Consumers are often bombarded with advertisements touting a vast array of different brand names, rebates and special offers for air conditioners. Air conditioning has become a very technical industry, making the task of choosing all the more complicated for consumers. But as with all major investments, homeowners must spend some time and do their homework to make sure they are making the best decision.
Q: When I called someone out to have my 17-year-old air conditioner fixed, the repair person said it was beyond repair and quoted me a price to have it replaced. This is a pretty well-known company, but I do not like to be rushed into making a decision, especially one that involves thousands of dollars.
A: It’s always a good idea to get another opinion: pick up the phone on the spot and call another heating and air company, describe the problem you’re having and tell them the make, model, efficiency ratings and size of the new unit the repair person is trying to sell you, and see what they say. There’s a chance it could be fixed, though it’s a safe bet that you’ll save money by replacing any unit 15 years or older with a new efficient unit. But you need more information and options to make a wise decision.
Q: What about brand names? Are some brands really better than others or are we just paying extra for a name?
A: There are several good brands on the market. Most heating and air contractors deal with one or two lines, but can service all major brands. In fact, many name brands are manufactured by the same company. There are more important factors than brand names to consider when comparing systems.
These include the following:
1. Compare the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) — a number from 10 to 16. (Warning: anything rated under 10 SEERS is below current standards and not acceptable in new construction). Some companies are still pushing 9 and 10 SEER units in the remodel market at bargain-basement prices because they’re already obsolete.) The higher the SEER value, the more expensive the investment, the longer the warranties and the lower the utility and repair bills. The lower the SEER, the lower the initial cost, the shorter the warranties and the lower the utility company rebate. They are also much more costly to run.
2. Consider how long you plan to live in the house. If you intend to move in a year or two, a high efficiency unit may not be needed. But if you expect to live there three years or longer, it’s good to know how soon you can expect to recapture the extra $1,000 or so you spend when you buy the higher efficiency unit, and see real savings in ever — rising utility costs and repairs from then on.
4. Check out the contractor you choose to install the unit. Is he or she willing to sit down and spend some time with you to explain all your options and answer your questions? Is he or she properly licensed and insured? How long has this company been doing remodels? Many contractors switched to remodeling from new construction when the new housing market declined, but there’s a lot of difference.
Remodeling specialists are more attuned to accommodating homeowners’ special needs. For example, some can design systems which let the homeowner move the outside unit away from the pool, enclose it in a closet or enable them to shut down registers in an extra bedroom without the adverse affects this would cause on a system designed for a new home. What kind of references does this company have? Take the time to check them out. Are their former customers happy with the job they did and their responsiveness and service afterwards? Would they recommend them to friends or hire them again?
Q: Why is the price difference between an 11 SEER and a 12 SEER system so much less than the difference between a 12 SEER and a 13 SEER unit?
A: It takes a different technique, extra parts and more time and expertise to hook up a 13 or greater SEER unit than an 11 or 12 SEER. But if you plan to live in a house three or more years, it’s smart to spend a little more now than you may have intended to safeguard against some problems that may come up later, to escalating energy costs, to repair bills.
Q: How can I clean and do routine maintenance on my air conditioning unit?
A: Heating and air conditioning companies often offer maintenance servicing for both air conditioning units and furnaces.
“We recommend annual air conditioning check-ups in the spring and furnace check-ups every fall. Although regular checkups will not absolutely guarantee that a unit will continue to work perfectly throughout the season, they will reveal most small problems that can lead to major, far more expensive problems if left unattended.”
Homeowners can do the following things to maintain their air conditioning units:
- The first thing to check before turning on your unit is to make sure the condensing unit located outside is not covered up. The unit needs to draw air into the system in order to have something to cool and circulate inside, but the process is hindered if it cannot pull in enough outside air. (We’re amazed how many homeowners call because their air conditioner isn’t cooling, only to find they forgot they had temporarily stacked lawn furniture, bags of leaves and lawn clippings, around their unit over the winter.)
- Some people intentionally cover their condenser to protect it from the elements during the winter, although these units require no protection since they are designed for outdoor installation.
- Run your air conditioner for a few minutes in late spring or early summer, before you need it. If you wait until the first hot day to discover it isn’t working, you’ll find yourself on a waiting list, sweltering for days before an air conditioning specialist can come to fix it.
- Change the filters regularly. Dirty filters restrict air flow, reduce efficiency and worse case, can cause the evaporator to ice up. Disposable fiberglass filters should be replaced. Electrostatic or electronic filters need to be washed regularly.
- Be sure all access panels are secure, with all the screws in place.
- Clean obvious obstructions such as newspaper and leaves from around the exterior of the unit.
- Be sure the thermostat is set in the cooling mode. Just setting the dial below room temperature will not activate the air conditioning if it is set in the heat mode.
- A thoroughly cleaned air conditioning unit will operate at top efficiency. However, homeowners are strongly discouraged from using a hose and water to try to clean it themselves because of the very serious risk of electrical shock and possible shorting of electrical components.
I will also outline the steps of a professional furnace check-up.
- Inspect thermostat for proper operation.
- Inspect filter, and change or clean as needed.
- Check all electrical components and controls.
- Oil motors as needed.
- Inspect heat exchanger for possible cracks. A crack in the heat exchanger will introduce carbon monoxide into the living space.
- Check air flow. If diminished, it may be necessary to clean the evaporator coil.
- Check air fuel mixture, where appropriate.
