General AC Information

Ductless Mini-Split vs Central Air Conditioners

If you looking for a new air conditioning system for your home then you may be wondering if it’s better to get ductless mini-split or central air conditioning system.

When you constantly have problems with the centralized air conditioner you bought in the past, then you should read this article about ductless air conditioners and how they can be of use to you. But first of all, what exactly is this air cooling device?

Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioning System

The ductless air conditioner is also called the split-type air conditioner. What this means is you don’t have to punch holes through your walls or windows. All you need to do is mount the air conditioning unit on your wall. The ducts of your air conditioner will be located outside the wall of your home or near the ceiling of your room. This will enable you to save lots of space as well.

This kind of unit is also commonly used in hotels and offices wherein they have rooms that do not have any wall facing the outside of the building. If you want the walls of your home to look cleaner and more appealing – without the butts of air conditioners jutting out of it – then you should buy ductless air conditioners.

Another great thing about this kind of air conditioning unit is that it is very powerful and operates silently. Certain units can even cool an entire home when functioning normally. Since the evaporator is located far from the motor of the unit, it will be able to produce cold air faster and more efficiently.

One more benefit of using this device is that you it can function as a heat pump during the winter. This will save you the hassle of buying a separate heating system for your home or office. Silence is also a very important factor when it comes to choosing the right air conditioner. You can work best and relax well when staying in a room that is serene and silent.

There are many things you need to take into consideration when choosing the right kind of air conditioner for your home.

Firstly, you need to set your budget. By having a maximum amount of what you can spend in mind, you will be able to narrow down you list of units significantly. You should also figure out how strong an air conditioner you need in order to cool your room correctly. This will enable you to choose an air conditioning unit that is powerful enough for your needs.

You should also be sure to only buy units manufactured by the best and most reputable Air Conditioner Brands. This way, you can be assured that the unit you buy will be of good quality. Also, you should have your units installed by a team of qualified professionals. This will ensure that your ductless air conditioners will work very well and for a long time to come.

Central Air Conditioning System

Central Air Conditioning System is what the most people are familiar with. It makes sense that peoples have chosen to install these kind of units in their homest. However, just because Central A/C is what we know doesn’t necessarily mean it’s to best option when choosing a new air conditioning system .

A central air conditioning system treats air at a central location and distributes it to and from rooms by one or more fans and a series of ducts. Supply ducts and registers carry this cool air from the air conditioner to the home. The air becomes warmer as it circulates through the home; then it flows back to the central air conditioner through return ducts and registers.

A central air conditioner is usually installed outdoors, although in some cases they may be mounted on your roof or in your attic. Because they are not part of your living areas, they are relatively unobtrusive, with only the vents showing.

Mini Split vs Central Air Conditioner – Pros and Cons

Ductless Mini-Split

Pros

Fast and easy installation
Energy efficient
Cheaper to install
Quieter operation
May make home more marketable
May cost up to 30% less to operate

Cons

Does not improve air quality
May not cool entire home evenly
Does not remove allergens
Visible inside the home
May need several to cool the entire house

Central Air Conditioner

Pros

Cools entire home simultaneously
May improve air quality
Nearly invisible when installed

Cons

Noisy
Costly and difficult to install
May cost up to 30% more to operate
Energy-efficient units can be expensive
Ductwork can leak, raising energy costs

Mini Split vs Central Air Conditioner – Cost

In central air conditioning, your costs are going to be dependent on several factors. The first of which is the brand of unit itself. When selecting a central air unit, you will want to look at its SEER number or its efficiency rating. The higher the number, the less it will cost you to run, but the more it will cost you upfront. For 13 SEER central air conditioning will cost around $5,000 to $9,000 for a 1,800 sq. ft. home.

Ductless air conditioners cost around $2,000 to $4,000 for a single unit for a 1,800 sq.ft. home .

After all, while this article should help get you started, it’s always best to talk to a heating and cooling professional to make sure you’re getting all the facts as they relate to your home. Both mini split or central air conditioning require a professional for correct sizing and placement so that system runs effectively and at peak performance.

How to Find AC Tonnage from Model Number?

Posted By Mas Broto

The easiest place to find AC tonnage is on the AC unit itself. Go outside to the condensing unit and look for a data plate mounted to the side. Up near the top of the label, you’ll see the model number (M/N) and serial number (S/N). The model number is where you can find the size of AC you’re looking for.

Not all air conditioning companies do this, but most will give you a 2 or 3 digit section in AC model number that says how many thousands of BTU/hour your air conditioner can cooling of your house.

If the model number on your air conditioning system lists the tons, no more calculation is needed as you now finally found the right AC tonnage of your cooling system.

Divide the BTUs on the label by 12,000. You need to use this number as the divisor because there are 12,000 BTUs per ton. The result of this calculation will be the tons of your central air conditioning system. For example, assume that your system is labeled as having 60,000 BTUs. Dividing 60,000 by 12,000 will give you 5 tons. This is the most accurate method on determining the size of your central air conditioning system when your label does not indicate the tons on it directly.

If you don’t want to do the math, here are the numbers you’re looking for and their corresponding tonnage:

 18 = 1.5 tons
 24 = 2 tons
 30 = 2.5 tons
 36 = 3 tons
 42 = 3.5 tons
 48 = 4 tons
 60 = 5 tons

The 3 digits in the model number tell you the nominal capacity in thousands of BTU/hr. Since each 12,000 BTU/hr is equivalent to 1 ton of air conditioner capacity, it’s easy to figure out how many tons of nominal capacity your AC has.

Finding AC tonnage from model number is very important and detrimental to the proper operational status of an Air Conditioning System.

If your system happens to not have the BTU or the tons information detailed, identify the AC model number on the label. Then contact a local HVAC contractor and provide them with the model number. Most HVAC contractors can look up the tonnage of the system by using the model number.

How Many Tons is my Trane Air Conditioner?

Posted By Mas Broto

You can easily identify the nominal size of your Trane Air Conditioner and Heat Pump through checking out the model number. This Trane Model Number is usually the data plate at the side of the condenser in outdoor unit. Then find the lable that provides the info about your Trane AC Tonnage.

What is AC Tonnage?

Heating and air conditioning capacities are sized in British thermal units (BTU) per hour. One BTU is equal to the heat generated by an one little candle. It’s the volume of heat required to bring up the temperature of one pound of water by one degree.

The word tonnage is used to describe the cooling capacity of an air conditioner. One ton of cooling is the rate of heat transfer needed to freeze 2,000 lbs – or one ton – of water in 24 hours. This is equivalent to 12,000 Btu/hr.

Why is AC Tonnage Important?

In some cases, bigger size is better. But when it comes to air conditioners, in some cases less is more. You should never simply buy the biggest AC unit possible, or you could end up with an oversized system.

Where to find Trane AC Tonnage?

You should look for the last two numbers of the first numbers after a cluster of letters at the beginning of the model number. It will be a number divisible by 6 or 12, and represents the nominal BTU of the system in thousands. A ton of air conditioning equals 12,000 BTU, and 36 divided by 12 equals 3, so the data plate below indicates the system is 3 tons.

Trane is the only brand we are familiar with that occasionally lists a two-digit number for the thousands of BTU rating that is not divisible by 6 or 12—but close.

Here’s a rundown of the range you will encounter: 18 = 1.5 tons, 24 = 2 tons, 30 – 2.5 tons, 36 = 3 tons, 42 = 3.5 tons, 48 = 4 tons, and 60 = 5 tons. And this is another one that is 2.5 tons.

In case you are doubting whether you have found the right two numbers, you can double check it by checking for the RLA rating. Its located the same on the data plate. RLA is an acronym for Rated Load Amperage, and is what the maximum amperage should be when the condenser up and running. If you divide the RLA by 6 for older units and 5 or 6 for newer units, you should get a number that approximates the tonnage of the system.

Choosing the Best HVAC System for Your Home

Posted By Mas Broto

When choosing a new comfort and the best hvac system for your family, you need to consider which brand is good and what size system your home needs. There are many brands on the market today and all claiming that their unit is the best. My advice is to stick with the brand that only manufactures heating and air conditioning equipment.

Some HVAC brands are appliance companies that also make HVAC equipment. I will looking for one of the major HVAC brands such as Carrier, Brian, Trane, York or Lennox. These are companies that only focus on heating and air conditioning. As far as technology, there’s not a lot of big secrets in the HVAC industry and everyone makes good quality equipment. However most established heating and air conditioning companies choose to align themselves with one major brand.

This doesn’t mean that they can’t sell other air conditioner brands if the application warrants it. They can supply just about any other brand, but most major brands have such an extensive product line. It’s rare that a match can’t be found. It’s in your best interest when an air conditioner company sticks with one brand. Here’s why if you’re buying one brand they can leverage the strength of a strong long-standing relationship to help get lower prices and better resolutions if any problems were to occur.

Why it’s Important to Have the Right Sized HVAC System

When it comes to HVAC system selection, your home will pick the size of the unit. By that, I mean the tonnage or size of the system that’s right for your house is determined by the square footage, infiltration rate, exterior exposure, duct system design and other factors that you have no control over. The right size system is critical. A system that’s oversized will cause unnecessarily high utility bills. Uneven temperatures and poor humidity control. An undersized unit will run all the time and still not be able to keep you comfortable

You’re going to hear a lot of industry jargon such as SEER, HSPF and AFUE. These are all terms that describe how efficiently the equipment operates. Like miles Gowan for your car the higher the efficiency number the lower the cost of operation.

SEER means Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and provides an annual measure of the efficiency of the air conditioner. Higher numbers use less energy.
AFUE means Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Higher numbers use less energy.
HSPF means Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. Higher numbers use less energy.

Consider Your Total Costs

Basically the more money you pay upfront for a system the better it will perform for you. The bottom line, best HVAC systems are quieter, last longer and save you money in the long run. Buying an HVAC system is not like buying a TV. You don’t just buy it and bring it home and plug it in. Proper installation is critical and unfortunately for consumers, the installing dealer can be the weak link in the chain.

Tips for Choosing the Right HVAC Dealer

With all those heating and air conditioning dealers listed in the yellow pages and on the Internet, how do you know which one to choose?

Don’t assume that all HVAC dealers are the same. They’re not! If you just want to get your heating or cooling back on. And don’t really care how well the system performs or about how long it lasts or whether you actually save any money on your utility bills, the yellow pages are full of HVAC dealers with a few tools that can get the job done.

But if you’re looking for a long-term relationship with a strong company that will be there to service your HVAC system for years to come, here’s a few things to look for.

Do they have a legitimate place of business to operate the company or are they just working out of their home?
Are their technicians certified by an independent test agencies such as Nate?
Are they members of a national trade association?
Do service personnel wear company uniforms with the company’s name proudly displayed?
Do they offer true 24-hour emergency service?
Do they have a written satisfaction guarantee?
Are they properly licensed by the state?
Do they comply with the state laws and codes?

These are just some of the things that HVAC company needs to do to meet your needs now and in the future. It takes dedication training experience and a quality reputation to stay in business for a long time.

A quality HVAC company assumes a serious responsibility to select the proper size and type of equipment that’s right for your individual circumstances. If they’re not taking lots of measurements of your home and ductwork or if they’re not asking a lot of questions and trying to get to know you, how can they put together a proposal that’s tailored to your individual needs?

So if you want to get the best value for your money, solve existing discomfort or dust problems, and end up with a new comfort system you’ll be proud to own and enjoy for many years to come, better take the time to identify which is the Best HVAC System for Your Home.

How Much Does It Cost to Replace an AC Fan Motor?

Posted By Mas Broto

One of the most common AC problems is a broken fan motor since they are constantly working and exposed outside to the weather. If you identify that the condenser fan motor is the problem, you will most likely prefer to know how much the part and the repair services will cost.

There are so many different parts of an air conditioning unit. It can be difficult to know what will need to be replaced and how much it is going to cost to get the unit fixed. Some parts cost only $10 while others can be more than $1000.

Signs You May Need a New AC Fan Motor

If your outdoor air conditioning unit is bringing in noises, the type of noise can help you identify what’s wrong. If the problem is a failing AC fan motor, you may discover one of the following sounds:

Rattling
A rattling sound could indicate that the fan motor or its components are loose or failing.

Screeching
A screeching sound generally means your fan motor’s bearings are failing. This is a much more urgent condition and should be resolved immediately.

How Much Does an AC Fan Motor Cost?

When you have air conditioner fan motor problems, in most cases it will cost about $300 to $600 to replace. It’s very important to get this fixed quickly, since without a working fan motor your air conditioner’s compressor could be yet another affected. AC Compressor repair is much more costly, almost always running closer to $2,000.

If you do it yourself a replacement AC fan motor will come between $60 and $150, while a start run capacitor and electrical relays are usually $20 to $30 each.

In some cases, your AC fan motor may be under warranty. It is important to know what kind of warranty you have on your AC unit. A parts warranty is likely to cover the costs for 5-10 years after AC installation. Most parts warranties only cover the cost of the part, and they will not cover labor costs. Some parts warranties will also be invalid if you didn’t register the unit. Labor warranties are given by HVAC contractors to guarantee their work. Most of these warranties will last for a year or so after installation.

Avoiding Air Conditioning Fan Motor Breakdown

To prevent the condenser fan motor functioning well for an extended time, you will need to maintain with routine service. While AC service requires a small upfront cost, it will definitely help you save money on expensive repairs down the line while also extending the lifespan of your HVAC system.

Call HVAC repair service to come out for routine maintenance checks to ensure that your fan motor is in good shape. These AC maintenance checks are generally a minimal cost compared to a massive failure.