Posts Tagged ‘central air’

Looking for a new air conditioner?

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Looking for a new air conditioner? There are many different reasons why anyone may be looking to buy.  Maybe you’re building a new house, or selling your existing house and need an upgrade as a condition of sale, your existing central air conditioner could be broken and beyond repair, or maybe you’re just looking to invest in a new system for higher efficiency and reduced electric bills.

Choosing and purchasing a new central air conditioner can be an intimidating process.  There are nearly 100 different brands and thousands of different models from budget models to high efficiency models.  The price range is broad, and it is an important purchase because your new system should last you for about the next 20 years!  (more…)

Quick tips for a possible Spring AC problem

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

Here’s a few quick tips on possible Spring AC problems. In this tough economy the last thing you need is an air conditioner repair when you try and turn it on for the first time this spring.  There are two quick and simple possibilities for why your air conditioner may not be quite right the first time around this year.

1.        Possible tripped breaker – One of the most common causes of no-cool calls is a tripped breaker.  Be sure to reset your breaker before making a call for heating & cooling repairs.  Hopefully it won’t trip again, but if it does then it’s time to make a call.  At that point something is causing the breaker to trip and still it is often something simple like a bad breaker, loose wire, or a bad capacitor.  However, if not addressed, some simple problems can lead to far more expensive repairs. (more…)

2010 Energy Tax Credits

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009

This ground breaking legislation has gives energy tax credits to consumers who purchase High Efficiency heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment to qualify for a direct tax credit of up to $1500.

Qualifying equipment includes:

Air Source Heat Pumps with a minimum SEER of 12.5 and SEER of 15.0

Central Air Conditioning with a minimum SEER of 13.0 and SEER of 16.0

Gas, Propane, or Oil Hot Water Boiler AFUE greater then 90%

Natural Gas or Propane Furnace AFUE greater then 95%

Oil Furnaces AFUE greater then 90% (more…)

Conventional A/C vs. Central Air

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

There are are things to consider when deciding whether to continue to use conventional air conditioners or central air conditioning. One is the effectiveness of each unit, obviously room air conditioners are limited to cooling certain rooms in the house based on airflow and proximity. Central air conditioners operate by cooling the entire house by passing cool air through duct work and vents in each room.

Cost is also a factor in determining whether to use conventional A/C or Central Air Conditioning. New central air conditioning units are more energy efficient than models from even 10 years ago. As federal standards have risen minimum SEER ratings have increased which improve efficiency. Standard room air conditioners can be very costly to operate especially if you use an older model when you factor in energy efficiency.

There is no comparison in terms of comfort levels between room air conditioners and central air conditioners. Central air conditioners provide even cooling throughout your home. When you add a programmable thermostat you also will see energy savings and lower cooling cost because you manage the time and temperature you want your system to run at. For a more detailed look at your options see our Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning  “Before You Buy Guide“. You can also read this article on air conditioners.