AC Repairs: If You Are Going To Do It, Do It Right!

You have decided it is time to replace your home air conditioning!

Photos By: Stock Images

Instead of jumping straight into finding the best home services available to you, you are researching the best DIY ways to replace your own air conditioning. 

Although air conditioning for your home seems straightforward, there are major upsides and savings to be made from hiring professional technicians. These technicians are not only able to install your new unit but design a brand new air conditioning system for your home. With all the new technology available on the market, it would be silly not to utilize the best options out there. 

But what is out there? Although technology has evolved, the way home air conditioning systems are set up has remained relatively the same. Houses tend to have standalone air conditioning, and the tendency is that this air conditioning unit services the home as one area. 

When you look at commercial air conditioning, this is not the case, especially when it comes to AC repair Surprise AZ. air conditioning systems are highly customized these days. These customizations are made to cater to the unique commercial spaces we encounter these days. With the world wanting to “go green” and energy prices skyrocketing, systems are also now designed to have the lowest possible cost of energy for the most effective possible output.

Commercial spaces are, by nature, more diverse than home environments. Or so is the perception. In a commercial or business space, one section might have to be kept at a different temperature than another. Commercial air conditioning systems cater to this. Commercial units can also be set to run at less than full capacity, allowing costs to be saved. When full capacity is needed, the unit’s input and output can be ramped up. Home air conditioning units do not cater to these principles.

The standard standalone home air conditioning unit always runs at a level of maximum energy consumption. It disperses cool air by the method of ‘filling the room’ so that it may overflow to the next. This method of operation is costly and operationally ineffective.

Seeing as you have now decided to stop repairing and replace your broken ac unit, you might as well do it right!

First things first. When hiring home services to do ac repair, it will be beneficial to look at companies who deal with commercial air conditioning installations as well as residential air conditioning installations.

Although not all commercial customizations might be available to you. These technicians will have the expertise to apply relevant commercial air conditioning principles to your home space. These principles are largely governed by functional design thinking and will, therefore, by nature, be practical.

If you are wondering if air conditioning is worth all the trouble of designing a whole system or going through an entire process, I urge you to do your homework. Contact technicians offering Home Services and find out first-hand the benefits that proper air conditioning holds.

A properly installed unit and system will end up costing you a lot less in the long run than a poorly installed or DIY ac repair. Not only because repairs will most likely not be necessary but because the air conditioning will run optimally, saving you money on your power bills.

When employing the services of qualified technicians, it is important to realize that their recommendations carry weight. Remember that technicians installing air conditioning units for home or commercial uses need to be certified. They undergo training and work experience to gain these certifications. It is thus best to follow their recommendations and heed their warnings.

Before contacting a home services company, it will be wise to familiarize yourself with the following considerations and concepts. This will allow you to have some idea of what is available to you, what you might want, and what limitations you might be facing.

The right technician will offer ample support and guidance to your thinking process behind the choices you will need to make. Nevertheless, it is always good to be prepared.

Concept & Considerations:

Repairs and Parts

Having state-of-the-art technology in your home is great. Installing that niche air conditioning system that caught your eye is even better. However, if the Home Services to repair your unit is not available in your area, you might be buying yourself trouble. Similarly, if your unit is not a regular import to your area or country, or it makes use of uncommon or outdated parts. This need-to-have, specialized product will soon be a headache.

No one hopes for hardware such as an air conditioning unit to break, but we have to remain realistic. Chances are that over the lifespan of your air conditioning unit, more or less 15 years, something will break, and parts will need to be repaired. 

Unfortunately, it is the nature of things that all parts cannot be repaired and will need to be replaced. Opting for an air conditioning unit that is too different might result in you having to replace the entire system simply because a part is unavailable. This might sound extreme, but it is what happens: unique and uncommon parts for machinery sometimes cost so much to import or source it makes more financial sense to replace an entire system than fix it.

Reading “makes more financial sense” might make you think, “well, that is not so bad then,” but beware. A replacement might be cheaper than a unique part but had the use of a generic part been possible, it could have cost you significantly less!

Maintaining your chosen product should also not be a specialized affair. If it is not easy to maintain, chances are you will not maintain it.

Air Conditioning Unit Types

The type of air conditioning unit you will end up getting will most likely be the result of a recommendation made by your technician. 

If you opt for a standard home air conditioning system, you will most likely choose a standalone unit from a catalog, and that will be it.

If you want to explore the realms of what custom air conditioning home services can offer, it will bode well to familiarize yourself with some of the common home air conditioning systems available. Being familiar with these units and installations and the differences between them will help you understand the recommendations and suggestions of your technician. Knowledge is power, and so knowing about these things could also open your eyes as to what is possible. Knowing the possibilities out there and which ideas you like and do not like may or may not influence what you ask your technician to help you implement in your home.

Common home systems are:

  • High Wall Split Systems
  • Room Air Conditioners
  • Ducted Split Systems
  • Evaporative Coolers

Technicians

Finding the right technicians for the job is paramount to the success of your air conditioning Project.

For someone to legally be an air conditioning (broadly referred to as HVAC – heating, ventilation and air conditioning) Technician, they need to undergo training and obtain HVAC certification.

All HVAC training covers both commercial and residential air conditioning. However, not all technicians will have experience in both. Their skill levels, as well as experience with different systems, will also differ.

Luckily there are many companies that specialize in both commercial and home services. Finding technicians with the right knowledge for your project should be your first priority. The right technicians will be able to guide you through the rest of the project. If you are set on something and have to explain to the technicians what it is, that technician is not the right fit for your project.

Insurance

Home insurance tends to be much more standard than business insurance. For this reason, it is extremely important that you consult a home insurer before you opt to install a customized air conditioning system in your home. Home Services should be able to refer you to insurers they have previously worked with that were willing to insure their customized systems. 

Insurance companies are very fickle when it comes to who they deem fit to perform repairs or replacements on existing air conditioning covered by their policies. Make sure your insurer recognizes the technicians you wish to work with as industry professionals.

If you opted for a customized air conditioning unit, some parts used and modifications made might be seen as extras by the insurer or the policy covering your air conditioning feature in your home. Make sure your insurance policy lists all the extras as well and the accurate cost of replacing them.

Equipment Location

There is a reason why technicians providing home services put the air conditioning units where they put them.

Trust their guidance and recommendations. At the end of the day, your unit should be easily accessible for the purpose of repairs and maintenance and protected from the elements. The right technicians will be able to evaluate your home to establish where the most suitable place for your unit to be installed is.

They will also have insights on where the noise from your unit will be traveling to and will most likely suggest a spot far away from your neighbor’s bedroom window!

Controls

There are such great controls available for air conditioning these days. When looking to replace air conditioning units, it is worth looking into what control systems are available and can be linked to the air conditioning unit or system you are considering. 

Things to consider when thinking about controls are temperature sensors, thermostat and unit control, and automation:

  • Temperature sensors

Sensors can be designed into your system so that the air conditioning unit can receive feedback about the temperature and condition of the environment. Many home air conditioners are able to adjust their own outputs nowadays, resulting in better energy consumption and lower electricity bills. The number of sensors, placement, and sophistication thereof will be determined by your budget.

  • Controls

While commercial property installations mostly opt for physical box controls, it makes sense that a home should be converted to run on Wi-Fi. You should be able to access the controls to your air conditioning from your smartphone. A home should be about ease and comfort, and what is more comfortable than adjusting the temperature of your house from your couch?

  • Automation

Can the controls and your air conditioning system integrate with smart home technology so that it all can be automated? For example, can you set your air conditioner to turn on 20 mins before you get home every day so that you can walk into a cool and comfortable home, just as you prefer it?

Noise

Residential areas hold noise restrictions and for a good reason. At home, everyone wants peace and quiet at some point. At night no one wants to be kept awake by the noise of air conditioning. Technicians offering Home Services are well aware of what noise restrictions exist in which residential areas. This is especially true for the residential areas they regularly service. They also have first-hand knowledge on which units generate what level of noise. 

Home air conditioning manufacturers have been paying special mind to these noise restrictions with the new units being made fit for home use. Many options are now available that run very quietly. If you are sensitive to noise, you should consider making the extra spend for a quieter model.

It is highly advisable to stay within the regions of acceptable noise levels for residential areas. You do not want to spend money and time on new air conditioning and then sit with constant fines you have to pay. Even worse, your own air conditioning might keep you up at night!

Don’t be Overwhelmed

Reading about all the little things one by one might have you overwhelmed and thinking that this process is just too much! Do not feel intimidated. Technicians and companies offering Home Services are there to make all of this extremely simple. 

Treat yourself with not only a new air conditioning unit but reliable, qualified technicians as well. Now allow them to assist!

Share: