HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
Professional Air Conditioner Installation in Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, Fl
Hometown Contractors realizes that heating and cooling costs the average homeowner about $1,000 a year – nearly half the home’s total energy bill. As your central air conditioning system ages, it starts to lose the capability of effectively cooling your home. If your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an energy-efficient model could cut your cooling costs by 30 percent. Replacing your older system with a Hometown Energy Efficient system, you may be eligible for a $1,500 Tax Credit.
When buying an air conditioner, look for a model with a high efficiency. 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. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label for central air conditioners with SEER ratings of 13 or greater, but consider using air conditioning equipment with higher SEER ratings for greater savings.
Today's best air conditioners use 30%–50% less energy to produce the same amount of cooling as air conditioners made in the mid 1970s. Even if your air conditioner is only 10 years old, you may save 20%–40% of your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more efficient model.
Environmentally Friendly Refrigerant
The refrigerant of an air conditioner is essential for operation. For decades residential air conditioners used Freon (or R-22). Because R-22 released into the atmosphere causes long-term damage, R-22 will not be allowed in new equipment starting in 2010, but will still be available for repairs. All air conditioners installed by Hometown Contractors will have R-410a refrigerant.
Proper Sizing of Equipment
Installing the right size equipment for the home is essential to getting the best performance and comfort. Many homeowners believe that bigger is better when buying new heating and cooling equipment. But in reality, a system that's too large will not keep your home comfortable because of frequent 'on/off' cycling. A system that is too small will run constantly, straining to satisfy the desired temperature or comfort level. Incorrect sizing can also put stress on system components and shorten the equipment's life.
To ensure proper sizing, Hometown Contractors will perform a complete evaluation, or “load calculation” looking at all factors that affect the heat gain and heat loss of your home.
Why Do I Need a Load Calculation?
During the load calculation, Hometown will take into account the size, shape, and orientation of your home; it’s not enough to merely calculate square footage. What type of insulation and how much you have is important along with window and door sizes, types and the direction they face.
Combining these and other factors, Hometown will then determine the proper size unit your home requires. An over or under sized unit is one of the most common problems with any system; when using a load calculation, you will have a more efficient system and a more comfortable home.
Proper Installation of your new equipment
Replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with new, energy-efficient models is a great start. But to make sure that you get the best performance, the new equipment must be properly installed. In fact, improper installation can reduce system efficiency by up to 30 percent — costing you more on your utility bills and possibly shortening the equipment's life.
Proper Refrigerant Charge
A properly charged system will operate more efficiently and help prolong the life of the heating and cooling system. To ensure the system has the correct amount of refrigerant a contractor must test and confirm that the system is properly charged.
Heat & Cool Your Home More Efficiently
Making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills — and your comfort. Following these steps can increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system, leading to lower power bills.
Change your air filter regularly
Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.
Preventative Maintenance
Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Hometown Contractors, Inc. offers a preventative maintenance program, designed to reduce your utility and repair costs. Our professional service technicians understand your air conditioning and heating system, and can eliminate money-wasting problems. Our preventative maintenance program addresses the problems we see most often, and can be customized to fit your individual needs.
Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you $175-$200 every year in energy costs.
For more information on Heating and Air Conditioning call Hometown Contractors, Inc at 1-866-420-2811
or Request a Free Estimate.
