It may not feel like it, but the cooling season is approaching.  We have reached the time of year that the snow is gone, rain is a regular happening, yard work starts and we want to spend time outside.

Spring is also the time of year that air conditioning contractors start mailing the spring price specials.  Now is the time to install your new air conditioner to save the most money.  However, before you make a decision on what is the best deal, check into who does the best job.

HVAC equipment like furnaces and air conditioners depend on the proper installation and sizing for efficiency and comfort.  The efficiency rating or claims on comfort get greatly discounted if the equipment is not sized or installed correctly.

Problems that will occur if your air conditioner is not installed or sized correctly are:

• Air Conditioner will start and shut off too soon resulting in damp feeling in house.  Your air conditioner needs to run a certain amount of time to get the humidity out of your house.
• Air Conditioner will never shut off if the unit is too small. This will result in a higher electric bill and a hotter house.
• Air Conditioner will not reach desired efficiency if evaporator coil is not matched correctly to condensing unit.
• Shorter life span of the air conditioner if it runs too much or not long enough.

A professional HVAC contractor will sit down with you to discuss what you are experiencing in your home.  They will discuss with you what you are trying to achieve with your a/c replacement.  They will look at your current equipment to see what your house has.

However, most important, they will do a heat calculation to decide what the correct size of your equipment should be.  This may or may not be the same as what you currently have.  Changes to circumstances such as remodeling, insulation and higher efficiency of equipment commonly changes the size required.

Installation of the air conditioner or any HVAC equipment will be the deciding factor for the proper operation of your equipment.  Venting the equipment incorrectly will reduce air flow and possibly freeze the evaporator coil reducing the effectiveness and efficiency of the air conditioner.  Sizing the line set incorrectly due to distance of condensing unit can result in improper operation.

Last but absolutely the most important problem with a poor installation is that it could void any warranty that you have in place.  Manufacturers’ are very picky about installation and maintenance of the equipment that they are putting warranties on for up to 10 years.  It would not be smart to save $50 only to loose a $2000 due to replacing a defective unit due to a poor installation.

Bottom line is to make sure you hire a contractor that is licensed, bonded, pulls permits and stands behind their work in writing.

Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air guarantees our work and puts in writing our commitment to the homeowner.