One of the most common questions our customers have is how long will it take to install their new central air conditioner. If it’s a standard installation, without any complications or corrective work that needs to be done, it's almost always a 1-day job. That’s assuming you already have a forced air furnace and the ductwork in your home. If you’re replacing your existing air conditioner with a new ac unit, one day is certainly enough time complete the job. If your installation does require work that falls outside of what is considered ‘standard,’ the technicians might still be able to complete the job in one day depending on how much additional work needs to be done, and how complex the problems are. At worst, it shouldn’t take more than 2 days to complete even the most difficult air conditioning installations. So what type of issues can complicate a central air conditioning installation? Attic or crawlspace installations Having to install new ductwork

Difficult access to the furnace Insufficient access to work around the furnace or coil Small access spaces can require dismantling your old furnace to remove it Adding supply air ductwork Adding return air ductwork Drilling through concrete walls Installing lineset through finished living spaces These potential complications can also affect the cost to install a central air conditioner. There are too many variables for me to even guess at how much each of them could add to the cost of your installation. If your home does present any of the issues listed above, it becomes even more critical that you choose a reputable, well-known company that provides a written money-back guarantee so you can be confident that the work will be done correctly. I’d estimate that at least 25% of the installation disasters I’ve seen in the past had one or more complicating factors, and these issues magnify the consequences of poor quality work done by below average technicians exponentially.

Over time, your central air conditioner may encounter a problem with its fuses. Rather than spend days fending off the heat while you wait for an expensive electrician, follow the simple steps below to replace one or more fuse. Before you take your air conditioning unit apart, it is imperative that you know what kind of fuse you will be replacing. To examine your fuses, look for a switch near the compressor of your unit. best air conditioning units indiaBefore you open the compartment, turn off the electricity source of your entire air conditioning unit. how many tons for ac unitTurn off the circuit breaker that controls your air conditioner. wall mounted ac unitsOnce the circuit breaker has been turned off, turn off the switch in your unit.

Open the door located near the switch of your compressor. You will see two cartridge fuses inside of this door. The fuses will have wires connected to both ends. Use your voltage tester to test the 2 wires that are coming out of the disconnect switch, situated on top of the fuses. You should test both terminals using your voltage tester. Test the bottom wires also. No voltage must register after testing the wires. Only then should you proceed. Use fuse pullers to take out the fuses. Take a look at the amperage written on each. Most fuses have a 30-amp label on them. Also, check the fuses if they are the standard, fast or delay-rated varieties. Purchase a similar pair of fuses as the ones that you took out. Make sure that you check the new fuses that you have for continuity. This will ensure that the fuses will work properly in a normal, undamaged air conditioner. Sometimes, only one fuse has to be replaced at a time, but for convenience sake, you should also replace the other fuse.

It is easier to remove both fuses at the same time. Use your fuse pullers to insert the new pair of fuses. It is very important that the fuses are properly positioned in their clamps. If the wires of the clamps are not appropriately set on the terminals of the fuses, your air conditioning unit still won’t work. To find out if you were able to replace your fuses properly, turn on the circuit breaker of your unit as well as the thermostat. If the unit works efficiently, you’ve done a good job.Watch out for the latest scheme in the home improvement sector: the Heating And Air Conditioning Repair Service scam, aka the Furnace Repair scam. Most of the technicians out there are legitimate and honest, but this scam is increasing nationwide as you're reading this. How does the scam work? Watch the shocking video below to see in action the Heating And Air Conditioning Repair Service scam, exposed: Heating And Air Conditioning Repair Service Scam Video Let's take a deeper look.

In this fraudulent move, hundreds of people are lured into believing that their units (air conditioners, furnaces) need fixes. The scam works like this: Let's say you notice your unit (air conditioner, furnace) is not working. You find an offer online from someone advertising affordable prices for repairs, such as $25. You hire him, he comes over, and after a "in-depth analysis" he informs you that your unit is in a seriously bad condition. In reality, you might have just a loose fuse in the system, which takes a second to push back. As a result of the technician's diagnose, he says you would need to replace the whole air conditioning unit/furnace. As you might not be entirely convinced of the diagnose, he might throw around a few key phrases such as: "It's leaking freon (the coolant inside the air conditioner)", "It has a locked rotor (motor not working)", or "the igniter went bad". In other words, in order to replace just the broken part which could be close to $2,000 in the air conditioning system, the technician suggests the victim to get a brand new unit.

In this case, a victim would have to pay a few thousand dollars to the tech's company for a job that could take a few minutes and under $100 of expenses. Not to mention that a lot of times these questionable technicians don't even have proper licenses. How to avoid the Heating and Air Conditioning Repair Service scam: Just like in many other cases, this scam is a trick known as 'Bait and Switch' scheme. A small price is advertised, but an entirely different service and price are requested once you're hooked. Always do some research online when you're about to hire a cheap local technician. Read reviews - if it's a reputable business, it shouldn't be hard to figure out the quality of work. On the other hand, don't be shy to ask the technician for his business license. Tell the contractor over the phone to bring it over when they come. The 24-hour air conditioning repair or furnace replacement services are great to have, but you need to do your diligence. According to the Better Business Bureau, you should also consider the following steps:

Before calling a technician, check a few basic things first on your unit. Is your thermostat operating properly? Has the electrical breaker powering the unit tripped? Does your system have a winter power shut off switch that needs to be flipped? Are the air in-take screens or filters on your outside unit dirty or blocked and need to be cleaned? Sometimes there are minor, inexpensive things you can do yourself to alleviate a problem and avoid paying for a service call or repair. Do not take the air conditioners apart or try to repair them on your own or you may end up doing more damage which could result in a more expensive repair. Leave the servicing of your air conditioner to a trusted, licensed professional.Do not be satisfied with verbal promises. Make sure you get a written estimate that notes what is wrong with your air conditioner, what the entire cost to repair or replace the unit will be, and the printed and signed name of the repair person. If they are recommending purchasing a new system, also require that the estimate include its make, model, serial number, and system capacity.

Paying for an annual inspection with a qualified repair shop to check the compressor, moving parts, coolant levels, filter, and furnace blower can identify and resolve problems before they become expensive. Having work done before the peak summer busy season can be less costly than when air conditioning service technicians are in high demand. Check out the full market. When faced with a pricey repair or new air conditioner purchase, get a few written quotes before you make a final decision. Quotes should include a full description of the services and materials to be used so you can adequately compare them; this includes the air conditioners size and units of energy (BTU) as well as the calculated cooling capacity of your home. Also compare all available warranties. Not all warranties are the same so they should be included in your evaluation process.Is your air conditioner still under manufacturers’ warranty? Sometimes using unauthorized service companies or replacement parts can void your warranty.

Be sure to check your owners’ manual or warranty for any special conditions to avoid unnecessarily paying for any future repairs that might otherwise be paid for under the warranty.Try to pay by credit card if you can and avoid paying cash. If paying by check, make it out to the name of the business rather than payable to the employee or another individual. Some unethical employees and subcontractors steal from consumers by convincing them to write checks directly to them rather than the company that was hired. Consumers are still likely to be held liable to pay the company they hired to do the work. Depending on contract terms, they might also potentially face a lien on their property. A cancelled check is a useful form of evidence to prove you actually paid your bill. Additionally, check that the company is insured against claims covering worker’s compensation, property damage, and personal liability in case an accident occurs on your property. Call to verify the contractor’s insurance coverage after obtaining the name of the carrier and agency.

Ask the provider to send you proof of coverage for your records." How to report the Heating and Air Conditioning Repair Service scam: Make your family and friends aware of this scam by sharing it on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below: How to protect yourself more: If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams every week, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You'll receive periodical emails and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, use the Comments section below to expose other scammers. Full List of Face To Face Scams Solar Panels For Your Home Scam Emergency Locksmith Services/ 24 Hour Locksmith Scam Water Heater Repair Emergency Plumbing Service Emergency Garage Door Repair Service Scam Cheap Home Security Systems Scam Bad Credit Car Loans Scam Low Interest Rate Credit Cards Scam