HVAC Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We know heating failures don’t always happen during business hours. If you lose heat during a winter storm or have a major leak, please call our main line immediately. We offer emergency diagnostics to get you safe and comfortable as quickly as possible.

A repair is usually sufficient if your system is under 10-12 years old and the cost of repair is less than 50% of the value of the system. You should consider replacement if:

• The equipment is over 15 years old.

• Your energy bills are rising despite normal usage.

• The system requires frequent repairs (more than once a year).

• Your home has hot and cold spots or humidity issues.

Ductless systems are incredibly popular in Mason County, especially for older homes that rely on baseboard heaters or wood stoves.

• Efficiency: They are significantly cheaper to run than electric baseboards.

• AC Included: They provide both heating and cooling.

• Zoning: You can control the temperature in individual rooms, so you aren’t heating empty spaces.

Is this an HVAC issue?

It can be. In the PNW, high indoor humidity is common. If your windows are “sweating,” it means your home’s humidity is too high relative to the cold outdoor temperature.

• Ensure your bathroom and kitchen fans are venting properly to the outside.

• Your HVAC system helps dehumidify while running. If the issue persists, ask us about whole-home dehumidifiers or ensuring your crawl space is properly ventilated.

Yes! While we are based in Shelton, Mason Energy proudly serves the greater Mason County area and surrounding communities, including:

• Allyn

• Belfair

• Hoodsport

• Union

• Grapeview

• Lilliwaup

We recommend scheduling maintenance twice a year:

• Spring: To prep your Air Conditioner or Heat Pump for the cooling season.

• Fall: To prep your Furnace or Heat Pump for the heating season. Regular maintenance keeps your warranty valid, lowers energy bills, and helps prevent breakdowns during the coldest days of the year.

• Aux Heat: This stands for “Auxiliary Heat.” It means your heat pump needs a little help from its electric backup strips because it is extremely cold outside, or you raised the thermostat temperature by more than 2 degrees quickly. This is normal in very cold snaps.

• Em Heat: This stands for “Emergency Heat.” Do not use this setting unless your outdoor heat pump unit is physically broken or encased in solid ice. It forces the system to use only the expensive electric backup strips, bypassing the efficient heat pump entirely

No, usually not. unlike a gas furnace, heat pumps work most efficiently when they maintain a steady temperature. We recommend the “Set it and Forget it” method. radically lowering the temperature at night can cause the system to trigger its “auxiliary” or “emergency” heat strips to catch up in the morning, which is much more expensive to run. If you do set it back, keep the difference small (no more than 2-3 degrees).

To balance comfort with energy efficiency in the Pacific Northwest climate:

• Winter: Set your thermostat to 68°F when you are home and awake. Lowering it 7-10 degrees while you sleep or are away can save significant energy (unless you have a heat pump, see question #3).

• Summer: Set your thermostat to 78°F or higher. If that feels too warm, try 72°F-75°F and use ceiling fans to create a wind-chill effect.

For most homes in Shelton, we recommend checking your filter once a month.

• Standard 1-inch filters: Replace every 1 to 3 months. If you have pets, allergies, or run the system constantly, aim for every month.

• Thicker Media Filters (4-5 inch): These typically last 6 to 12 months.

• Wildfire Season Note: During late summer, if there is heavy smoke in the area, check your filter immediately after the smoke clears. It may need to be replaced sooner than usual to maintain air quality.