Skip to main content
Fast 24 Hour Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Service

Top Quality Workmanship, BBB A+ Rated, AZ ROC Complaint Free

Call Now (480) 699-2516

Heat Pump Prices – Who Needs a Premium Heat Pump For Their Phoenix AC Installation Project?

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in AC Service, Heat Pumps, Trane.

Heat Pump Prices – A Difficult Buyer Decision

Like all products, the scale for setting heat pump prices keep changing. So many options affect the final figures. And setting a dead rate for today may be totally out of line for tomorrow. With the availability of so different classes for heat pump performance, homeowners may have trouble dividing the line between AC quality and AC pricing. Sales hype can easily conceal the savings associated with value-added Phoenix AC installation services. If not careful, the buyer ends up with an incorrectly installed quality heat pump that performs below the standards of an entry-level air conditioning system.  

Homeowners and even Phoenix business owners can get caught up in the press for premium heat pump installation services versus the value of jumping to the top of the central air conditioning product line. Logo AMC for Phoenix AC installationYet choosing a lower product efficiency class is not always a bad idea. Buyers must always consider the long-term purposes associated with a new AC installation project. 

For example: Unless dealing in a very high profile residential area, most house flippers will install lower end heating and cooling systems. This may not always mean “cheap” but it can mean fewer bells and whistles. Likewise, rental units are typically equipped with lower class heat pumps. And so it is also for homeowners. If you are planning for a near-future housing change – perhaps a shift from Mesa to Scottsdale, why pay top dollar for a Mesa AC installation project only to encounter the same need five years later at your new Scottsdale home. 

The following heat pump price tips along with the associated unit quality classes will help you narrow the playing field. Perhaps you need a premium heat pump for your Phoenix AC installation project or maybe a moderate efficiency system will do just as well. 

AC and Heat Pump Price Comparisons 

As article content ages, price comparisons change. For me to list the ratings and prices of any particular air conditioning system, including air source and/or ducted units, would require that I know the exact prices in your precise time period. Thus the unit  comparisons listed below are top down ranging from most efficient to least efficient. The two primary factors of efficiency include system Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). However, not every Phoenix AC installation company charges the labor rates – neither do they provide the same quality of installation expertise, customer support or service reliability.

The following details focus on Trane as a token of every reliable manufacturer of quality AC or heat pump products. But I really cannot state current national labor averages, not can I set exact or average product prices. So we are going to compare heat pump efficiency rather than heat pump sales and heat pump installation prices. If you need an exact and current price on a new system, contact your local ACH service center. 

Ultra Efficiency Trane Heat Pumps 

Ultra efficient Trane systems currently ship in three configurations: 1) XL20i, 2) XL16i and 3) XL15i. These compare to the premium products of other manufacturers such as the Amana, Carrier and Rheem. However, the Carrier Infinity line pushes a higher SEER rating than the upper level Tranes, including a plus four on HSPF ratings. Therefore Carrier Infinity pricing can exceed the Trane Ultra Efficiency pricing by as much as sixty percent. 

Th XL20i rates 19 SEER and 9 or less on HSPF. The average pricing for these units unit with thermostat and furnace, including system installation depends on the tonnage of the system and the layout of your home or business. For example: contractor’s wholesale cost for a 2-ton will typically come in cheaper than the cost of a 5-ton unit. The average average cost for Phoenix AC installation not including any need for new or modified ductwork will include a margin for profit as well as the current cost of labor. However the installation costs of larger units will increase proportionally to the need for additional work. Expect the Trane XL16i, rated at 18 SEER with a 9 or less HSPF to price out more expensive than the Trane XL15i, which rates out at 16 SEER and sports a standard HSPF that can reach as high as 9. But also realize SEER rating often directly influences heat pump prices.    

High Efficiency Heat Pumps Pricing Based On Trane Systems 

Trane XR15 AC UnitTrane high efficiency heat pumps ship in two models: 1) XR15 and 2) XR13. These system fall in line with Carrier’s Performance and Comfort Series. However, the maximum SEER and HSPF of the Performance and Comfort Series are slightly higher than the Trane High Efficiency line. Likewise, the cost of product plus the cost of Phoenix heat pump installation for both Carrier Performance systems and Carrier Comfort systems is a nearer match to pricing of Trane’s Ultra Efficiency systems rather than the Trane High Efficiency system. The Comfort line typically prices out less than the Performance line. 

Back to a focus on Trane High Efficiency units: 

  • Trane XR15 rates at 6.5 SEER. HSPF comes in as high as 9. Unit costs plus installation charges typically exceed the costs of the XR13. Likewise, a 4-ton unit with air handler typically exceeds the price of a 2-ton unit w/out air handler.
  • Trane XR13 carries a maximum 8.5 HSPF and a SEER rating of 14. Being identified as the lower end of the XR series, the Trane XR13 typically prices our below the cost of the XR15. However, the cost of heat pump installation may remain the same no matter which unit you chose. 

Trane Moderate Efficiency Heat Pumps 

Again, there is a distinctive price difference between Trane’s moderate efficiency systems and Carrier’s low-end systems. This is partly due to Carrier’s low-end units supporting a higher SEER rating (16 max) and HSPF rating (9 max). The moderate efficiency Trane system carries a max SEER of 15 and a max HSPF of 8.5. Trane offers twon low-end system configurations:

  • Trane XB14 runs a max of 15 SEER and 8.5 HSPF
  • Trane XB13 comes in at 14.5 SEER and 8.5 HSPC. 

Closing Notes on Heat Pump Pricing  

Heat pump and air conditioning prices vary by manufacturer, unit size, functional extras and the cost of quality Phoenix AC installation. Before closing any deal, complete the following three checkpoints: 

  1. Get multiple estimates from local contractors
  2. Make a balanced comparison, including differences in SEER ratings, HSPF ratings, product performance extras and the skill and reputation of your installer
  3. Use your ears and eyes to notice the little things that distinguish an experienced heat pump professional from a sales rep. 

Finally, make sure you buy according to your current needs and your long-term future goals.

 

 

 

 

 

The Rising Price of R-22 Refrigerant: Not The Only Reason You Should Replace Your Outdated Air Conditioning System

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in AC Installation, AC Service.

Around this time of year, Phoenix area residents and businesses start receiving flyers pertaining to Glendale, Scottsdale and Mesa air conditioning installation services. Many of these papers will mention the rising price and scarcity of R-22 refrigerant. Sometimes such sales literature can trigger memories – memories of last year’s amplified cooling bill or how hot it got in spite of the labors of your aged central AC system or of how much it costs for Freon replacement in that leaky upstairs unit.

For many homeowners, the memories will trigger action. Some will make a phone call. Others, with all good intentions of follow-up, will slip the flyer on top the stack in a bedroom vanity whatnot shelf. Perhaps you will keep it closer by adding it to the pile of future-reads that you keep near the computer desk. In either event thrifty homeowners recognize the truths relayed via the flyer. If your AC is over ten years old, there is good reason for making contact with a Phoenix AC installation professional.

Right now that ancient Phoenix sky may be overcast and that blazing afternoon sun isn’t baking your roof and steaming the inside of your Glendale home. Government restrictions concerning the production of Freon (R-22 refrigerant) haven’t yet forced you to take advantage of energy-efficient air conditioning technologies now offer by Amana, Carrier and other top brand designers of heating and cooling equipment. And perhaps thoughts of making it just one more season hinder your response to a change that may be much more valuable than you think.

Here are a few reasons why the rising price of Freon should not be your only decision-making measuring stick. 

Prices Just Keep On Rising

U.S. government plans to phase out ozone depleting chemicals such as R-22 refrigerant are right on schedule. Over the last six months, Freon prices have climbed at an unprecedented speed. Production is on the decrease; panic buying is on the increase. The price of R-22 refrigerant is up by four times what it was just six months ago.

The push for settling the issue is near its end. By 2015, the government expects and demands a 90% reduction in the production of Freon. Meantime, the price of the replacement product, R410a, continues to drop. In the end result, Freon will cease to be available. Air conditioners installed before 2010 will experience Freon shortages, increased repair costs and the certainty of a future forced-replacement of the cooling system.

New Energy Standards and Increased Comfort at a Lower Cost

Ok. You don’t like Uncle Sam forcing your hand. No one does. But for the moment, why not lay the Freon issue aside. Here is an even better reason for calling in a Phoenix AC installation expert: 

  • Cost Effectiveness.

The best investments are often the most costly. Modern AC technology includes energy-efficient solutions designed to reduce your cooling cost, increase your personal at-home comfort level, and help protect the environment even when the systems are operating.

Here is an example from the extreme side of how new air conditioning technology can reduce energy expenses. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) a new DEVAP air conditioner process designed to combine desiccant-based dehumidification with indirect evaporative cooling can actually reduce the cost of industrial cooling by up to 81%. According to the project managers, even areas with dry climates such as Phoenix Arizona can benefit from the power of this new technology.

For now, DEVAP may not yet be an option for Phoenix homeowners. Yet the very technology that brings it into play is already working on your behalf. Using the free energy savings calculator available via the U.S. Small Business Administration, here is an example of what a Phoenix homeowner can save by installing an energy efficient central AC system. The following figures are based upon installing a new 2.5 ton 13.0 SEER energy efficient system.

Energy Ratings for AC Installation

In the summary, the bottom line relates to a percentage of the retail purchase price of the unit itself. The life-cycle energy savings amounts to nearly 25,000 KWh of electrical costs. The Net life-cycle savings pump out at $1,768. The value of the investment is obvious. 

Other Considerations

1) Avoid “dry charged” R-22 units. Although the original costs of such discount units may come in cheaper than an energy-star air conditioning system, they are not compliant with the regulations that demand forced upgrade to R-410a systems 

2) Slow leaks can develop in R-410a air conditioners as well as in R-22 refrigerant units, however the time is near when Freon just won’t be available. In the meanwhile, that yearly R-22 recharge is costing more and more.

3) Add ceiling fans to your home. Moving air tends to cool better than stale air. A few well-placed ceiling fans provide a low-cost reduction to your energy bill.

American Cooling and Heating

As a Phoenix AC installation professional, American Cooling and Heating is licensed, bonded and insured for residential, commercial and industrial HVAC and refrigeration services in the following areas: 

  • Glendale
  • Mesa
  • Scotsdale
  • And other Phoenix areas.

Accredition includes:

  • NATE
  • ACCA
  • And the Arizona BBB.

The quality of our heating and cooling services and workmanship is 100% guaranteed. Triple digit temperatures in the valley do not condemn you to eternal triple digit utility bills. Call today.

 

Why Your Phoenix AC Expert Should Analyze The External Condition of Your Home

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in AC Service, Cooling Tips, Uncategorized.

Texas ebony for aid in AC efficiencyFace it: The cost of air-conditioning your Arizona home or business is expensive. According to Energy Star, the cost of heating and cooling the average home runs around $1,000 per year. That’s a very low-end figure. Some professional estimates set the expense of home cooling and heating on a par of $300 to $500 per month. That’s $3,000 to $5,000 plus per household. Almost half of the average homeowner’s total yearly energy bill goes toward heating and cooling expenses. If your Phoenix AC system is over twelve years old, you could be wasting as much as 30% of your current cooling costs.

When Phoenix, Arizona approved the 2004 International Energy Code (IEC), they were agreeing to an energy conservation process designed to provide an 18 percent reduction in the city’s residential energy consumption. This includes lowering the use of residential electricity by 21 percent. When the electrical adjustments are combined with the residential natural gas adjustments of the 2004 IEC, the city aims for a life cycle per home cost savings of $11,228. 

Effective Phoenix AC Installation Benefits From Environmentally Focused Home Improvements

One of the core methods for bringing about the changes required in the 2004 IEC program involves energy-centered home improvements. The program gives local authorities permission to implement enhanced energy-efficiency construction goals and “home energy retrofits” within the local community. Along with increased citywide energy savings, green energy changes provide cost-effective ways to enhance homeowner living conditions. By bringing together utilities, trade groups and product retailers such as your local Phoenix air conditioning contractor, the city of Arizona effectively provides homeowners with: 

  • Improved health due to better air quality
  • Better home comfort due to more efficient heating, cooling and air filtration
  • Saver living quarters
  • AND a reduction in energy expenditure. 

The Cost Efficiency of Environmentally Controlled Home Air Conditioning

External wind, sun, shade and precipitation determine the degree and extent of internal energy consumption. In summer, evergreen shade trees reduce the need for air conditioning. During the winter, evergreen windbreaks help reduce heat loss. In fact, strategically placed shade trees can reduce your home cooling energy costs by as much as 47 percent.

Perhaps your community falls within a government sponsored energy-efficiency heating and cooling program. Area governments are actively striving to persuade homeowners to plant and maintain windbreaks and shade trees. Incentive programs make the task even easier. Some regions of Arizona may already be involved in alternative voluntary programs wherein low-income households receive inexpensive or even free “home energy retrofits.”

Even if your home doesn’t fit into any of the benefit programs associated with the 2004 IEC program, ask your Scottsdale AC repair technician to examine your landscape. It’s already a proven fact: Just a few shade trees in the right position will reduce your home or business cooling expenses. If your old system is more than twelve years old, consider the cost savings associated with a new Glendale air conditioning installation. And when the AC professional arrives on site, make sure he or she checks out the lay of your land before the work begins.

Just a few knowledgeable tips from a trained Glendale AC repair center can help you push the efficiency of your air conditioning system to the max. Be sure to use desert–adapted trees.

 

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.

Trane AC Service Center Gives Advice On How To Keep Your Trane A/C System In Tip Top Shape For Heavy Summer Abuse

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

American Cooling and Heating, Announces Trane Products Extended Resource Center

American Cooling And Heating’s Website offers a full PDF selection of owner manuals, unit-specific consumer brochures, HVAC news, and advanced tips on how to keep a Trane A/C System battle ready for heavy summer abuse

One-Stop Arizona Product Resource Center forTrane Air Conditioning Systems

HVAC work can get complicated. Some basic cooling system maintenance services may be very simple. However, actual service work often requires in-depth knowledge of a specific Trane air conditioning unit.

What happens when the DIY owner of a Trane A/C lacks access to a current owner’s manual? The internal home heat continues to accumulate. Without accurate information, HVAC repairs get complicated in a hurry.

Before long, the already confused, sweaty and irritated homeowner begins a frantic search for information. He or she calls a local Trane repair shop but the twenty-four-hour service line only gives off an endless drone of unanswered ring tones, (unless its American Cooling And Heating). An Internet-focused seek-and-download mission may also come up hot and dry.

Arizona-based, American Cooling and Heating has developed a series of extended Trane A/C resource web pages. The focus covers every aspect of Trane air cooling, heating and purification equipment.

The following tips on how to keep your Trane system primed for heavy summer abuse provides a sampling of what the American Cooling and Heating Trane Product Resource Center offers.

Trane Recommended A/C Prevented Maintenance

The typical Trane bi-annual preventative maintenance service agreement includes several specific service goals for both heating and cooling components. These goals are designed to assure that your Trane HVAC unit operates at top efficiency even during the most brutal winter or summer conditions.

American Cooling and Heating recommends that DIY homeowners avoid self-servicing any components that are on or within AC Units or that fall within the realm of a Trane service professional. Due to the safety hazards associated with electric and gas operated equipment, the following checklist also excludes system checks specific to Trane heating systems.

Checklist for External A/C Components:

Cleaning – This includes clearing the inside of the cabinet of any debris, dirt, leaves or other substances that can and do restrict air-flow. If necessary, clean the coil as well.

Refrigerant – Inspect and correct any incorrect levels of refrigerant. This service may be better if left to a trained technician.

Drain openings – Check and remove any obstructions to the base-pan drain openings.

Fan Blades and Fan Motor – Inspect for damage. Lubricate when possible.

Control Box – Check all control accessories, including wiring and connections, circuit boards, capacitors and relays. In the event of loose wiring or poor connections, disconnect power before attempting any repairs

Compressor and Tubing – Survey for any signs of physical damage. Call for service as needed.

Checklist for Internal Components:

** Air Filters – Clean or replace as necessary.

** Blower Assembly – Check mobility of blower wheel. Clean housing and motor as needed.

** Condensate Drain – Clean and ensure unobstructed discharge.

** Duct System – Check for air leaks and torn insulation. Repair as necessary.

** Evaporator Coil – Remove dirt, lint and soil.

** Thermostat Settings – A well regulated thermostat can greatly reduce excess system workload.

For a review of basic diagrams and system component locations, view the American Cooling and Heating Trane Packaged Systems PDF-formatted Guide.

These tips presented by American Cooling and Heating, currently offering 24 Hour Trane Air Conditioning Service for the entire Phoenix area, including Paradise Valley AZ, Gilbert AZ, Mesa AZ, and Scottsdale AZ, and all other areas in Arizona.

Valleywide Service • Fast Response 24/7
Call Now For A Free Estimate

(480) 699-2516