Climate Control
Climate Control | Ventilation and Air Quality | Heating and Air Conditioning | Sewanee
Nestled on the Cumberland Plateau, Sewanee is famous for its crisp mountain atmosphere—yet it only takes one humid afternoon or pollen-heavy breeze to remind you how different the air can feel inside your home. HEP’s Climate Control Heating & Air Conditioning team bridges that gap, tailoring solutions that keep every room as refreshing as the vistas outside. From energy-smart heat pumps to whisper-quiet furnaces, we design, install, and maintain systems that never miss a Tennessee temperature swing.
Our specialists also know that true comfort is about more than degrees on the thermostat. That’s why we focus on ventilation and air quality services that target the invisible culprits: lingering cooking odors, pet dander, airborne viruses, and excessive moisture. With hospital-grade filtration, UV purification, balanced ventilation, and thorough duct cleaning, we clear the air so you can breathe, sleep, and live better—season after season in Sewanee.
FAQs
What type of HVAC system works best in Sewanee’s mountain climate?
Because Sewanee sits nearly 2,000 feet above sea level and sees four true seasons, a dual-fuel or cold-climate heat-pump system is usually the most efficient choice. A variable-speed heat pump handles 90-95 % of the yearly heating and all of the cooling, while a high-efficiency gas or propane furnace serves as back-up heat during sub-freezing snaps. This configuration delivers lower utility bills than a straight furnace-and-A/C pair, yet still provides the robust heating capacity needed for winter nights that can dip into the teens.
How often should my heating and cooling equipment be serviced?
We recommend professional preventive maintenance twice a year—once in early spring for the cooling side and once in early fall for the heating side. During these visits, a licensed technician will clean indoor and outdoor coils, test refrigerant charge, inspect electrical components, verify airflow, and check safety controls on the furnace or heat strips. In between visits, change or wash your air filter every 30–90 days, keep outdoor units free of leaves, and pour a cup of a 50/50 vinegar-water mix into the condensate drain line each quarter to prevent algae build-up.
What steps can I take to improve indoor air quality in my Sewanee home?
Start with the basics: use MERV-11 or higher pleated filters, replace them on schedule, and keep humidity between 35 % and 55 %. For added protection, consider a whole-house media cabinet or electronic air cleaner, which captures much finer particulates than a standard 1-inch filter. UV-C lamps installed near the evaporator coil kill mold and bacteria, while an optional activated-carbon stage removes cooking and fireplace odors common in mountain homes. If asthma or severe allergies are a concern, a professionally sized HEPA bypass system can remove 99.97 % of particles down to 0.3 microns.
Why is mechanical ventilation important, and what options do I have?
Modern homes are built tighter to save energy, but that also traps moisture, VOCs, and allergens inside. Mechanical ventilation dilutes these pollutants and maintains healthy indoor air. In Sewanee’s climate zone 4A, an energy-recovery ventilator (ERV) is usually preferred; it exchanges stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while transferring both heat and moisture to minimize energy loss and keep humidity in balance. For smaller homes or retrofits, a supply-only fan tied to the HVAC return or dedicated exhaust fans with smart timers can also meet ASHRAE 62.2 ventilation standards.
How can I control humidity and prevent mold growth during Sewanee’s damp summers?
First, make sure your air-conditioning system is properly sized; oversizing short-cycles and leaves moisture behind. Programmable thermostats with dehumidification control can force longer, slower cooling cycles that wring out more water. If indoor relative humidity still climbs above 55 %, a whole-house dehumidifier installed in the ductwork will remove up to 90 pints per day without over-cooling the living space. Repair gutter leaks, seal crawl-space vents, and maintain at least a 6-mil vapor barrier on the crawl-space floor to keep ground moisture from migrating indoors.
Are high-efficiency heat pumps really effective during Sewanee’s coldest winter days?
Yes—today’s cold-climate, inverter-driven heat pumps maintain 80-90 % of their rated capacity down to 5 °F and continue operating (with reduced output) even at –13 °F. On the occasional night when outdoor temperatures fall below the balance point, an auxiliary heat source—either electric heat strips or a gas furnace in a dual-fuel setup—kicks in automatically. Because Sewanee’s average January low is around 27 °F, these systems spend most of the season running in their highly efficient heat-pump mode, cutting heating costs by 30-50 % compared with straight electric or propane heat.