Category: Air Conditioning

If your air conditioner is no longer cooling down your home properly or has broken down, then you either need to repair it or have your HVAC replaced. But, it can be quite stressful to figure out which option to go with as it requires spending a lot of money. You might start to wonder whether it’s too early to buy a replacement. Is replacement your only choice? Is there any other option? Asking an HVAC repair professional for advice can help ease the process. However, a broken down or damaged air conditioning system is not the only condition in which you should consider getting a replacement. Changes in environmental regulations or technological advancements have brought a significant revolution in the HVAC industry. These changes might prompt you to upgrade your home’s or office’s AC system. Some might view it as an undesirable investment, so it’s best to consider several factors before making a final decision. Keep reading to find out what these factors are to help you make an informed choice in this matter.

The Age Of Your Air Conditioner

According to experts at the National Association Of Home Builders (NAHB), the average lifespan of a typical air conditioning system is usually around 10-15 years. Thus, the foremost thing you need to consider when choosing between repairing or investing in a replacement is the age of your AC system. For an air conditioning system that is more than 9 years old, it is highly unlikely that a repair will be enough to avert the problem or prevent it from recurring. You choose to have your system repaired if the issue at hand is an easy fix, for example, a dirty air filter, a clogged condenser coil, or a worn-out fan belt. You can hire a technician from HVAC contractors in Vancouver for advice as they have the right knowledge and experience to help determine if you need a replacement or repair by looking at your AC’s cooling ducts or the unit as a whole.

How Much Is Your AC’s R-22 Freon Usage

If your air conditioner is not cooling down your home or office effectively, chances are that you have a coolant leak issue at hand. To ensure that it works properly, you need an additional refrigerant such as R-22 or Freon. You may need to spend a huge sum of money if you are using R-22 Freon as a top-up refrigerant for your AC system. This expense is not included in the repair or maintenance or the costs that will pile up in the case of multiple service calls. In addition to this, there is a ban on the production, import, and use of Freon R-22 in many countries, including Canada, in a bid to contribute to environmental conservation. Although this restriction is appreciated by people from all walks of life, it has ultimately led to an increase in Freon costs. So, if you are using an AC that was installed more than 9 years ago, now is a great time to get an AC system replaced as your current one is using extra Freon. Switching to an air conditioning system manufactured to use non-ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons to adhere to the new, environmentally-friendly regulations is your best option. Another reason to make the switch is that the cost of leakage repair or compressor replacement can be very high especially with added refrigerant. The total cost of buying a new low-end AC system is usually lower than trying to perform these maintenance tasks. Hence, buying a replacement AC is a wise choice over trying to get your current one repaired.

Your AC Is Not Energy Efficient

The energy usage of an air conditioner is measured in SEER, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is the ratio of cooling output of your air conditioner to watt-hour energy consumption. A new air conditioner has a minimum rating of 13. If your AC has a lower SEER rating than this minimum value then it means that its operation costs you a lot of money. New air conditioning units are more energy-efficient, they not only save you from high utility bills but also reduce your carbon footprint. You must get a replacement for your AC system if its SEER rating is below 13.

Repair Costs Are High

Making a cost comparison between the repair and replacement of your air conditioning system is a good solution if you are finding it difficult to choose what option to go with. However, it is important that you remain mindful of the return on investment of replacement when comparing the cost of repair and replacement. A simple repair usually lasts a year or two before the issue recurs or a new one appears, whereas a new air conditioner will be an investment for the next 10 years or more. If the damage is small and easy to fix then get your AC repaired; otherwise, opting for a replacement will turn out to be an effective and efficient investment. Read: Air Conditioning Myths That Are Hogging Your Money

About Us

At Pro West, we offer expert services in the repair, installation, and maintenance of air conditioning, heating, hydronic, and humidifier systems to our residential and commercial customers in Vancouver and the lower mainland region. Contact us today for more information about our services.

Are you noticing a decline in the cooling efficiency of your HVAC system? It is most likely due to a refrigerant leak. This issue is most common in older air conditioning systems.

If your AC is indeed facing a refrigerant leak, the issue will most likely get worse. For those who don’t know or have never faced the situation before, refrigerant is the substance inside your air conditioner’s coils that does the job of removing heat from the air in your space.

Your air conditioning system does not “use up” refrigerant. This means if everything is correctly sealed the substance will stay in the system and will be constantly recirculated. However, sometimes holes and cracks develop in the coils that cause a refrigerant leak.

In this blog, we talk about why you should not ignore a refrigerant leak and what steps need to be taken to fix the issue.

Why Shouldn’t You Ignore an AC Refrigerant Leak?

Refrigerant is a crucial part of your air conditioner that ensures its smooth running. If you system has low refrigerant values and you are ignoring its maintenance, here are some of the issues you might face in the long run:

System Damage

If your system has low refrigerant levels, it will try to compensate for the loss of cooling by running longer. This will add undue pressure on the compressor and the system overall leading to damaged components and a damaged compressor. Know that compressor failure cannot be fixed in most cases and you will have to replace your AC.

Energy Consumption

To keep the house cool, the system will run longer. Due to long hours of the AC trying to run unsuccessfully, more energy will be consumed. As the temperature in your space increases, so will your electricity bills. Statistics show that there is a 20 percent rise in electricity consumption with a 10 percent drop in refrigerant volume due to a refrigerant leak.

Environmental damage

Refrigerants are dangerous chemicals that are proven to deplete the earth’s ozone layer. Moreover, breathing evaporated refrigerant can damage your lungs, and large amounts of refrigerant can cause skin burns.

This is why the handling and disposal of refrigerants are controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency. Hence, to ensure that all similar hazards are prevented, regularly maintain your HVAC system.

How To Fix A Refrigerant Leak Properly

Instead of adding more refrigerant to the system to get you through the rest of the summer, it is advised that you look for leaks in the system.

Adding more refrigerant is just a shortsighted solution. The substance will keep leaking and you will keep wasting money by replacing it. Moreover, it is advised to not use leak sealants. They can temporarily stop a small refrigerant leak. However, it will not last long.

To ensure that the issue is solved once and for all find and repair all the holes and the cracks in the coils. If there are too many, instead of using a sealant, replace the coil.

If you regularly maintain your AC or HVAC system, you will not face any refrigerant leak issues. Moreover, it is imperative that you don’t try to fix the issue at home. Call for professional help.

About Us

At Pro West, we offer expert services in the repair, installation, and maintenance of air conditioning, heating, hydronic, and humidifier systems to our residential and commercial customers in Vancouver and the lower mainland region. Contact us today for more information about our services.

You can’t ignore the importance of a good working air conditioner. An efficient cooling system is important to get through the summer heat and make yourself comfortable at home. The pandemic situation has forced people to stay at home most of the time. Therefore, maintaining an excellent cooling system has become more important than ever. For this, you need to maintain your cooling system and check in on it regularly to make sure it works well.

However, certain factors can affect your air conditioner’s capacity and its working efficiency. This blog post mentions those factors so you can take care of them and keep your AC in good condition.

Frequent Thermostat Setting Changes

Many people believe that setting their thermostat at the lowest level will keep it running for a long time. However, this will not speed up the process; rather it will take more time to cool a room to a colder temperature, and longer running can put pressure on the thermostat. The fact is that the frequent setting changes of air conditioners can affect their performance and reduce efficiency. Not to mention also increase your energy bills.

Similarly, setting your AC on a higher temperature setting can make your AC work harder and affect your AC. Try to set your AC at a reasonable temperature setting or use a programmable thermostat to conserve energy.

Age Of The Cooling System

Another factor that contributes to the inefficiency of your cooling system is its age. If your AC system is old and making weird noises or not giving enough air despite its maintenance, it may be time to change your cooling system. Good quality Air Conditioners can last for years till they no longer perform up to their mark. You can always call a professional technician to see if things will work well again after some replacements or maintenance, but usually, an older cooling system will need to be replaced as a whole.

Dirty Filters

When was the last time you cleaned your ACs filters? If it has been more than six months, it is time to clean them and wash them thoroughly to get rid of any dust and debris residing in it. AC filters can become clogged overtime with trapped dust and other particles. This can badly impact the efficiency of your AC system, limiting the amount of cool air you receive from it.

To avoid this, make sure to clean your AC every month in summer, so your AC doesn’t have to perform harder and can deliver healthy fresh air without affecting its efficiency.

Clogged Coils

Dirt can clog your coils and make them unable to perform their job. Coils are responsible for taking warm air out of your room and bringing in fresh air. When the coils are clogged, they have to perform harder, and thus consumes’ more electricity causing a spike in your bills. If you want your AC to function well, keep on checking the condition of your coils. Call a cooling system professional to come and check your AC coils or any other prevailing issues.

Lack Of Maintenance

Home appliances can be made to last longer by taking care of their maintenance, and your air conditioning system is one of them. If you don’t maintain it yourself or call your technician regularly to check for any problems, the chances are that these problems will turn into bigger issues that can demand costly repairs. Therefore, preventing such issues by opting for timely maintenance can increase your AC’s efficiency and keep it healthy for years.

About Pro West Heating & Air Conditioning

Pro West Heating & Air Conditioning is a reliable heating and air conditioner contractor in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. We help you maintain ideal comfort levels inside your home and offer various related services. You can contact us here for further guidance.

Summer is now in full swing. In Canada, temperatures can go up to 35 degrees Celsius in the early summer days. But that’s not the only worry of residents in Vancouver and surrounding areas as rainfall is becoming more frequent with humidity levels expected to reach 60 to 70 percent in the region. Weather conditions like these make it increasingly difficult for people to stay indoors, especially without an efficient AC system to keep them cool.

Therefore, installing a new AC system or repairing your old one is advised if you want to ensure a comfortable and cool summer season for yourself and your family. Good air conditioning in a residential or commercial building guarantees a relaxing and comfortable environment that positively affects your mental and physical health. It also helps reduce stress and increase your work productivity.

Read this post to learn about some essential considerations you must make before installing an AC system for your home or business.

Why Do You Need An AC System?

Air Conditioning has become an essential item for the well-being and comfort of people in any residential or commercial setting. Moreover, for people who are prone to certain health conditions such as blisters, rashes, or hives caused by high heat and humidity, cool air and a humid-free area are an absolute necessity.

Therefore, investing in the installation of a good-quality air conditioning unit is vital to create a more comfortable environment for all. However, purchasing a new air conditioner for your home or business requires more research and thought than you realize.

How Do You Know If You Are Making The Right Choice?

Choosing the right AC unit for your home and business is important to make sure your investment does not go in vain. To effectively combat the mid-year heat and rainy season’s humidity, you must select the right brand and model. Not doing thorough market research to understand all specifications of the model you are interested in buying and matching it with your needs is a big mistake a lot of people usually make.

One effective way to ensure that you are making the right purchase is by making a list of all accessible models and drawing a comparison between them. This might help you determine whether or not you are buying a framework that best fits your home or office.

Some Important Factors To Consider

Cost

Most people prefer buying an air conditioning system that fits their budget. However, before setting a budget, make sure you know what kind of air conditioning unit will fit the price. Reducing your budget too much will force you to make a compromise on the quality of the air conditioning system. This can be unwise as low-quality air conditioners usually do not work well for long before performance issues start occurring.

So the best way to ensure cost-saving without compromising on quality and other features is to invest in a well reputed air conditioning brand. It will help avoid repeated repair costs and bring down energy bills in the long run. You can contact a professional service to help you select the right air conditioning system that is both cost-effective and reliable for long-term use.

Duct System

It is important to make sure that your duct system is in good working condition before introducing a new AC system. If your duct system is old or inefficient, as much as 20 percent can leak into the environment. Therefore, to ensure that your cool air does not leak out ensure that all the joints are sealed properly.

Good ductwork is important for your AC framework since leaks can negatively impact its work efficiency and slow down the cooling process. If you already have a duct system installed, then you should clean it properly to restore it. Hire a professional HVAC installation service provider to inspect your ductwork and seals, and determine potential problems like biliary obstruction.

Air Quality

AC systems have predefined air quality requirements and specifications that are determined by HVAC manufacturers. It is imperative that you maintain this particular air quality within your home or office to make sure that these systems provide efficient and effective cooling. You can contact a professional AC installation company and ask them what the most suitable and cost-effective air quality control device is for your home or business.

About Us

At Pro West, we offer expert services in repairing, installation, and maintenance of air conditioning, heating, hydronic, and humidifier systems to our residential and commercial customers in Vancouver and the lower mainland region. Contact us today for more information about our services.

Although Air conditioning technology has been around for decades, there are certain myths that people still believe in without realizing that those practices are only hogging their money.

We have all been told to invest in the largest and most expensive air conditioning unit we can find. Moreover, on hot and humid days, we tend to lower the thermostat temperature to the minimum thinking it will bring the temperature down quickly.

On the contrary, Energy.gov advises residents of Canada to keep their house warmer than average when they are away and set the thermostat to 78°F only when they are at home and need to be kept cool.

Unfortunately, many air conditioning-related myths have been accepted as common knowledge. Hence, in this blog, we have broken down some common air conditioning myths.

Myth 1: A Bigger Air Conditioning Unit Is Better

Yes, the size of an air conditioning unit will majorly affect its performance. However, it is relative to the size of your house. If you live in a condo or a one-bedroom house, getting a larger air conditioner will do you no good. Rather buying it, maintaining it, and using it will be much more expensive.

Larger air conditioning units in smaller areas tend to cycle more frequently, leading to quickened wear and tear.

Myth 2: Lowering The Thermostat Will Cool Your Home Faster

This is one of the longest-lasting air conditioning myths. The truth is that cooling a room or an entire house will always take time. It will take its due time even if you set the thermostat at the lowest possible setting. Lowering the thermostat does not speed up the pace of the air conditioner. Air conditioners work equally as hard when you are trying to cool your home by one degree or 15 degrees. Hence, it is better to keep the thermostat at the temperature you want your house to be. Adjust your thermostat temperature according to your habits, preferences, and the temperature outside.

Note that, the closer the thermostat setting is to the outside temperature, the more you’ll save. However, for window units, things are slightly different.

Myth 3: Close Vents In The Rooms That Are Not Being Used

Most people believe that if they close the vents in rooms that are not being used, it will help save energy since the cold air will not be wasted. However, this will throw off the delicate balance of air distribution throughout your home meaning that the inside of your ducts will be cooled instead and the pressure in the ducts will build up forcing your air conditioner to work harder.

Myth 4: Don’t Replace Your Air Conditioner Till It Hits The Bucket

Although buying a new Air Conditioning unit will cost you some money at first, it will help you save much more in the long run. Older air conditioners use dated tech that has not been designed to conserve energy. On the contrary, newer models have higher efficiency that will save you more money than holding on to and operating an old one.

The heating and cooling systems being designed today are highly efficient and use less energy than systems built just 10 – 15 years ago.

Conclusion

To understand what air conditioning practices will help you save energy and money in the long run, consult a professional and reliable HVAC contractor. They will give you the best advice and will help you choose the right air conditioning unit for your needs.

About Us

At Pro West, we offer expert services in the repair, installation, and maintenance of air conditioning, heating, hydronic, and humidifier systems to our residential and commercial customers in Vancouver and the lower mainland region. Contact us today for more information about our services.