Is my old, inefficient air conditioner costing me money? Today’s air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps are more energy-efficient and less costly to run than ever before. Give us a call and we can show you how to save money each month on your utility bills. SEER is a standard of measurement of seasonal cooling efficiency under an average number of weather changes over a season. SEER stands for “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration”. How does SEER rating affect my power usage? The higher the SEER number, the more energy efficient the unit. Higher SEER rating air conditioners and heat pumps can pay for their cost many times over because they consume less electricity. The savings will continue for years to come. If I buy a more efficient unit, can I buy a smaller one?A more efficient unit does not mean it will have more capacity. It only means that the new unit will operate more efficiently and with less energy cost when compared to the old unit. Do programmable thermostats really make a difference in my air conditioner usage?

The programmable thermostats will allow you to adjust cooling and heating to fit your schedule and save you money. Should you replace your thermostats? Call us and ask. How should I use a programmable thermostat? It is most efficient to find the temperature setting that feels most comfortable to you and leave the thermostat set there. A programmable thermostat will allow you to set the desired temperature based on the time of day or your daily activities. You can program the thermostat to keep the house at 84 while you are at work and then to cool the house one hour before you come home from work. A programmable thermostat may cost a little more than a standard thermostat but it can save you money in all seasons. How long should my air conditioner or heat pump last? If you have a system that has been properly sized for your home and you keep it properly maintained, it should last as long as 15 years with minimum problems. But if the size is incorrect or the unit is maintained only when it breaks, the lifetime can easily be reduced by five or more years.

Are new air conditioning and heat pump units environmentally safe? The refrigerant in your air conditioner of heat pump system is a chemical known as HCFC-22 (Hydro chlorofluorocarbon). It contains hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. CFC’s (Chlorofluorocarbons) contain chlorine, fluorine and carbon. CFC’s are used as refrigerants in small appliances and automobiles. CFC’s are very stable and do not break down in the lower atmosphere. carrier window air conditioners for saleThey can remain in the atmosphere for 100 years or more. air conditioner units for tractorsBecause HCFC’s contain hydrogen, they can break up quickly and have a short life span.home ac heating units The government called for a phase out of CFC’s by 1996.

Under the federal Clean Air Act, HCFC’s will be phased out by 2030. Because the new units use HCFC’s, they will be available until 2030. Why should I have my ducts cleaned? Dust, pests and mold can collect in your ductwork, if it is not inspected and cleaned regularly. Ask us about duct cleaning. Is R-22 being phased out? Contrary to what you might have been told, R-22 is not a product that will be phased out anytime soon. The federal law schedule has R-22 to be phased out as follows: Because the life of a standard comfort system is 15 years, purchasing a unit with R-22 would be well within the time and availability of R-22 refrigerant. The typical central air conditioning system is a split system, with an outdoor air conditioning, or “compressor bearing unit” and an indoor coil, which is usually installed on top of the furnace in the home.The heat in the air transfers to the coil, thereby “cooling” the air. The heat that has transferred to the coil is then “pumped” to the exterior of the home, while the cooled air is pumped back inside, helping to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

Packaged terminal air conditioner units, or PTACs, are typically found in apartment buildings or in hotel and motel rooms. They are designed to cool the area where they are placed. PTAC units are not cheap; therefore, the number one question that every one usually has to ask about these units is "How long will a PTAC unit last?" Ductless air conditioners are designed to last longer than a regular window unit. Depending upon the size of the space that you need the unit for will determine whether or not this type of machine is better than a regular window unit. You will want to contact a professional in this field to learn about what type of wiring you need in order for the machine to work. Since it operates off of electricity, you will want to make sure that you have the right type of plugs installed and the right type of panel breakers and even the voltage of power coming into the building. There may be some other installation items that are needed before you will even be able to install a PTAC unit.

These units are designed to last for several years; however, they are just like everything else, the better that you take care of them, the longer they will last. For this reason it is very important that you take care of the machine through providing regular maintenance on the units per the manufacturer’s specifications. The manufacturer's specifications usually include a variety of different maintenance upkeep suggestions and the more of them that one can do themselves, the better off they will be. Hiring a maintenance person to come and keep the machine up to standard will usually cost a pretty "penny"; therefore, learning about the machine and what you can do, maintenance wise, will help in the end with repair costs and also by helping the machine last for a longer period of time. Manufacturer's specifications include things such as: If you do not take care of the machine, of course it will not last for as long as you want it to. It's hard to say exactly how long these machines will last for sure, even though they are designed to last for several years.

Some people have gotten ten years or more out of these machines, while some of the machines have only lasted for less than three years. How long a ductless air conditioner will last all depends upon the owner and how well they take care of the machine. It also depends on how often the machine is used. In a hotel/motel, these types of machines are only used whenever someone stays in the room where it is located. In a home, the machine is liable to be used quite a bit more; therefore, making the machine to be replaced more often. Just through cleaning the filters, cleaning the coils, removing debris from the machine, and a few other tips, these machines will last and are worth the money that is spent on them. Please see our 10 PTAC Maintenance Tips page for practical advice on keeping your ptac running smoothly. It does take some tender loving care in order for the machines to operate to the point that you need them to; however, by performing all of the work yourself when it comes to the maintenance on the machines, you are sure to get your money back on your initial investment in them.