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5 Things You Should Know When Installing an Air Conditioner
With the heat of the summer approaching, you may be looking to buy a new Central air conditioner.
Here are some tips to help you get the job done right! Today’s residential air conditioning systems are not as simple to install as they may appear.
Merely connecting all the tubing and wiring is just the beginning.
Beyond that, there are several important steps in the installation that can either make it or break it for you!
Here are 5 very important things that need to be done properly for your new air conditioner to last a long time.
This is how we do it day in and day out.
Number 1 - The installation of the evaporator coil (usually above your furnace) is a crucial part of a good install.
It must be installed in a way that directs all the air flowing out of your furnace, through the new matching evaporator coil.
This ensures that no air is flowing around it.
Also, the air leaks in the sheet metal work should be sealed with tape or sealant made for this purpose.
In the field, we often see an installation where the coil is mounted so that much of the air is flowing around the coil, which was never right to begin with.
We use 26 Gage Galvanized Metal Angle for this purpose because we come prepared to do it right.
Number 2 - The airspeed needs to be set at approximately 350 to 400 CFM per ton for air conditioning to work as it was designed to.
This is a very important step that is needed later when testing the level of “charge in your new system.
" Also, be sure to know the type of restrictor device your system has.
Is it a piston-type or a TXV (THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVE)? It is not unusual, on a service call, to see that an installer has left the furnace fan speed set in the factory position, which is usually too high and a good indication that the charge was never checked when the AC was installed.
There can be a more negative effect on piston-type systems if the airflow is too high or low.
Systems equipped with a TXV also need to have the “bulb” installed in the correct location and orientation.
So many times, when removing someone’s old system we see the bulb still sitting in the shipping location, which means it was never working right from day one.
Number 3 - With today’s systems running on R410a refrigerant, it is more important than ever to have inert gas such as NITROGEN flowing through the copper tubing.
This is used to move the refrigerant from the outside unit (condenser) through the inside unit (evaporator).
The reason for this is that oxides can occur from the brazing process, and they contaminate the new system before it even starts.
This result can result in poor performance and a short life span of your new air conditioner.
Number 4 - It is important to test your new system for leaks before starting it up for the first time.
This is a two-part process that we follow on every installation.
The first step in this process is to pressure test all the welded joints, and since we are using NITROGEN for brazing, we just leave it connected to your new system.
Then, we pressurize the evaporator and new copper line welds up to 200 PSI for a few minutes.
If there is a leak, it will show on the gauge, and you may even be able to hear it if it's big enough.
It's not uncommon to have a small leak at this time because sometimes the position of the joint is difficult to access.
So by using NITROGEN as a first step, the system can be pre-approved as leak-free.
Number 5 - The final step we take, for all new installations or on any repair calls, is to use a Micron gauge to prove that the new system is 100 percent leak-free.
We pull our vacuums down to 250 microns using a properly calibrated digital gauge.
You cannot pull a deep vacuum, such as this, with any kind of small leak or non-condensable in the lines.
Once we establish the deep vacuum, then and only then, do we release the refrigerant from the new AC condenser that comes with a factory charge, which is usually sufficient for installations.
The final part of the start-up process is to measure the charge to ensure it is within the manufacturers' specifications.
We use digital gauges, which measure all the important things needed to be certain the system is right on the money, such as using a superheat calculation for piston-type systems and sub-cooling for systems equipped with a TXV.
We usually end up either having to add a bit of refrigerant to the system or remove a bit of refrigerant depending on the length of the tubing or other variables to dial in the charge just right.
Sometimes it takes an extra bit of time but now you are ready to enjoy many years of trouble-free air conditioning to keep your home comfortable through the hottest days of the season.
We contacted TwinTech after having another ductless air-conditioning company come in to quote on a solution for our townhouse. We had a unique problem where my office was a hot spot - it's at the front of the unit and gets a lot of sun. If it's 20C outside, It's 29C in my office. The other company could not build a solution that would get a ductless unit to that room because of the location - the AC unit would have to be at the rear, and ductless systems would have to be on that side of the interior. TwinTech suggested a hybrid solution to fit our unique problem, where the ductless unit would move cold air to an air exchanger installed in our bedroom closet, and then they built a ducted vent system between all the upper rooms. This was less intrusive than building a central air system, and less expensive. Each room has a vent that I can close off, so I can push more cold air to my office when needed. We really didn't want ductless units sitting on the walls, and this looks and works better. I really appreciate the extra thought and care that went into the design of a solution, and the attention to detail in the installation. They answered all of our questions, and were able to do a bit extra by installing the ducts around the vents and painting them for us. It cost more than we originally planned for, due to our unique needs, but the fact that they offered financing helped us budget for more.
The job was done fast (I think we got lucky with timing where it wasn't the AC install busy season yet), and the team was very friendly and professional. They arrived and finished each day when they said they would. My office is now running at a comfortable temperature! I'm extremely happy with the experience and would whole heartedly recommend them.
How lucky are we to have this team come save us from our broken down, under sold, poorly installed previous unit (mind you there is a reason SEARS went bankrupt). Bob arrived on time to give us a detailed review of our unit and furnace; very knowledgeable. Greg arrived as planned with the new unit and reiterated what Bob explained how our furnace is equipped to handle the new unit and we didnt need to spend more money on a variable speed air conditioner. Cant say enough on how professional, efficient and personable this team is. Thank you so much guys!
We used Twintech for our replacement AC. Bob did a great job assessing what we needed and organized the install and showed up on install date. Greg and Mitch were on time and were very neat. They covered the traffic areas with a drop cloth and did an excellent install. Great clean up after install complete. Would recommend Twintech for heating and cooling.
They were fantastic, clean, freindly, great service. Would definitely recommend. Answered ally questions and more.
We woke up at about 7 a.m. the Sunday morning before Valentine's Day to a house that was barely 15 degrees Celsius on a really cold day. We tried to call some other suppliers but no answer or call back. We did a quick google search and Twintech came up. Had never dealt with them before. They had a chat line and lo & behold, someone answered; Greg. Helped us diagnose that our 40 year old furnace pilot light was out and walked us through how to relight it. All worked well; he even called me during this process. No charge I was told when asked.
15 minutes later, the pilot went out. It would not stay lit. Greg had Bob call us and we set up a meeting for about 11 a.m. that same Sunday.
Bob walked us through the options and even brought 3 electric space heaters for us to use. By Tuesday afternoon, we had a new Furnace and central air installed.
The team was helpful, responsive and respectful. Very glad we found them by accident and looking forward to a nice cool summer after a warm winter.
Thanks guys!
Dealing with Bob and the installation crew was a pleasure. They took the time to explain everything. What would benefit us the most and the price difference. They were in and out in a reasonable time frame and fit us in within a couple days of original meeting. Quality of work is excellent as well.
A pleasure dealing with Bob ,Spencer and Mitch . They are professional and they also observe the covid 19 precautions . Bob explained the whole process and got the new furnace up the next day . Highly recommend
Would like to thank TwinTech for their quick response to our furnace repair. We used TwinTech to install a new furnace and AC a few years
back. Our furnace started to have problems early in the evening of extremely cold night. Contacted TwinTech and they were able make a service call later that evening. They got the furnace going and came the next day to replace a part. The part was under warranty and there was
no charge for either service call!
We are extremely happy with their customer service and would highly recommend them.
Gary & Kelly
This is the second time we have had Twintech to our house. A couple of summers ago they were in for an issue with our air conditioning. This time it was our furnace having an issue. It was shutting off randomly and not coming back on. Greg came right away and took the time to investigate thoroughly and explain what was going with the furnace. Both times I have been thoroughly impressed with their speed, customer service, and quality of work. I HIGHLY recommend Twintech.
Extremely happy.
So we were in no rush to replace our old units and took the time to do some research and get a number of quotes.
Twintech came in at around the middle of the pack for price but what convinced us to go with them was Bob, the representative that came to our house. Bob was by far the most professional of all the reps that we met with. He took the time to explain everything, what would work best for us and why. He really did seem very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his stuff.
As promised on the day of install the crew showed up on time and got to work with minimal impact on us
..they were professional, clean, tidy and got the system up and running ahead of schedule...they made a couple of adjustments to the system to optimize it for our house.
The crew left the house clean and tidy.
Bob the rep showed up to check in and give us a few tips ..
It's been a week since install and all is good.
Our overall experience with Twintech has been excellent from start to finish and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
Thank u.
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Very pleased with the professional service that TwinTech Heating and Cooling provided in replacing my furnace. I got several quotes from different service providers. Their price was excellent and they explained the features very well. We are very glad we went with TwinTech and highly recommend their services.
We were new homeowners in need of a second opinion. TwinTech Heating & Cooling were Amazing and professional. Very knowledgeable and great service all around. Recommend to anyone looking for honest and reliable services. Treated with respect and care. Thank you Greg, Mitch and Bob!
TwinTech is an excellent and honest company! I called them for a second opinion after being told by another company that I needed to replace my furnace. Turns out this was not the case at all! I did not need a new furnace. TwinTech did not push to make an unnecessary sale and saved me from a huge expense. Bob and Mitch were extremely professional and above all honest! I definitely recommend TwinTech!
Amazing experience with TwinTech Heating & Cooling! Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and efficient from start to finish. They installed my new furnace quickly and left everything spotless. The technicians took the time to explain everything and made sure I was comfortable with the system before they left. Great customer service and fair pricing. I highly recommend them for anyone needing HVAC services!
Great experience all around. Bob was sharp and easy to talk to, and Greg handled the installation perfectly. Would hire them again in a heartbeat.
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