A/C Repair Questions Abound
Every season when the heat kicks in, the questions also kick in. I've reviewed several common air conditioning issues in the past, but here are a few more questions I get in the height of the A/C repair season.
What size air conditioner do I need?
A homeowner must have a proper load calculation performed on their home to replace an existing unit. There are many variables that need to be taken into account, especially the humidity factor, where applicable. Also, the new higher efficiency A/C units need proper airflow to meet their designed efficiency levels.
What temperature should I set the thermostat at night during the cooling season?
Normal temperatures in the summer can fluctuate depending on the region. If the thermostat is set at the desired temperature during the day, the homeowner should consider a 10 degree set up temperature. Also, if night set up is going to be used, an investment in an automatic thermostat would be appropriate. Most automatic thermostats have intelligent recovery which enables the thermostat to lower the temperature gradually so the night time savings is not lost by manually bringing down the temperature all at once.
Why does my air conditioner keep running?
More than likely the A/C unit is undersized and/or working harder to keep the desired indoor design temperature. Remember that an air conditioner works properly and efficiently at the design temperature it was designed to achieve. If you have hotter days than normal, the A/C will try to maintain the indoor design temperature. This does not mean you have an undersized unit. It just means that this particular hot day is outside the normal range of the calculated design for the A/C unit. A proper load calculation can determine if the unit is properly sized.
I heard a famous entrepreneur once say that free advice is actually the most costly. Hopefully it goes without saying these days that the advice of a certified industry professional is the most valuable advice of all. Taking advice about what to do when your air conditioner isn't working from an untrained person can cost dearly in both money and time wasted. So when in doubt, call a company you can trust. Even if the short-term air conditioning news is bad, long-term savings and home comfort are quite often the result.