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The Essential Guide to Air Conditioner Home Ownership
Owning an air conditioner is not just about enjoying cool, comfortable air during the sweltering summer months—it's about ensuring your unit runs efficiently, lasts longer, and provides value for your investment. Whether you're a new homeowner or you've had an AC unit for years, understanding the essentials of air conditioner home ownership is crucial. In this guide, we’ll cover the key aspects you need to consider to keep your air conditioning system in top shape.
The journey of air conditioner ownership starts with selecting the right unit. When choosing an AC system, consider the following:
Size and Capacity: An undersized unit will struggle to cool your home, leading to higher energy bills and faster wear and tear. On the other hand, an oversized unit may cool too quickly without properly dehumidifying the air. Ensure your unit is correctly sized for your home’s square footage and layout.
Energy Efficiency: Look for units with a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy-efficient the unit, which means lower energy bills in the long run.
Type of AC System: Central air conditioning systems, ductless mini-splits, and window units each have their pros and cons. Choose the one that fits your home's needs, budget, and existing infrastructure.
Routine maintenance is the backbone of air conditioner home ownership. Regular maintenance not only extends the lifespan of your unit but also ensures it runs efficiently. Here are the main tasks you should prioritize:
Filter Replacement: Replace or clean your air filters every 1-3 months, depending on usage. Clogged filters reduce efficiency and strain the system.
Annual Professional Tune-Up: Schedule a professional HVAC technician to inspect and tune up your system once a year. They’ll check refrigerant levels, clean coils, and ensure all components are working correctly.
Clean the Coils and Fins: Dirt and debris can accumulate on the condenser coils and fins, reducing efficiency. Gently clean these parts with a soft brush or a vacuum with a brush attachment.
Your thermostat plays a vital role in how your air conditioner operates. To maximize efficiency:
Set It to the Right Temperature: The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78°F when you're home and higher when you're away. This helps reduce energy consumption without sacrificing comfort.
Utilize Programmable Thermostats: Invest in a programmable or smart thermostat that can automatically adjust the temperature based on your schedule. This feature can significantly reduce your energy bills.
Regularly Calibrate Your Thermostat: Ensure your thermostat is calibrated correctly to avoid inaccurate readings, which can lead to your system working harder than necessary.
Even with regular maintenance, there comes a time when you need to decide whether to repair or replace your air conditioner. Consider these factors:
Age of the Unit: Most air conditioners last between 10 to 15 years. If your unit is nearing the end of its lifespan and requires frequent repairs, it may be more cost-effective to replace it with a newer, more efficient model.
Repair Costs: If the cost of repairs is more than 50% of the price of a new unit, replacement is usually the better option.
Energy Efficiency: Newer models are often more energy-efficient. Upgrading to a newer model can reduce your energy bills and improve your home's comfort.
Proper airflow and insulation are crucial for your air conditioner’s performance. Here’s how to optimize them:
Seal Leaks: Check for and seal any air leaks around doors, windows, and ductwork to prevent cool air from escaping and warm air from entering your home.
Insulate Your Home: Proper insulation in your walls, attic, and floors can reduce the load on your air conditioner, making it easier for your system to maintain a consistent temperature.
Clear Vents and Registers: Ensure that furniture, curtains, and other objects do not block vents and registers, allowing for proper airflow throughout your home.
If you live in an area with cold winters, you might not use your air conditioner for several months. Properly preparing your unit for off-season storage can prevent damage and ensure it’s ready to go when the warm weather returns:
Cover the Outdoor Unit: Protect the outdoor unit with a weatherproof cover to prevent debris, snow, and ice from accumulating on it.
Turn Off the Power: Turn off the power to the outdoor unit to prevent it from accidentally turning on during the winter.
Inspect the Unit in Spring: Before turning your air conditioner back on in the spring, inspect it for any damage and clean it thoroughly.
As an air conditioner owner, saving energy should be a priority. Here are some simple tips to reduce your energy consumption:
Use Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans can help circulate cool air, allowing you to raise the thermostat by a few degrees without sacrificing comfort.
Close Curtains and Blinds: Keep curtains and blinds closed during the hottest parts of the day to block out the sun’s heat.
Limit Heat-Generating Activities: Avoid using ovens, stoves, and other heat-generating appliances during the hottest parts of the day to reduce the load on your air conditioner.
Proper air conditioner home ownership is about more than just enjoying cool air; it’s about ensuring your unit runs efficiently, lasts longer, and helps you save money. By choosing the right system, maintaining it regularly, optimizing airflow, and adopting energy-saving habits, you can enjoy the benefits of your air conditioner for years to come.
Investing time and effort into these practices will not only enhance your comfort but also increase the longevity and efficiency of your air conditioning system. Stay cool and take care of your AC—it’s an essential part of your home’s comfort and value.
Thanks to the guys at Twintech Heating for a great job installing a new hot water tank. They set a time and day to remove the old tank and install the new one. They were on time and had the work done quickly and cleaned up after they were finished. Excellent work and great value.
In November, we contacted Twintech for a quote on a high efficiency furnace plus installation. Dave, the sales representative for the company was very friendly and informative. Upon arrival at our home, he willingly showed us his company licenses, clearly explained the operation of a high efficiency furnace and answered all our questions to our satisfaction. As well, Dave was the only sales representative that we contacted that was willing to make the arrangements for an energy audit. For us, this was a big plus as we found the government rebate program somewhat confusing to navigate. The furnace was installed on the date that was arranged in an efficient and professional manner by Greg (the owner) and Peter. Both men worked diligently, throughout a long day to complete the job and upon finishing, left the job site immaculate. When a neighbour raised concerns about the furnace venting location, Greg located an alternative location and resolved the situation with diplomacy. We chose the Napoleon furnace for its excellent warrant;y on the heat exchanger and because it was made in Canada! In addition, to the furnace warranty, Twintech offered us a 5 year warranty on labour which speaks to the quality and pride this team has in their workmanship. It has been over a month now (with some of the coldest January days on record) since we have had the furnace installed. The furnace runs quietly and distributes heat more evenly throughout our 90 year old Toronto home. We can't speak highly enough of the Twintech team and are very satisfied with their workmanship and job ethics. We have no hesitation about recommending them.
What more could you ask for! Grant and Greg Dainty provided a professional,diligent and thorough approach to the installation of my furnace. I would highly recommend there services.
Last week our Furnace failed overnight. We called Twintech to help us get it running again. They did a really thorough check on it, and got it running in less than an hour. Given that it was an old Furnace (+20 years old), we were giving two options: repair it or replace it. Instead of doing a repair on it that could break in a week or two, they recommended us to change it. I like that they were honest on the recommendation, not forcing a new furnace on us. At the end we went with a new Furnace. Twintech solutions service & salesman gave us recommendation on the size of the unit and many options that could work for our home. They ended up doing an excellent work in our furnace, replacing the filter to a better option and replacing some pieces that had water damage. They cleaned after themselves and leave everything even better than what they found. They even went far and beyond tiding up the hose connections that we had on the basement.
I am in the process of finishing my basement and wanted to make sure I got the low hanging duct work fixed in advance. After reviewing 5 quotes I selected Twintech to award the contract to. The price was competitive however what won me over was Grant's (co-owner) attention to detail and his ability to focus on what my goals and priorities were for the project. His team completed the job over 3 days as there was significant duct work changes and the relocation of all of the equipment. They also completed the job with little downtime so we weren't left overnight without heat during freezing winter temperatures.
My father woke up to no heat one Saturday morning. We had a few names that friends had recommended but while checking out the companies' ratings on HomeStars, we found Twintech with great ratings too. The other companies either didn't get back to us or didn't have time to come at such short notice. TwinTech made the time in their schedule for what they judged to be an emergency: no heat in the home of an elderly person. At no extra fee for a short notice, weekend visit. They recommended an upgraded furnace unit and explained that we would qualify for a rebate that would bring the price down to that of a lower model. They set us up with the rep from the MNR that covers the rebate so that we didn't have to deal with the paperwork & phone calls ourselves. Installation was quick, efficient, & smooth. We were so pleased with their service we ordered a new water heater too. Both are working great (efficient & quiet!) & my father is safe & comfortable. We can't say enough about how pleased we are with their service. We have already recommended them to others.
Twintech Heating & Cooling. I just want to say thanks for helping me . My Furnace stopped working. And l phone Dave Getgley he set me up with Greg. What an amazing team they did a great job in setting me up with a new Furnace. Anyone that needed a new Furnace these are the guys to call. Thanks again for a job well done.
Our home has had poor heating and air conditioning the past couple of years. Dave recommended a Goodman solution with more power than we had. Grant and Greg installed the units in late November. Heating is better than ever. We have a warm home again and look forward to the winter. Can't wait to see how the AC runs in 2018. Job was super clean and professionally done. Highly recommended.
Received a new range and needed someone to disconnect the old range and connect the new gas range. They did a thorough job and were kind enough to remove the old range from the house. Thank you!
Very satisfied with this company! Salesperson Dave was very good, very knowledgeable and gave me the impression that he wanted to sell me what I needed rather than what would put the most money in the company's pocket. He also called back after the installation to see if I was satisfied with the result. The installation crew of Greg, Grant and Peter did a great job. They arrived on time, completed the job quickly, answered all my questions and thoroughly cleaned up. They told me to call if I had any further questions. They left me with the impression that they really cared about their work and my satisfaction and that it wasn't " just a job". Prior to researching for a new furnace, I had never heard of this company but I'm glad that I did and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a new furnace or air conditioning unit. They may be small but they do a great job!!
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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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