Why Successful AC Installation Is Necessary for Energy Savings
Having an AC that works properly is essential to staying comfortable in Lovelady, Texas. The simple fact of having an AC, however, doesn’t mean that it’s cooling as well or as efficiently as it could. An AC’s power to cool your house without running up your energy bill starts with the installation. If your AC wasn’t installed correctly in the first place, there’s little you can do to get it running properly without calling a professional to address the problem.
Correctly Sized Equipment
Your house has a specific thermal load, which indicates how much effort it takes to heat and cool the space inside. This is much more complicated than simply calculating the volume of space inside each room. Many things affect the thermal load, including insulation, windows, and even shade from the trees outside. An HVAC professional has to figure out how to size your air conditioner so that it provides proper cooling to your house.
If your air conditioner is too small, you’ll have to run it on high all the time, and it still may not cool your house effectively. If your air conditioner is too low, you’ll find that the house gets cold much too quickly, and then the system shuts off for long periods of time. This can cause you IAQ problems, which clog your filters and aggravate your allergies. Either way, you’re spending more energy to run a system that’s improperly sized than you would be with one that fits perfectly.
The Right Refrigerant Levels
Your AC will require a certain amount of refrigerant to run properly. The professional who installs your new AC should check the refrigerant levels before turning anything on. If the refrigerant is too low, you won’t be able to get your house cool. Refrigerant that’s too high also causes problems and may damage equipment. You’ll be using up more energy getting your house comfortable in either case. Proper installation means checking the refrigerant as part of the process.
Thermostat Sensor Placement
Your thermostat uses sensors to measure the temperature inside your house. That’s how it knows when to kick on and when to shut off without you constantly adjusting the settings. The sensor, which measures temperature in your home, is typically inside your thermostat. An HVAC professional will know where in your house to install the thermostat control. If that control is installed in a room that’s typically too hot or too cold, your thermostat won’t be able to accurately read the temperature of your home. You’ll spend precious energy trying to get the temperature right.
Proper Airflow
A specified amount of air needs to move across the coils in your HVAC system for it to work properly. It was designed to move that amount of air, and if your HVAC system is installed properly, you’ll get that correct airflow. Improper installation impedes the AC’s ability to cool your house the way it should, and you may have to turn up your system to properly cool, which means you’ll spend more on electricity. Parts of your AC may also sustain damage over time because of how hard it has to work to get the air through the system.
Smooth Ductwork
Though badly maintained ductwork can be extremely inefficient, if your ductwork is without imperfections and leaks, it will run smoothly and won’t cost you much extra in energy. But for that ductwork to operate the way it should, it has to be installed correctly. Correct installation ensures that the entire duct system is sealed and insulated to prevent damage and leaks. Without this, you’ll start losing cold air fast through imperfections, and you’ll see the difference on your electricity bill.
Your comfort and your carbon footprint both depend on proper AC installation. Make sure you have the right professionals for the job if you’re getting a new AC installed. If you think your current AC may have issues, a reliable HVAC technician will discover and help you address the problems. Keep your AC running well and efficiently by calling McWilliams Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning at (888) 905-7655 today.
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