Getting Started 101

Ready to begin? Have some more questions?

Welcome to our Getting Started page. Simply Click On the topics below to view our solutions and answers to the top questions you may have about selecting the right HVAC equipment for your home.

Please contact us with any questions, we'd love to hear from you!

Home Comfort Questions? - Look at the Comfort Concerns you may have and make a note for review of these concerns when you meet with your contractor.

What to expect? - We'll take you through are policies and procedures to give you an overview of how we perform our Contractor duties.

How to select an Air Conditioner? - We'll take you through the basics and provide some helpful tips.

How to select a Furnace? - Learn the proper way to go about your furnace selection.

What To Expect
When Alex Walter Installs Your New Furnace and/or Air Conditioner...

• When Will Your Installers Arrive?

The average arrival time is usually 8:30 a.m. Sometimes we may want to start earlier if we anticipate cold weather. On the other hand traffic can slow us down.

• May I Leave To Run Errands Or Go To Work?

Yes. Simply let Alex Walter and/or his helpers know you are leaving and how you can be reached if necessary. If you need to leave before we arrive, please give us very explicit instructions about how we may enter your home. We need to know where to find the key and any door codes or security system codes. We need to know what to do about pets and where they will be kept.

• Should I Cover My Carpets?

No. The first thing we do when we enter your home is to place drop cloths where appropriate. We often cover the floor from the entry door to all areas where we intend to walk.

• Will I Need To Clean After The Installation?

No. After we install your furnace, we will sweep and/or vacuum the areas where we worked. We will try very hard to clean up before we leave.

• Will You Be Loud?

Not often. Our crews will use power tools, hammers, and saws at different times during your installation. Most of the sounds come from our crew communicating with each other.

• Can I Run My Furnace or Air Conditioner During The Installation?

No. We will disconnect the old system within the first hour or two of our arrival. In some rare cases with extensive work the system may be off overnight.

• When Do I Give The Final Payment?

Alex Walter’s office helpers will create a detailed invoice including equipment model and serial numbers. Upon job completion and presentation of the invoice please be prepared to pay according to the previously agreed terms.

• Will Someone Educate Me Regarding The New Installation?

Yes. Alex Walter and/or his helpers will test the new equipment upon completion of the installation. They will explain the new system to you and answer any remaining questions you have about your new comfort system.

• Do I Need To Get Permits From The City?

We will obtain building permits for you and then call to schedule an appointment time for the appropriate inspector. You will need to make your home available for the inspectors. We will try to make this as convenient as possible.

Simple Air Conditioner Selection
How to select the correct air conditioner for you

TIP: *Select a NATE Certified Contractor, then follow the steps below...

1. Select a duct type air conditioner which is added to your furnace installation. Or select a ductless air conditioner, or a mini-duct high velocity air conditioner which may be used in special situations. Ask Alex Walter to help pick what will give you the most comfort.

2. Select the air conditioner efficiency, 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) up to 19 SEER or more. The highest efficiency (19 SEER+) air conditioners cost about $1,000.00 more than the 13 SEER models. The 19+ SEER air conditioners are considered to be the ultimate in design as they provide the greatest comfort levels with the least energy consumption. They are also very quiet.

3. For optimum efficiency and quiet operation select an air conditioner with a two or more speed compressor and/or fan in the outdoor condenser unit. Having a multi-speed condenser compressor and/or fan motor will assure that the condenser is operating as quietly and as efficiently as it can. The compressor and/or fan will operate at low speed when the cooling need is mild and speed up to a higher speed only when more cooling is needed. This leads to greater comfort and efficiency. Select an outdoor air conditioning condenser with a permanent cover on top if you are concerned about having leaves, dust, or other stuff fall inside the unit. A cover also adds safety if you are concerned about having children playing around this piece of machinery.

4. For ease of maintenance you should have a factory made evaporator/cooling coil case associated with your furnace. Factory built cases are far superior to those made on the job or by the installing contractor. Factory built cases have covers which may be removed for ease of cleaning whereas contractor fabricated cases do not have removable covers.

5. Select the correct cooling capacity in Btu’s per hour. To do that you probably need help and that is what Alex Walter, Furnaces, A/C & More can do for you. The best choice is an air conditioner which will run constantly at an outdoor temperature of about 91°F or above. Selecting an air conditioner with too much capacity is not efficient (it is wasteful) and provides less comfort than a properly sized air conditioner.

6. Now all you have to do is select the things you would like to have installed with your air conditioner . . . easy to set thermostat, furnace, high efficiency air cleaner, humidifier, zoning controls etc. Ask Alex Walter about these things. . . he can help you decide.

That’s all there is to it . . . selecting your air conditioner is that easy.

Simple Furnace Selection
How to select the right firnace for your home...
TIP: First Select a NATE Certified Contractor, then follow the steps below…

1. Select the furnace efficiency, either 80% (80 AFUE) or 90-H% (90 AFUE). The highest efficiency (90+%) furnaces cost about $1,000.00 more than the 80% efficient furnaces. The 90+% efficient furnaces are considered to be sealed combustion and therefore very quiet. How the furnace venting will be accomplished must be considered.

2. Select a multi-stage (two or more stages) furnace. The multi-stage furnace is the best choice in Colorado as we have so much mild weather, e.g. so many days when the outdoor temperature is 40° F. or above. When the outdoor temperature is mild you only need a small moderate capacity furnace. The multi-stage furnace gives you that feature on those mild days. This leads to greater comfort and efficiency.

3. Select a fixed speed or variable speed blower motor. The variable speed blower motor is very efficient and the best choice as it can be operated continuously at a very low speed while only consuming about 60 watts of electrical power, i.e. about the same as a medium sized light bulb. The variable speed blower motor furnace is the best choice especially if you have a high efficiency air cleaner as you can run the blower continuously at low speed thus filtering the air in your home all the time. The variable speed blower motor furnaces only cost about $300.00 more than single/fixed speed blower motor furnaces.

4. Select the heating capacity in Btu’s per hour. To do that you probably need help and that is what Alex Walter, Furnaces, A/C & More can do for you. The best choice is a furnace which will run constantly at an outdoor temperature of about zero degrees or below. Selecting a furnace with too much capacity is not efficient (it is wasteful) and provides less comfort than a properly sized furnace.

5. Now all you have to do is select the things you would like to have installed with your furnace . . . easy to set thermostat, air conditioning, high efficiency air cleaner, humidifier, zoning controls etc. Ask Alex Walter about these things. . . he can help you decide.

That’s all there is to it . . . selecting your furnace is that easy.

Home Comfort Concerns...

How would you rate the importance of... 10=High / 1=Low

1. Quiet operation of the indoor part of your comfort sustem?
2. Quiet opreration of the outdoor part of your home comfort system?
3. Exceptional comfort system reliability?
4. Attractive comfort system apppearance (Thermostats, etc.)?
5. Energy Saving?
6. Low payment or price terms?
7. Outstanding installation workmanship?
8. Ease of maintenace?
9. The use of enviranmental friendly equipment?
10. Being at home th entire time your new comfort system is being installed?
11. Haveing clean cut, Drug Free, non-smoker and sober craftsmen installing your new comfort system?
12. Having drop cloths used to protect floors and to have floors swept during and at the end of your sytem installation?
13. Having Alex Walter handle the building inspection?

There are 100 ways to install a Comfort System.

The best way is "what's best for you" and "your family".

We don't cut corners - We do it right!