Air Conditioning Replacement Tips

Air Conditioning Replacement Tips

One of the key factors to consider in deciding when to replace your HVAC unit is the age of the unit.  Air conditioning units usually have a useful life of 10 years while the heating unit usually lasts for 15 years.

But there are other indications you should consider a new HVAC system.  If you have had repeated repairs within a short period of time, it may be more cost-effective to replace the unit.  If you are not as comfortable while your unit is operating because there are uneven temperatures in rooms, you may wish to replace the unit.  If you notice humidity problems or excessive dust, this may be due to leaky ductwork, which suggests it is time to replace your unit.  Increasing energy bills indicate your system is not operating efficiently, and could be replaced with a newer model, which would provide features allowing you to manage your energy usage. If you are concerned about your unit’s effect on the environment, new models use energy more efficiently.

If you believe your HVAC system is currently defective, please call for a free analysis and estimate.  At Comfort Control, we install and maintain systems to support your unique needs. Contact us today for an expert consultation.

Why is my Air Conditioner Blowing Hot Air?

As the hot Central Texas summer quickly approaches, many homeowners are turning on their air conditioners for the first time this season, only to find that they’re blowing warm air.  There are many reasons why an air conditioner might blow warm, or even hot, air.  Here’s a look at two of the most common causes.

Lack of Coolant

One of the easiest fixes is a lack of coolant.  Air conditioners use freon to cool air, but freon occasionally leaks out of a unit over time.  If your unit’s performance slowly declined last summer, it may have lost freon.  If it continued to lose freon over the winter, there might not be any cool air coming from your unit now.

Recharging the freon in a system is a relatively easy and inexpensive repair.  All a technician needs to do is refill the freon in the system and check for any leaks that might have led to the loss.

A Frozen Evaporator Coil

If you’re unit stopped performing soddenly while it was operating, it might have frozen up.  Yes, an air conditioner can freeze, and, when it does, it blows warm air.    As ironic as this may sound, a frozen evaporator coil is one of the most common issues with air conditioners that are blowing hot air.  For, a unit’s motor can still run without a functioning evaporator coil, and it will blow air just fine.  The air that it blows will be hot, though.  It doesn’t take long to thaw a frozen evaporator coil, especially in the Texas sun.  Just turning your system off and letting it sit idle for a couple of hours in the afternoon should melt the ice that’s built up inside the unit.  Although the immediate problem can be fixed by letting your unit thaw, you should still have it inspected by a professional.  A frozen evaporator coil shows that water’s building up inside the unit, and your system is being overworked.  A trained technician will be able to check your entire system for the underlying cause that led to the frozen coil.  If your air conditioner is blowing warm air, we can help you identify the cause.  Often, just a small fix will get a system up and running properly again.  One of our technicians can identify the precise issues and quickly remedy it for you, before the real heat of summer sets in.  At Comfort Control, we install and maintain systems to support your unique needs. Contact us today for an expert consultation.

What should a new Air Conditioning System Cost?

What should a new Air Conditioning System cost?

The answer depends on a number of factors.  At Comfort Control, our certified and professional technicians will come to your home to perform a free assessment, which will calculate the actual square footage to be cooled.  Based on this information, we determine the number of units, or tons, needed to cool your home or business efficiently.  “Ton” refers to the amount of heat the unit can remove from a home in one hour.  For example, a 1-1/2 ton HVAC unit will remove 18,000 BTUs of heat in one hour.

The installation costs will also reflect whether it is necessary to replace wiring, the number of units needed, repair work to the pad on which the unit sits, the number of thermostats needed, and whether any ductwork must be replaced.  Some of these costs may add significantly to the final costs. Another factor which could increase the initial cost more than average is whether you wish to purchase a unit with an improved seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER).  A unit with a SEER rating greater than the average of 13 SEER will lower your energy costs and cooling times. You can also purchase a unit with a lower decibel rating to reduce the noise of your air conditioner.  Many cities have regulations specifying the decibels required; a permit and an inspection may also be required for the installation of a new system but not for a repair.  This can also increase the cost quoted to you so make sure your technician is familiar with the building code in your area.

At Comfort Control all of technicians are certified to handle refrigerant as required by law.  Contact us today at (512)308-6949. 

Three Natural Ways to Lower Humidity

As the weather heats up, follow these simple suggestions to create a refuge from the humid climate of Austin.

Increase Ventilation

Ventilation plays a crucial role in the effective management of humidity levels. Excess water in the air increases humidity, so you will want to focus especially on areas of your home that are prone to moisture. Use fans and open windows in areas of your home where excess water enters the environment through activities such as steaming food in the kitchen, showering in the bathroom, or running your washing machine in the laundry room.

Manage Moisture

Combine multiple strategies to keep water from building up in the air. Taking shorter, cooler showers produces far less humidifying steam than taking long, hot showers. You can also manage your indoor climate through choice of cooking methods. Slow cookers are less humidifying than stovetop or oven cooking, and, of course, grilling outside produces no indoor humidity at all. Cover exposed soil in houseplant pots. This measure will make watering plants more effective by preventing evaporation, and when you water less frequently, you prevent humidity.

Make a Simple Dehumidifier

Make your own dehumidifier using rock salt. Directions can be found at http://www.ehow.com/how_5317871_make-own-dehumidifier.html .

The tips suggested above give you greater control over your indoor environment, and in conjunction with a quality air conditioning system, these methods are instantly enhanced. At Comfort Control, we install and maintain systems to support your unique needs. Contact us today for an expert consultation.

Simplify Air Conditioning Repair In Austin, Texas With Proper Landscaping

When the inevitable time comes that you need air conditioning repair in Austin, Texas, you can make the job easy or hard for the technician based on the way you landscape around the condenser in your yard. The easier time your Comfort Control service technician has accessing your unit, the more quickly he can complete the repair.

Maintaining The Area Around YourCondenser

Depending on how much attention you put into landscaping your yard, you might try to conceal the air-conditioning unit or ignore it, which often means that it becomes surrounded by weeds that can impede its efficiency. The vents can suck in dust, grass, and plant debris and can even cause your unit to stop. To prevent problems, the very least you should do is remove any vegetation that goes near your air conditioner and also clean inside the housing with a soft brush. Your AC technician can do this part, but a bit of self-care is a fairly easy way to prevent other problems.

Decorative Solution For Hiding Your Unit

For a more attractive yard, you can also install a fence, wall, or landscape barrier around the condenser:

·       A fence, with the gate to allow for easy air conditioning repair, can not only hide the unit, but also provide a sound barrier to cut operating noise and a degree of shade to help the unit run at a lower temperature. Your fence can be made of any material and can even create a storage area for storing gardening supplies, hoses, and tools. Just make sure to make the area big enough that it does not create additional blockage for the unit or prevent the service technician from getting near it.

·       Garden fencing, just simple trellising around the area, can keep your unit clean while offering a more decorative appearance. For ease of access, just have the coverage on two sides, or a gate. To make the area even more decorative, you can even hang a plant or two from the fencing or put some pots on the outside.

·       A decorative hedge of plants or shrubs is also a great way to beautify the area. Plant the vegetation far enough away from the unit to prevent problems as it begins to grow and make sure there is a break in the hedge to allow the technician to get near enough your unit to repair it.

Schedule Air Conditioning Repair In Austin Texas

Keeping up with the maintenance on your HVAC unit will make sure that your unit is always ready to keep your home the right temperature in our climate, whether it is hot or cold. For air-conditioning repair in Austin, Texas, call Comfort Control today at (512) 308-6949.

Should You Buy A Contract Or Pay As You Go For AC Repair

Anytime your air conditioner breaks down, you may wonder if you are better off paying each time for AC repair or whether you should have purchased an annual maintenance plan. With a yearly plan, you pay once each year and are covered for specific services without paying each time. If you have a problem, you call Comfort Control and are covered for what you need.

What Service Contracts Cover

Most people debate whether it worth the cost to buy a contract. Every provider charges differently, but usually a basic plan includes one or two checkups and service calls. In order to get your money's worth, you must call for the inspections, which are useful in keeping your system running correctly and alert you to problems that can be nipped in the bud.

Most companies also offer a higher-level service plan that includes minor repairs and even guarantees you priority service in case of a breakdown. This alone can be useful since many people need AC repair in Austin, TX on the hottest days of the year. With priority service, the company will put you ahead of those with no contract.

No service plan will cover major repairs unless the HVAC unit is still under warranty.

Service Contract Or Pay As You Go For AC Repair In Austin, TX

A service contract can be convenient, but do you need one? Here are a few things to consider.

·       Is your HVAC still under warranty?

·       Are you handy enough to do basic maintenance yourself?

·       Do you have time to actually do it?

If so, you might want to pass on the service contract. Repairs are covered by the warranty, although inspections may not be. You may be able to replace the filter, clean the coils, and check connections to help keep HVAC units stay in good repair. You can be ahead (cost wise) if you just pay for air-conditioning maintenance and repair when you need it.

On the other hand,

·       Is your unit older and out of warranty?

·       Does your air conditioner break down frequently?

In these cases, having a service contract may be a good investment that will prevent you from having to pay out-of-pocket every time you have a problem. There will still come a time that replacing your unit makes more sense than repairing it, but a service contract will protect you from the cost of multiple service calls until you upgrade.

When considering a service contract, find out what is included to see if it is worth it for you. In climates such as ours, you may find that having access to priority service is a much better option than having to call each time for AC repair, as Austin gets so hot in the summer that air-conditioning units are on overdrive. Comfort Control is happy to service your equipment at reasonable rates with or without a contract, but we can help you decide whether one of our service contracts makes sense for you. Just contact us at (512) 308-6949.

Maintain Your HVAC In Austin To Manage The Cold

When you live in Austin, you expect mild winters to counter blazing hotsummers. This does not always happen. To stay prepared,you should be concerned with your whole HVAC in Austin, not just your air conditioner. Mild temperatures in the 40° to 60°F, not to mention the even lower 30ish temperatures we had in in January, require cranking up the heat, so it's important to be ready. Comfort Control suggests a few things you can do now to keep yourself warm and even suggests a couple things to plan on doing before next winter.

Four Hot Tips To Handle The Cold

1.     Check for air loss around your windows. You may feel cold air around your window frame to signal air loss or you may have invisible drafts and air leaks you aren't aware of. If your heating bill jumps up after a cold spell, you might need some weatherstripping around windows for a short-term solution. For a long-term solution, consider and energy audit of your house to see where you are experiencing air loss. If air loss is significant through windows, you might even consider having new dual or triple pane windows installed this year.

2.     Upgrade your thermostat. Programmable thermostats allow you to set your heating and cooling system to provide heat or AC when you need it, not when you are at work or on vacation. Studies indicate that you may not see a windfall of savings on your energy bill from having a programmable thermostat, but you can deliberately and accurately set it up or down a few degrees to save a little money. If you buy one, make sure to select one that is easy to read and easy to program and have it installed by a Comfort Control contractor for optimal results.

3.     Improve your home's insulation. Your energy audit might point out where more insulation will help. Even if you do not want to undertake a costly installation project with your contractor, you can add some yourself that might make your home cozier all year round.

4.     Have a professional check your HVAC. A specialist from Comfort Control can make sure your system is working efficiently. No matter what brand furnace or air conditioning system you have, one of our technicians can check its efficiency and then service it, if necessary, to make sure it is working right.

While the technician is not a mind reader who can predict how long your furnace will last, he can assess the condition and tell you honestly if it needs to be replaced for a newer or more efficient model. Most service calls don't result in needing a new furnace, but if you do, we can get you a deal on the best equipment in the industry and get it installed for you as soon as possible.

Great Service For Your HVAC In Austin

Whether your furnace is not acting right or you have put off having it inspected for too long, contact us today for your annual maintenance visit at (512) 308-6949. Your Comfort Control technician can even offer you a planned maintenance agreement to make sure that your HVAC in Austin is always at its best.