Frequently Asked Questions

HVAC questions usually arrive with a context: a rising electric bill, a clammy living room in July, a furnace that worked yesterday and won’t start today, a contractor’s quote that doesn’t quite add up. Below are straight answers to the questions Lexington Heating and Air hears most often from homeowners and businesses across Lexington and Fayette County — with the local physics, geology, and code that actually shape the answer. If yours isn’t here, call (859) 215-5241 and we’ll answer it directly.

General HVAC Questions

How often should I service my HVAC system in central Kentucky?

Twice a year is the standard: a heating tune-up in fall before the first cold snap, and a cooling tune-up in spring before Lexington’s humid summer hits. Our Climate Zone 4A weather is hard on equipment in both directions — damp winters stress heat exchangers, while humid summers force air conditioners to work against a heavy latent moisture load. Two visits a year keep efficiency up and catch small failures while they’re still cheap.

How long does an HVAC system last in Lexington?

With regular maintenance, a gas furnace typically lasts 15–20 years, a properly maintained air conditioner or heat pump 12–15 years, and a boiler often longer. The Bluegrass region’s hard water shortens the life of humidifier pads and steam canisters meaningfully, and humidity is hard on evaporator coils and condensate drains, so service intervals matter more here than in a dry climate. A neglected system in our humidity fails years earlier than a maintained one.

What size HVAC system does my home need?

The correct size comes from a Manual J load calculation, not a rule of thumb tied to square footage. A 1920s brick home in Ashland Park with original windows can carry a heating and cooling load very different from a tightly built 2020s home in Andover of the same size. Oversized equipment is especially damaging here: it short-cycles in humidity, cooling the air fast but never running long enough to dehumidify, leaving the house cool but clammy.

Should I repair or replace my system?

A useful guideline: if the repair runs more than about a third of replacement cost and the unit is past roughly 70% of its expected life, replacement usually wins on the math. But the specific failure matters more than the formula. A failed igniter on a 10-year-old furnace is a clear repair. A cracked heat exchanger or a failed compressor on aging equipment generally points toward replacement, especially on R-22 systems where refrigerant cost has climbed sharply.

Heating Questions

Why is my furnace running but not heating the house?

The usual suspects, in roughly the order we find them: a dirty flame sensor (one of the single most common faults on Lexington furnaces five years old or more), a failed hot surface igniter, a clogged condensate trap on a 90%+ AFUE high-efficiency unit, a stuck pressure switch, or a thermostat issue. Each has the same symptom — system runs, no heat — and a very different repair cost. The fix is straightforward once the actual fault is diagnosed rather than guessed at.

Is a heat pump a good choice in Lexington’s climate?

Yes — Fayette County’s Climate Zone 4A is genuinely well-suited to modern heat pumps, which heat efficiently down through most of our winter and also cool. The catch: the unit has to be sized for Lexington’s actual winter design temperatures (not the optimistic mild-day rating on the box) so it delivers capacity during a January cold snap, often paired with a backup heat source. A right-sized heat pump in 4A is one of the better long-term comfort decisions you can make.

Cooling Questions

Why is my house cool but still humid?

This is the single most common cooling complaint in central Kentucky, and the cause is almost always an oversized air conditioner. Cooling does two jobs — lower temperature (sensible load) and remove moisture (latent load). When a unit is too big, it satisfies the thermostat in a fast burst and shuts off before it can dehumidify. The fix is correct sizing, and sometimes a variable-speed system or a whole-home dehumidifier. Humidity control depends on runtime, not raw tonnage.

How do I know if my AC needs refrigerant?

Warm or weak air, ice on the refrigerant lines, or a system that runs without cooling can indicate low refrigerant. Important detail: refrigerant isn’t consumed in normal operation, so a low charge always means a leak. Simply adding more without finding the leak is a temporary patch that empties out again, costs you more over time, and vents refrigerant into the atmosphere — which federal law prohibits and EPA Section 608 certification covers. We find the leak first.

Indoor Air Quality & Maintenance Questions

How often should I change my air filter?

A standard 1-inch filter, every 1–3 months — more often with pets, allergies, or new construction dust. Thicker 4-to-5-inch media filters can last 6–12 months. In Lexington’s humid climate, a clean filter also protects the evaporator coil from the biofilm and mineral buildup that moisture and hard water encourage, which directly affects efficiency and dehumidification.

Do I need a humidifier or a dehumidifier in Lexington?

Often both, seasonally. Bluegrass summers are humid enough that many homes benefit from a whole-home dehumidifier to control indoor moisture and protect against mold — especially in older Lexington homes that aren’t tightly sealed. Winters, by contrast, can leave heated indoor air dry enough to crack hardwood and dry out woodwork, where a humidifier helps. The right setup depends on your home; we can assess it during a visit.

Do you offer maintenance plans?

[Confirm your maintenance plan details before publishing — what’s included, visit frequency, and pricing. A plan that bundles the fall heating tune-up with the spring AC tune-up and includes priority scheduling is a common structure, but state only what you actually offer.]

Service, Pricing & Scheduling

Do you offer emergency service?

[Confirm emergency availability before publishing — whether you provide 24/7 or after-hours response, how to reach the emergency line, and any associated fees. This is one of the most-searched HVAC questions in our area, so a clear, accurate answer here has real value.]

What areas do you serve?

All of Lexington and Fayette County, including Ashland Park, Chevy Chase, Kenwick, Hamburg, Andover, Beaumont, Tates Creek, and Gardenside, plus the nearby communities of Nicholasville, Versailles, Georgetown, Wilmore, and Midway. Our shop on Cassidy Ave keeps response times short across most of central Lexington.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes. Lexington Heating and Air operates under Kentucky HVAC contractor license #HM04788 through the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, with EPA Section 608 Universal certification #608U-2011-0457123 covering R-22, R-410A, and R-454B refrigerants. (Realistic-format placeholder numbers — swap in verified credentials.) We carry general liability and workers’ compensation coverage and pull permits through the LFUCG Division of Building Inspection where required.

How do I schedule service or get an estimate?

Call (859) 215-5241 to schedule service or request an estimate. We’ll discuss what’s happening with your system, give you a clear sense of next steps, and set a visit that works for you. For new system quotes, expect a Manual J load calculation as part of the process — not a guess from a tape measure.

---

Still Have Questions? Ask Lexington Heating and Air

If your question isn’t above, we’re glad to answer it. A member of our Lexington-based team will walk you through it — no obligation, no pressure.

• Phone: (859) 215-5241
• Address: 343 Cassidy Ave, Lexington, KY 40502
• Email: [add business email before publishing]

Contact Us →