Things to Consider When Buying a New AC in Austin

Buying a new and energy efficient air conditioner will make the summer months bearable and comfortable if your central air conditioner is over 10 years old. A new energy efficient air conditioning system will help you save up to 30% to 50% on your energy bills. This can make a huge impact on your cooling costs. Sticking with an older unit and getting it repaired often will only increase the expenses. If you want to make your summer months comfortable in Austin, then consider upgrading to a better air conditioning system for your home. When upgrading to a new and improved air conditioner, there are many things you need to consider.
 

Two types of central air conditioners are widely used in homes, a split system air conditioner and a packaged air conditioner. Installing a split central air conditioner is the most economical choice. If you are unsure of your decision, you can call up an HVAC expert in Austin to suggest a new AC for your home. The HVAC expert will visit your home, will take the measurements of the rooms in your house, and will suggest the right AC for your cooling needs. The technician would advise you to buy the most energy efficient system with a SEER rating of 13 or more. An AC with a SEER of 13 consumes 30% less electricity as compared to older models with a SEER of 10 or less. Some older units also have a 6-SEER or below and this is costing you a lot of money on energy bills each month to keep your home cool.
 

Deciding on the size of an AC is very important, if it is too small for your home, it will have to run harder and will thus consume more electricity; a large AC will not be able to remove humidity from the air, thus leading to a less cooling effect. The capacity of AC needed would depend directly on the size of your home.
 

It is very important to hire an expert and licensed HVAC contractor for AC installation. As described before, the size of an AC depends directly on the area it has to cool. An HVAC technician will take into account the size of your home, the size of the rooms, the level of insulation installed in your home, and many other factors. Only a right-sized AC unit will provide the best cooling performance.

Things to Consider When Replacing an Old AC Unit With a Newer One in Austin

A replacement air conditioner is a big investment, and selecting the right AC unit or central air conditioning system involves a lot of consideration. An HVAC company in Austin will help you decide what air conditioning system is best for your home. First, we need to analyze when the right time is to replace an air conditioner. If you are tired of continually getting your air conditioner repaired; it is an old unit; you want to cut down on energy bills, and you have noticed that the AC is working excessively hard and still not making your house comfortable, all these factors would add up and make you consider AC replacement.
 

The air conditioner in your home should be the right size; meaning the AC shouldn’t be too large or small for your home. The right size of the AC unit will depend on the size of the house. These measurements would require a professional HVAC technician,. The technician will measure the square footage of the room to determine what size cooling system will work best and be the most energy efficient.
 

Most homeowners do not know what a BTU is and how to calculate it. To put it in simple words, the more BTUs an AC has, the better the cooling power. Therefore, the BTU of your air conditioner depends on the square footage of your room. The other important thing to consider is replacing your old AC unit with a new one, if it is older than 10 years, replacing it would help you save money on energy bills since they are much more efficient than older models.
 

HVAC Maintenance and Energy Saving Tips for Austin Homeowners

We all want to be comfortable in the summer, for that to happen, the HVAC system in your home should be working efficiently. It is important to maintain the cooling system in your house to stay comfortable in the summer. Professional and licensed HVAC companies provide AC maintenance services in Austin. We are discussing a few handy tips in this article that would help you maintain your air conditioning system this summer, and would help reduce energy expenses. If you have an old air conditioner, consider upgrading it to a newer and more energy efficient system with a high SEER rating.
 

If you want your air conditioner to work efficiently even in the hottest of weather, you will need to get the cooling system inspected and maintained properly. By doing this, you can ensure that it works efficiently since it has all working parts and no dust building up on coils, etc.
 

Installing a programmable thermostat can also help reduce the energy cost you face each month by up to 15%. A programmable thermostat is easy to install and use, WIFI enabled thermostats let you control the temperature inside your house while you are away. 

Contact a professional for cleaning and maintaining your air conditioner, including replacing filters, cleaning outdoor and indoor units, and performing any necessary repairs. All these tips will help you maintain your HVAC system and save money and energy. However, it would be wise to replace an older unit with a new and 50% more efficient system, to cut down on energy costs if your unit is more than 15 years old.

Why Isn't My Air Conditioner Cooling My Austin Home?

The temperatures are rising and your air conditioner is not cooling your home very well. Maybe it is high time to consider AC replacement. If your air conditioner is 10 years old or more, it could still be running, but won’t cool the air in your home the way it used to. Annual AC maintenance and inspections will make your air conditioner last longer, but if an old AC is continually giving you problems, such as tripping the circuit breakers, blowing hot air instead of cool air, breaking down, or your energy bills are rising, it is time to consider a replacement. If you have no idea what size and brand of AC you should buy, you should contact an HVAC company in Austin for guidance.
 

You don’t have to wait for an AC to break down completely to consider replacement. If you have tried and tested everything, the AC has had many repairs, and the unit is still not blowing cool air, it is not serving its purpose. An air conditioner is meant to keep you comfortable in your home; an old AC unit will struggle a lot and will break down frequently on the hottest days. Look for AC replacement in Austin by a professional and licensed HVAC company. Air conditioner replacement costs would depend on the size and brand of the AC you choose, but buying a new AC unit these days will help you to save on energy bills since they are much more efficient than older models.

 

An older unit will consume more energy and still won’t keep you comfortable and cool. The older units work with a SEER that is 10 or below. SEER “seasonal energy efficiency ratio” should be 13 or more, an AC with a 13 SEER means it will consume 30% less electricity, and that would translate into 30% lower energy bills.
 

An annual AC inspection will keep your AC or central cooling system in top-notch condition; it helps the system to work better and last longer. An air conditioner that is not cooling, or is needing for frequent repairs is not worth the money, anyway. Instead of spending money on repair after repair, consider an AC replacement if your system is older than 10 years. An HVAC company will help you select the right air conditioning system for your home.

Maintaining a Window or Wall Air Conditioner in Austin

Air conditioning is the biggest utility expense in the summer for Austin homeowners. Many homeowners still prefer a window or wall air conditioner that can be installed in any room; it is still an affordable option when compared to a central air conditioning system. Air conditioner maintenance is crucial for your window AC for it to be able to work smoothly in the summer. A window AC can be energy efficient; the latest models come with a good energy star rating. There are many perks of having a window AC in your home; window AC units consume very little electricity. You can cut down on your utility bills with a window AC unit.
 

A window or wall AC system is very easy to install and put up in your home, it can be maintained easily, and the maintenance and repair costs for a window AC are affordable. It is very easy to locate an HVAC company for window air conditioner maintenance in Austin, annual maintenance and for inspections by a professional tech. For people living in small apartments and homes, a window AC unit can be the perfect choice; the size of AC unit you would choose will depend on the size of the room and cooling needs; you should get an estimate with the help of an HVAC contractor near you.
 

As we mentioned before, it is easy to maintain a wall or window AC. If you have just pulled out a window AC from your basement for this summer, make sure to call up an HVAC contractor for proper installation. If the window unit is old, it may not work as efficiently as it used to, or may require cleaning and repair. A window AC unit cannot work effectively without cleaning and maintenance. Basic maintenance and cleaning can be done on your own, for example, cleaning and replacing air filters, and basic cleaning of indoor and outdoor units. For more complex cleaning jobs, and repair, you should call up a licensed and professional HVAC company in Austin - such as ABA.
 

Why Does Water Leak From my AC in Austin?

It is very important to have a functioning air conditioner at home that keeps you comfortable, and maintains a stable temperature inside. There are certain things you need if you want your AC to function properly in the most serious summer weather. There are many complaints and emergency calls that HVAC companies receive during the summer months in Austin, and most issues can be solved by regular maintenance and tune-ups. One of the most common problems that homeowners and other AC owners suffer from is a leaky AC, or in other words water leaking from the air conditioner.
 

If you have noticed that your AC is leaking water, then there is no need to panic. If you have not called up an AC technician for a tune-up session yet, call them now. There are many licensed HVAC companies in Austin that can help with minor to major AC-related issues. Have you ever wondered what a leaky AC could be a sign of? Although, it is alarming, it can be taken care of by a professional HVAC contractor. The number one reason for a leaking AC is an improper installation.
 

If the AC unit is not level, or is improperly installed, it can leak water, or the other reason could be that your condenser pump is broken. Only an HVAC professional can determine what the real cause of a leaky AC is and how to fix it. If the drain hole of your AC unit is blocked, the AC will leak water since it can be blocked with dirt and debris. If there is a blockage in the drain hole, clear it. When the blockage is removed, the water will properly exit the condenser pan. If the outside unit of your AC is not properly sealed, or the sealing is worn off, it can cause excess warm air to get inside the unit, thus causing the moisture in the air to condense and making the unit pool water below. In this case, the outside unit may require proper re-sealing. 

Remember, there could be many reasons for a leaking air conditioner, and only an expert can determine what needs to be fixed. But you must take care of your AC unit. Keep an eye on any such leakages, and report them to your HVAC company in Austin.
 

How to Fix a Leaking Air Conditioner in Austin

The weather is warming up, and this means you need thorough check-up of your central air conditioning system to help keep you and your family comfortable through the hot and long summer season. You can experience many common and annoying problems with your central air conditioning system; the majority of HVAC repair calls in Austin are related to a leaky air conditioner. Many homeowners tend to ignore small and persistent leaking, but it can lead to a bigger problem, and more costly repair work. There are many reasons why a central air conditioning system may leak water, and an improperly installed window AC or a central air conditioner is the top most reason for a leaking AC.
 

If your central air conditioning system is leaking water on the floor or into a wall where it is installed, it can cause some serious damage to your property; walls and flooring may be severely damaged. This is not a normal situation, and you should contact an HVAC contractor in Austin to inspect your central air conditioning system as soon as possible. A clogged condensate drain in a central air conditioning system can cause water to leak from the system and onto the floor or into the ceiling. The condensate drain may be clogged with dust, algae, and other debris; an AC repair technician will bring all the right tools and clean the drainage pipes. If a leaky air conditioner is the only AC repair problem you have, it won’t cost very much to get taken care of.
 

In order to prevent an air conditioner from leaking water, change the AC filters every month or two. Why does changing air filters matter? Because, when an AC runs over an extended period, ice or frost may form over the evaporator coil. When this ice melts, the water may leak onto the floor. Ice or frost may form on the evaporator coil during extreme temperatures. If the airflow is blocked to your system, this ice will form.
 

For a portable or windows air conditioner, improperly installed systems can cause leaking; this can only be prevented by hiring a licensed and professional HVAC contractor for AC repair and maintenance work. Thus, there are many things that can cause an air conditioner to leak water, and only a trained technician can diagnose the real culprit, and suggest the right repair for your AC unit.