An Important Day

Let’s talk air conditioners for a minute. It is the time of year when many of our clients are faced with the dilemma of needing a new air conditioner. Rheem, Lennox, American Standard, Carrier, Trane, Ruud, Tempstar, and the list of brands goes on and on. Then we have SEER ratings (seasonal energy efficiency rating) the higher the SEER rating the less electricity the unit is going to use. Next, we have motors and compressors that have different speeds which offer different benefits on the level of comfort in the home. The reality is that an air conditioner is an air conditioner is an air conditioner. Those of us in the industry all have opinions on which brands are the best, and yes different equipment offers different benefits depending on the application.

Here is the hard cold truth; the most IMPORTANT day in any air conditioning system is the day that it is installed and the company that installs it. You need to make sure that you are doing business with a reputable company that is going to be there if there is a problem down the road. If a system is installed correctly, you shouldn’t have a problem with the unit; however as with any manufactured item, it may have a flaw in it from the factory, which is beyond the control of the installing company and may need a repair. Many AC companies will rush through the install process and while you the homeowner are not aware, they may do things that shorten the life of the equipment or reduce the efficiency. Again proper installing of your new unit will ensure the equipment has the longest life and gives you all the benefits you are spending your hard earned cash on.

Art Plumbing and Air Conditioning has a 21 point check list that we operate with when installing an AC system to ensure nothing is missed and no shortcuts are taken. I am not going to review the entire list here; I am going to hit the biggest things that people skip to save time.

• Flush and chemically treat drain line for proper flow and hopefully prevent future backups
• Put refrigerant system under deep vacuum to remove any moisture that got into the system during the install process.
• Test and start the equipment per the manufacturer’s specification’s to ensure optimum system performance
• Install defrost control in the air handler to prevent freeze up in the event the unit has a Freon leak or you forget to change your filter
• Install condensate safety switch in drain line to prevent floods in the event the drain line would back up
• Pressure check the Freon lines running from the indoor to the outdoor units to ensure no Freon leaks
• Install a filter in your new system

In conclusion, when you are making your choice in purchasing an AC system, this decision is going to impact the next 12-15 years of your life and making it based just on the price of the unit may not be your best course of action. Look at the company you are working with, do your research, and look at all the factors to make the choice of AC install company one you will not regret. Give us a call at 1-800-475-1504 or visit www.artplumbingandac.com to schedule your AC evaluation today

House Whisperer out!!!