Best Practices for AC Installation To Help You Avoid Constant Air Conditioning Repair | Dallas, TX
There are three main reasons why you might be considering the installation of a new HVAC system in your Dallas, TX home. One: you’re building a new home or property. Two: you’re looking to upgrade for efficiency reasons. Three: the least exciting, your existing AC unit has broken, and it’s no longer cost-effective to continue to book an air conditioning repair service to resolve constant issues.
Thankfully, by getting a professional, certified HVAC contractor to install your new air conditioner, you are choosing the best way to make sure it’s installed correctly and reducing the likelihood of errors made during the install process. A successful air conditioner installation by a professional technician will negate the constant headaches caused by frequent air conditioning repair callouts.
Factors That Affect How Well a New AC Performs
Two of the most prominent factors that affect how a new air conditioner performs are its size and its placement.
Concerning its size, you need to determine if it is too small or too large for the intended property. Several problems can arise if an air conditioner is too small for your home. An HVAC system that is too small will make it twice as difficult to cool your house, especially during the Texas summer heat. Your energy bill will likely go up if your unit is working harder to make your home comfortable.
Equally, purchasing and installing an AC unit that is larger than necessary can have some disastrous effects. Air conditioners that are too large can cool rooms too fast and cause shortages. Short-cycling units will have shorter life spans and wear out more quickly, which results in early air conditioning repair and may eventually lead to premature AC replacement.
Technicians at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas can help you to choose the right size unit for your home and also determine where it’s best to install a new unit to prevent unnecessary air conditioning repair in the future.
Where is it best to install AC? Most Dallas, TX homes have an AC unit fitted to help Texans deal with the hot, humid summers. Here’s a list of some of the best places you can request your external AC unit components are installed to prevent additional maintenance and air conditioning repair services:
- Out of direct sunlight
- If near to the ground, surrounded by mulch or short grass
- Out of reach from children, pets, and potential pests
- Out of a direct wind path
- Somewhere dry
It is essential to determine the correct room to install internal AC components in your home. However, it’s not just crucial to decide the room, it is equally important to identify the exact placement if you want to avoid unwanted air conditioning repair. Interior components, such as those found in split AC systems, can be placed in various rooms. You can even place louvers directly above seating areas or beds to ensure optimum cooling in the areas where you spend a lot of your time at home.
Where is the worst place to install AC? Experts advise not to install your HVAC system in specific areas of your home, such as:
- Near trash cans
- Near fire hazards
- In known warm spots
- Anywhere you might conceal part or all of the unit
When deciding where not to put it in a room, take a bit of time to determine where the room’s heat sources are and try to keep AC components away from them. The heat from direct sunlight can hurt the efficiency of AC, as can the heat emanating from some lightbulbs in the room. Try not to install directly opposite windows or right next to devices that emit a lot of heat, as you may find air conditioning repair is required sooner than expected.
Upgrading from a Window AC to a New HVAC in Dallas, TX
If your home has window AC units installed, you may be considering an upgrade for one of the following reasons:
CONVENIENT HEATING AND COOLING
It’s frustrating when the temperature in your home is too high, and you have to carry your AC unit from storage to your window. You will then need to lift it and fit it into the window frame, being careful not to drop it on the ground and cause damages that require an air conditioning repair technician. While you can install several units in different rooms in your home to help keep it cool, they are heavy and can be cumbersome to move frequently.
Many older AC units in homes are inefficient at cooling, and they have higher operating costs. It’s also extremely difficult to control the overall temperature in your home when you have to adjust five different window units instead of a centralized AC system. Plus, more components may experience potential failure, so you’re much more likely to be arranging for air conditioning repair on a semi-regular basis.
Then, when winter comes, it’s time to decide if you want to take out all the window units to make your heating more efficient. Alternatively, you can leave them in. However, this will mean that you are spending more energy to heat the home on cold days as warm air will be escaping through the window-mounted AC. Getting your home’s temperature up in the winter can be difficult, with so many avenues for the warm air to escape, resulting in higher heating costs in winter and overworked furnaces. In addition to worrying about air conditioning repair, you may be risking unnecessary furnace repairs too!
You will no longer have to deal with these problems if you’re upgrading your HVAC system to a centralized unit. You won’t have to worry about lugging your window units out of storage, risking damage during transport, installation, and removal. Repeated movement Nor will you need to wonder when they should go back in storage. A central HVAC system will give you better control over the climate of your home and make it more efficient to heat and cool it.
MORE EFFECTIVE COOLING
Although the initial cost of installing a central HVAC system may seem overwhelming, it is useful to look at the bigger picture. While you can continue to book air conditioning repair to keep your window units functioning, there will likely come a time when it becomes far more cost-effective to replace with a new system. While central HVAC units do draw the same amount of energy as window units, it is crucial to remember that central units are more efficient and effective at cooling buildings overall. As we have mentioned, window units may not be as airtight as central HVAC units. If you want to cool your whole home, you will likely need several window units, whereas you’ll only need one appropriately sized AC system.
If you are careful about cooling your home with a central HVAC system, you will soon notice how it affects your cooling expenses. This is especially important if you live in Texas. It gets hot in Dallas, TX, during spring and summer, and most people like to keep the AC on almost continuously. The cost difference between running multiple window units over one centralized AC unit can make a huge difference to your finances, as well as overall cooling efficiency.
SMOOTH OPERATION
Although convenience is a part of this section, we feel it is so important that it deserves its own subsection. You can say goodbye to the annoying humming and churning associated with window AC units by installing a central HVAC unit.
Although this is not the main reason to get a new HVAC system installed, it will be a significant benefit once you do. Central air conditioning allows you to unwind in your home without being disturbed by the white noise of a window unit. As a bonus, there are also fewer moving parts that may need air conditioning repair service. There are fewer fans, motors, and other components in central AC.
INCREASED HOME VALUATION
A central HVAC unit will increase the value of your home. Your home’s value will rise, especially if you upgrade your HVAC system or have a new unit installed. According to reports, homes with central HVAC systems are worth 10% more than those without them. Additionally, faulty air conditioners can lower your property’s worth, which is why it’s essential to book an air conditioning repair as soon as you need it, rather than hoping to make it someone else’s issue.
Increasing your home valuation through the installation of central AC is a huge advantage if you are looking to rent, refinance or sell your Dallas, TX home. Your property can look even more attractive if it has efficient and effective heating and cooling.
HIGHER QUALITY AIR
Excellent air quality is especially important for those who suffer from allergies. A central HVAC system will allow you to maintain the ideal temperature throughout your whole home and filter air seamlessly. A central unit is jointly cooling your home efficiently and filtering the air, making it more comfortable for allergy sufferers.
You don’t need to worry about outside air or allergens getting into your home, as window units are much more efficient than traditional window units. Window units cool your home, but there is no airtight seal, and allergens and other contaminants can get in. Window air conditioners do not filter the air and can circulate warm air from outside into your home.
Three Ways To Prevent Frequent Air Conditioning Repair
In hot areas like Dallas, TX, a working air conditioner is essential. If your AC breaks down, you’re often forced to book air conditioning repair quickly to avoid the unbearable heat and humidity. These three easy maintenance tips will help you prolong the life of your air conditioner and help you to avoid a costly air conditioning repair service when you least desire one:
Make sure to change the filter often. Your AC system will work harder to pull in the air when filters are dirty. Overworking your AC system can cause it to wear faster, which could lead to higher costs in the long term. Clean AC filters will also ensure that your home’s air is clean and free from harmful particles and pollutants.
Clear dirt from outside the AC condenser. Heat trapped in dirt can cause heat loss. A clean condenser will perform better than one that is dirty and help you get rid of heat more efficiently.
Make sure there is enough airspace around the condenser. Airflow is restricted if branches, bushes, grass, or other debris is near our condenser. You can ensure maximum airflow by trimming all vegetation and removing any other objects that may be in the vicinity of your AC condenser.
Signs You Need To Consider Air Conditioning Repair in Dallas, TX
A dead thermostat battery is one of the most common reasons for an inoperable air conditioner unit. Luckily, it won’t usually require an expensive air conditioning repair service. If your thermostat’s screen is not working, it could be because the batteries need replacing.
If your thermostat is set to cool but the air isn’t blowing out, this could indicate that there is a problem with your coil. Both the coil for your indoor unit and the coil of the outdoor unit can become dirty if they aren’t serviced regularly.
Low coolant levels are another reason why your unit may not work. If it isn’t properly topped up, it might not cool as well as you would like. You should hire a professional to refill the coolant and inspect your unit for leaks as part of periodic maintenance.
If you see water around your AC, you may need someone to clear a blocked condensate drain line. Blocked condensate lines prevent water from flowing properly through the pipe.
The compressor is another component that can cause problems with AC units. Your AC’s compressor is responsible for compressing and circulating coolant throughout the unit. It can also work in conjunction with air ducts.
If you notice any of the above symptoms in your AC unit, whether it’s newly installed or extremely old, call a technician at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas to discuss appropriate air conditioning repair services.