What to Ask When Replacing Your Air Conditioner in Phoenix

A sad fact of life is that eventually – all mechanical items will break down. This includes the air conditioning units that keep us nice and cool during the hot summers in Phoenix. The process of replacing your air conditioner in Phoenix tends to be complex, time consuming and rather expensive. If you know what to ask professional HVAC contractors in Phoenix, how to ask these questions and what to expect for replacing your broken system – you’ll reduce the stress load and can save money in the short and long term.

Here are three questions that you should be asking any professional HVAC Company in Phoenix when it’s time to replace your older system.

First – What Size AC System is Needed for My Specific Home?

Believe it or not, one size does not fit all in the HVAC world. Every unit that is manufactured today is built for a specific application. This ensures that homeowners in the United States will receive an energy efficient system that will effectively keep their home cool. However, the process of determining what size of system is best suited for you is not an easy one for homeowners to figure out. Professional heating and air conditioning contractors in Phoenix use a process called load calculations to determine what type and size of system is best suited for individual homeowners. This will measure several individual elements including:

The square footage of the home

How many floors the house has

The location and direction of windows and doors

What type of foliage or landscaping is near the home

The type and condition of ductwork and vents

Second – What is the AC Installation Process Like?

Any contractor that specializes in installing air conditioning systems in Phoenix should easily be able to answer this question. However, just like we said above, there is no black and white answer to this question. The fact is that every home installation is unique – as are some of the obstacles and hurdles that are associated with AC installs. Typically, the process is a three-step solution:

Measure and pick out the right unit for the home owner

Remove the older system

Install and test out the newer unit

Each of these individual steps have their own process that is efficient, so ask any contractor you work with about how they will help you with each of these specific steps.

Third – What is the Average Cost of Replacing an Air Conditioner?

Believe it or not, this is one of the easiest answers for an AC contractor to answer. The answer is – depends on your situation. Right now you might be shaking your head, but the reality is that there is no cut and dry, cookie cutter answer to the average cost – nor should there be.

The best way to keep your cost low is to work with a professional heating and air conditioning company in Phoenix that can help you pick a new unit, install that unit correctly and offer a service plan that will keep it operational for several years. This will maximize your return on investment, ensure your system runs energy efficiently (which will lower your monthly energy bills) and save money on expensive repairs.

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Are you looking to replace your AC unit when the weather cools down? Let Hays Cooling and Heating replace your old unit with a brand new one. Call 602-714-8270!

Read related articles:

Should I Repair Or Replace My AC Unit?

Air Conditioning Compressor Replacement: What To Expect

Important Steps For A Smooth HVAC System Replacement In Phoenix

 

Read the full story at: http://hayscoolingandheating.com/questions-for-replacing-your-air-conditioner-in-phoenix/

Why is My Air Conditioner Freezing Up in Summer?

Believe it or not, one of the biggest issues facing Phoenix homeowners in the hot summer heat is an AC unit that freezes up. This might seem to be a virtual impossibility with average temperatures over 100 degrees daily, but the frozen AC system is a major problem that occurs – primarily due to restricted airflow. Before we answer why is my air conditioner freezing up in summer, it’s important to understand how these units work and what you can do to reduce the chances of an AC unit freezing.

What Causes an AC Unit to Freeze?

Any air conditioning system works by circulating air from the house to the cooling system and back into the home. The restriction of airflow is the major reason why an AC unit will freeze. Without question, the major cause of restricted airflow is dirty filters. According to the US Department of Energy, every home should replace their indoor filters once per month, especially in hot and dusty areas like the Phoenix Valley. It’s also important for home owners to inspect their vents frequently, as a blockage inside their ventilation system can also reduce the flow of air to and from the cooling system and can lead to frozen coils.

Easy to Identify Air Conditioner Freezing Up Symptoms

There are a few warning signs that any homeowner can recognize that will indicate that your AC unit is freezing up or that it has done so already.

Look for the following:

• A sudden decrease in the performance of your air conditioning unit. This is mainly directed to how efficient the unit works. If you notice that your cooling unit is running longer than it should, this could be a warning sign that it’s struggling to cool the air efficiently.


• Reduction in airflow from the vents inside your home. If you notice that the AC system is running longer, stand next to one of the vents and see if the airflow is ‘slower’ than usual. This could be a sign of a blocked vent or restricted airflow. As we stated above, these two factors often lead to frozen coils.


• See if you can notice a lot of condensate draining from the AC unit. Standing water next to an AC unit is a telltale sign that there are multiple problems. However, if you notice that there is extra water dripping from your AC unit; this could be a sign of frozen condensate coils.


• Warm air blowing from the AC unit. Another simple warning sign that you have a frozen system is if you can feel warm air blowing into your home.

Is Low Refrigerant the Only Freezing Factor?

A major misconception about frozen AC units is that low refrigerant levels or leaking refrigerant levels are the only thing that causes the unit to eventually freeze. As we’ve talked about above, the biggest factor is that the system simply can’t breathe. However, it’s important to realize that all of the symptoms above can also be warning signs of a coolant leak. AC units are designed as closed-loop systems, a loss of refrigerant efficiency can lead to frozen coils as well.

How You Can Reduce Chances of an AC Unit Freezing

There really are only two things you can do to reduce the chance of having your AC system freezing. First, give your AC unit every chance to breathe easy by replacing your indoor filters once per month. Second, call your local HVAC contractor in Phoenix to complete maintenance and service to your AC unit before the summer heat approaches. During this inspection the heating and air conditioning contractor will test for leaks, fill up any lubricants and inspect all phases of operation.

Taking proactive steps to notice the warning signs and fix the problem before it become a major issue are two simple ways that home owners can reduce the potential of their AC unit breaking down when they can least afford it.

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Is your AC unit freezing up during the summer? Then call the Hays Cooling & Heating team today for all of your air conditioning and heating needs. It Pays To Call Hays! Call 602-714-8270 today.

Read related articles:

• Signs You Might Need AC Repair in Phoenix Arizona


• Best Types of Air Conditioners for Intense Phoenix Summer Heat


• Why Is My Phoenix Home AC Unit Not Cooling Properly?

 

Read the full story at: http://hayscoolingandheating.com/why-is-my-air-conditioner-freezing-up-in-summer/