My AC unit just stopped working. What are recommended CA SEER and code requirements for 2015? I am getting conflicting messages. Our house is 2600 sq ft, 2 story, and had a Lennox HS21 2 stage 5 ton SEER 13.5 AC unit from 2002. Our heater from 1994. One pro said it wasn't worth repairing the leak, and that we should just get a new system and coil - $9500 for a Lennox XC14 SEER 16 5 ton 2 stage. The next pro said it would be $4k to even attempt the search for the leak (all 14lbs of Freon was gone) and repair and recharge the unit. He recommended replacing it with the "required as of Jan 1 2015" SEER 16 Lennox XC14. Oh, and it would be "illegal" for him to replace the AC without also replacing the heater, so the combined cost of AC, coil, heater and all labor/parts would be $15-20k. I can't find anything that says the new code is minimum 16 SEER. I also can't find any rebates for 2015 that apply to AC/Heaters for local or federal/state tax rebates. Submitted by Sean Lintow Sr on Thu, 07/09/2015 - 10:36

Troubleshooting Common A/C Issues Before Calling a Repairman Troubleshooting Common A/C Issues Before Calling a Repairman Has your AC unit suddenly stopped working? If so, use the form or call (623) 201-5153 to get a free estimate for your repairs. What to Check Before Calling AC units are one of those modern day conveniences that Arizona residents simply can’t live without. Check the auto, cool, and temperature setting are at your comfort level. We actually receive calls for thermostats that aren’t set properly. Battery – some thermostats use a battery, if yours reads “battery” or “batt” take a moment to swap the old one for a new one to see if this fixed the problem. Dirt – remove the front panel of your thermostat to see if there’s any dust or dirt inside it. If there is dirt inside, you can use a can of compressed air to blow it out. Try not to hold the can too closely to prevent damaging and of the small parts within. Yoyo-ing the temperature – moving the temperature settings up and down can sometimes cause the compressor to overheat and stop running.

If you have a time delay circuit, you may have to wait for the compressor to reset. Try setting the temperature to 78 degrees and leaving it for half-an-hour. Dirty filters – most modern air conditioners use a return grill to circulate air, which typically has a filter, and many also have a filter at the air handler. central ac unit for houseCheck these filters if you have them and make sure they’re not covered in dirt. really small ac unitA dirty filter can choke the air conditioning system and effect its performance.how much does it cost to repair ac unit Crowding – sometimes the air handler is located in a storage closet. If yours is, be sure that you haven’t stuffed so much stuff into this area that the air handler is choking.

Resist the temptation to use this closet for anything other than your air handler. Sometimes the circuit breaker can overload and turn off. You want to check your breaker by locating the circuit for the air conditioner and switching it off, then back on. Don’t just inspect it, actually turn it off and back on. This is a common issue that can be caused by a power surge or storm activity. Inspect the Air handler to make sure power reaches it when you turn the system on. What to Do Next If after inspecting these common AC unit issues and your air conditioner still doesn’t run properly, it’s time to call the pros at Howard Air. You can use the contact form at the top of this page, click here to email us, or call (623) 201-5153. We always offer a free estimate and stand behind our work – just one last thing you need to worry about!Tenants have rights if A/C is out and landlord delays repair wnRenderDate('Thursday, June 12, 2014 4:26 PM EDT', '', false); wnRenderDate('Thursday, June 26, 2014 7:53 PM EDT', '', false);

You're a renter, the air conditioning system just stopped working, and your landlord isn't responding to your calls. In this sweltering heat this situation can put you into full blown panic mode.Hopefully your landlord or property manager will respond quickly and repair your unit. But if they delay, Arizona law gives you the right to remedy the problem on your own, if you take specific steps."The first day, temperatures got up to about 90 in the house," Jim Craven said.Craven says he tried to keep cool in his Avondale rental home with fans and ice. The A/C compressor was shot. While he waited in the searing heat for the landlord to fix it, Craven wondered about his rights if he wanted to move to a hotel."Was it going to come solely out of my pocket or eventually would I be reimbursed with a reduction in rent for that month," Craven said.Craven's landlord fixed the A/C right away, but what if there had been a long delay? Sharron Sauls is a landlord/tenant counselor for the City of Phoenix.

She says tenants must give written notice to the landlord that repairs are needed, and they must be completed within five days. You can get substitute services," Sauls said.They include moving to temporary housing, purchasing an A/C wall-unit, or repairing the main unit yourself."You can hire a licensed contractor for up to $300 or less than half your rent, whichever is greater, to have the repairs made," Sauls said.Whatever your expenses, you deduct them from the next month's rent, not the current month."The law says a tenant cannot withhold rent for any reason, so withholding is different than deducting," Sauls said.A cooler Craven is glad to know his rights but isn't fond of that five-day waiting period."In the summer and the heat that we have around here, waiting more than a day, in midweek, it's not really acceptable," Craven said.But that is the law in Arizona. Tenants can't deduct the self-repair unless they have waited the five days first.Again, you've got to give written notice to the landlord to start the clock, even a handwritten note is fine, and you must provide receipts and a copy of the contractor's license to deduct expenses.