Skip to content
Plain guides to heating, cooling, indoor air and 5G home internet
Connecting homes with smarter technology, efficient climate systems and modern internet. Learn your options, then talk to contractors and providers with the right questions.
We explain heating, cooling, clean air and home internet
so they can work as one system.
Check my home
AC units, furnaces, heat pumps, installs
Heating & Cooling Systems
01.
Repairs, inspections, replacements
HVAC Maintenance & Repairs
02.
Filtration, humidity, ventilation
Indoor Air Quality
03.
Lower bills, efficient equipment, assessments
Energy Efficiency
04.
Thermostats, zoning, automation
Smart Climate Technology
05.
Licences, quotes, questions to ask
Find HVAC Professionals
06.
Coverage, gateways, Wi-Fi for devices
5G Home Internet
07.
Systems at a glance
Where to start
Common problems, and where to read first
Terms and devices worth knowing
SEER2
The cooling efficiency rating on air conditioners and heat pumps sold since 2023. A higher rating uses less electricity for the same cooling.
HSPF2
The heating efficiency rating for heat pumps. Read it next to SEER2 when you compare two models.
MERV
A scale from 1 to 16 for how well a filter traps particles. Higher traps more, so check what your blower is built to pull air through.
C-wire
The common wire that gives a thermostat steady 24-volt power. Many smart thermostats need it to stay on.
Matter
A shared smart home standard, so devices from different brands can work in one app.
FWA
Fixed wireless access: home internet carried over a cellular network, 5G included, to a gateway in your home.
Thermostat
Smart thermostat
Needs Wi-Fi and steady power
Read the guide
Heat pump
Outdoor heat pump
Heating and cooling in one unit
Read the guide
Air cleaner
Room air purifier
Filters the air in one room
Read the guide
Sensor
Air quality monitor
Tracks humidity, carbon dioxide and dust
Read the guide
From first question to a finished install
01.
Answer a few questions about your heating, your rooms and your internet. The check runs in your browser and keeps nothing.
02.
Read the page for each part of your plan, from heat pumps and filters to smart thermostats and 5G gateways.
03.
Ask licensed contractors for a load calculation and an itemized quote, then compare them line by line before you sign.
04.
Put the thermostat on your Wi-Fi, book a tune-up before each season and change filters when they are due.
Worth asking
Questions worth asking
“Will you calculate the heating and cooling load for each room before you size the new system?”
Ask a contractor Question 1 of 4
Sizing a system from the old unit’s label can repeat an old mistake.
Read more
“Which refrigerant does this system use, and is your technician certified to handle it?”
Ask a contractor Question 2 of 4
Federal rules require EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerant work.
Read more
“Is 5G home internet available at my exact address, and where in the house should the gateway sit?”
Ask a provider Question 3 of 4
Coverage can change from one street to the next, and placement affects the signal.
Read more
“Does this thermostat need a C-wire, and what will you do if my system does not have one?”
Ask an installer Question 4 of 4
Without steady power, many smart thermostats switch off or drain their batteries.
Read more