air filters, about 4” thick instead of 1” thick. They can filter air particles a lot more thoroughly than conventional filters.
2. Seal undesigned gaps and cracks in the home. Holes and cracks are opportunities for outer air to seep into your home. This air can be humid and may bring air pollutants into your home, depending on the environmental conditions. Sealing these up will give you more control over your indoor environment, making it safer and cleaner.
3. Use a whole-home ventilating dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers remove water from the air, and whole-home dehumidifiers do it in large quantities. (Some may remove up to 120 pints of water from the air per day.) If your home’s relative humidity regularly exceeds 60%, you have an elevated risk of mold or mildew problems. A proper dehumidifier decreases the humidity by sucking out the water, and it keeps mold and mildew risks at bay.

Should I get a UV light?

UV lights are not required, but they are great at preventing growth inside the air handler. If you choose to get a UV light, you should know that it needs to be replaced once it burns out (generally once a year).

Does a UV light kill COVID-19?

SARS-Cov-2 is a virus, so it doesn’t spread on surfaces as bacteria and fungi do. Viruses only replicate within our bodies. That said, UV light can deactivate coronaviruses that cause COVID-19, rendering them non-infectious. This is unlikely to be effective inside your HVAC system, given the rates of airflow and the likelihood that significant amounts of the virus would be in the equipment in the first place.

Like soap or detergent, UV light can break down the coronavirus’s genetic material. However, it needs prolonged exposure to be effective. Air goes through HVAC systems quickly, making it tough for UV to be consistently effective based on our current understanding of the virus and common residential UV technology.

What is an “Infinity” system?

The Infinity system is Carrier’s top-of-the-line HVAC system that gives you a lot of control over your home environment. It is designed to maximize your home’s comfort with little effort. It’s a fully variable speed system that can adjust its capacity and shift its focus based on your comfort setting (temperature and humidity). It’s also extremely quiet, and it’s one of the most efficient systems on the residential market!

How can I reduce the humidity in my home?

There are three main things you can do:

1. Make sure you are using bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans properly and consistently. These fans help remove odors and control moisture by removing it from the structure. Make sure they are off when the bathroom or kitchen is not in use. Otherwise they can actually speed up infiltration and make matters worse.
2. Keep the windows and doors closed on rainy or humid days. Letting moisture into your home will increase relative humidity, so refrain from doing that. Maintain windows and make sure they get resealed if they have cracks or gaps for moisture to infiltrate.
3. Don’t set your HVAC system below 73 degrees. Lower temperatures can lead to surfaces reaching dew point resulting in moisture issues. You can use humidity controlling equipment or dehumidification to remove moisture from the home without driving down the temperature too low.

There are also three things we can do:

1. Make sure your HVAC system is set up properly for your home.
2. Inspect the ductwork to ensure that it is not part of the cause.
3. Install a whole-home dehumidifier.

My vents and ducts are sweating? What can I do?

You can increase the set point of the A/C. Seal any gaps and cracks that may be releasing attic air around the supply grills or into the conditioned space. In extreme cases, we may need to encapsulate the whole home with foam and install a ventilating dehumidifier.

How does Kalos train their technicians?

Kalos recognizes the importance of thorough training inside and outside of traditional learning environments. We have a three-year apprentice program that involves going to Lake Technical College two nights per week throughout the school year. Apprentices also ride along with a trainer or monitor to get real hands-on training and field experience. Jesse Testerman (AKA Bert), one of our senior technicians, is continually focused on internal training so that all of our employees can achieve technical excellence!