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

Tag: Maintenance

Trane Heat Pump Comparison – A Review Of Residential Trane Heat Pumps

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

Trane Heat Pump ComparisonHow Best To Compile a Residential Trane Heat Pump Comparison and Review

This Trane heat pump comparison from American Cooling and Heating is designed to provide Arizona residents with a solid, fact-based review and comparison from three distinct groups of Trane H/P equipment. To make the information worthwhile to prospective buyers, we are not going to poke around with another list of exact system specs. You can find that nearly anywhere on the Internet, including the highly informative Trane HVAC products page on this very website.

This comparison focuses on a close-up of how various Trane heat pump units compare to the competition, to one another, and to the industry as a unique heating and cooling solution for Arizona homeowners. Seven distinct units from three distinct Trane HP model ranges are included in the review:

  1. The top end Trane XL16i and Trane XL20i
  2. The mid-range Trane XB13, Trane XL15i and Trane XR15
  3. The low end Trane XB13 and the Trane XR13.

Kicking Off the Trane HP Review and Comparison

Before dipping into the unique components of each system, take a moment look at some of the primary features that make Trane an Arizona top-choice in heat pump technology. First, all Trane split system air conditioning and heat pump equipment applies outdoor coil protection via fully louvered panels baked in with a tough powder paint finish. These same units are assembled with weather-resistant screws designed for long-term performance. But most important of all is the patented Trane all-aluminum Spine Fin™ outdoor coil technology. This unique-to-Trane cooling technology assures that all Trane heat pump and air conditioning condensing systems make the most out of heat-transfer and energy-efficient functionality.

So let’s look now at the unique aspects of these Trane HVAC products.

Don’t need a new system, get

“10% Discount On All ACH-performed Maintenance Services”

Offer valid from May 1, 2014 to May 31, 2014

 

Trane Heat Pump Comparison: What Are the Unique Features of the Trane XL20i and the Trane XL16i

When reviewing Trane residential H/P equipment, the XL16i and the XL20i exceed the bill for top end heating and cooling equipment. What makes them stand out above the competition?

  • Fan Speed – A multi-stage fan in the XL20i reduces energy consumption during mild weather conditions. This saves you money.
  • Superior Warranties – Crafted for extended durability, both units pack a 12-year limited warranty on the compressor and a 10-year limited warranty on the outdoor coil and on all internal functional parts*. Buyers of these systems can also purchase an Optional Extended Warranty on parts, labor, or parts and labor.
  • Advanced Technology – Both the XL16i and the XL20i take advantage of Trane ChargeAssist technology, which helps ensure quality performance on just the right amount of refrigerant
  • AND, of course, the patented Trane all-aluminum Spine Fin™ outdoor coil technology.

 

 Trane H/P Comparison: Unique Features of the Trane XB13, Trane XL15i and Trane XR15

 So what features can set a mid-range heat pump apart from the pack? Things like a 12-year compressor warranty always standout as unique in the residential H/P marketplace. Efficient noise control also makes a difference. And in some Arizona homes, even the profile of heat pump unit can become very important. Here’s how the XB13, XR15 and XL15i stand out: 

  • Superiority Warranty Protection – Although only the Trane XL15i is backed by Trane’s 12-year compressor warranty, both the XB13 and the XR15 kick off with a Trane 10-year limited warranty on the compressor, outdoor coil, and all internal functional parts*. Any of the systems can be upgraded to the Trane Optional Extended Warranty program and/or an optional transferability of your Registered Limited Home System Warranty.
  • Short Profile – Although the XL15i does not fit short profile heat pump specs, the XB13 and the XR15 come in with a height of only 29”. That’s a ready-made solution for Arizona homes dealing with tight HVAC installation quarters.
  • Noise Management – Both the Trane XR15 heat pump and the Trane XL15i heat pump ship with an installed sound blanket that effectively reduces the noise level of the compressor
  • AND, or course, the patented Trane all-aluminum Spine Fin™ outdoor coil technology.

Current system reasonably new but in need of a tune-up? Call for a

“10% Discount On All ACH-performed Maintenance Services”

Offer valid from May 1, 2014 to May 31, 2014

 

 Trane Heat Pump Comparison: Looking For The Best In Low End A/C Technology With the Trane XB13 and the Trane XR13

Although only certain Trane air conditioning systems take advantage of two-stage compressor efficiency, every Trane HP or Trane A/C makes use of Climatuff® compressor Trane XR15 heat pump specstechnology. For power and effective performance, the XR13 and the XB13 offer a slightly above average SEER rating of up to 14.50 with an HSPF of up to 8.50. Cap it off with economical operation and durable construction, and either of these two heat pumps automatically standout as reliable and cost-effective. But let’s pinpoint at least three unique functions that make the low end Trane cooling solution a wise choice for some AZ residents:

  • Profile – Sometimes height matters. Both the Trane XB13 H/P and the Trane XR13 H/P family sport short profiles ranging from a mere 29” up to 41”. That’s a standard beater in the industry that works well for many AZ homeowners.
  • Extended Warranty – Although these two Trane low-end models already come with the Trane advanced 10-year limited warranty on compressor, outdoor coil, and internal functional parts, they also include the option for buyers to reap the benefits of buying a Trane Extended Warranty on labor and other costs. It’s a valuable asset available to every buyer of a new Trane heat pump system (1).
  • AND, of course, the XB13 and the XR13 take advantage of the patented Trane all-aluminum Spine Fin™ outdoor coil technology.

American Cooling and Heating Heat Pump Solutions

The core of this Trane Heat Pump Comparison ignores the basics of SEER and HSPF figures. Typically the name of the unit reflects the SEER rating of the unit. Residential Trane H/P systems are available in sizes ranging from 1.5 to 5 tons. Your ACH estimator will advise you as to the best system suited to your Arizona home.

American Cooling and Heating sales, installs and services all major brands of HVAC equipment. Now is the time to take advantage of the Company’s 2014 summer sale, but if your system is already up-to-par but needs a bit of a tune-up, call now and receive a:

“10% Discount On All ACH-performed Maintenance Services”

Offer valid from May 1, 2014 to May 31, 2014

  ACH servicing and installing all major brands of heating and cooling equipment for over 25 years.    

 

Disclaimer: This article and its content do not constitute legal, financial, technical, or medical advice. While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that this document is correct at the time of publication, the company and its employees and agents disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect of anything or the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done in reliance upon the whole or any part of this article and its content. All trademarks, logos, and associated content displayed are the property of their respective owners.

* If your Trane HVAC product is not registered within 60 days of installation, the terms of warranty coverage fall back to Trane’s Base Limited Warranty specifications. Ask your ACH dealer to provide full warranty options at the time of your purchase. And remember: Trane warranties are for residential buyers only and even then some exclusions may apply.

1)      http://www.trane.com/residential/products/heat-pumps/xb13-heat-pumps

 

Reverse Climate Change – Arizona HVAC Company Reflects on the Global Challenge

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Climate Change, Global Warming, HVAC Maintenance.

Climate Change on a Crowded PlanetAmerican Cooling and Heating Announces New Entry In the Global Warming Series – Reviewing Current Efforts To Reverse Climate Change

“Words from Berlin suggest that a modest global investment in alternative energy resources can keep global warming in check. But what is the actual definition of “modest?” local American Cooling and Heating tech manager.

Due to increasing interest in global warming and the associated effects in climate change, American Cooling and Heating has determined to help expand public awareness of current discussions and concepts. This press release is one of several in the ACH Global Warming series.

A Global Effort To Reverse Climate Change

According to the UN Climate Change Panel, quick action can restrain the cost of managing global warming. Immediate changes to the process of how energy is manufactured can be accomplished within a reasonably modest price range. But IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri makes perfectly clear that the solutions must involve immediate and decisive action. The tools are at hand. Climate change can be reversed and without a major disruption of world economic systems. But today is the day for action.

Consisting mainly of CO2, the buildup of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere comes mainly from the burning of fossil fuels. In the power sector, the use of coal has increased by 2.2 percent per year between 2000 and 2010. And the problem of Global Warming generates a catch-22 environment. As the global heat index rises, so too do the demands for air-conditioning and other cooling services, all of which require electrical energy as a power source.

Unless the world takes additional and appropriate measures, containment of emissions will continue to become more difficult. According to the IPCC panel, by the year 2100 the world will endure a 5 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit increase in temperatures.

The greatest part of the balancing load falls upon governments and energy providers. According to the IPCC, shifting energy resources from fossil fuels to low-carbon or zero-carbon resources can reduce the growth of power consumption by around 0.06 percentage points per year. It is a modest consumption rate that will work. Alternative sources for renewable energy include solar and wind power devices. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says that anything entailing a near quadrupling of low-carbon energy supply lines is welcome as a global economic opportunity. The IPCC is not calling for major changes. As mister Pachauri has stated in other news reports, “The loss in consumption is relatively modest.”

Opposite Views On Reversal of Climate Change Don’t Change Common Sense

Now the IPCC predicts a large-scale change in the fossil fuel investment quarter, a change that will drop by $30 billion annually even as investments in low-carbon resources expand by nearly $150 billion. And none of this takes into account the estimated $336 billion increase in energy efficiency applications that apply to the building, industrial and transport sectors.

On the other hand, oil and gas companies project a different viewpoint. So far as Exxon Mobil is concerned, adjusting for climate change is unlikely to greatly influence the sell of fossil fuels in any foreseeable near future (1).

Even in the Berlin climate change meeting, a dispute disrupted the flow of the discussion. Even as the evidence of climate change becomes indisputable, issues of cause, effect and management continue to trouble the “big” names in the discussion. Yet one matter remains primary on the board. According to the IPCC, time is running out, not for solutions but for cost-effect solutions. President of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Frances Beinecke, says that the solution “… requires decisive actions to curb carbon pollution — and an all-out race to embrace renewable sources of energy. History is calling.”

Summer heat can trigger asthma attacks, migraine headaches and even dehydration. Climate change is raising the heat ceiling and forcing a global increase in the use of heating and cooling equipment. To learn more about the American Cooling and Heating global warming series, click here.

 

 

Disclaimer:

 

This article and its content do not constitute legal, financial, technical, or medical advice. While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that this document is correct at the time of publication, the company and its employees and agents disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect of anything or the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done in reliance upon the whole or any part of this article and its content. All trademarks, logos, and associated content displayed are the property of their respective owners.

1) http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2014/0403/UN-to-oil-industry-You-can-solve-climate-change

 

 

 

HVAC Maintenance and Repair: Tips by Gilbert AZ HVAC Service Center ACH

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Heating, Maintenance.

Gilbert AZ HVAC ServicesEstablishing a simple and doable Gilbert AZ HVAC preventative home maintenance plan ensures that your heating system remains in top shape. Basic heat pump or furnace upkeep demands one to three hours per year in personal effort and routine filter replacements ranging from $40 to $100 in costs.

According to the ten-day forecast from Weather Underground, current Gilbert, AZ nighttime lows ranging between 45°F and 51°F remain in effect. It’s going to get worse and the demand on your home heating system will increase. This means a jump in the cost of staying comfortable on the inside of your home.

But you can reduce the cost for Gilbert AZ HVAC operations and repairs.

The team at American Cooling and Heating recommends a professional inspection at the beginning of spring and at the beginning of fall. Heavy-duty HVAC maintenance and repair involves opening the primary system, inspecting and cleaning the wiring, the mechanisms of the unit and examining the condition of the duct system. It’s usually a bit more than the typical Gilbert homeowner should attempt. But that doesn’t prevent you from practicing basic cooling and heating and preventative home maintenance.

Prolong the life of your Gilbert AZ HVAC system. Apply the following energy efficiency best practices for extended life and better service from your heating and cooling equipment.

Standards for Routine HVAC Maintenance and Repair

Whether heating and cooling with a dual-stage power-efficiency Trane XL20i heat pump or an Amana premium packaged dual-fuel gas and heat pump system, effective preventive home maintenance of your Gilbert AZ HVAC demands certain immediate actions:

  • Buy and install a pleated, high-efficiency air filter
  • Maintain a clear airflow path around your outdoor heat pump or AC system
  • Control the accumulation of grass, leaves or any other loose substances or materials that can hinder the performance of your external units.

Additional energy efficiency best practices include monthly and seasonal maintenance. Upgrading your HVAC filter system to a pleated unit with electrostatic particle management only works if the remains unclogged by pet hair, dust or other obstacles. Inspect the filter monthly. Replace it every ninety days regardless of appearance. Additional seasonal HVAC maintenance and repair practices include:

  • Checking the visible refrigerant lines for damaged insulation
  • Cutting off the water supply to the furnace humidifier during the summer
  • Replacement of the humidifier filter and engaging the water supply during the winter.

Following up on the immediate and the seasonal, make sure your Gilbert AZ HVAC inspection, maintenance and repair program includes annual servicing. Along with scheduling heating and cooling preventive home maintenance from American Cooling and Heating, here are some annual energy efficiency best practices that you can handle yourself:

  • Inspect the balance of the outdoor units to ensure that erosion has not caused the pads to become unleveled
  • Inspect your in-home registers to ensure that they are blocked or closed thus placing unnecessary strain on your heat pump, ac or furnace system
  • Prevent excess buildup of algae and mold by pouring a mixture of bleach and water down the inside condensate drain.

As a final step, replace the battery in your carbon monoxide detector. While you are at it, replace the batteries in your fire alarms. The U.S. Consumer product safety commission reports an estimate of 14,000 CO poisoning incidents during 2009. The average yearly CO poisoning death rate falls on 14 people per year. Don’t be one of the few.

American Cooling and Heating For Reliable Gilbert AZ HVAC Services

ACH provides 24/7 emergency Gilbert AZ HVAC maintenance and repair services. The company installs all major brands of heating and cooling equipment. For more information, click here.

 

 

 

  1. http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/US/AZ/Gilbert.html
  2. http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Research–Statistics/Carbon-Monoxide

 

 

Understanding Your Phoenix Air Conditioning System: AC Condenser Coils the Function and Purpose

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

Internal View of AC, including Condenser CoilsThe quality, design and effectiveness of your Phoenix AC Condenser coil play a critical role in your battle against the extremes of Arizona temperature shifts. Efficient heating and cooling of your home involves much more than merely selecting a heat pump, an AC or a split system. To create a complete and efficient Air Conditioning system, your Phoenix AC installer must select and match your condenser to the appropriate sub-components.

But what makes Air Conditioning Condenser Coils so critical to the function of the system? Consider the following three principles of AC mechanics and operation: 

  • The system compressor pushes pressurized gas through the AC Condenser Coils
  • The condenser converts the gas to liquid
  • The process is based upon the principle of heat transference wherein heat always tends to shift toward the cooler of two or more materials or substances. 

Your AC condenser coils are designed to transfer heat into the air that passes over the coils. As the transfer process takes place, the gas in the coils condenses. However, the molecular structure of AC Refrigerants varies by type. Condensers used with R-12, R-134 and R410A systems are not interchangeable. Upgrading your Phoenix AC unit to a different refrigerant system is complex and expensive.  

For more details on problems associated with older refrigerants, check the May 1st American Cooling and Heating article on the Montreal Protocol.

 

What Happens Inside the Unit 

As your home AC compressor increases the pressure against the refrigerant, a strange process occurs: Heat within the system begins to accumulate into a single region of the unit. The temperature of the refrigerant begins to exceed the ambient temperature of the air cycling across the condenser coils. Clogged fins hinder the function of the condenser. Your home or business AC begins to perform with less efficiency and may even freeze the coils. If your system seems sluggish or sometimes freezes up, contact the AC&H Phoenix AC Repair center. Our full-service heating and cooling maintenance and tune-up program leaves no condenser fin un-check.

 

High Condenser Pressure Opposed to Low Condenser Pressure

Some Gilbert AC Service techs may add too much oil to your air conditioning system. This results in flooding wherein your condenser unit develops high head. This hinders the evaporator process of your Mesa Air Conditioning system. Cooling becomes less and less efficient.

Here are some the indications of AC troubles and the associated causes: 

  • Too-High Condenser Pressure – Typically evidenced by excessive head pressure on the high side of the gauge. Caused by hindered or reduced airflow over the condenser coils or restricted refrigerant flow in the high side of the system.
  • Too-Low Condenser Pressure – A reversed situation wherein the pressure on the low side gauge exceed normal expectations. Typically involves reduced heat exchange in the AC Condenser, which permits excessive heat to remain in the system’s low side. Can be caused by a filed compressor piston or reed valve.

 

Copper Versus Aluminum Condenser Coils 

This is an ongoing argument. AC systems with aluminum condenser coils typically cost less than systems with copper condenser coils. However, some techs argue that copper condenser coils are stronger and more durable than aluminum condenser coils. Issues concerning corrosion, weight and system expense are also components of the arguments. The May 9 AC&H article compares aluminum condensing coils against copper condensing coils. Perhaps it will help you better understand the reasoning behind these component battles. 

American Cooling and Heating provides Phoenix AC Installation and Repair throughout the greater Metro Valley area, including Mesa, Gilbert, Scottsdale and other communities. If you have questions or need help, call us now. Our 24-hour response team is ready and able to provide honest and accurate guidance on all matters pertaining to home or business AC installation or services.

I Live in Arizona: Is My Landlord Responsible For Keeping Our Air Conditioner Running?

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

Arizona Statues Concerning Landlords and Air Conditioner Repairs

Landlord responsibilities is a common question among Arizona renters. With the current Phoenix temperatures hitting triple digits, the primary issue turns toward home cooling and the associated air conditioner equipment. So what do you do when the summer is unbearably hot, your air conditioning system is broken, and the landlord refuses to remedy the problem?

Is it legal for your landlord to put the cost of air conditioner repair back on you as the renter?

The Answers as Worded By Law

The following information is taken from the website of the Arizona State Legislature. For the sake of copyright laws and space limitations, the content herein is condensed to meet the needs of a brief understanding of (Az. Rev. Stat. § 33-1324(a)(4).

As with any legal information and activities, please consult an authorized and state licensed attorney before proceeding with any type of legal process.

From Arizona § 33-1324 (a), a landlord is required to:

* 1) Comply with current building health codes and safety codes

* 2) Make repairs as necessary to ensure that a rented premise is fit for habitation

* 3) Maintain a safe premise with procedures that ensure a clean environment

* 4) “Maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by him”

* 5) Maintain adequate rubbish and waste disposal processes and equipment

* 6) Supply reliable and reasonable quantities of running water, “reasonable heat and reasonable air-conditioning or cooling” when offered as a component of the rental unit or as demanded by seasonal weather conditions.

Section six goes on to detail exceptions for air conditioning, cooling equipment and hot water supply sources that are in the exclusive control of the presiding tenant or of a public utility company. Further exceptions are included in sections (b), (c) and (d) of the statute. See full details at:http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/33/01324.htm&Title=33&DocType=ARS.

Your Options Under Arizona Law

When a landlord refuses to react to a necessary and required air conditioner repair task, Arizona law may establish a situation which identifies the rented unit as “unfit” for habitation. As such, the renter, you, may pursue any of the following remedies:

* Repair and Deduct – See (Az. Rev. Stat. § 33-1363)

* Withhold Rent – See (Az. Rev. Stat. § 33-1365)

* Temporarily Move Out – See (Az. Rev. Stat. § 33-1364)

* Permanently Move Out – If a landlord fails to keep rental property in a status that is “fit for habitation,” tenants have the right to move out without facing any responsibility for future rent.

To Summarize the Full Document

Unless the landlord and the tenant of a single family dwelling agree in writing prior to a condition of disrepair, the landlord is typically deemed responsible for maintaining adequate building-related heating, air conditioning and other components that constitute the building’s fitness for habituation. In general, if a rented building’s roofing structure, plumbing system, electrical wiring and outlet components, heating equipment or air conditioner system fails due to normal wear and tear, the landlord is required to correct the issue.

In practice: Contact a local attorney.

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

(480) 699-2516