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Communicating With Your Phoenix AC Repair Center – Introduction to Central AC Systems

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in AC Installation, Air Conditioning, Cooling Tips.

Communication, an important part of AC repair workAfter the recent 72-degree days, you may already know you need a Phoenix AC repair center. CBS 5 AZ puts it this way: “Tons of sun…a wonderful winter.”

A late season storm may turn the tide, but it will be a short-lived change. The cooling season is just around the corner. Even if you don’t yet know what to expect from your air conditioning system now is a good time to take action. Stay ahead of the crowd. Get an AC checkup ASAP.

But, good comfort choices aren’t just about choosing the best Phoenix AC installation or repair team. You also need to know something about the equipment. When you have to call for a Chandler AC repair tech, it helps to know the jargon used by heating and cooling professionals.

You can count on American Cooling and Heating to guide you straight, but we like to provide our customers with as much useful information as we can. We wouldn’t be here without you. The following introduction to Central Air conditioning equipment and installation processes is crafted just for you.

 

From Amanda to Trane, The Core Design of Central AC Systems Function Alike

However, aside from primary system blueprints, central air conditioners share five key requirements:  

  1. They must be installed and connected to ductwork
  2. The ductwork must be right sized for the unit and for your home
  3. Climate plays a major role in product selection
  4. Performance is directly proportional to the condition of your home and the right sizing of the AC unit to your home
  5. Reliability depends as much on the skills and reputation of the Phoenix AC contractor as it does the quality of the installed unit.

As to Phoenix air conditioning installation and repair, look for a company with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, complaint-free membership in the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and a history of customer satisfaction. Don’t forget to confirm matters concerning license, bonding and insurance. Also take advantage of the consumer resources available via the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). You will find American Cooling and Heating throughout the ACCA Phoenix area listings.   

As to unit comparisons, FurnaceCompare.com provides a comprehensive selection of articles, efficiency ratings and wholesale pricing details for current central AC models. You can also take advantage of the free AC&H air conditioning and heating consumer literature.

 

Reliability of Central Air Conditioning As Measured By The Installation Pros

According to research performed by the editors of Consumer Search, Goodman products (Amana brands, Goodman and Janitrol) brought in more complaints and criticism than any other brand of cooling product. However, the majority of professional AC contractors argue that the issue is not due to the quality of the Goodman products so much as it is related to inexperienced, lazy or shoddy installation technicians.

Typically, companies such as Carrier and Trane establish rigid installation and repair requirements for technicians. Goodman is known to allow less skilled and poorly trained repairmen the freedom of installing their central air conditioning systems without extended company training. Some say that when dealing with Goodman AC products, you should always find a skilled AC contractor. Management at American Cooling and Heating says you need skilled technicians for any type of AC installation or repair in the Phoenix area or elsewhere.

If you want your system to cool efficiently, last as it should and reduce your energy expenses, follow these simple steps: 

  • Hire the right Phoenix AC contractor
  • Right size the system for your home
  • Perform yearly maintenance.

We are here to help you get started. Get a summer checkup now. Our skilled techs can examine your system’s: 

  • Electrical components and wiring
  • Operating pressures, including refrigerant charge
  • Airflow and temperature management
  • Air filter and thermostat life expectation
  • Amperages and motors
  • Outdoors coil
  • AND much more.

 

Air Conditioning Season Ending? Not in Arizona: Are You Reaping the Benefits of Home Air Conditioning?

Written by American Cooling And Heating on . Posted in AC Installation.

For many U.S. states, the summer is ending. Like much of the nation, Arizona temperatures are dropping, but for local residents the seasonal changes are far from complete. The southwest is a bit different from most northern and eastern states. The average southwestern summer last five months rather than three. Air conditioning season lingers far longer than most residents care to endure.

According to current Phoenix, AZ weather reports, August 29th experienced a high of 106°F at 2:25pm. It’s still brutal out here – even for folks well adjusted to the heat. The National Weather Service in Phoenix, records a 1981 through 2010 average local September temperature of 88°F degrees with an average September high that hinges around 100°F degrees. Even October has been known to cook up a few days that served out as much as 106°F.

Reap the Benefits of a New Home Air Conditioning System

Buying a new air home cooling system involves many options, calculations and personal considerations. But getting through a scorching Arizona summer makes all the planning worth the while and the costs.

Home cooling resources come in many formats, including heat pumps, window units and central air conditioning systems. The benefits of going with a new unit, even late in the season, include:

  • Better energy efficiency
  • Lower energy bills
  • Government incentives
  • Special dealer discounts
  • And the cool air heat-reprieve that only an efficiently installed home air conditioning system can deliver.

Modern home cooling and heating systems provide advanced temperature control technology that not only reduces on energy waste but also helps ensure personal comfort in a well monitored home. Digital controls permit regulated temperature changes even while you are away from home. You can program specific settings to coincided with your personal traveling or working schedule.

Save energy during school hours. Avoid waste during vacation times. But always enjoy perfect air conditioning comfort whenever anyone is home to take advantage of the benefits.

A new home air conditioning system can:

  • Help decrease the humidity in your home
  • Provide better air filtration and purification
  • Reduce the need for additional Arizona air conditioning repair services
  • Help remove the spread of bacteria, pollen and fungal growth
  • Relieve and reduce the effects of allergies and asthma
  • Be up and running within twenty-four hours after you contact your Arizona heat pump installation expert.

Make Your Choices Wisely

Reaping the full benefits of a new Arizona air conditioning installation project requires the services of a trained and competent HVAC professional. The efficiency, the life-expectancy and the cost effectiveness of any new home cooling system is directly tied to proper unit sizing, expert installation and correct outdoor placement.

Bigger and more expensive is not necessarily a best choice. Let a professional help you understand the differences. In Arizona, the seasonal temperatures fit well with the performance of a heat pump. Even though a central air conditioning system can be more cost efficient for cooling, the benefits of a heat pump may be a better fit for your Arizona home.

Air conditioning season ending? Not in Arizona.

The Invisible Costs of Using Air Conditioning Systems

Written by American Cooling And Heating on . Posted in AC Installation, AC Service.

In times past, the Southwest has been known to use “swamp coolers” for general residential cooling purposes. The energy consumption of a swamp cooler – better known as an evaporative cooler – is typically two to four times less than a modern air conditioning system. Thus arise a serious question:

With 56 percent of the total home energy bill going toward heating and cooling, is the switch toward air conditioning worth the affect it has on climate, health and resources?

In a white paper produced by Arunima Chatterjee and Melanie Lenart, the process of energy versus water as a home cooling method is studied in detail. The researchers compare the costs for cooling a typical 2,000-square-foot home using both types of cooling systems. In application, they say that a swamp cooler can cool the home for as little as 250 kilowatt-hours per month, whereas an air conditioner will consume 850 kilowatt-hours per month when cooling the same Tucson Arizona home. This implies a monthly cost difference of better than $60.00 at current Arizona electric rates.

Water, a Natural Resource Not Fully Accounted In Expense

In a further report from the Environmental Research Laboratory at the University of Arizona, T. Lewis Thompson noted that a swamp cooler could use an average of 150 gallons of water in a single day. Arizona temperatures, extended heat waves and battles with run-away fires enhance the value of water. Since standard air conditioning systems do not make direct use of water, it would first appear that the swamp coolers are wasting valuable resources.

However, University of Arizona researchers have been quick to point out the indirect water consumption of a typical air conditioning system. In Arizona, hydropower consumes approximately 65 gallons of water for every kilowatt-hour of generated electricity. Likewise, coal-fired plants consume around half a gallon to produce one kilowatt-hour of electricity.

Effectiveness, The Primary Measuring Stick

Since swamp coolers make use of evaporative cooling, their effectiveness is hindered during monsoon season. The storms bring moist air, but the swamp coolers function best in a dry environment. Air conditioning is not limited by external weather conditions. Being thermostatically controlled, air conditioning systems provide Arizona homeowners with regulated temperature regardless of external or internal humidity.

Climate Changes

Some researchers claim that air conditioners generate more global warming than do swamp coolers. Yet the argument typically fails to include the greenhouse gases produced by coal-driven electrical sources.

Issues Pertaining to Personal Health

Researchers also claim that evaporative cooling provides a better quality of indoor air. Reasoning centers around the filtering system of a swamp cooler. In principle, the pads of a swamp cooler are always moist, thereby capable of trapping dust and pollen more effectively than conventional air conditioning systems. Additionally, the swamp coolers are praised for adding moisture to the inside air, thus preventing dry eyes, throats and skin.

However, air conditioners are credited as more efficient when dealing with re-circulated indoor air. The counter-arguments also suggest that conventional air conditioning systems magnify indoor air pollution, yet high-efficiency filters can easily remedy the situation.

Stay in the Swamp or Switch to Modern Air Conditioning

Most Arizona residents now use conventional air conditioning units. None of the above arguments take into account the benefits of calling an Arizona heat pump installation expert. The continual yearly rise in Arizona temperatures will force society to consider every option in energy conservation, resource preservation and personal health.

Right now, a heat pump provides a reasonable point of balance. By increasing the energy efficiency of home heating methods, heat pumps create an effective balance to a difficult situation.

Energy Savings Tips

Written by American Cooling And Heating on . Posted in AC Installation, Cooling Tips.

5 Tips to Help Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient

Turning your home green benefits the environment, but it also keeps you from wasting money on unnecessary water heating, lighting and air conditioning costs. The following tips will help you reap the benefits of living in a more energy-efficient home.

1) Sealing and Insulation

“If life is like a candle bright

Death must be the wind.

You can close your window tight

And it still comes blowing in.”

The above words, from a song by Moe Brandy, contemplate the shortness of life. Yet they also reflect a basic truth in energy-efficiency. Wind seeps through every crack. To reduce the expenses of home air conditioning, your home must be properly sealed and insulated.

Older homes in particular, but even some recently constructed homes, can lack the most cost-efficient means of regulating the effects of external air flow. Perhaps your home does not include the advantages of current construction technology. Spending money on new energy-efficient windows and doors can amount to huge long-term savings.

2) Tankless Water Heater

Modern tankless water heaters save energy by functioning on a “demand only” basis. Rather than wasting energy on continuously heating and storing hot water, the systems anticipate the current hot water needs in a home. For example: The Rheem Prestige™ Series of tankless water heaters are ideal for full-size families. The units provide sufficient hot water to:

  • Start the laundry
  • Bathe the kids
  • Start the dishes
  • And enable you to relax in the aftermath by dipping beneath a relaxing hot shower.

3) Light Bulbs

For years, the local utilities company has been pushing energy-efficient light bulbs. It’s a wise choice, so don’t keep lagging in the game. Traditional light bulbs are still available, but they seem such a wasted option. It’s time to make the plunge; go with energy-efficient lighting today.

4) Programmable Thermostat

State-of-the-art heating and cooling is different from ever before. Modern units enable automated air conditioning control during vacations, brief overnight trips or even at the far away summer cottage. Programmable thermostats are easy to monitor, enable exact control of heating and cooling systems and help you save money on energy consumption. If your home system lacks the efficiency of a programmable thermostat, consider making an immediate upgrade.

5) Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning Equipment

If your air conditioner or furnace is not working correctly, do something to correct the problem. Air conditioning repair is much less expensive than the cost of operating a poorly functioning heating and cooling system. Many older homes lack central cooling and heating. When accurately sized for the home, installed correctly and regulated with an efficient thermostat system, central air conditioning provides advanced performance, less energy consumption and better home comfort.

If your home is already running on a central system, stop letting it struggle in a needless battle. Any unit that is correctly sized for the home, properly ducted, filtered and primed for energy-efficient operation should easily keep up with the heating and cooling needs within an adequately sealed and insulated home.

If your home HVAC equipment is just sitting there, spinning out cool air in the winter and warm air in the summer, you are being hi-jacked by a needless energy bill.

Conclusion

With even a few home improvements, it is possible to increase the energy-efficiency standards of your home. Even the costly upgrades and replacements will eventually pay for themselves. Go with a win-win solution. Use these five tips to help make your home more energy-efficient.

Choose Your A/C Wisely – Save Money And Stay Comfortable All Year Long

Written by American Cooling And Heating on . Posted in AC Installation.

Phoenix Area Air Conditioning Expert American Cooling And Heating Presents Information on How to Choose the A/C Brand That Fits Your Home

Local Air Conditioning Service Center,American Cooling and Heating, Announces New Arizona-Focused Resources Designed to Help Homeowners Better Understand HVAC Brands, Application and Installation Procedures. The right A/C system choice can save you money in the long run.

Understanding Basic Air Conditioning Terminology

The typical central air conditioning system functions as a whole-house or single-floor cooling system. The costs of a central home air conditioning system can range from $2,500 and up, exceeding well over $10,000 for total purchase and installation.

The base terminology shared between all brands of air conditioning systems includes the following definitions:

British Thermal Unit (Btu) – This measure system is calculated based upon the quantity of heat necessary to raise one pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. In layman terms, a Btu represents the supposed amount of heat an air conditioning unit can extract from a given area of concern. The higher the Btu rating, the greater the cost, size and weight of the associated air conditioning system.

Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) – Calculated by the relationship between Btu and consumed energy watts, the EER of a system identifies an air conditioner’s level of efficiency. High EER ratings equate to better performance at a great cost for the system.

For a full glossary of heating and air conditioning terminology, see the American Cooling and Heating Fact Page.

Air Conditioning Classifications

Central A/C systems fall under one of four type classifications. The choice of group-type will depend upon one’s current financial strength, the configuration and layout of the existing A/C system and the short-term versus long-term purposes for buying a new Air Conditioning system.

The four central A/C classifications are as follows:

1) Minimum-Efficiency – By yesteryear’s air conditioning standards, a modern minimum-efficiency air conditioning system would be labeled as highly efficient. Yet by modern standards, these units are budget models, costly to operate but cheap on the upfront costs. Starting cost: $2,500 and up.

2) Mid-Range Efficiency – A/C units ranging from14.5 to 17 SEER often enable customers to take advantage of government rebates to get some increased efficiency benefits at a lower initial startup cost. These units are also typically easier to install than high-efficiency units. Starting cost: $3,000 plus.

3) High-Efficiency 16 to 23 SEER Central Units – Provide the lowest energy bills, but the highest initial startup price. They typically include two-stage units that enable less on/off cycling, but they may also require modification to any existing duct systems. Starting cost: $3,500 plus.

4) Mini-split ductless Systems – Included in this list only for the sake of completion, mini-split ductless A/C units are not recommended under normal circumstances. They are expensive to purchase, cheap to install and good for homes without existing ductwork. Starting costs: $1,000.

Decide on the Air Conditioning System Brand That Best Suits The Home’s Unique Layout and Environment

Decisions concerning brand name A/C components and brand name A/C installation procedures must combine cost effectiveness, home compatibility and customer expectations. American Cooling and Heating deals in the sales, repairs and installation of full-home HVAC, Air Purification and/or Air Humidity Control systems.

Primary product choices include:

Amana – Premium Air Conditions, Package Units, Heat Pump condensing Units, Air Handlers, Conditioning Coils and More.

Carrier – Package Systems, High-Efficiency Heat Pumps, Air Conditioners, Air Handlers, Cooling Coils and More.

Goodman – High-Efficiency A/Cs, Heat Pumps, Air Handlers, Indoor Cooling Coils, Package Units and More.

Rheem – High-Efficiency Air Conditioners, Air Cleaners, Heat Pumps, Air Handlers, Indoor Cooling Coils and Package Units

Trane – 13 Through 20 SEER Air Conditioners, Heat Pumps, Air Handlers, Air Cleaners, Indoor Coolers and More.

And others.

Including an in-depth report on system comparisons, features and reliability is beyond the scope of this article. For a comprehensive central air conditioning buying guide, visit the Consumerreports.org website.

In the final balance of the issue, selecting the right air conditioning system for your home boils down to choosing the right contractor for the estimate and the job. American Cooling and Heating is licensed, bonded and insured for residential, commercial, industrial, HVAC and refrigeration services throughout the Phoenix area.

For technical excellence, you can’t beat call American Cooling and Heating.

If time is critical to your needs, American Cooling and Heating also offers reliable 24-hour, on-call HVAC maintenance services, emergency repairs and 24 hour A/C unit installation.

Air Conditioning And Heating Sales And Service for Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, and all surrounding areas in Arizona.

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