DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning’

Air Conditioning Question: How Much Do High Efficiency Air Conditioners Save

Monday, August 6th, 2012

High efficiency air conditioning systems are designed to save money by cutting the amount of energy that it takes to use them.  If the air conditioner being replaced is ten years old, your monthly utility costs could decrease anywhere from 15% to 30% with your new system.

If the air conditioner being replaced is twenty years old, it could save you up to 40% in monthly utility costs.

Every high-efficiency air conditioner must be built to very strict standards which are created by the US Environmental Protection Agency.  The SEER gives you an idea of an air conditioner’s energy efficiency: the higher the SEER, the less energy the unit will use to keep your home cool. While higher SEER can mean a higher initial cost to purchase the AC itself, you will quickly make up the difference in cost with your monthly energy savings.

In addition, when a high-efficiency air conditioning system is installed professionally it can qualify for tax credits, tax breaks, and government rebates that will save even more money.

The skilled Bolingbrook AC technicians at DuAll Heating and Cooling work with high-efficiency air conditioners through a variety of AC services which include air conditioner installation and repairs.  Let our experienced team help you determine which high-efficiency AC system is right for your specific needs, ensuring you understand exactly how much money you will be saving.

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HVAC Guide: Quality Air Conditioning Installation Steps

Monday, July 30th, 2012

Installing a new central cooling system can be a sizable job, and it is definitely one to leave to the professionals. There are many steps in the process, and naturally you may want to know what to expect before the work starts. Here’s a step by step guide of what your Plainfield HVAC technicians will do when installing your central AC.

  • A spot will be chosen for the condensing unit outdoors. There are many factors to be considered when choosing this location, such as evenness of the ground, sunlight exposure, and code regulations concerning proximity to gas and electric meters.
  • A hole will be cut near the condensing unit, towards the bottom of your home. This will allow necessary wires and pipes to enter the structure.
  • If you do not have an air handler or a cased coil, an evaporator coil will be installed in your furnace. A line set will connect the condensing unit to the evaporator coil.
  • High voltage connections will required, as central systems run on 220 volts of electricity. Regulations call for safety/disconnect switch to be place by the condensing unit. This is definitely a job for a professional.
  • Once this is done, the low voltage wiring to the condensing unit will be completed. This will run to your thermostat. If your thermostat does not have both heating and cooling setting then a new one will have to be installed.
  • Finally, drain tubing will be hooked up to the evaporator coil, allowing the condensed water on the coil to empty into a floor drain. Now all that’s left is for your HVAC technician to solder your copper refrigerant lines and release refrigerant in the system. Pressures will be balanced, the high voltage wiring will be connected, and the entire system will be inspected. Your central system is now ready to go.

Remember, the installation of a central air conditioning unit is a big job, especially if you do not have preexisting ductwork in your home. Certain steps of the process can legally only be performed by certified Plainfield HVAC technicians. Call DuAll Heating & Cooling with any questions you have about installing central air in your home.

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Common Air Conditioner Problems

Monday, July 23rd, 2012

Our air conditioning systems are a wonderful tool that helps us stay cool and comfortable on the hottest of days.  However, there are some common air conditioner problems which can arise that are easy to identify such as leaks, sensor problems, and drainage problems.  If any of these air conditioner problems springs up with your air conditioning system, it is important to contact the experienced Plainfield air conditioning professionals at DuAll Heating and Cooling in order to have your air conditioner inspected and properly fixed.

Air Conditioning Leaks

When the refrigerant level gets too low, the cause can be that it was undercharged when it was installed, or that there is a leak.  If there is a leak, it is not ok to just continually add refrigerant, because there is an underlying air conditioning leak problem which needs to be resolved.  Not only are refrigerant leaks damaging to the environment, but it also means your unit has an improper refrigerant charge.  It is important that an AC technician such as ours come in and fix the leak with an AC repair, test to ensure the fix was done correctly and then charge the system with the proper refrigerant amount.

AC Sensor Problems

Air conditioning systems have a thermostat sensor which is behind the control panel for the AC.  The sensor is designed to measure the temperature of air that flows into the evaporative coil.  When AC sensor problems occur such as the sensor being knocked out of place, it will be quite obvious because the air conditioner will either begin to run almost constantly, or it will begin working in random spurts that have no real bearing on the true temperature of the air in the building.  A knowledgeable air conditioner technician can easily fix this type of air conditioner sensor problem.

Air Conditioner Drainage Problems

Air conditioner drainage problems generally occur because of a clogged drain in the AC system.  It could be that the condensate drain is clogged and as such is not draining appropriately, or it could be that the air conditioner was not mounted level.  Either way, a professional air conditioning technician such as ours can efficiently fix any air conditioner drainage problems which arise.

Contact DuAll Heating and Cooling today and receive the quality air conditioner support which you value and require no matter where you are in the Plainfield area.

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Air Conditioning Guide: Common Ductless AC Repairs

Monday, July 16th, 2012

All major home appliances and HVAC components will need repairs at some point. That is simply a fact of life that all homeowners should come to accept. One thing that helps for peace of mind when dealing with a certain repair job is to have an idea how common it is. That can help you settle the question of whether your Romeoville ductless air conditioner is a having a lot of trouble or just needs some routine repairs.

To answer that very question, here are three common repairs that ductless AC systems often need.

 #1: Leak Repair

Refrigerant leaks can spring up just about anywhere in a ductless AC: the condenser coil, the evaporator coil, the refrigerant line… While premature leaks are sometimes the sign of improper installation or neglecting maintenance duties, sometimes leaks just happen over time. Leaks will affect performance, but are easy for a Romeoville AC professional to fix and are generally not anything to worry about, as long as they are not a frequently recurring issue.

 #2: Charging Refrigerant

Frequently going hand in hand with common repair #1, refrigerant charging is a very common repair for a number of noticeable ductless AC issues. Even if there isn’t a noticeable leak, sometimes the refrigerant may need to be recharged anyway on account of poor installation or an improper charge in the past. Like all air conditioners, ductless systems need a certain level of refrigerant in order to operate properly, so recharging refrigerant when necessary is an important common repair.

 #3: Fixing Drainage Problems

A ductless air conditioner that is failing to properly drain the condensed moisture that has been extracted from the air can be a real annoyance. Especially in humid climates, these drainage issues cause problems. Often, the repairs are as simple as unclogging a drainage tube or replacing the pump motor. These are common problems and repairs, so they are not anything to worry about as long as they are handled professionally and in a timely manner.

There are other potential repair issues that you may run into with your ductless AC system, but these are among the most common repairs that technicians have to make. When in doubt about an issue with your Romeoville air conditioner, call DuAll Heating & Cooling to troubleshoot and fix the problem.

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Air Conditioning Tip: Ductless Systems For Home Additions

Monday, June 25th, 2012

While ductless air conditioning systems can be used to cool your whole home, they are also a great option for home additions. In some cases, adding ducts to the new space can be difficult or expensive, so a ductless system is a great way to make sure that your entire home stays comfortable. They are also very energy efficient and versatile, which are features any homeowner can appreciate.

Ductless systems are composed of an outdoor unit, with the compressor and condenser, and an indoor air handling unit. Since the outdoor units are connected to the indoor components only by a small conduit (with the power cable, condensate drain, and refrigerant tubing in it), they are relatively easy to install. If you are adding a ductless system to a room addition, you only need a small hole in the wall for the conduit to connect to the air handler. The air handler itself can be hung from the ceiling or on a wall, giving you a variety of interior design options. Ductless systems are also very energy efficient, and, of course, they don’t require ducts to be installed in your new space.

Even if adding ducts to the new space seems feasible, you might still want to consider a ductless system. When your Naperville air conditioning contractor performed an initial load calculation for your home, they took into account the current size of your home. If you added a large addition, your central air conditioner might be too small to keep your whole home comfortable. An overloaded air conditioner will not only be unable to keep your home at the desired temperature, but it will also use a lot of energy. Adding in a ductless system for the new rooms can solve both these problems.

Ductless systems are easy to install and an effective solution for keeping your new addition comfortable. To learn more about having a ductless air conditioning system installed in your home, give DuAll Heating & Cooling a call today!

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Air Conditioning Guide: Different Types of AC Systems

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

If you are thinking about buying a new air conditioning system in Chicago, you should a take a little time to consider all your options. You not only have to keep in mind the different types of air conditioners, but also the different energy efficiencies and advanced features available. Simply replacing your old system is not always the best option, making yourself familiar with all the types of AC available will help you find the best system for your home.

Central air conditioning systems are the most common type of cooling systems for residential homes. A split system consists of an outdoor compressor unit, an indoor air handler, and a series of ducts that distribute the air conditioned air throughout your home.  Central air conditioning system comes in a variety of sizes to be able to meeting the cooling needs of almost any home. However, ducts are necessary part of central air conditioning systems, which can make their installation an extensive process.

If your home does not already have ducts or you are looking to cool only a small space, ductless mini split air conditioners are great option. Ductless mini split air conditioners are very energy efficient, and since they don’t use ducts, they avoid all the energy losses associated with forced air systems. The outdoor unit is connected to multiple indoor air handlers through a conduit (containing the power cable, the suction tubing, the refrigerant line, and a condensate drain) , and the indoor air handlers distribute the cooled air throughout the area. Since each one of the indoor units can be controlled individually, ductless systems are easy to zone, which can also reduce how much energy you use to cool your home.

For larger, commercial buildings, rooftop air conditioners are often used. These air conditioners have all the components in one cabinet, and they distribute the conditioned air via ducts (similar to central air conditioning). Rooftop unit are for cooling large spaces, so they are rarely used for residential homes.

The right air conditioner for your home will meet both your cooling needs and your budget. For more information about installing an air conditioning system in Chicago, give DuAll Heating & Cooling a call today!

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Check Out Our Blog for the Latest in HVAC Technology

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Be sure to bookmark the DuAll Heating & Cooling blog for updates on the latest advances in HVAC technology.

We’ll feature money saving promotions here as well.

Call DuAll Heating & Cooling for all your Heating, Air Conditioning, Indoor Air Quality, Duct Cleaning, Water Heater, and Light Commercial HVAC needs.

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