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Get in Touch With Us TodayWe understand that comfort is a relative experience that is different for everyone. That's why we work hand in hand with our customers to understand what they need and then work hard to deliver.
Specializing in the details, let us evaluate your multi-zone, high efficiency or problematic HVAC situations and supply a solution.
Since manufacturers started using printed circuit boards (PCB) to control the unit, they are susceptible to the same risk of damage by lightning as your computer or television. It's to exhaustive to list each manufacturer and when they started using PCB's in their units, but we can easily check on your next routine visit. It's far easier to simply install a surge suppressor strip with a joule rating of no less than 480 and a low voltage pass through. A good voltage pass through is 330. Be sure and stay away from any units over 500 volts.
Controlling energy costs starts with your thermostat. You can save about three
percent of your heating costs for every degree you lower your thermostat during
the winter. And for every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer, you
can cut cooling costs up to six percent.* Adding a programmable thermostat can
also help you save energy, by allowing you to set different temperature settings
depending on the time of day.
Just as important, your system's components
should have the highest possible energy efficiency ratings. Make sure your
components meet the following minimums:
Select American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps have ratings of up to 20.0SEER, 96.7AFUE and 9.2HSPF, respectively. From American Standard.
The easiest way is to measure the temperature of the air entering the system at the filter and compare it to the temperature at the closest register. A good system will show a 20-25 F degree difference in temperature. Proper measuring equipment is needed to get an accurate reading, though, so your do-it-yourself results my not be entirely accurate.
First let us remind you that we do this as part of our maintenance package.
A good unit should have the capacity to cool 20 - 25 degrees F. Many things cause a system to stop cooling properly, but dirt is the most common problem. Other reasons include improper freon levels or the house doesn't have balanced airflow to the rooms. There are other reasons that could indicate a more severe problem with the unit. To be sure, have us come out and check the unit.
In order to properly size a unit, one of our qualified service techs will need to inspect your house. They will take into account construction, size, quality and quantity of windows as well as your living habits to give you a custom sized unit.
An oversized unit can be as detrimental as an undersized one. Oversized units tend to run in shorter bursts that lead to less humidity being removed from the air making it feel warmer inside. They will also start and stop more often leading to higher electric bills. To learn more, call us to schedule a consultation.
Think of your air conditioner and furnace as part of a total system. That system will work better, longer and more efficiently if all of its components are matched in capacity and efficiency. By the same token, a mismatched system—one that mixes old technology with new—could decrease system performance and overall comfort.
For example, your new air conditioner will be capable of reaching a certain SEER efficiency rating. Because SEER is determined by a complete system combination, if your existing furnace and indoor coil are older or don't match in efficiency and capacity, you might not get the efficiency level you paid for or be able to receive accurate information on what your rating actually is. Plus, an older indoor coil may even be dirty and clogged with particles, meaning more energy will be required to push air through the system. From American Standard.
The most likely answer is that it needs basic maintenance. A clogged outside unit looses efficiency and a clogged A-coil inside can lead to the same. Other issues can be improper freon levels are unbalanced vents in your home. Most units in our area are sized to account for 95 degree days and will have difficulty cooling air hotter than that. If you aren't properly maintaining your unit, we highly recommend a maintenance plan to prevent unplanned and costly repair bills.
The most likely culprit will be dirt build-up. In the outside unit, dirt clogging the outside coil can lead to freon pressure buildup that will eventually lead to an electrical breaker being tripped, a burst hole in the system, or compressor failure. The inside unit's a-coil can become clogged if you don't change out your filters on a regular basis. This can lead to it icing over, thus stopping all cooling. Both can be avoided with regular maintenance such as our maintenance agreements.
Rating numbers indicate the efficiency of heating and air conditioning equipment and are directly related to the amount of energy a specific model uses. The higher the rating, the more efficient the product, and the lower your heating and cooling bills can be. The federal government establishes rating guidelines and sets minimum efficiency levels. For cooling, the rating is SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). For heat pumps, the rating is HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). Gas furnaces are rated with AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). From American Standard.
Leverage our last 40+ years of experience to guide you.