Air Conditioning Check List for Families in Katy, Cy-Fair, Sugar Land and Beyond

Buying a New Central Air Conditioner?

If your central air conditioner is about 15 to 20 years, it may have reached its “lifespan.” It becomes more difficult for manufacturers to provide replacement parts with an aging system. The system, due to wear and tear, has proably become inefficient both energy-wise and cooling-wise.

For these reasons, you may be on the market for a new air conditioning system. It’s great to have a check list to ensure you make an informed choice.

Here are our Top 10 Tips:

1. Will your new unit be energy efficient? An Energy Star rating will help you determine how efficiently your unit will use energy. Central air conditioners are rated according to their seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). SEER indicates the relative amount of energy needed to provide a specific cooling output. Many older systems have SEER ratings of 6 or less. The minimum SEER allowed today is 13.
2. You’ll want a thermal expansion valve and a high-temperature rating (EER) greater than 11.6, for high-efficiency operation when the weather is at its peak temperatures.
3. You’ll want a variable speed air handler for new ventilation systems, and a fan-only switch so that you can use the unit for nighttime ventilation to substantially reduce air-conditioning costs. Also, be sure and ask for a automatic-delay fan switch to turn off the fan a few minutes after the compressor turns off.
4. Are you looking at top brands? Remember that “top brand” doesn’t necessarily mean “top price.” Aggie Aire can help you choose a practical, hard working unit that fulfills all your needs. For example, we carry Lennox, Carrier, Trane, Goodman, American Standard, Rheem, RUUD and other highly recommended HVAC products.
5. You’ll appreciate a unit that operates quietly. Ask us about the quietest and most efficient products available.
6. Trust us to properly size and install the right unit. We do not recommend overly large units, because they don’t adequately remove humidity. On the other hand, if your unit is too small, it may struggle to keep your home comfortable in the hot Houston area temperatures.
7. Does your ductwork need cleaned? If your ducts have never been cleaned, consider hiring Aggie Aire for a professional duct cleaning session. Your vents and registers will be vastly cleaner, and the contaminants, dander and allergens in your home will be noticeably reduced.
8. Do you need your entire ductwork replaced? An aging system isn’t doing you any favors. Consult with us to determine how efficiently your ductwork is operating. Also, properly placed ducts can greatly increase your energy efficiency.
9. You might consider replacing your old outdoor compressor with a modern, high-efficiency unit. Be sure and consult Aggie Aire so that we can properly match your upgrade to the indoor unit. If you are replacing an older or failed split system, be sure that the evaporator coil is replaced with a new one that exactly matches the condenser coil in the new condensing unit. The air conditioner’s efficiency will likely not improve if the existing evaporator coil is left in place, and the old coil could cause the new compressor to fail prematurely.
10. You might be considering the replacement of your entire system. Today’s best air conditioners use 30% to 50% less energy to achieve the same amount of cooling from units made back in the 1970s! Replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner may save you 20% to 40% on your cooling energy costs.

Learn More!

The more you learn, the more fascinating your heating and cooling system becomes. It certainly is useful technology (especially in our area), and we are pleased to share information that can help our customers become informed. Follow our Facebook page for frequent updates, posts and tips.