How To Choose The Best Air Conditioner
Your home’s HVAC system is one of the most important appliances for home comfort. It makes sense to choose the best possible system you can find. Here are things to consider when choosing a new air conditioner.
Energy Efficiency
Air conditioners manufactured today are more energy efficient than those of the past. This translates to less environmental impact and lower utility bills. However, not all air conditioners are created equal, and there are specific things you should look for to get the most out of your investment.
When you shop for central air conditioning, be sure to look at the SEER rating. This stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio and it makes a big difference. Look for ratings numbered 13 or higher. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the air conditioner is.
If you purchase an A/C with an ENERGY STAR label, you can be assured the SEER is at least 13. ENERGY STAR labels are only given to appliances that meet strict guidelines set by the EPA. They go through a battery of tests to achieve this designation.
Type Of Air Conditioner
There are several types of air conditioners, including ducted central air, ductless central air, and window units. If you are upgrading from a ducted central air unit, you will probably want to remain with that type of system. If your home is new or you have no existing ductwork, then a ductless system may be best. These are also called ductless mini splits, and some are equipped to cool in summer and heat the home in winter. The indoor and outdoor units are connected via a thin tube, and these ductless systems are energy efficient and quiet.
Window units or portable air conditioners are sometimes suitable if you only have a small space, such as a garage, to cool.
Indoor Comfort
Look for comfort aspects aside from cooling, such as how well the unit dehumidifies and how quiet it operates.
Size
Size is very important, but this does not mean you should buy the biggest unit you can find. No matter what kind of air conditioner you buy, if you choose one that is too small, you won’t get adequate cooling and the unit will have to work very hard. This usually equates to extra noise, inefficiency and a reduced lifespan of the unit. However, if you purchase a unit that is too big, it will cycle on and off too much. Your home may be cool, but it will also be damp and you will be using more energy than needed.
Here is why choosing an oversized air conditioner can be a problem. Aside from cooling, air conditioners remove some moisture from the air, which keeps humidity levels lower and makes your home feel cooler and generally more comfortable. Since air is moved through a filter, it also helps with indoor air quality, provided the filter is changed regularly. An oversized air conditioner doesn’t need to stay on very long at a time to bring temperatures down in the home. This makes it shut off too quickly to dehumidify the air and affects air quality.
The best way to determine what size is right for your home is to have an HVAC technician come out to do a cooling load calculation on your home. Using industry-approved calculations, the technician can determine the size of system you need plus give you tips about home improvements you could make to improve energy efficiency once the unit is installed.
Other Features
Other features to look for including a fan-only switch and a variable speed air handler. A fan-only switch allows you to use only the fan when temperatures are so cool outside that you don’t need the cooling component. This saves energy while keeping air flowing through your home.
A variable speed air handler is a common feature now. Instead of pushing cool air into the home in a sudden rush before eventually shutting off again, what this does is simply change the fan speed so there is a continuous flow. These air handlers keep things quieter and make the home more comfortable, evenly cool.
Choosing a new air conditioner shouldn’t be a rushed affair. When you pick the right system, it should last for many years and save you money through energy savings. Remember to ask your HVAC professionals anytime you have any questions about which A/C is right for your home. Call or Text us today for more details (941) 203-7955 and don't forget to check out our specials, financing, and rent-to-own air conditioning options. Stay Cool with Mahle!
What To Look for this Summer to Maintain your Air Conditioner and Functionality
An air conditioner is a rather complicated piece of equipment that you rely on to keep your home cool and comfortable on warm days. While it is complex, however, there are often some quick fix solutions that homeowners can employ to make a repair on their own. This could help you to save money that you otherwise would spend on a service call for a minor issue, and it could also help you to get your air conditioner repaired more quickly. These are some of the troubleshooting steps that you could take before calling an HVAC technician to your home so that you could potentially resolve the problem on your own.
Check Your Thermostat
As a first step, you should check the thermostat mounted to your walls. Modern thermostats will generally be blank if there is no power being supplied to it. If this is the case, you may need to replace the batteries or check the electricity supply to the unit. For example, you may need to disconnect the thermostat and reconnect it again, or you may need to flip the main circuit breaker that supplies power to this area of your home. If this does not resolve the problem, replacing the thermostat may be required.
Inspect your Drain Pan
If you have noticed that the indoor component of your cooling system is leaking water, you should take a closer look at the drain pan that is located underneath this unit. Most units are installed with an overflow switch, and this switch is designed to prevent flooding or water damage inside the home. Unplugging the emergency drain line which leads to the outside of the house typically will resolve this program. If you do not have an overflow switch with your AC unit, you should check to see if the AC unit is receiving electrical power. You should also inspect the thermostat to ensure that the setting is lower than the indoor temperature, and you can adjust the fan switch. These steps will typically resolve an issue with a full drain pan.
Turn Your System Off
There are some instances when your AC system's coils become frozen. When this happens, the indoor fan may run, but cool air will not blow through the supply air registers. It is necessary to allow the coils to defrost thoroughly. To accomplish this, you will need to turn the system off entirely for several hours. The ice that has accumulated on the coils will drain off into the drain pan. You can then turn the system back on, and it should function as desired for you.
Change the Air Filter
Another reason why you may feel as though your AC system is not blowing cool air through your home is due to a dirty air filter. Typically, some air flow will still be able to circulate through the home when an air filter is dirty, but the dirtier your air filter is, the more significant the problem may be. You can simply remove the air filter to determine if this will resolve the problem, and you may leave the filter out of the supply register while you run to the store to purchase a replacement.
Check Your Air Ducts
It is a good idea to inspect your air ducts if you hear the fun running and have airflow at the return grills but bot at the supply registers. This typically indicates that there is a small or large leak in at least one of the air ducts. Inspect the air ducts that you can visibly see in your attic. If you locate a damaged area, you may be able to use duct tape to patch the hole. A larger hole may require you to replace a section of the duct work. If you cannot find the location of the leak, you may need to contact an HVAC technician for assistance.
Many homeowners would prefer to make a quick fix to their cooling system to save money and to get the system functional again as soon as possible. If you have taken these steps and have not remedied the problem, however, you may need to contact a heating and cooling company for professional assistance from a qualified technician. Call or Text us today for more details (941) 203-7955 and don't forget to check out our specials, financing, and rent-to-own air conditioning options. Stay Cool with Mahle!
Why Do Air Conditioners Breakdown In Summer?
As summer approaches, residents here in Florida will be using their air conditioner more frequently, and it is going to be operating for longer periods of time. This is when system breakdowns are most likely to occur. In most cases, repair of the unit or replacement of a specific part is necessary, and this means calling on the services of an experienced HVAC tech.
You certainly don't want to think about the possibility of a 90° home or office interior, but it just might happen. It is, therefore, a good idea to learn about why your air conditioning unit might fail. Here are some of the most common reasons an HVAC unit experiences problems during the late spring and summer seasons.
1) Motor Capacitors Become Inoperative
As you run your air conditioner more and more, overheating of the unit often causes the capacitors to become fatigued. If they blow out, the motors that run the compressor and fans will not operate. The system won't even circulate the room air, meaning that your home's or office's interior will heat up very quickly. A large air conditioning unit that provides a high number BTU's cooling power can cause an electrical overload, and instead of the breaker panel tripping, the capacitors on the system's motors will blow.
2) Refrigerant Leak
As you operate your air conditioner more and more frequently, the cooling refrigerant begins to circulate under more pressure. Coolant is sent to the outdoor compressor and then rerouted back to the central unit. If a leak develops, the refrigerant loss can become an indoor or outdoor environmental hazard. At the same time, you will notice that the air coming from the register ducts is no longer cool. The only way to fix this problem is to have a professional HVAC system tech fix the leak and replace the refrigerant.
3) Coils Become Frozen
This is one of the most common air conditioning system problems. As the unit runs, dirty filters or blocked ducts can cause a cooling of the evaporator coils. Sludgy refrigerant is the result, and the coils will become covered with a thick layer of ice or frost. The coils will no longer conduct heat away from the air flow, and the result is warm air blowing from the registers. If the refrigerant lines become blocked, they must be cleaned out by a service technician.
4) Faulty Thermostat Operation
If your thermostat is set to the desired temperature but the system keeps cycling on and off, chances are the thermostat has a faulty part or there is a wiring problem. Repeated cycling can cause a series of problems within the evaporator coils as well as to the motors and fans. Replacement of the thermostat may be necessary.
Most air conditioning repairs become more and more expensive if the problem is allowed to continue. The sooner the unit is repaired, the lest costly the repair bill. If you suspect something is wrong with your air conditioning system, have it checked out by a professional repair specialist such as Mahle Cool Air in Venice FL. Call or Text us today for more details (941) 203-7955 and don't forget to check out our specials, financing, and rent-to-own air conditioning options.