7 Questions to Ask Your Air Conditioning Supply Specialist

Are you staring down the prospect of getting an entirely new HVAC system for your home? Has your last air conditioning system finally given up the ghost? Looking to purchase your first central air system and you just don’t know where to start?

If you’ve wondered about any of the following questions, you’re not allowed. They’re some of the more common questions asked of HVAC specialists, and our air conditioning supply specialists are here and happy to help!

1.How do I know if an air conditioning system is big enough for my home?

There are quite a few symptoms you can be alert for that will tip you off that an air conditioner is not, in fact, large enough or powerful enough for your home. If your system seems to be running nonstop, your home is unevenly cooled or has “warm spots,” your energy bills are sky high, or your home is just never cool enough, you’re probably working with an inadequately sized air conditioning system.

There’s more than one way to evaluate whether or not HVAC equipment is powerful enough for your home. One is in terms of raw power, which is measured in terms of British Thermal Units, or BTUs, which will equate to the tonnage of the system (see the next section). Given the tonnage, you can then determine, based on the zone you live in the country and the square footage of your home, whether the system is large enough. There’s more than one system for determining this - but you can contact us at 855-473-6484 to learn more.

2.What does tonnage mean with respect to air conditioners?

Tonnage in an air conditioner actually has nothing to do with either the weight of the system or the volume of air, but the actual cooling capacity of the system in BTUs. A one ton air conditioner can, in ideal conditions, provide 12,000 BTUs of cooling capacity, a two ton air conditioner can provide 24,000 BTUs of cooling capacity, and so one and so forth.

3.Is a heat pump a good investment?

Despite a name that sounds as though it is only good at heating things up, a heat pump might actually be a very serviceable investment. Heat pumps are able to both heat and cool the air, and, despite the high up front and installation costs, can provide some of the following benefits.

-Heat pumps are highly energy efficient, potentially incurring energy savings.

-They don’t produce a lot of noise.

-They can be for both heating and air conditioning.

However, heat pumps are not all good news. They may be energy efficient but they are also very expensive and also not as effective at heating or cooling as a dedicated furnace or air conditioning system. Contact us for more information and we’ll help you determine if a heat pump is right for you.

4.What is SEER and why does it matter?

SEER, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, is calculated by dividing the total cooling output of the system by the total electrical consumption of the system during the same amount of time. The higher the SEER, the higher the energy efficiency and the greater the energy savings will be - but higher SEER ratings come at a price.

5.How often do I need to change my air filter?

Check your air filter at least once per month, especially in the summer when you are running the air conditioner a lot. The filter should be fairly bright and clear of noticeable debris or dust. If it is dark, brown, gray or clearly occluded, change it.

Air filter sizes are clearly labeled. Replace the air filter with a new filter of the same size and make sure that the arrow on the air filter is aligned with the flow of air through the system.

If you are unsure of what type of air filter to use, contact the manufacturer or your dedicated air conditioner supply specialist - we are here to help!

6.Why do AC units freeze?

Air conditioning units freeze for a whole bunch of reasons. Regardless, if your coils freeze, it’s cause for concern as it can hamstring the operation of the system. If your coils freeze, you need to call a technician.

As for the reasons why, dirty coils that diminish airflow will freeze more readily. The coils may also freeze if there is a leak in the refrigerant system, which causes low pressure in the lines. The coils can also freeze with overuse - either way, contact a technician.

7.How often do I need to have my system serviced?

Opinions among air conditioning supply specialists and other HVAC technicians may vary with respect to how often you need to have your system serviced, but for the most part, you should have a system serviced twice a year, just to make sure it’s in working order. If your system contains a heating element and a cooling element, have it inspected in the fall before the winter gets too severe, and again in early spring before the start of truly hot temps.

Call Us for Help!

Do you have questions of your own that we haven’t answered yet? Get in touch with us directly and we’d be more than happy to clear them up. You can reach our air conditioning supply specialists at 855-473-6484; bring your questions and we’ll see how we can help!