Sanborn’s Answers Your HVAC FAQ’s

Over the years, Sanborn’s Air Conditioning & Heating has answered a lot of questions about heating repairs and how to heat homes in Highland, Redlands, and all of the Inland Empire. We thought you might want to hear some of the most common questions we hear.

I hear about heat pumps and gas furnaces and find it confusing. What’s the best choice for heating a home in Southern California where our winters are mild?

We sympathize with you because we know the choices can be confusing. The correct answer to your question depends on your situation, and to some degree your personal preference.
Heating with natural gas generally costs less than heating with electricity, but natural gas isn’t available in some areas. Unless you’re going to install a propane tank, an electric heat pump might be a better choice in those situations. Both are forced air systems, but they do 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.

My neighbor is bragging about using mini-splits to heat his entire home. I thought they were just for air conditioning?

Mini split heat pumps have become really advanced over the last few years. Many think they are only for supplemental heating or cooling, and that’s no longer the case. They are much more effective at heating the entire home, as well as cooling it. Because they are ductless, mini splits are efficient and each air handler has its own thermostat for the ultimate in custom comfort.

Will a programmable thermostat really save money?

The short answer to your question is yes. They are especially valuable in situations where no one is home for several hours during the day. According to energy.gov, adjusting your thermostat by 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day can cut your yearly heating and cooling costs by as much as 10%.
The problem that Sanborn’s sees, is many people don’t use their thermostats properly because they find them complicated and/or intimidating. Putting it simply, they are afraid to change the settings because they might “screw something up.” When you buy a new thermostat from us, we will show you how to use it correctly and answer any questions you might have.

Why is my throat dry and my hair full of static electricity?

Don’t you just hate those “shocking” experiences? It’s pretty simple, the air in your house is too dry. The lack of humidity is part of the reason we love living in Southern California, but the even drier air during winter can make your house uncomfortable. We feature whole-house humidifiers by Aprilaire. Raising the humidity level will also make your house healthier, limiting the spread of many viruses like the common flu.
Whatever questions you have about heating and air conditioning in Redlands or the surrounding area, the experts at Sanborn’s Air Conditioning & Heating are always ready, willing, and able to help. Sanborn’s, 5-star comfort for 4 generations.