how often should i replace my ac unit

Should you repair or replace your old air conditioning unit? Friday, March 30 th 2012 Should you repair or replace your old air conditioning unit when it starts giving you trouble? It's a dilemma so many of us face when warmer weather comes and we pop on our AC unit only to find it's not working. At my home, we had an AC unit that was out of Freon and had a crack in the line. So then came that difficult choice -- should we fix it or replace it, based on the age of the unit? This year we faced an additional challenge. We are in the midst of a spike in the cost of older refrigerant that's been in phase-out for a number of years. If your unit empties out, you may find it cost prohibitive to put the refrigerant back in. These factors can change the math on when you bail out of an old unit versus when you try to limp along a bit longer. The AC industry is making far more efficient units than even just several years ago. Efficiency is measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER).
A unit with today's standard of SEER 15 is much cheaper to run than an older one with a SEER 10 rating. You can figure that your power bill will be reduced by roughly a third with the new units. I'm not automatically suggesting you prematurely dump an old unit that's working well.  But when it does break down, the math may favor replacing, not repairing. I know it's not an easy choice when you're faced with the huge expense to replace versus the really big expense to repair. ac window unit will not turn onBut just remember, every month that power bill comes like clockwork!best ac unit 2013 852 posts, read 1,955,360 timessigns your ac unit going out 43,224 posts, read 43,024,441 times The reason I ask is - when I touch the larger pipe(which is insulated), it doesn't seem any colder when the A/C is running and also there is no difference in temperature between the larger line and the smaller line in the outside unit.
Question : - Should I try to replace the dual capacitor again? This is the unit. 7,687 posts, read 9,242,377 timesHow Often Should I Replace My Air Filter? If you've ever had your furnace fail in the dead of winter—or your air conditioner kick out on you in the sweltering heat of summer—you know that indoor comfort does not come cheap. The cost to repair or replace an old unit is steep, to be sure, so take the steps now to make sure yours has a long and happy life. Make sure you change the air filter as often as necessary. But how often is necessary when it comes to replacing your air filter? Well, it depends on a few different things: If you have pets that shed, their hair or fur can be pulled into your air conditioner and furnace through your duct work. When your unit is working overtime—like, hey... right now when it's super freezing outside—the air filter may need to be changed as often as once a month. Your (or Your Guests') Allergies If you, your family or your weekend couch surfers suffer from dust or mold allergies, a fresh air filter will make everyone more comfortable.
If you're very sensitive to dust, change your air filter once a month. Otherwise, a four- to six-times-a-year replacement routine should keep air quality up for everyone. Pro tip: There are a billion different sizes and kinds of air filters on the market (You may have discovered this when you accidentally bought the wrong size filter because you didn't store the measurements in your phone like we suggested). Bigger air filters (both in width and thickness) can stand to be changed less often, while super-compact filters should get more frequent attention.And How Often You Clean It If you regularly vacuum dust and loose dirt from your air filter, you can double the life of it. A normal person without a shedding pet or severe allergies should change their air filter roughly four times each year, but thorough cleaning can cut that down to just two times. (Images: Flickr member mbschn licensed for use under Creative Commons, Flickr member flikr licensed for use under Creative Commons)
Your site is currently undergoing some minor issues. The team at JH Specialty has been assigned a variety of numeric tasks to resolve this error. JH Bot is determined to make sure your site is back up and running ASAP. Thank you for your time. We had a new AC system put in last summer. The contractor included a UV bulb between the cooling area and the supply fan. It's supposed to kill bacteria and other nasties in the air. My question is "when should I replace the bulb?" Other than the obvious answer "when it stops working" I'm wondering if there's a point where (for whatever reason) it becomes less effective. Is it possible that the bulb could still be putting out visible light after it stops putting out UV, which I obviously cannot see? These things are not cheap (they're around $70) so I'd rather not replace it sooner than I have to. UV lights in both HVAC and water purification systems should be changed yearly. This is also in the Honewell spec sheet for the UV2400:
Lamp should be changed 1/year or every 9000 hrs to maintain its Many systems have a timer and will start beeping and/or flashing a light after 1 year to remind you to replace them. It's not that they will just stop working after that time, but that their output is reduced over time and they're built so they have an effective output for a year. Should also be noted that the runtime is cumulative: if you only use this for 6 months of the year (and turn it off the other 6), you can go up to two years. The Honeywell documentation states 9000 hours (1 year = 8760 hours), which is typical of all water treatment UV systems (of which I have installed/serviced hundreds).Browse other questions tagged hvac air-conditioning air-quality or ask your own question.With the arrival of winter weather, it's time to check and tune-up your heating equipment to maintain a comfortable, cozy home. Call today or click here to schedule a seasonal maintenance visit. Hi, I'm Michael Danley
Danley Heating and Air has been in business and providing quality products and service in the middle TN area since 1973. Call Danley Heating and Air at (931) 967-3209 or e-mail us for all of your indoor air quality, heating and cooling needs. Q: What does HVAC stand for? A: HVAC (pronounced h-vack or spelled out) stands for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning. The three functions of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning are closely interrelated. All seek to provide thermal comfort, acceptable indoor air quality, and reasonable installation, operation, and maintenance costs. HVAC systems can provide ventilation, reduce air infiltration, and maintain pressure relationships between spaces. Your heating and air technician goes by the name of HVAC contractor, and can provide heating repair expertise. Q: How does my heating and air conditioning system move air throughout my home? A: A fan draws indoor air in through vents called return grills located throughout your home.
The air travels through ducts that run to your systems’ air handler, where it is returned into the conditioned space through supply vents or registers in your wall, ceilings or floors. Q: How often should I replace the filter? A: There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The frequency of filter changes is driven by how much your heating and air conditioning system operates, which is also driven by your individual climate. Start by checking the system’s filters at least once a month. Hold the used filter up to the light and compare it to a clean "spare." When light is obscured by captured dust and dirt particles, the old filter should be changed. Keep a record for one year and then replace the filter on that basis. At a minimum, it is always a good idea to change filters at the start of the heating and cooling seasons and then in between according to your need. Also, it is a good idea to have your heating and air system checked at the beginning of heating and cooling season to insure proper operation.
Q: Why should I replace my working furnace or air conditioner? A: Although your present furnace or air conditioner may be working, if it is more than 12 years old you should consider replacing it with a new high efficiency system. A new heating and air conditioning system could save up to 50 percent on energy costs, and save you money in the long run on heating repairs.  While these products save you money on your utility bills, they also offer a better degree of comfort within your home. Q: What the heck is a SEER and EER? A: Since January 2006, all residential air conditioners sold in the United States must have at least a 13 SEER. SEER is the abbreviation for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and it is a U.S. government standard energy rating and reflects the overall system efficiency of your cooling system. An EER is short for Energy Efficiency Ratio and doesn’t take into consideration the time of year, but rather the system’s energy efficiency at the peak operating use.
Both ratings should be considered in choosing cooling products. The rating is a ratio of the cooling output divided by the power consumption and measures the cooling performance of the system. The Federal government developed an ENERGY STAR program for high efficiency central air conditioning systems that in order to qualify must have a SEER of at least 14. Q: We are replacing our AC unit this season, what advice can you give me? A: Replacing your system is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make. The reason for this is that the life expectancy of a system is around 12 years. When choosing a contractor, pick a company to install the unit based on quality and customer service, not solely on price. The name brand of the equipment is not as important as the installing contractor. Another thing to keep in mind when replacing a system is that the duct system you are connecting to is sealed tight with the proper amount of return air. With the new higher efficiency units, you also have to be careful that you replace your system with the proper sized unit so you don’t end up with a house that is cool but has high humidity.
Do some homework, pick quality contractors, and find someone you trust and you will have a successful installation that will bring you years of comfort and the least amount of overall cost. Q: What is meant by a 'ton' of refrigeration? A: Confusingly, the unit has little to do with weight, as used in everyday language. One ton of refrigeration is the term used to refer to 12,000 B.T.U.s/hour (British Thermal Units/Hour) of cooling effect. Thus, a condensing unit with a cooling capacity of 60,000 B.T.U.s/hour is said to have a capacity of 5 tons. Q: Why can't you ad coolant to my system without checking for a leak or repairing an existing leak? A: Since July 1, 1992 it is illegal to release refrigerants into the atmosphere, either intentional or accidental, because they can cause severe damage to the ozone layer. When refrigerants such as Chlorofluorocarbon’s (CFCs) are removed, they should be recycled to clean out any contaminants and returned to a usable condition.
Q: How does the Clean Air Act impact heating and cooling systems? A: The portion of the Clean Air Act that applies to the Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry encourages the development of ozone-friendly substitutes for chemicals that contain ozone destroying chlorine, which are called hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). The chemical refrigerant of choice for more than four decades, referred to as R-22, is in the HCFC category. R-22 is widely used in heat pumps and AC condensing units to heat and cool homes. Today, a refrigerant called R-410A is used because of its ozone-friendly properties. Q: What is radon? A: Radon is an invisible, radioactive atomic gas that results from the radioactive decay of radium, which may be found in rock formations beneath buildings or in certain building materials themselves. Radon is probably the most pervasive serious hazard for indoor air quality in the United States and probably responsible for thousands of deaths from lung cancer each year.