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Home Cooling In Arizona – How To Reduce The Load On Your Air Conditioning System

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Air Conditioning, Arizona Air Conditioning Upgrade Sale, Cooling Tips.

Maintaining A Comfortable Home Against High Temperature Arizona Summers

Home cooling in Arizona means installing air conditioning equipment that is capable of dealing with sequential months wherein the average temperature exceeds 90-plus degrees. In fact, Phoenix regional homes endure a season wherein heat increase rises well above 100-degrees for up to four consecutive months. It’s the kind of circumstances that make summer comfort almost as important as survival in below zero winter temperatures.

With each passing year it seems Arizona residents are pressed into even more days of unprecedented high heat index numbers. So even though Trane HVAC and other HVAC manufacturers continue to introduce better energy-efficient heat pumps and air conditioners, the cost of staying cool keeps rising. More hours of equipment operation means greater costs for comfort. The following tips show how to reduce the load on your Arizona air conditioning system.

Home Cooling, Reducing Heat In Your Home by Reducing Solar Heat Gain

People enjoy sunshine – even when the associated heat gain prompts increased energy consumption by home air conditioning systems. Weather that enables a wonderful day at the water park also forces higher cooling bills for the homestead. Longer hours of sunshine produce greater accumulation of solar heat gain. In the Arizona summer when the sun is higher in the sky, daylight hours increase and the associated heat gain accumulates even more. So keep the heat out. Here’s how:

Install Sunscreens – Perhaps budget conditions forbid installation of window awnings. Take a look at sunscreens as an alternative solution. Crafted from wood panels or louvered slats, sunscreens fit over windows in a manner similar to shutters.
Install Window Awnings – Whether crafted from rigid or flexible materials, window awnings reduce the heat that transmits through the windows of Phoenix houses. Even windows facing South or North can benefit from installed window awnings.
Overhangs – If a home is already completed, this suggestion doesn’t apply to the circumstance. However, for Arizona homeowners in the process of building, or perhaps doing some major remodeling, crafting wide overhangs will help shield windows and doors from the blistering Phoenix regional summer sunshine.
Plant Trees – If planted at a proper distance from the home, trees offer shade and reduced inside heat gain. But some cons exist: Even quick growing trees take many years to reach a height that provides full benefits. Also, if planted too near a home, the roots of the trees can end up causing issues with the foundation.

Home Cooling, Keeping the Heat Out and Reducing Indoors Heat

2013 Tax Credit for AC Installation Stopping solar heat-gain involves external solutions. The second line of defense involves controlling heat gain from within the home. This means reducing indoor heat as well as keeping heat out.

Keeping Heat Out Improves Home Cooling Efficiency…

Adequate Home Insulation – To keep a cool home, install sufficient and effective insulation in the walls, the attic, and the crawlspace.
Managed Air Flow – Close the windows and doors. Latch them. Proper home cooling demands a tightly sealed home.
Leak Prevention – Find the gaps around the doors, windows, vents and electrical outlets. Seal them.

Reducing Indoors Heat Assures More Efficient Home Cooling…

Scheduled Applications – Appliances emit heat, some more so than others. Use a timer to schedule the dishwasher so that it only runs during the late evening hours. Plan clothes drying for late night TV time.
Remember the “Off” Switch – From lights to televisions, stop burning electricity on devices not in use. Even small appliances resulted in accumulated heat spots.
Ventilate – When bathing in hot water, use exhaust fans. Likewise when cooking on the range or even when running the dishwasher.

Home Cooling, Choose the Right Air Conditioning System

Home air conditioning systems strip heat from the inside air. This means more cool for you. But not all systems function with the same efficiency. Every Arizona home is different, and requires a precise cooling configuration of equipment and installation.

Ducted force AC Service Technician In Arizona d-air systems are the most common method of controlled home cooling. However, many components define the effectiveness of the installed A/C unit. Product selection based upon SEER ratings may seem simple and straightforward, yet the path to energy-efficient home comfort is often clouded by an assortment of additional calculations and considerations.

American Cooling and Heating offers Arizona residents the finest home cooling resources available to the region. Competitive HVAC product and installation prices form the core attraction, but our 100% workmanship guarantee is what ensures that your home cooling equipment functions at a true Energy Star efficiency rating. From energy-efficient heat pumps, to central air conditioning units, ACH supports the full line of Trane home cooling equipment.

For more information, call now.

Why Upgrade To A Programmable Thermostat?

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Arizona Air Conditioning Upgrade Sale, Arizona Commercial Air Conditioning HVAC, Thermostats and Controllers.

Argument: Is A Programmable Thermostat Efficient?

According to one regional Department of Commerce web file, nearly 70% of the homes that currently heat and cool via the control of an installed programmable thermostat are wasting money (1). It seems that most homeowners fail to complete a primary step in the installation process: they don’t program the thermostat.

Thus a device designed to help you save energy ends up being no more efficient than the manual version of the same product. Hey. It doesn’t have to be that way. Fact is: if programmed effectively, the first-year savings from a correctly installed and programmed home comfort management system can sometimes recoup the full cost of the unit. Just ask the tech to help you get started.

After the initial unit cost is recovered, the energy saving from your thermostat investment becomes a cumulative benefit. A properly programmed “smart” thermostat requires less personal attention therefore you get superior home A/C comfort with better energy efficiency without the added cost of consistent manual manipulation of the controls.

Types of Thermostat – The Basics

A/C thermostats are used to control the temperature within a business, home or various sections thereof. By gauging internal temperature in relation to a pre-set comfort configuration, the thermostat activates the power controls on a central air conditioning, furnace, or heat pump comfort system. Furthermore, if the associated home comfort system includes air exchangers or humidifiers, the thermostat can control those mechanical systems also.

Throughout the ages, HVAC technology has advanced from a collection of simple and half-effective ideas to a degree of well throughout purposeful home comfort management systems that stuns the mind of the modern A/C consumer. Current thermostat options include: manual, programmable, and smart. Herein is a brief description of each format:

Manual Thermostat Units

In the tradition of the times, the wheel on early manual thermostats followed the nature of a dial telephone. The homeowner dials up the number (desired temperature setting) and conditions in the home or business remain stable as such until such time as someone rotates the dial left or right. However, due to the need of manual intervention, most folks have a habit of selecting a “comfortable” setting and then leaving it in place — even at night or during times when nobody is home to gain the benefits of a human-comfortable setting.

Programmable thermostat Units

By enabling users to make one-time changes wherein the temperature settings shift according to time of day or time of night, programmable thermostats up the efficiency of even a poorly performing HVAC system. Digital units, typically driven via touch-screen technology, enable users to make these changes directly on the device itself. Some models, for example the Trane XL800 Digital Thermostat, include multiple mode settings such as:

Min and max heating and cooling ranges
Hot key for daylight savings adjustments
Permanent memory storage
Auto and manual changeover features
“Dead Band” set points between heating and cooling changeover modes
And a host of other exciting options.

Various models also include options for auto-changeover for weekends and weekdays, evening to night and even special adjustment modes for morning versus daylight hours. Furthermore, many programmable systems include the power to manage and control heat pumps, air exchangers, humidifiers and other mechanical devices.

Smart Thermostat Units

Designed for the homeowner or business owner with a desire to reap even greater energy efficiency than that which can be provided via a digital programmable thermostat, Trane and other major A/C manufacturers have developed “Smart” thermostat technology. The programming options typically match or exceed the modes provided by a digital system, however Smart thermostats include one significant improvement: Smart thermostats use an applied rudimentary form of artificial intelligence so that they can actually “learn” the heating and cooling preferences of the user. This means the unit can actually make adjustments according to the factual presence of a human being within the dwelling or office. Additional features include Wi-Fi control via smart phone apps, tablets or personal computers. This also enables the homeowner to receive monthly e-mail reports that offer suggestions for even more efficient use of the system.

Some “Smart” units even link to home security systems. Thus some “Smart” programmable thermostat units not only monitor and control your homes HVAC systems, they can also provide remote monitoring and operation of many other home security and comfort functions.

To help guide your choices in this matter, American Cooling and Heating places a five-star mark of confidence in the Trane ComfortLink™ II SMART CONTROL. This intuitive and innovative touch-screen home HVAC management system functions well with most any other brand of standard central heating and air conditioning systems as well as with the Trane brand name. Among the many standard functions included with the ComfortLink™ II SMART CONTROL, you get:

Custom Scheduling and Control
Indoor/Outdoor Temperature Monitoring
Filter Monitoring
Remote Access
Live Weather Reports With Radar Images and More
And A Fantastic Digital Picture Frame Display For Times When The Unit Is Not In Use.

Three Points Critical To Efficient Use of a Programmable Thermostat

Installation – Although the physical installation of a programmable system may be fairly simple for some folks, remember that damaging your system due to a crossed wiring accident isn’t going to play well with the product warranty. Some units require wiring changes that the average homeowner is better off leaving to the skills of a trained HVAC technician. Furthermore, if you plan to include additional devices, the wiring tends to get even more complex.

Location – It’s all about performance and efficiency. To function most effectively, a thermostat should be located away from doorways, drafts, direct sunlight, windows and other specific forms of interference. The installer must also consider air currents such as those involved in war air rising or the opposite which is cool air sinking.

Programming Your Thermostat – Now is when the homeowner really has to consider various options, options that no tech can weigh-in without homeowner input. However, even without knowing the basics of your household family schedules, don’t let the tech leave without having him or her walk you through some of the basic programming processes. With American Cooling and Heating, you won’t need to worry about being inadequately trained. Our techs want you to know your system and how to get the best from your new programmable thermostat control unit.

1) https://mn.gov/commerce/assets/home-energy-guide_tcm17-28824.pdf

Heat Pump Efficiency – Your Solution For Summer and Winter Comfort

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Energy Efficient HVAC, Heat Pumps.

Benefits of an Installed Heat Pump System

During warm weather, heat pumps and air conditioners function identically. Both HVAC approaches are designed to provide homes and businesses with the physical comfort of reliable cooling and dehumidification. The typical A/C or HP system uses a process defined as vapor compression cycling. In general, refrigerant materials are noted for the temperature increase that takes place when the materials are compressed and then rapidly expanded. Thus a cycle of circulating refrigerant material through a compression / expansion process results in mechanically generated cool air.

Whether in homes or businesses, the process remains the same. The condensing unit of the air conditioning system houses the compressor and is typically stored external to the home or office. This is the noisy maker, the energy consumer, and the home of the condensing coil.

However, when the weather changes and you need something that provides heat as well as cooling comforts, heat pump efficiency suddenly takes a valuable leap above the capacity of a standard air conditioner. It’s a reversal of processes. Whereas an A/C condensing unit is capable only of functioning as a cooling system, a heat pump can reverse the process so that the heat of compression rather than venting into the outside air ends up within your home or office living and working quarters.

Layman’s Definition of Installed Heat Pump Functionality

So, you ask. Define heat pump efficiency in simple terms. Herein are the basics:

Heat pumps move heat from one fluid to another
In an air-source HVAC system, air is the fluid within the home and the external fluid is the outside air source.
In a geothermal heat system, water is the external fluid source
In times of hot external temperatures, the heat pump moves inside air into the outside fluid
In times of cold external temperatures, the heat within the outside fluid is moved to the inside air system.

Sophisticated Definition of Installed Heat Pump Functionality

Tip: Expect a 15-year lifecycle on the typical air-source HVAC heat pump. Furnaces usually pull 20-years. The actual processing method of a HP is as follows:

The external compressor unit pressurizes the system refrigerant
The pressurized refrigerant is piped inside the home
As the inside condensing coil receives the heated gas, room air passes over the coil and heat is transferred into the passing air.
During the process of heat exchange, the refrigerant cools and condenses
Now pressurized as a liquid, the refrigerant passes through a throttling valve, which causes expansion, cooling, and a shift into a state of low pressure liquid
In the cooling process, the external evaporator coil uses external air to boil the cold liquid refrigerant back into a gas
In the event that the external air is too cold to enable adequate heat generation, supplemental electric heat strips within the air handler provide the home with reliable heat.

During winter months, ice sometimes forms on the external coil system. The heat pump then engages a periodic defrost cycle which enables the system to melt ice and resume normal operation.

Air-Source HVAC Heat Pump Efficiency

Every form of measurement needs a base line. Thus horsepower as well as watts and amperage define engine performance. Likewise, heat pumps also require a base line measuring gauge. We call it the Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF). The gauging is based upon comparing the ratio of heat provided in Btu per hour to watts of energy consumed. The HSPF process also factors components such as:

Energy loss during the systems defrost cycle
Energy loss during system startup
Energy loss during system stops
And modifications due to specific climates.

Typical HSPF standards range from 7.7 for minimum efficiency equip to 8.2 for high efficiency units. Variable speed air-source HVAC systems may rate as high as 9.0. Actual efficiency performance varies from climate to climate.

When performing air-cooling services, heat pump efficiency performance is measured and rated by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). Again: the calculations factor in concepts such as start, stop and specific climate. Current national mandates set minimum residential air conditioning SEER rates at 13.0. However some units actually exceed a 19.0 SEER rating. And again, variable speed systems typically out perform standard units.

Expect to spend around 30% more for a variable speed HP or variable speed A/C. However, expect benefits as follows:

Better energy efficiency
Quieter operation
Better dehumidifying functions
AND better home comfort.

For more details on how to fit your Arizona home with a quality installed heat pump efficiency system, contact American Cooling and Heating now.

The Effects of Trane HVAC Progress on the Average Arizona Lifestyle

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Air Conditioning Technology, Arizona Air Conditioning Upgrade Sale, Arizona Local.

Climate Control by Trane For An Improved Arizona Lifestyle

It’s been over one hundred years since Trane laid down the roots for innovation and American achievements in the world of climate-controlled engineering. And by establishing a landmark of unparalleled reliability and endurance, Trane HVAC products have helped secure the freedom of many U.S. states that at one time endured a limited capacity to succeed in a global marketplace.

The age of near year-round suffering from a near suffocating heat is finished.

In a time past, the impact of heat prevailed over southern and southwestern lifestyles. The pacing of daily Arizona living was slow. Builders crafted the architecture of the homes both old and new so as to make the best of current living conditions. The intensity of the heat cycles forced a careful use of energy. Local residents were often branded as stereotypical lazy.

But modern home and business cooling technology changes the playing field. With the aid of Trane and other HVAC design and manufacturing companies, many of the limitations of the previous Arizona lifestyles are lifted. Most of complications evoked by extended heat waves no longer hinder human productivity. Heat-intensive southwest regions such as Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah now have a solid position in the world of global competition.

So we look back for a moment on what has made companies like Trane HVAC progress such a valuable asset of American engineering. And we observe how this company has so greatly influenced the overall competitiveness of the nation and of the southwestern US in particular.

A History of Trane AC Milestones.

The story of a company like Trane is fit for the making of a Hollywood documentary movie. Indeed, it shows that ideas born from necessity, rather than selfishness, are ones that begin with many challenges. Yet when perfected such ideas can revolutionize the world. James Trane’s Vapor Heating system was born out of working with cold pipes in the winters as a plumber. With curious minds, James, and continuing on with his son reveal how engineers go from fixing things to changing the way we think about cooling.

Fast-forward to the 1930’s and major businesses and commerce had the comfort of air conditioning to keep their customers comfortable and focused on enjoying their visit. Places like shopping plaza stores, restaurants, banks, offices, cinemas, hotels, and record stores saw air conditioning bring in larger crowds and more money.

Residents of the south and the southwest couldn’t really afford to outfit their homes with air conditioning units until 1950 when window units became obtainable by the average household. This was the beginning of a whole new culture and a distinct change in Arizona lifestyle. The desert wastelands of Arizona were about to receive a gift of extended life. The transformation of this and other southwestern states would be drastic. Arizona was soon to arise as one of the best, most affordable, and peaceful places to live within the entirety of the U.S. southern states.

In today’s world, the vast majority of southern homes, businesses, and facilities are all powered by HVAC systems. Most of the younger generation will scoff at the idea of having no air conditioning and having to rely on fans, open windows, and porch overhangs to fight the hundred-degree heat waves that are the norm in Phoenix and other regional Arizona cities.

A company built on satisfaction.

The power of Trane and HVAC systems has resulted in reduced mortality rates and growth in the economies of the south and the southwest. It took decades of inventing and reinventing to produce the HVAC system we now enjoy today. And Trane, with a commitment to customer satisfaction that will not be excelled, remains at the top of the industry’s surveys, including surveys pertaining to:

HVAC Reliability
HVAC Serviceability
HVAC Most Efficient
AND… HVAC Best quality equipment among the competition.

Arizona HVAC Support

Do you ever encounter drafty areas in your home? Does your Arizona air conditioning system “short cycle,” running regularly, yet for simply short spurts of time? Is the air in the winter abnormally dry? In the middle of the year, is your home cool yet feels damp? Is one spot of the house hot while other rooms stay cold? Is your HVAC running loud?

While you may sensibly imagine that these and different issues just call for repair or substitution of your heater or aeration and cooling system, complete jobs will need considerably more skill and thinking ahead.

Even the most straightforward repairs merit the best work

Today’s homes have complex warming, aerating and cooling, piping, and electrical segments that are controlled by mini-computers. That means it is troublesome and typically counterproductive to think about one section without giving thought to every one of the others. For instance, you should replace a 20-year old heater that is on its last leg in your home, however not the 15-year old AC unit that is showing no signs of trouble. But, once you sit down and examine everything, you will see that your home’s heating and cooling and ventilating segments are intrinsically connected.

Your Trane HVAC system has connected ventilation work, blowers, electronic computerized controls, and the list goes on. One can’t be supplanted without influencing the other. Hey. The joy of your Arizona lifestyle can be easily recovered by installation of a new Trane heat pump.

It may be savvy to add connect your existing A/C unit to new heater… or not? Would the expense of parts and work be better spent on a brand new, modern Trane HVAC system that is set to give you another few decades of reliability? It’s food for thought.

Taking into account the broad experience and item information, your American Cooling and Heating advisor can show you information about what existing parts are best to adjust to your new hardware and of which are all the more financially sound for your situation. Obviously, the choice is exclusively yours and must consider your specific needs, limitations, and desired Arizona lifestyle. Yet having the guidance of a qualified Trane HVAC expert is invaluable when it comes to investing in the future of your home.

Arizona Home Cooling or 12-Tips For Saving Money On Cooling Costs

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Cooling Tips, Energy Efficient HVAC, Maintenance.

Save Energy and Reduce the Cost of Air Conditioning Your Arizona Home

The cost of Arizona home cooling may well account for forty percent of your 2015 energy bill. But here’s a kicker that you may not realize, especially if you use a yearly averaged energy billing payment plan: Most of the financial outlay for high energy consumption occurs during the blazing heat waves that accompany normal Arizona summers. In fact, the summer cost for cooling the average Arizona home typically accounts for up to seventy percent of your summer energy bill.

But do not despair. By following a few simple yet comfort-efficient methods of home cooling management you can effectively reduce the short-term and the long-term cost of air conditioning your Arizona home.

The following tips are a condensed and/or expanded update of from the cost of air conditioning pages of APS, Arizona’s longest-serving and largest electric provider. Examine them. Determine which ones can fit into your lifestyle while helping you save on AZ home cooling expenses.

Tips That Will Help You Save Money On Arizona Home Cooling Costs

1) Caulk… It’s a major part of prevent lost of internal air temperatures. Two tubes and a cheap caulk gun will handle most household air leaks. Make sure you do the sill plates as well as the windows and door-frames.

2) Bath and Kitchen Exhaust Fans… It seems a simple thought yet it is often overlooked. Unnecessary use of exhaust fans will draw cool air from your home. The loss may be low volume, but in a course of time excess usage of bath and kitchen exhaust fans will increase the cost of air conditioning and thereby amplify your total home cooling bill.

3) Take Control Of Your Thermostat… Bumping the desired temperature by only one degree warmer can reduce your AZ home cooling expenses by up to 3% during summer months. Special tip: By using more room fans and ceiling fans, you can jack the thermostat to 79-degrees and still feel as much as 5-degrees cooler.

4) Dryer Ventilation… Surprise. Your dryer vent may be leaking heat and moisture into your home. Furthermore, if vented through the crawlspace it may be torn and leaking there. To ensure efficient Arizona home cooling, do a routine yearly dryer vent check and fix.

5) Windows… If the air conditioning is running the windows need to be closed. Install blinds or heavy-duty curtains and keep them closed as often as possible.

6) Storm Doors… The freedom to open the main doors and view the world through your storm door will up the cost for cooling your house.

7) Make Better Use of Exhaust Fans… Normal cooking generates heat and moisture. Use the kitchen exhaust for the purpose designed but make sure to flip the off switch when the meal is done cooking.

8) Natural Defrosting… You do know that frozen food will defrost inside of your refrigerator, right? When possible, avoid microwave defrosting. Using natural defrosting will help you get a drop in the cost of air-conditioning your home.

9) Cloths… It may be “passé” but cloths will dry when hung on an outside line in the sun.

10) Consider signing up for an APS Time Advantage Plan (2). Most electric providers offer customers various peak and off-peak hour programs, all designed to help you pull a lower energy bill while maintaining efficient Arizona home cooling.

11) Process Scheduling… Plan your process schedule so that heat-producing chores, including cooking, ironing, drying cloths and more occur during the cooler hours of the day.

12) Home Lighting… Appliances, lights, and even fans in unused rooms can increase your AZ home cooling expenses. When not in use, turn them off.

Bonus Arizona Home Cooling Tip…

For rapid service and a premier low-cost startup of an Arizona air conditioning and heat pump maintenance program, contact American Cooling and Heating. We can set you up on a price-efficient annual or semi-annual system maintenance program that can reduce the cost for cooling your Arizona home while also helping you increase the lifespan of your home HVAC equip.

ACH. We offer the best in reliable service, professional treatment, and technical skills. So act now. Take control of the cost of air conditioning. Get the comfort of peak system performance while reaping the benefits of reduced AZ home cooling expenses.

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