HVAC and Solar Frequently Asked Questions

Solar panels generate electricity from sunlight and feed that power directly into your home's electrical system. When paired with your HVAC setup, the solar energy offsets the electricity your heating and cooling equipment draws from the grid, which can meaningfully reduce your monthly utility bills. At Smit's, we install solar energy systems sized and configured to work alongside your existing or new HVAC equipment. If your usage exceeds what the panels produce, your home simply draws the difference from the grid as usual. We serve homeowners throughout El Dorado County, including Diamond Springs, Placerville, and El Dorado Hills.

The Sierra foothills climate puts real seasonal stress on heating and cooling systems. A few habits go a long way: change your air filter every one to three months, keep the area around your outdoor unit clear of debris, and schedule a professional inspection before each peak season. Our Preferred Customer Maintenance Membership covers routine inspections and offers service discounts, so you're not scrambling when summer heat or winter cold arrives. Staying current on maintenance also extends equipment life and helps catch small issues before they become costly repairs. Call or text us at (530) 622-8446 to learn about membership tiers.

Ductless Mitsubishi systems are often an excellent choice for older homes because they don't require existing ductwork. They're highly efficient, quiet, and can be installed in individual rooms or zones, giving you precise control over comfort. Smit's holds Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor status, one of the highest-level designations in the industry, meaning our technicians are trained and certified specifically on these systems. If your home has relied on a swamp cooler that's no longer keeping up with warmer summers, a Mitsubishi heat pump upgrade is worth a conversation. Book an appointment and we'll walk you through the options for your specific home.

A whole-house Generac generator keeps your home running during outages, which matters in the El Dorado County foothills where grid reliability can be unpredictable. Before installation, a technician needs to assess your electrical panel to confirm it can support the load and determine whether a transfer switch is needed. If your panel is older or damaged, a panel replacement may be part of the project. Smit's handles Generac service and installation, including transfer switch installation, so the entire process is coordinated through one team. We're happy to walk you through what the process looks like for your property. Book an appointment to get started.

As El Dorado County summers get hotter, evaporative coolers that worked fine for decades are struggling to keep up. Swamp coolers add moisture to the air, which is less effective on humid days or during extended heat waves. The most common upgrade path is converting to an integrated air conditioning system or a high-efficiency Mitsubishi heat pump, both of which cool your home regardless of outdoor humidity. Some homeowners also add solar to offset the higher electricity use that comes with traditional AC. Our team can assess your current setup and give you a straightforward recommendation. Call or text us to get started.

Our Preferred Customer Maintenance Membership is a tiered program designed to keep your HVAC system running reliably year-round while saving you money on routine service. Members receive scheduled inspections before peak heating and cooling seasons, priority scheduling, and discounts on repairs and parts. The program is built around the idea that consistent maintenance is far less expensive than emergency repairs or early equipment replacement. It's particularly popular with homeowners in Diamond Springs and Placerville who want to protect their investment. Specific tier details and pricing are available when you book an appointment or call our office at (530) 622-8446.

Smit's does both. About 90 percent of our work is residential, but we also take on commercial HVAC projects, including custom metal fabrication for commercial kitchen hoods and industrial ventilation systems. If you manage a commercial facility in El Dorado County and need a contractor with the technical depth to handle specialized work, we're equipped for it. Our commercial capabilities are a well-established part of what we do, and we apply the same standards to those projects that we've built our residential reputation on over the past 53 years. Reach out to discuss your facility and we'll let you know how we can help.

A few factors determine whether solar is a practical fit: your roof's age and orientation, the amount of shading from trees or nearby structures, your average monthly electricity usage, and your goals around energy costs or backup power. Homes in the Diamond Springs and El Dorado Hills areas often have good solar exposure, making them solid candidates. Pairing solar with a battery backup or a Generac generator adds protection during outages. Smit's installs residential solar energy systems and can assess your property to give you an honest picture of expected production and savings. Book an appointment and we'll take a look.