Choosing the Right Heating and Air Conditioning Company

Did you know that choosing the right heating and air conditioning services provider is integral to the health of your HVAC system? The knowledge, care and skill of your technician will reflect in your system, in everything from equipment installation to system service and routine maintenance.

Don’t let choosing the wrong heating and air conditioning company come back to haunt you…

• Installation
  Properly sizing your system is essential to home comfort and efficiency. Heating/cooling load calculations must be based on your home’s size, insulation levels, and windows for reliable, efficient operation. Indoor and outdoor system components must also be properly matched. In addition, ductwork must be properly installed and located to prevent leaks and the loss of conditioned air.   
• Repair
  Quality, OEM parts, trustworthy quotes and warranties, reliable repairs are integral to protecting your system’s operation – and your wallet. Opt for value over bottom line price to prevent paying for cheap, unreliable equipment – and multiple service visits to correct the same issue.
• Routine maintenance
  Overlooked routine maintenance items could take their toll on your system:
• Improperly operating thermostats…
  Can leave you uncomfortable and have your system working overtime, costing you in high energy bills.
• Inadequate refrigerant…
  Too much or too little in  your cooling units can reduce efficiency – and system life.
• Poor component maintenance.
  Overlooked routine maintenance tasks can lead to unexpected repairs down the road. A good air conditioning services technician should:
• Check your system controls for proper operation.
• Check for faulty electrical connections.
• Lubricate all moving parts.
• Inspect the condensate drain for plugs that can cause humidity and water damage.
• Clean evaporator and condensing coils.
• Clean/adjust blower components to ensure proper airflow.

What should you look for in an HVAC repairs and installation professional?

• A great rep.
  Including a courteous and prompt demeanor, and local referrals from friends, relatives, or your local professional organization. A great technician should also provide you with a written, itemized repair and installation estimate following an on-site, in-person home evaluation, inclusive of all costs and warranties, and stating the efficiency and annual operating costs on new system estimates.
• An inquisitive mind.
  Superior contractors will ask you about problem’s you’ve experienced with your system – and offer solutions.
• Proper licensing and insurance…
  As required by your state, and an office where you can visit them should the need arise, indicating their longevity and intention to remain in business.
• Certification.
  Leading contractors should have one or more of the following professional affiliations:
• North American Technician Excellence (NATE)
• Air Conditioning Contractors of America ((ACCA)
• Energy Star qualified products.
  Energy Star heating and air products meet or exceed the strict efficiency guidelines set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, offering significant long-term energy savings.

Ensure installation and service that’s second to none. Trust in the friendly heating and air conditioning experts at H & H Heating and Air Conditioning. Contact us today.

How to keep your Home Cooling Costs low this Summer!

Summer’s heat is already setting in, and with it, your constant desire to crank up the air conditioner. How can you protect your checkbook but still stay cool? These simple, inexpensive tips can help cut your cooling costs by up to 50% – while still keeping you comfortable…

Program yourself for success.
Programmable thermostats offer better temperature control – and lessen your desire to keep playing with the thermostat numbers. And with today’s smart and learning thermostats, adding one to your home to reduce energy costs has never been easier. Save on cooling easily by turning up the temperature while you’re not at home. For every degree above 78, you can save 5-8% of your total energy bill.

Go for a spin.
Spinning those ceiling fans can really reduce your cooling needs, but adding whole house fans can slash your energy costs up to 50%.

Add some shade.
Learn more about properly adding shade trees to your landscaping, or simply install curtains and blinds to reduce cooling bills by as much as 20%.

Ditch those ancient lights.
More than 90% of the energy produced by incandescent lights is heat. Unless you really enjoy changing bulbs, swap them out for uber-efficient and cool CFLs or LEDs.

Change it up.
Your home air filters need to be changed regularly – at least every 3 months – to keep your system from struggling for breath, ruining efficiency. Check filters monthly and replace them if they look dirty.  

Keep it sealed.
When was the last time you had your heating and air conditioning company inspect your ductwork? Ducts that are poorly insulated, improperly installed, or leaky could cost you up to 30% efficiency. Ensure your conditioned is getting where it needs to go – effectively.

Don’t air condition the whole neighborhood.
Ensure leaks around windows and doors, as well as those in your attic, basement, and crawl space, are sealed, (they are often the equivalent of an open window), and check that insulation levels are optimal.

Live in harmony with nature.
Open and close windows and doors in the morning and evening, when temperatures are cool, being certain to close them before they rise to save on cooling the old-fashioned way.

Stop procrastinating on maintenance.
You could be paying more to keep your home cool due to system inefficiencies that could easily be addressed by your air conditioner service and repair company. An annual, professional inspection is necessary at least once a year to:

• Clean and maintain system components that can affect efficiency (and the lifespan of your system.)
• Verify optimum refrigerant levels.
• Identify thermostat malfunctions and ductwork leaks.
• And more…

Consider an upgrade.
Energy Star certified systems can keep you cooler, for far less cost, saving you 20-40% compared to systems that are just 10 years old. With available tax incentives for high efficiency systems and the monthly savings you’ll see, there’s never been a better time to talk to your local air conditioning company about your options.

Feeling the heat? H&H Heating & Air Conditioning can help. Contact us today!

How does a Central Air Conditioning System Work?

 

Among the most coveted and used modern day inventions, air conditioning has come a long way since its inception, with advancements by scientists and inventors carrying it along from blowing air across compressor-generated ice blocks to cool rooms, to the Energy Star rated central air conditioning systems available at your local air conditioning company today. What did the great minds of our time turn today's air conditioning systems into?

A modern marvel
Cooling you off in summer’s most unforgiving temperatures, 80% of home owners now rely on air conditioning – mostly central. This feat of engineering offers comfort essential to quality of life. But not many understand its function.

The “split” system
Split systems, the most commonly used central heating and cooling units such as systems by Bryant air conditioning and heating, operate much like your refrigerator. Rather than an insulated icebox, however, your home’s walls contain cooled air. How is this air cooled? Science and mechanics.

The cooling concept
Utilizing principles of physics, air conditioners take advantage of a process called “phase conversion,” in which when liquids are converted to gas, they absorb heat. Using special chemical compounds – refrigerants capable of changing at relatively low temperatures - central air conditioners complete the conversion process over and over in a closed system – your A/C’s serpentine coils – funneling warm interior air over them to condition it to a cooler temperature, then distributing it via ductwork.

Phase conversion in action
To complete phase conversion – and deliver cool, conditioned air through your home, the cooperative effort of a gaggle of components is necessary.

• The indoor cabinet
  Fans blow air across your indoor unit’s evaporator coil, transferring heat to the outside air by carrying it to the outside cabinet via refrigerant in the coils.
• The outdoor cabinet
  Once heat energy is carried to the outside unit’s condenser coil by the refrigerant, the refrigerant is pumped back into the compressor, thus beginning the cycle again. What happened to the heat? It was moved outside when the cooled air was blown in, as was any moisture via condensation (hence the name “condenser” coils).
• Other major components your central air conditioning system relies on include…
• The blower (fans)
  Which distribute air over the coils to improve heat dissipation and distribute them to the rooms being cooled.
• The expansion valve
  For controlling refrigerant flow.
• The thermostat
  Which regulates operation by monitoring air temperature.
• The filter
  To removes airborne particles that can reduce air movement and clog system components.
• Drains and moisture collection pans
  For reducing humidity in indoor air and the moisture that is a natural by-product of temperature reduction.

Looking for a new air conditioning system for your home? From central air conditioners to the latest ductless A/C technology, H&H Heating and Air Conditioning Company has you covered, with quality products and installation services you can trust. Contact us today.