Most people don’t pay much attention to their air conditioner…until it stops working in the heat!  And with a drought on tap right now in the Central Valley, running through the sprinklers really isn’t an option for a quick cool down.  Before you call to repair your unit, ask yourself:

Is it better to repair or replace an A/C unit?  Generally speaking, repairing an existing air conditioning unit shouldn’t be too extensive, depending on the issue and the placement of the unit.  But using a licensed professional is important.  Many people don’t realize that some components of A/C units can have long warranty life, but repairs should be done by a licensed HVAC contractor.  While repairs sometimes seem less expensive now than a new system, in some cases, a high efficiency air conditioning system is more practical and cost-effective over time than certain repairs.

Is your A/C still fairly new?  You can still make it more efficient!  Air conditioners are like cars, they need tuneups to run at optimum performance.  Making sure you don’t have duct leaks, low charge and other maintenance issues can keep you running cool.

The heat is on now, so call us at (209) 537-3542 for an air conditioning tune-up. We will check your whole HVAC system to be sure it’s running as efficiently as possible.

What is SEER?  SEER is basically a rating system, which is short for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.  It measures a unit’s efficiency which is important to your budget’s bottom line - the more efficient something is, the less it costs to run it.  And, you can feel good about your carbon footprint, because energy-efficient systems are better for the environment).  Air conditioning units vary greatly in price depending on the size and efficiency, but we can find the ideal unit for your size home.  In the Central Valley, a high-SEER rated unit makes the most sense as we use our A/C a lot more than cooler areas of the country do.

The SEER rating system starts at 13, which is the minimum -according to the U.S. Department of Energy- for systems produced today. Units with high SEER ratings could save you hundreds on your utility bills.  Check out this link from Lennox to calculate your potential energy cost savings:
www.lennox.com

It happens - summer comes, the valley heats up, you turn on the air conditioner after a few months of mild weather and ... nothing.  When your air conditioner quits on you, Murphy's Law says it will be on a record-high temperature day. 

But before you panic and call an A/C repair company, there are some things you can try first that will help you troubleshoot your system.  It's true, there are some things only a licensed professional can repair, but you might be surprised - sometimes the solution is simple. 

If these troubleshooting steps don't solve the problem or if you see visible signs of damage, you'll want to contact a residential HVAC contractor to help you.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Make sure you check the warranty on your unit before attempting repairs or contacting an HVAC contractor if you are unsuccessful on your own - you definitely don't want to do anything that would void your warranty.