Buying Air Conditioning for Dummies - Part 2

Recap from the last article - Here are the six components of your Air Conditioning System.

(1) Outdoor air cooled condenser or heat pump.
(2) Indoor evaporator coil, this device works in conjunction with the outdoor unit.
(3) Freon piping system connecting the outdoor condenser to the indoor evaporator.
(4) Indoor air handler (electric heat) or furnace (gas heat). They are the heating module and contain the blower providing the airflow for both heating and cooling.
(5) Air distribution system which consists of the ductwork, grilles and register.
(6) Air filtering or clean air component, i.e. whole house air purification system.

And So we Continue...

I should mention at this time, your HVAC system is most likely the largest energy consuming appliance in your home and competes with the automobile in producing pollutants that may have an adverse impact on our environment. The pollution is not seeping directly form your system but from the power plant producing the electricity for your AC unit. Finally, I would like for you to realize this acquisition for your home will be with you for a decade or more, so proceed with caution as all air conditioning units, furnaces or the installing contractors are NOT created equal and the decision you are about to make will be long lasting.   

HVAC systems are purchased from and installed by heating and air conditioning contractors and the contractor is required by law to have a State License.  The State requires the contractor to maintain liability insurance and display their Name and License number on all trucks/vehicles in use of service or installing HVAC systems.

You will be buying your new HVAC system from a local installing contractor who will recommend an air conditioner and furnace unit brand such as Carrier, Trane, Lennox or a number of generic brands.  You might ask why some contractors recommend one brand over the other, well that’s simple, it is called dealerships. Just like the automobile industry the Ford dealer must meet Fords strict qualifications and most likely doesn’t sell Toyota who has its own specialized dealers and is a direct competitor. So most established HVAC contractors are a dealer of a premium brand, meaning they meet the requirements and training of the equipment manufacturer so, obviously that is the brand they will recommend. Some of these contractors will offer a premium brand with a generic offer for a lower price and promote it as being as good as the premium; the old bait and switch. The largest groupings of service contractors are the one or two men operations.  There is more small operators than large companies and they will recommend the generic brands because they don’t meet the major brands rigid qualifications. So, think on this for a while, and we will venture into the most important part next time.

For any queries or questions please contact Chapman Air Conditioning or call us at 214-340-4999