Central Air Conditioning Systems
Liz Wood
It helps to know your plans for A/C installation before calling
up a HVAC contractor to work on your project. The knowledge
that you have will help your service provider give you a more
precise estimate. One thing in particular that you should be
aware of is whether you are replacing a new system or tying
into an existing system. If you are tying into an existing
system, you will want to use the same brand as the older
system. Completely replacing your system will require much more
labor and be more expensive.
Often time’s, homeowners will need central air conditioning
installed due to an addition or remodeling project. It is
important for you to explain to your HVAC contractor whether an
addition or remodel is in process because it will help them size
up your air conditioning needs and give you a more accurate
estimate. This information is important because a house's
structure, window area, sun exposure, and climate will affect
your central air conditioning needs.
In addition to what is mentioned above, you should also know a
little bit about how central air conditioner's cooling capacity
is rated. You should become familiar with Btu's (British thermal
units). Central air conditioner’s cooling capacity is rated by
Btu’s per hour. As a general rule, you need 12,000 Btu's for
1,000 square feet of well insulated space or 400 square feet of
poorly insulated space. The rule changes if you have high
ceilings because it will take more cooling power to maintain a
comfortable temperature.
When it comes time to decide whether to repair or replace your
central cooling system, think carefully. In the last decade,
air conditioners have become very energy efficient. More often
than not, it is best to just replace your old system because
you will end up saving more money that way. Also, if your HVAC
professional is tying into an existing system, the older
system's age will help determine its compatibility with the
newer system and this may lead to some problems.
Lastly, it is very useful to know how much open access is
available. Once again, this information will help your HVAC
professional give you a more precise estimate. This is true
because there is less labor involved when there is plenty of
access space. During installation your service professional
will be required to access the home's heating and cooling duct
system. It helps when there is space to do so.
Before calling your HVAC professional, you may want to try some
helpful tips. Common problems are related to the fuse and
breaker, the refrigerant, the condenser coils, the drain pipe
and the filter. Make sure to check the fuse and breaker, check
to see if the refrigerant is low, check to see if the condenser
coils are dirty, check to make sure the condenser is clean,
check to see if the filter is clean and check to make sure the
drainpipe isn’t clogged. You can fix most of these things
yourself, but if your refrigerant is low you will need to call
in a professional.
About The Author: To learn more about central air conditioning,
and for a free price quote on
http://www.hvackey.com/heating-cooling-price-quote.html visit
http://www.HVACKey.com
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