Benfatti FAQ

What are variable speed air conditioners and do i need one?

Benfatti offers professional installation of variable speed air conditioners that can help achieve ultimate comfort in your home or business, no matter what the temperature is outside during Southern Louisiana’s hot and humid summer months. These systems differ from traditional air conditioning systems because the compressor and fan motor inside the outdoor unit works at a variety of speeds to help temperature control your home or business. As a result, you have a consistently cooler home or business during the hot, hot summer, and everyone inside the structure is happy and more comfortable.

Variable Speed Air Conditioners Offer Several Benefits

In addition to being better able to temperature control your home or business, a variable speed air conditioner offers additional benefits including:

Better Energy Efficiency – Because variable speed air conditioners use less electricity than standard air conditioning systems. This means you’ll be able to cool your home to your desired temperature, all while paying less in your electricity costs.
Increased Cooling Efficiency – Since variable speed air conditioners are more efficient than traditional units, you’ll get a better Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER).
Choose Which Rooms to Make Cooler – A variable speed air conditioner allows you to do something we in the business call zoning. Want to keep your living areas cool during the day but empty bedrooms a little warmer to save even more on your energy costs and usage? We can help you do that!
Improved Air Quality – If you have allergies or pets that leave a lot of fur behind, you’ll love this benefit of a variable speed air conditioner. Because these advanced AC system’s fans are in constant operation, they will continue to circulate the air in your home or business, helping to improve your indoor air quality.
Control That Southern Humidity – Here’s something we Southerners can appreciate. A variable speed air conditioner helps you better control the humidity in your building. Keep the humidity and its associated stickiness outside your home or business where it belongs!

We know that an AC system isn’t something you frequently purchase, and that since HVAC technology is constantly changing, there are likely different options available to you now than there were the last time you bought an AC. That’s why at Benfatti, we’re here to help.

If you have questions about installing a variable speed air conditioning system in your Northshore or Metro New Orleans home or business, we’re happy to answer them. Or, if you’re ready for a free estimate, call Benfatti at 985-646-0540 on the Northshore or 504-241-3135 on the Southshore.

What’s a Heat Pump?

So, what exactly is a heat pump, and how can it save you money?

Well, a heat pump uses electricity to move warm air from one place to another – from where you don’t need it, to where you do. That means:

Even when the air outside seems too cold, heat energy is still present. When you want to stay warm in the fall and winter, a heat pump takes the heat energy from the air outside and brings it into your home, keeping you comfortable and toasty. And,
When you want to cool off during the summer months, a heat pump takes the heat energy from inside and moves it outside of your home.

And, get this. A heat pump uses about one quarter of the electricity that a traditional HVAC appliance does.

The result is that you get the temperature you want, when you want it, while paying lower gas and electricity bills. It’s a win-win!

Call Benfatti at 985-646-0540 on the Northshore or 504-241-3135 on the Southshore for a free estimate.

Air-Cooled Generator vs. Liquid Cooled Generator?

Unlike air cooled generators, which use engines and fans in order to keep your home cool while the power is out for an extended period of time, liquid cooled generators have enclosed radiator systems. With a cooling system similar to those found in many automobiles, liquid generators produce more power than their air cooled alternatives.

There are several benefits of installing a liquid cooled generator in your home, including:

More Power

Most liquid cooled generators produce between 25 to 60 kilowatt hours of power, compared to the air cooled alternatives that only produce on average between 8 and 20 kilowatt hours. Because liquid cooled generators produce more power, they can keep your home cooler during extended power outages, and even power other necessary appliances, too.

Better for Larger Homes

If you have a larger than average home, then you definitely want to consider a liquid cooled generator over an air cooled one. This is because your larger home needs more energy to keep it cool, and liquid cooled power generators produce just that!

A Quieter Alternative

Let’s just be honest, air cooled generators can be quite loud, and nobody wants to deal with all that excess noise, especially during an extended power outage. Alternatively, liquid cooled generators tend to produce less noise, allowing you to relax a little more easily after a hurricane or large storm.

Call us today for a free estimate: 985-646-0540 on the Northshore and 504-241-3135 in Metro New Orleans. Or click here to schedule an appointment.

What is a WiFi Thermostat?

There are a variety of WiFi thermostat brands, which allow you to wirelessly set the temperature in your home from wherever you are, simply by using an app on your smartphone. With a WiFi thermostat, you can keep your HVAC unit off while you’re away from home, then go to your app and turn it on as you’re leaving work so your home will be your desired temperature when you arrive.

And if you want to get extra techie and state-of-the-art, you can even use a smart device home hub like an Amazon Echo or Google Home to simply talk to your WiFi thermostat while you’re in your home, and tell it what to do!

If you’re ready for a free estimate on a WiFI thermostat, call Benfatti at 985-646-0540 on the Northshore or 504-241-3135 on the Southshore.

What is a Dehumidifier?

A dehumidifier is a special device that you can install either in a single room – or throughout your whole house using a whole-home version – to reduce the humidity that exists in your home.

Dehumidifiers offer customers several benefits, including:

Less humidity in your home.
Reduced allergies.
Less likelihood of mold growing in your home.
Eliminating the musty smell we often have in our Southeastern Louisiana homes.
Allows your clothes to dry faster, eliminates signs of corrosion on your electronics, and even makes your bread stay fresh, longer.

Call Benfatti at 985-646-0540 on the Northshore or 504-241-3135 on the Southshore for a free estimate.

Traditional vs. Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters, also known as demand-type or instantaneous water heaters, provide your home with hot water only when it’s needed. Because tankless water heaters don’t heat up water in between uses, they can significantly reduce your gas bill.

A traditional water heater – which you probably have installed in your home – works by keeping a tank full of hot water all the time. Cold water goes in, but a gas burner heats it continuously so hot water is available when you want it.

Only, hot water never immediately comes out of your sink, right?

Why YOU should go Tankless

Tankless water heaters are a different kind of technology.

These new devices work by heating the water you use in your home’s sinks, bathtubs and showers without heating a storage tank of water. If you have a tankless water heater, when you turn on a hot water tap or decide to take a nice, long hot shower, the tankless water heater goes to work by:

Moving cold water through a pipe into the tankless water heater unit.
Heating the cold water via a gas burner or electric element, depending on whether or not you have a gas or electric tankless water heater.
As a result, tankless water heaters deliver an “on-demand” supply of hot water – more efficiently pushing hot water through your sinks, bathtubs and showers than a traditional water heater.
Not only do tankless water heaters deliver hot water faster, they do so using less energy, so you get more hot water at a lower energy cost.

Working with Benfatti to Get a Tankless Water Heater

If you’re ready to install this money saving technology in your Southeastern Louisiana home, you need an experienced installer who can help you choose the right device and best install it in your home.

You need Benfatti Air Conditioning and Heating!

With years of experience installing tankless water heaters in homes throughout Louisiana, we have the expertise needed to help you find the right solution for the size of your home and your family size.

Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Estimate! You should never get work done on your home without first getting a free, written estimate from a licensed professional. You can trust Benfatti to take this extra step.

Benefits of Having a Generator

A generator serves as a backup energy source to your home or business. When the normal source of power goes out, the generator is signaled so that it can begin providing energy to your home or building.

Other types of generators offer manual hook ups rather than automated responses so that you can take charge in how to use your energy reserves during the outage. Whichever form you choose, you will find that the benefits of having a generator are enormous.

Call Benfatti today for a free estimate: 985-646-0540 on the Northshore and 504-241-3135 in Metro New Orleans. Or click here to schedule an appointment.

Portable generators vs. whole-home standby generators

Portable generators sometimes appear to be an attractive outcome in the beginning as they are less expensive and highly portable. To work, you turn on the generator (often gasoline-powered) and connect your home’s appliances to the generator as needed. Note that the American Red Cross warns that portable standby generators, when stored or operated incorrectly, can put your home at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Also, don’t forget that portable generators require regular maintenance throughout the year whether they’re being run or not. And, they may only be strong enough to power a few selected appliances or comfort systems in your home at any given time.

Automatic standby generators are placed outside the home and are linked directly to your power system. These whole-home generators run on liquid propane or natural gas to automatically power your home if a power failure is detected. Requiring little maintenance or care, these generators wait silently until they’re needed and automatically kick on to power your entire home when you need it most. Even if you’re not home to turn them on.

If you’re ready for a free estimate on a generator, call Benfatti at 985-646-0540 on the Northshore or 504-241-3135 on the Southshore.

What is Air Duct Cleaning?

When air ducts are cleaned it is actually a comprehensive service that is done with a lot of care. The service depends on the size of the system, the climate and the level of contamination. If mold is involved, for example, it is incredibly important that the entire system is carefully cleaned so that no loose particles are released into your home. The surrounding areas should also be checked, as well, as the conditions of the area are likely to cause the same issues in the future.

Call Benfatti today at 985-646-0540 on the Northshore or 504-241-3135 in Metro New Orleans for a free air duct cleaning estimate. Or click here to schedule an appointment.

What are Some Commercial Industries We Serve for HVAC?

We have been serving our community for almost 30 years, both in residential and commercial capacities. We have the experience along with the equipment, no matter your service needs. Here are a few examples of the industries we serve.

Retail stores

You work hard for your business and your customers are your number one priority. Maintaining a comfortable environment is an essential part in providing your customers with a pleasant experience. We understand this and provide regular maintenance services to retail stores, along with timely repairs and installations as needed.

Medical

Medical offices have a heightened need for clean air and efficient air conditioning units. Our equipment can help remove up to 99.9% of all bacteria and airborne allergens that could hurt the health of your patients. Our routine maintenance plan helps you keep the cleanest air possible while also keeping your overall costs low.

Restaurants

Clean air in restaurants is incredibly important in order to maintain a clean and safe eating space for your patrons. We offer air conditioning equipment that uses ultra violet lights alongside the latest conditioning technology to eliminate food odors, bacteria and allergens from the air. This provides a more pleasant experience for your patrons, ensuring that they will return in the future.

There are so many reasons to have your commercial space equipped with the best functioning air conditioning equipment that we offer. Comfort, cleanliness and reduced energy costs are all important aspects of running a business as well as important aspects of a good air conditioning unit. Give Benfatti a call today for commercial HVAC service in our service area including Slidell, Mandeville, Covington & metro New Orleans.

Do You Offer Same Day Service?

Yes, we offer same-day service, seven days a week! We know that sometimes things happen and bad weather can take a toll on your unit. If your unit is down or a piece is broken, we are available to respond to your emergency needs the same day! Our technicians are available 7 days a week.

We offer honest explanations and clear pricing right away so that you can make a decision in a timely manner. We guarantee that our repairs are completed properly the first time and we will not charge you overtime for night, weekend or holiday emergencies. If your unit is not working then do not hesitate to call Benfatti to get it repaired right away!

When Is It Time to Replace My Furnace?

If you’ve serviced your furnace multiple times over the years, and it still needs work this season, it may be a sign that it’s time to replace it.

At Benfatti Air Conditioning and Heating, we offer Trane natural gas furnace installations. The best of the best, Trane furnaces are built to last, and as Trane Comfort Specialists, we’re the most equipped heating contractor to install these state-of-the-art systems in your Northshore or Metro New Orleans home or business.

What are some things you can do to improve the air quality in your home?

Now, more than ever, the air quality in your home is so important. In addition to potential viruses, including the flu, which is still in wide circulation, allergies are in full bloom. Anyone with respiratory issues is being assaulted.

Change your air filters frequently
Dust, then vacuum to reduce particles in the air
Have your ductwork checked. Does it need to be cleaned? or replaced?

Some products that can help improve the air quality in your home:

Fresh Aire whole-house UV light air purifier
Trane ClearEffects ^TM whole house air filtration system.
Perfect Pleat Filters
Our AmgFlex™ antimicrobial duct system

Call Benfatti today for a free estimate: 985-646-0540 on the Northshore and 504-241-3135 in Metro New Orleans. Or click here to schedule an appointment.

When do I need to replace my air conditioning system?

Certain telltale signs indicate it’s time to consider replacing heating and cooling equipment, or improving the performance of your overall system. It may be time to call Benfatti Heating and Air Conditioning to help you update your system if:

Your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old.
Consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR label. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency units can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs.
Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old.
Consider replacing with an ENERGY STAR qualified furnace, which is 15% more efficient than a conventional furnace. If you have a boiler, consider replacing with an ENERGY STAR qualified boiler that is 5% more efficient than a new, standard model.
Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up.
Your cooling or heating equipment may have become less efficient.
Some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold.
Improper equipment operation, duct problems or inadequate insulation could be the cause.
No one is home for long periods of the day and you do not have a programmable thermostat.
Install a programmable thermostat or have a good contractor install one and instruct you on its use — to start saving energy and money while they’re away or sleeping.
Your home has humidity problems.
Poor equipment operation, inadequate equipment, and leaky ductwork can cause the air to be too dry in the winter or too humid in the summer.
Your home has excessive dust.
Leaky ducts can pull particles and air from attics, crawl spaces and basements and distribute them throughout your house. Sealing your ducts may be a solution.
Your heating or cooling system is noisy.
You could have an undersized duct system or a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.

Call Benfatti at 985-646-0540 on the Northshore or 504-241-3135 on the Southshore for a free estimate. Or click here to schedule an appointment.

The Benfatti Experience

We know that homeowners in Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, and Metro New Orleans have their choice of heating and air specialists to work with. At Benfatti, we’ve been providing total comfort, guaranteed, to Southeastern Louisiana homeowners since 1989.

Our difference is that we always strive to meet our customers’ needs, whenever they occur. We offer same day service, seven days a week to help you with any heating or air emergency you may have. We never want to leave you out in the cold during winter, or stuck in a hot home when the temperature and humidity is rising.

As TRANE Comfort Specialists, we’re extremely knowledgeable about the products developed by this leading manufacturer of home heating and cooling solutions. In fact, we exclusively install heating and air products from TRANE because we believe in this brand so much.

If you’re considering upgrading or replacing your home’s heating and air system, we’ll start by listening to you so we can understand your needs. Then, we’ll make recommendations to you based on what’s best for your family’s comfort and budget.

At Benfatti, we work hard every day to achieve our goal of a “TOTALLY SATISFIED CUSTOMER”. Give us a call today at 985-646-0540 on the Northshore or 504-241-3135 in Metro New Orleans. Or click here to schedule an appointment.

Benfatti 8-Part Assessment

Take our eight-part comfort needs assessment. This is how our highly trained service professionals ensure we do each job right and tailored to your specific needs.

The Benfatti Installation Difference

As professionals, we feel it is our responsibility to educate our customers on the best ways to install a new AC system. We recommend 11 proven protections that are above city and parish codes and work to protect your system and our home.

Easy Payment Plans

On NEW EQUIPMENT: Pay no interest for up to 5 years. This deal makes it affordable to upgrade your inefficient system. High Efficiency Trane systems save you money every month, so start saving now!

On MAINTENANCE: Our affordable monthly payment plan makes it easy to keep your cooling and heating equipment working and well-maintained.