Installing Air Conditioning Makes Sense

A central air conditioning system is being installed in about 80 percent of newly built houses in the US. Most homeowners consider air conditioning to be an absolute necessity, although that hasn’t always been the case. The good news is that it’s relatively straightforward to have central air installed in your home, even if it was built without central A/C.

There are some factors that should be considered if you are planning to have central A/C installed in your home. And of course, having the work carried out by a reputable and licensed technician who gets the job done safely and affordably is one of the most important things.

The efficiency of A/C units is typically measured by the SEER system, which stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. Installing a new SEER rated unit and getting rid of your old unit which may not be working as it should, can cause a noticeable reduction in your energy bills. Lower energy usage and improved overall efficiency are becoming increasingly important to more homeowners, and HVAC manufacturers have been forced to provide products that deliver.

Different homes have different requirements when it comes to air conditioning, and a specialist HVAC company will be able to recommend and design the perfect system for your needs. It generally costs more and it’s a more complex procedure to install a central air conditioning system, although that’s something that most bigger homes usually need. Ultimately, your home’s size, your specific needs and your budget will determine the system that’s best for you.

Why Install Central Air Conditioning?

Because cooled air is supplied directly to every area of your home, even if all the doors are closed, it’s the most effective way to cool or heat your entire house. However, your family’s needs and your budget will determine which brand or size of A/C system will do the best job for you. One way to approach the problem is to contact several HVAC companies for quotes and then compare. Don’t contact an outlet such as Home Depot; contact companies that specialize in HVAC and who have a good reputation.

You may find that a Galveston air conditioning company strongly recommends a particular brand of air conditioning unit, as they have a relationship with that manufacturer. It’s important to do some initial research so you get the brand you want and that works for you, not one pushed on you by the A/C company.

Although an experienced HVAC technician can offer the best advice on this, you’ll probably find that the best location for your system’s condenser is somewhere in the back yard. Exposure to sun, the general climate in your area, and how your house was built will all affect this. It’s also important to make sure that you have the ductwork in place in your home so that it does the best possible job, as well as the ceiling outlets (diffusers) in each room. Make sure you get accurate information on where the diffusers go; it’s common for inexperienced companies to simply give you the wrong information and advise against installing a diffuser, despite the need for one.

Because a central air conditioning system consumes a lot of electricity, it’s also important to make sure your home can comfortably and safely meet this capacity. It will increase your total installation cost if you have to upgrade the mains system in your home if the existing system can’t accommodate a central air unit.

Maintaining Your Air Conditioning System

Most homeowners understand just how essential regular maintenance is; after all, you want your system to effectively heat and cool your home for many years to come. That said, many homeowners only bother to check their system when they notice it isn’t blowing cold any longer, and it’s easy to take it for granted.

Making sure the outside condenser is as clean as possible is one of the most important things to do when it comes to ensuring your air conditioning unit lasts as long as possible. And to ensure the smooth and efficient flow of air throughout your home, it’s also important to keep the indoor return air filter clean. In fact, keeping the outside condenser free of leaves, plants, weeds and other debris is one of the simplest yet most important steps you can take to ensure your system works as it should for as long as possible.

When it comes to keeping your home cool, there are several different types of air conditioning, although room air conditioning and central air are the two that are most widely used.

If you have ducts installed and ceiling outlets in different rooms throughout your home, and cold air comes out of these, it’s known as central air conditioning. Basically, hot air is converted into cool air and then circulated around your home through ductwork. It requires the system to work at a steady pace to maintain the same temperature all over your home.

Room air conditioning makes use of those small units that you see mounted in the window of some homes, and they work in much the same way as the air conditioning system in your car works, bringing in warm air from outside and converting it into cold air. Pluses of this type of air conditioning unit are that it’s portable and can simply plug into a power outlet somewhere in the room it’s being used in. The drawback of these window units is that they can only cool a certain amount of space, often just the room in which they are being used, so to cool your entire home, you need one in each room. However, if you have the doors open in your house, eventually one unit would cool the entire floor. These window units don’t take any hot air out of your home, so if you live in a two story home, the heat on the lower floor will rise to the next floor. In other words, you’ll generally need several of these room cooling units to effectively cool your entire home.

 

A definitive Guide To Window Air Conditioning

A definitive Guide To Window Air Conditioning

A Definitive Guide To Window Air Conditioning

A definitive Guide To Window Air Conditioning

If central air isn’t a practical option in your home or you just want one room to remain cool, a window air conditioner can be an affordable and effective solution.

Different models operate in different ways. Some window air conditioners have a heating mode, while others have a fan only setting, which saves you money on energy bills, as it doesn’t actually produce cold air. With some window units, you can set the unit to maintain a predetermined temperature, while others let you choose from several preset levels.

The square footage of the room to be cooled will determine the unit’s size that’s most effective, although you’ll also need to take into account the unit’s British thermal unit (BTU) rating. This tells you how much hot air the unit can remove from a room; a larger room cools more effectively with a higher number rated unit.

According to a company that does air conditioning in Pearland, “Keep in mind that a window air conditioner with a higher BTU number will have to be larger and heavier in size. The number of people using the room and whether the room is shaded or receives direct sun will also determine the unit size. A window AC unit will also be more efficient if it has a higher EER or energy efficiency ratio. However, as a general guide:

5,000 to 8,000 BTU unit for a room measuring 150 to 350 square ft.

8,000 to 12,000 BTU for 350 to 550 square foot room.

12,000 to 18,500 BTU for 550 to 1050 square foot room.

18,500 to 25,000 BTU for 1050 to 1600 square foot room.”

Different window air conditioning units come with different features, some of which may be useful to you. Energy consumption can be lowered with a programmable time, allowing you to turn on your unit at certain times. Electronic controls allow you to easily set your unit to keep a certain temperature, while mechanical controls are typically easier to use.

A sleeping temperature setting can save you money as it lets you raise the temperature in a bedroom at night when it doesn’t need to be quite so low. Pollen and other impurities can be removed more effectively if your unit has an electric ionizer. At the same time, you can decide if you want room air being expelled outside or recirculating in the room if your unit has a venting option.

Dehumidification is the process of removing humidity from the air as the unit cools, and this effect can vary. It’s measured in ounces and pints of moisture that can be removed per hour. And of course, if you want to adjust the settings without getting up, a remote control may be useful. Some units have a remote that also doubles as a temperature sensor, adjusting the unit as the temperature changes. An extra-long extension cord is always useful, and you’ll always replace the filter on time if your window air conditioner has a filter alert feature.

Always measure your window accurately to make sure you buy a window AC unit that will fit properly. Of course, you’ll need access to a power outlet that can safely handle the unit, and a plug on the unit to fit in that outlet. If necessary, call an electrician to modify your outlet; never do that yourself. If possible, install the unit in a shaded window and remember that it may take two people to lift and install it.

For your window air conditioner to work as efficiently as possible, keep any obstructions, plants, or trees away from it and ensure the air flows freely. Inside the room, if it’s sunny outside close window treatments, close wall or floor registers, and fireplace dampers. Your dishwasher, range, and dryer should be used during the coolest part of the day, if possible. And simply making sure your home is adequately and effectively weatherproofed and insulated can make sure you get the most from your window AC unit.

Of course, properly maintaining your window air conditioner will ensure many years of use and make sure that the room stays cool. The unit works more effectively when the filter is cleaned regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions; the filter can often be gently washed with water and mild detergent or vacuumed clean. Water should not come into contact with the control panel. Finally, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prepare your unit for winter storage readiness for next summer.

Check out the video for Window AC Installation:-

All You Need To Know About Furnaces

Choosing the Right Furnace or Heating System

Furnace

One of the most crucial systems that help to improve home comfort is the furnace, but an air conditioner is also vital. Installing a furnace is a major investment, so it is imperative you conduct some research before you decide to install a particular type of furnace. Obviously, there are several important factors that should be considered before choosing a furnace. 

Types of Furnaces

There are two common types of space heating systems. These are boiler/radiant systems and forced air systems. The latter requires a network of air ducts around the building while the former needs plumbing, for distributing hot water or steam, and radiators/baseboards. 

Furnace Install and Buying Guide

In this article, we are not looking at boilers or AC units, only furnaces. There are also solar panel systems and geothermal heating systems. However, we’ll only look at furnaces, which include oil, gas, and electric furnaces.

Electric Furnaces

This is the perfect option if you live in an area with mild winter weather. Electric furnaces have the advantage of being the most affordable to install. However, they also have high running costs due to the high unit costs of electricity. However, these furnaces can still be used cost-effectively in areas where winter temperatures are usually well above freezing. Electric furnaces have a life expectancy of 15-20 years. 

Gas Furnaces

Gas furnaces are the most common types of furnaces. While they may have higher upfront costs than electric furnaces, they have lower running costs. They are incredibly efficient and can quickly heat up your home on demand, but, they require the installation of air ducts. In addition, frequent maintenance is needed, and this can increase running costs. 

Oil Furnaces

These are the oldest heaters known to mankind. While they may not be as popular as they used to be, they still exist in some buildings. They are the perfect option for people living in areas that experience extreme or harsh winter weather. Oil heating systems require a fuel tank to store fuel oil. This means extra space is required. The tanks also need to be cleaned regularly to remove sediment. 

What to Look for in a Furnace

The most important factor to consider when looking for a furnace to install in your home is the energy source, as noted above. The following is a list of other factors to take into consideration. 

BTU Rating

It is important you choose a furnace that can comfortably meet the heating needs of your home. The general rule of thumb is to apportion 30-60 BTUs for each square foot of space in your home. If your home is exactly 2500 sq ft, therefore, you will need a furnace with a BTU rating of 75,000 to 150,000. 

AFUE Rating

Just because you’ve gotten the BTU rating right doesn’t mean that the furnace will be able to heat your home comfortably. You also need to get the AFUE rating right. AFUE is an acronym for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. It is simply a measure of how energy-efficient the furnace is at converting fuel to heat in the course of the year. AFUE rating is important when comparing fuel sources and furnace models. 

If a gas furnace has an AFUE rating of 80%, this means that the appliance converts 80% of gas burned in the furnace to heat. The remaining 20% of gas consumed is lost. Therefore, a gas furnace with a BTU rating of 100,000 and an AFUE rating of 80% is only able to deliver 80,000 BTUs to your home. As you can see, this is an important fact that you need to know when ordering a furnace.

Please note that the AFUE rating does not take into consideration heat losses in the air ducts or piping. These losses can account for nearly 35% of the energy output of the furnace. Things can even be worse if the air ducts passing through the attic and garage are poorly insulated. 

Load Calculation for Proper Installation and Maintenance

Before a furnace can be installed, the load calculation must be done. This is crucial because you want to know the amount of heat your home needs while taking into consideration the type of window you have, location of your home, foundation type, insulation, and house size, among other factors. Only qualified HVAC contractors can carry out an accurate load calculation. The importance of load calculation is that it can prevent you from buying an oversized or undersized furnace. 

Warranty

A key benefit of having a new furnace installed is that it comes with a warranty, which covers manufacturer defects and most repairs. Most warranties usually range from 5 to 10 years. You may have to pay an extra fee to get an extended warranty or lifetime warranty. 

It is also crucial you look for the best place to install the furnace. The ideal spot should have enough space for ventilation. Be sure to also seal and insulate your home properly to ensure you do not lose any heat. 

The following are important factors to consider when selecting a furnace. While they may not be as important as the factors listed above, they are worth looking at. They are:

Ignition System: By avoiding a pilot light system that burns continuously, you can significantly improve the efficiency of the system

Air Filtration: If a furnace has an integrated filtration system, you will have less dust circulating in the system.

Variable-Speed Blower: This helps to deliver air in a quieter, slower, and more controlled manner, thereby helping to prevent temperature swings. 

Variable Heat Output: This feature is available on furnaces with variable speed blowers, and it’s known for boosting efficiency and comfort. 

Dual Heat Exchanger: This ensures there’s maximum efficiency by extracting heat from burning gasses. 

Zoned Heating: It makes it possible for you to heat certain parts of the house and leave out rooms that are not currently in use, thereby helping you save energy. 

Average Furnace Costs: The cost of installation will depend on a variety of factors, so you need to look at all the costs associated with installing the furnace and related ductwork.

Welcome To Cooling Services, LLC

Cooling Services, LLC

At Cooling Services, LLC, we’re proud of our years of service to the Destin area and look forward to helping you with your air conditioning and heating needs. We’re pleased to serve both residential and commercial customers; our team is prepared to help you with the sales, service, and installation of the comfort system that is ideal for your home or business. And be sure to ask Cooling Services, LLC for a free estimate. Whether it’s a new installation or routine service, our factory-trained technicians provide the expertise your comfort depends on. And at Cooling Services, LLC, we repair all makes and models.

When it comes to your family you want dependable air conditioning and heating systems that provide you with value as well as comfort. Thanks to Cooling Services, LLC you can expect value and comfort.

Recent Posts

Tags