Coolray provides reliable HVAC services for homes throughout Atlanta, GA and surrounding areas. This FAQ page covers common questions about air conditioning, heating systems, maintenance, repairs, and installations to help you make informed decisions about your home comfort system in Georgia’s climate.
Air filters should be changed every 30–90 days, depending on their type.
However, several factors specific to the Atlanta area can affect this schedule. During peak pollen seasons in spring and fall, you may need to change filters more frequently, sometimes every two to three weeks, to maintain proper airflow and indoor air quality.
Homes with multiple pets accumulate more pet dander and hair, requiring more frequent filter changes. Similarly, if you run your air conditioning system continuously during Georgia’s humid summers, your dirty air filter will need replacement sooner than expected.
Signs that indicate your filter needs changing include visible dust buildup, reduced airflow from vents, increased energy bills, and your HVAC system running longer than usual. A clogged filter forces your equipment to work harder, reducing efficiency and potentially causing premature wear on components like your air handler and furnace.
Proper sizing is critical for comfort and efficiency in Georgia’s humid subtropical climate. An incorrectly sized AC unit will struggle to maintain temperature control and humidity levels, leading to higher energy costs and reduced equipment lifespan.
Several factors determine the right size AC unit for your home: square footage, ceiling height, insulation quality, window placement, and overall layout. Atlanta’s summer humidity, often exceeding 70%, means your cooling system must also handle significant dehumidification, which affects sizing calculations.
An oversized system will short-cycle, cooling your home too quickly without adequately removing humidity, leaving indoor air feeling clammy. An undersized unit will run constantly during peak summer heat without reaching your desired temperature. Both scenarios waste energy and strain your equipment.
Coolray’s HVAC experts perform professional load calculations using industry-standard methods to determine the correct system size for your specific home, ensuring efficient air conditioning and optimal comfort year-round.
When outdoor temperatures regularly reach 90°F with high humidity, your air conditioner naturally works harder. However, if your AC system runs continuously without cycling off, several issues may be at play.
A dirty air filter is often the culprit, restricting airflow and forcing your system to run longer to achieve the set temperature. Low refrigerant levels from leaks prevent your system from absorbing heat effectively, keeping it running non-stop. Thermostat malfunctions can also send incorrect signals to your equipment.
Other causes include dirty evaporator or condenser coils, a failing outdoor compressor, or ductwork leaks that allow conditioned cold air to escape into your attic. Additionally, an aging system may simply lack the capacity to handle extreme heat.
Constant operation significantly increases energy bills. Atlanta HVAC systems already run 2,000+ hours annually. If basic troubleshooting like replacing your filter doesn’t resolve the issue, schedule a service call with Coolray for professional diagnosis.
Indoor air quality is important because pollutants can be several times more concentrated indoors than outdoors.
Atlanta presents unique air quality challenges, including some of the nation’s highest pollen counts, persistent humidity that encourages mold growth, and occasional air quality alerts during summer months.
Several solutions can dramatically improve your home’s environment:
Your ductwork also plays a crucial role in air quality. Leaky ducts can pull in dust, insulation particles, and allergens from unconditioned spaces. Regular duct cleaning and sealing improves both air quality and system efficiency.
For allergy sufferers, combining multiple solutions, such as upgraded filters, UV treatment, and proper ventilation, provides the most comprehensive protection against Atlanta’s challenging air quality conditions.
We recommend scheduling maintenance twice yearly in the Atlanta area: a cooling system tune-up in early spring before summer heat arrives, and a heating system check in fall before winter temperatures drop.
During a professional tune-up, technicians inspect and clean critical components including the evaporator and condenser coils, check refrigerant levels, test electrical connections, lubricate moving parts, verify thermostat calibration, and inspect ductwork for leaks.
Regular AC maintenance provides significant benefits:
Coolray offers maintenance agreements that include priority scheduling, discounts on repairs, and annual inspections. These programs ensure your heating and cooling systems receive consistent professional attention without requiring you to remember scheduling.
Unusual sounds from your HVAC equipment typically indicate specific problems that shouldn’t be ignored:
Some noises warrant emergency attention, particularly loud banging, grinding metal sounds, or any noise accompanied by burning smells. These situations can indicate imminent component failure or safety hazards.
When your system makes unfamiliar sounds, turn it off and contact Coolray for professional diagnosis. Continuing to operate a malfunctioning system often causes additional damage and increases repair costs.
HVAC systems in Atlanta typically last 15-20 years with proper maintenance, though Georgia’s demanding climate can shorten this lifespan. Several factors help determine whether repair or replacement makes more financial sense.
Consider replacement when:
Modern equipment with higher SEER ratings (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) provides substantially better efficiency, often 20-40% energy savings compared to systems from 15 years ago. Heat pumps offer additional versatility, providing both heating and cooling with exceptional efficiency in Atlanta’s mild winters.
Coolray’s technicians provide honest assessments and help you compare repair costs against long-term savings from new equipment, ensuring you make an informed decision.
Professional installation follows a structured process that ensures proper performance and longevity:
Most standard air conditioning installations are completed within one day. More complex projects involving ductwork modifications, zoning systems, or challenging equipment placement may require additional time. Your Coolray contractor provides a clear timeline before work begins.
Programmable thermostats and smart thermostats offer significant energy savings in Georgia’s climate, where heating and cooling account for roughly 48% of home energy use.
These devices allow you to automatically adjust temperature settings based on your schedule, raising the setpoint while you’re at work and cooling your home before you return. In Atlanta, where summer cooling costs dominate energy bills, even small setpoint adjustments can yield noticeable savings.
Smart thermostats provide additional features:
Many smart thermostats deliver 20% or greater energy savings through optimized scheduling and learning capabilities. Coolray can help determine compatibility with your existing HVAC system and recommend the best options for your home.
Ductless mini-split systems provide heating and cooling without requiring traditional ductwork. They consist of an outdoor compressor unit connected to one or more indoor units mounted on walls or ceilings, linked by refrigerant lines.
Each indoor unit operates independently, allowing precise temperature control in individual rooms or zones. In cooling mode, the indoor unit absorbs heat from your home and transfers it to the outdoor unit. In heating mode, this process reverses, making mini-splits efficient heat pumps for Atlanta’s mild winters.
Mini-splits offer several advantages for Atlanta homes:
While installation costs run higher than traditional systems, typically $3,000-$5,000 per zone, the efficiency gains often offset the investment, particularly in variable-use spaces or older Atlanta homes with deteriorating ductwork.
HVAC zoning systems divide your home into separate areas with independent temperature control, using dampers in your ductwork and multiple thermostats to direct conditioned air where needed.
Zoning provides significant benefits for:
Modern zoning technologies range from simple two-zone systems to advanced multi-zone configurations with smart controls. Variable air volume (VAV) systems offer the most sophisticated approach, modulating airflow to each zone for 15-30% energy savings compared to constant-volume systems.
If certain areas of your Atlanta home are consistently uncomfortable while others are too cold or too hot, zoning may solve these problems more effectively than equipment replacement alone.
Air conditioners use about 6 percent of all the energy produced in America. That's a lot of energy, and it gets expensive!
A professional evaluation is the best way to determine the heating and cooling needs of your home. That said, Atlanta homeowners can reduce HVAC energy costs through several practical approaches outlined here.
Set temperatures to 73°F when home during summer and higher when away. Each degree of adjustment can save 3% on cooling costs.
Schedule regular tune-ups and change air filters monthly. Clean systems operate more efficiently and use less energy.
Energy efficiency is important because air conditioning consumes a significant amount of electricity, contributing to carbon emissions.
Address duct leaks, which waste up to 30% of conditioned air, and ensure adequate insulation, especially in attics exposed to Georgia heat. Energy efficiency is important because air conditioning consumes more than 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year in an average size home.
Modern systems with higher SEER ratings provide substantial efficiency improvements. ENERGY STAR units save 20-40% compared to standard equipment. Also, a system that is too small will run constantly, running up your energy bill.
It is generally recommended to replace both indoor and outdoor HVAC units at the same time for optimal performance.
Fans allow you to raise thermostat settings by 4°F without sacrificing comfort.
Georgia Power and federal programs offer rebates and incentives for energy-efficient HVAC upgrades, including heat pumps and high-efficiency equipment. Coolray can help you identify available programs and calculate potential savings from system improvements.
HVAC emergencies require prompt attention to protect your family’s comfort and safety. Situations warranting emergency service include:
Coolray provides after-hours and weekend emergency service throughout the Atlanta region, ensuring you’re never without heating or cooling when you need it most.
Emergency service calls during non-business hours typically carry additional fees compared to standard appointments. When you call, our dispatch team helps assess the situation and determine whether immediate service is necessary or if the issue can safely wait until regular hours.
Yes, Coolray offers CoolCare, designed to keep your heating and cooling systems operating efficiently throughout the year.
Our maintenance plans include:
Regular maintenance extends equipment lifespan, maintains warranty coverage, reduces unexpected breakdowns, and ensures peak efficiency during Atlanta’s demanding summer and winter seasons.
You can enroll online with auto-renewal options, making it easy to maintain consistent care for your HVAC equipment without tracking schedules or remembering appointments.
When selecting filters, consider MERV ratings (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value). Higher ratings capture smaller particles:
Higher-rated filters provide better air quality but may restrict airflow in some systems. Our team can recommend the appropriate filter type and MERV rating for your specific equipment and household needs.