Powell Ohio Heating and Air Conditioning Services

Nestled between geographically larger districts in central Ohio, Powell still boasts nearly 15,000 people in the most recent census. And with easy access to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, large local parks and major highways, it's grown rapidly in recent years.

But you're here for HVAC, right? Do you live in Powell? Good news. We've serviced hundreds of Powell, Ohio homes in the two decades that Fire & Ice Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. has been in business.

What's more, this article is designed to get you up to speed on all your options and considerations when choosing new heating and cooling equipment, and when choosing an HVAC contractor to work with.

Got five minutes? Good, then let's get started.

Powell HVAC: Getting the Most For Your Money

So first off, you'll need...what exactly?

Well, that depends. Of course, you have either an air conditioner or a heat pump. And a furnace, either gas or electric depending on the types of energy source your home uses.

We'll talk in a minute about types of furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps, but there are other types of equipment you'll want to consider.

1. Does your skin crack and dry in the winter a lot? You may want to invest in a whole-home humidifier to maintain humidity levels.
2. Does the summer humidity make it hard to sleep at night? A whole-house dehumidifier may be the answer.
3. Lastly, how much is your indoor air quality worth to you? For many homes, the answer is "a lot." This usually occurs when families suffer from allergies. Is flu season miserable every year? Worried about COVID-19? HVAC can help with each of these.

Indoor Air Quality HVAC Equipment

We mentioned humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and believe it or not, humidity control can help keep you healthier! That's right; stay around 50% humidity year-round and you'll reduce airborne viruses in the winter and dust mites in the summer.

Additionally, the quality of your furnace filter can be the difference between barely doing its job and trapping allergens and viruses. HEPA-level furnace filters even catch COVID-19 particulates!

Speaking of particulates, have you ever had a duct cleaning? If not...do you know what's in your ductwork, often from decades worth of dust and dirt accumulation? Duct cleaning services from Fire & Ice have helped many of our customers breathe easy for the first time in years.

Lastly, air purifiers are the long-term solution to reduce all sorts of airborne irritants. Fire & Ice recommends the Reme Halo air purifier, and is able to install these in your ductwork for year-long safety and comfort in your home.

Types of HVAC Equipment

Entry-level equipment isn't an insult. In fact, it's the best fit for many! An air conditioning system that is single-stage is usually referred to as entry-level.

But it can be a budget-friendly option and it can be the best fit for smaller homes or those without a lot of heating or cooling issues. These are our most popular models, the workhorses of HVAC.

Mid-level equipment usually refers to furnaces, heat pumps and ACs that operate in two stages. When an HVAC system is two-stage, that means it has one other setting besides on or off, usually around 70% capacity.

This is great because it allows more time for the air in your home to mix before the temperature at your thermostat reaches the desired level. This eliminates some hot and cold spots in hard-to-reach rooms.

High-level equipment generally refers to multi-stage units. Air conditioners that are multi-stage can often have 100s of stages! This means that your temperature is controlled to within a half degree at all times, for truly comfortable homes.

These units are often best when you expect to be in your home for several years, or you want to solve very tricky problems with your home comfort.

Smart-Home Technology

A smart thermostat is something we're getting more requests for, sometimes even before the homeowner knows what it does.

Smart thermostats aren't all identical, but many share some common qualities:

• First, they can actively communicate with your equipment to adjust things like fan speed and heating or cooling output to maintain ideal temperature and humidity levels in your home.
• They generally come with an app that can be monitored and controlled remotely.
• They often integrate with other smart-home technology. This could be non-HVAC devices, or it could mean synching with remote sensors in your home that give temperature readings for different rooms. This can be beneficial, because otherwise your thermostat only monitors the temperature where it's located. This can sometimes create hot or cold spots in corner rooms or master bedrooms.

Contractor Requirements in Powell OH

You probably don't think too often about the training and licensure requirements of the contractors you choose. That's normal, but it's worth looking into with someone who is going to be installing or repairing equipment that costs thousands of dollars.

On the most basic level, even someone doing an air conditioner or furnace tune-up needs to be licensed in the state of Ohio for the work to be legal.

HVAC includes work with flammable gasses, metalwork, combustible materials electricity, sometimes even plumbing services, and other challenges and potential hazards. Going in without proper training, even for routine maintenance, can be hazardous or deadly, not to mention illegal.

To this end, ensure that any contractor you work with has a license number in Ohio that they're willing to share and verify with you.

Other items like customer service of the company, and whether or not they have ongoing training for employees, are good indicators of great service.

Lastly, check local reviews! Anyone can tell a good story, but customers don't lie.

Anyone who offers reputable HVAC services in the Powell area will have a Google business listing. And they all have reviews. Five-star heating and air conditioning service is worth fighting for! Don't be afraid to compare!

Professional HVAC Installation: Best Practices and Five-Star Service

Any heating and cooling group can do the bare minimum for your air conditioner or furnace repair or installation. But there are differences in companies that can make a big difference for your budget and comfort.

Are installations done to manufacturer specifications? Any contractor can tell you "Yes," but what does this mean? Are they testing equipment post-installation to ensure this?

Commissioning (i.e. testing) equipment thoroughly once it's installed is important. Just because it's running doesn't mean it's running well. And would you rather an installer stay an extra hour (costing a bit extra) or lose 10% efficiency for the next 10 years?

The answer should be obvious.

Next, do they have a process for staying in touch after the installation? You know that contractor who does the work and then disappears forever? Avoid that at all costs.

At no charge, we send one of our knowledgeable professionals back to your home after the installation to inspect the work and make sure you're satisfied with everything. If you're not, we will make it right.

HVAC service shouldn’t be "cut and run." Find someone willing to be a long-term partner.

Repair and Maintenance of Air Conditioner, Furnace and Heat Pump Units When Experiencing Issues

Regular maintenance is the best way to keep your equipment running smoothly and efficiently. Always get your regular air conditioner tune-up and furnace maintenance once per year. Your equipment warranties may even depend on yearly service!

But what if there's a larger issue? Does it need a repair, which comes with a diagnostic fee to identify the issue (generally between $100-$200)? Or is it time to replace your system entirely?

This is where a no-pressure sales environment can help, because a lot of commission-based techs are there to convince you to buy something new. Even a knowledgeable technician can feel pressured into trying to make a sale, without taking you through all your options.

Understanding that the right decision is better than the "right now" decision is hard for companies, but it helps keep customers for life.

Deciding on AC repair or furnace repair or a full replacement can be difficult, especially given the cost of some repairs. But great heating and cooling service includes full information on ALL options available to you.

RELATED: 8 Signs You Need Air Conditioning Repair

Quality Service and Replacement in Powell OH

When choosing a Powell heating and cooling group, you have a lot of options. At Fire & Ice, we won't pretend to be the right choice for everyone, but we also believe we're the best choice for many.

When you're ready to pick heating and cooling services that will solve your HVAC needs, we hope you'll think of us. Powell Ohio is basically in our backyard, and as a locally-owned and operated company, we've been proud to serve the area for years, and hope to continue to do so for many more years.

Fill out the form below to get started, or give us a call. We'd love to hear from you!