Frequently Asked Questions

HVAC is an abbreviation for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. It is a system that provides different types of heating and cooling services to residential and commercial buildings. Its function is to provide thermal comfort, humidity control and acceptable indoor air quality. 

A SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating measures the efficiency of the air conditioner or heat pump. It is the cooling output over a particular season divided by the total energy used in that same period. The higher the SEER rating, the greater the efficiency level of that cooling system.

Here in Arizona, we have a lot of dust and it always finds a way inside our homes. We recommend changing your air filters once a month to ensure they are always clean.

Your HVAC systems work hard to perform their functions, especially in the Arizona heat. Having a professional examine your HVAC system twice a year will help catch issues while they’re still small and manageable. Regular maintenance will maximize the life and efficiency of your HVAC unit and guard against many common equipment failures.

Air conditioning units work extremely hard in the Arizona heat. There are many variables that can affect the life expectancy of your HVAC unit. Typically you can expect 10-15 years if you properly maintain the unit and change the air filter on a monthly basis.

A blank thermostat simply means no power. Thermostats are powered in one of two ways, either batteries located inside the thermostat or from the air conditioning system itself. The easiest way to figure out if your thermostat has batteries is to Google it. If it does not have batteries the next best thing to do is check that the breakers are all on. If the breakers are on, your thermostat doesn’t take batteries, and it’s still blank, you will need to have a professional come out to diagnose the unit.

When an air conditioner freezes up, what actually freezes is the condenser unit's evaporator coil. This component of the air conditioner transfers (evaporates) heat from the inside to the outside of your home. The two main reasons why the evaporator coil may freeze:

• Restricted air flow
• Low refrigerant levels

Either way, the ending effect is that the air conditioner's evaporator coil does not properly transfer heat, and in essence 'overcools' itself. The net effect of this super-cooling is condensation, and finally ice forms from that condensation as it cools below the freezing point.

What should you do?

1. Turn the unit off at the thermostat, and don’t try to thaw the system by increasing the temperature at the thermostat. Ensure the A/C unit is completely OFF.
2. Confirm that there is nothing restricting the airflow to the system. Replace the filter, open all the registers completely, and confirm that they are not obstructed by furniture or curtains.
3. Call Todd Matthews Air Conditioning & Heating. The air conditioning system needs to be professionally inspected to ensure there are no refrigerant leaks or damage to the equipment.

Compressors fail for a number of reasons. One of the most common is burnout. In this situation, acid and burnt varnish are distributed throughout the system which contaminates the indoor coils, outdoor coils, and the refrigerant piping. This acidic oil is very difficult and costly to clean-up and will contaminate and shorten the life of the new compressor. In a burnout situation, we recommend replacing the entire air conditioning system. If the compressor failure is due to broken valves, lightning strike, etc., a compressor replacement is a feasible option. Before making a decision, you should consider the current age of the system, the cost of repair vs. replacement, the energy saved by a new high-efficiency AC, and the benefits of a new system warranty.

We happily offer financing options for both  repairs and new units. There are no prepayment penalties and checking to see if you are pre-approved won't affect your credit. You can click here to get more information and see your financing options.