What New Homeowners Should Know About Their AC System
As you move into your new home, everything that comes with it becomes a responsibility and concern. One of the biggest and most important of these responsibilities is your central air system. There’s a lot new homeowners should know about their AC system, and we’re here to share it with you.
For all first-time homeowners, concerns about their air conditioning system should be a top priority because the quality of air conditioning and its safety contributes to overall home comfort. Specifically, there are five large areas to cover when evaluating your new home’s air conditioning system.
1. Is the AC system the right size for your home?
This is a primary concern for many homeowners because more often than not, the size of the AC system is incorrect. Because it is common to install an over-sized system without proper calculations, it compromises energy-efficiency and system longevity.
Many people believe that a bigger AC system is better, cutting down on utility costs and amplifying AC quality, but this is untrue.
An AC system that is either too small or too big causes system problems for different reasons. When your AC system is too small for your home, it works longer at a higher power, causing it to overwork in order to cool the home to the desired temperature. When your AC system is too large, it short cycles.
Larger AC systems quickly cool the home because it is designed to cover a larger amount of space. But because the home reaches its desired temperature much faster, the system turns off. When the home temperature rises again, the system turns on, blasting too much cold air at once, then turns off again.
This is the process called short-cycling and it is harmful to the health of the condensing unit. Just as it is unhealthy for any engine to continually turn on and off, if your air conditioning system is too large for your home, performance quality will fade as the system equipment degrades, resulting in higher utility costs.
To see if your air conditioner is a good fit for your home, have your preferred HVAC technician visit for a proper calculation.
2. Has the AC system been properly maintained?
A properly maintained AC system is important to the health of your home and the quality of indoor air.
Evaluate the cleanliness of key equipment pieces such as:
- Air filter
- Evaporator coils
- Air ducts
- Air vents
- Drip pans
- Condensate pump
- Condenser Coil
- Blower Fan
- System Refrigerant
Because your home’s air supply runs through the central air system, the health and sanitation of its parts contributes to the cleanliness of the air you breathe when the AC system is running.
Regular system maintenance is encouraged to ensure the elimination of leaks, holes and other conditions that lessen performance and air qualities.
3. How efficient is the AC system?
If you know how efficient your AC system is, you’ll know how to better use it. Generally, older models most likely lack the efficiency of newer models.
Because less efficient AC systems expend more energy than preferred, homeowners usually have less flexibility in choosing when to turn on the air conditioning.
For highly efficient AC systems, you are free to use it whenever you would like.
If you determine your central air system is far too inefficient and are seeking to replace it with a newer model, contact one of the friendly representatives at Service Champions’ call center to have a trained technician visit your home for an evaluation. He can help you determine the proper AC size for your home. Since each model is buildable, he also works with you to design it to meet your family’s lifestyle preferences.
4. What is the warranty on the AC system?
Finding out if your AC system has a warranty is important when it is in need of repairs or replacements. Knowing if your AC system has a warranty early on also makes it simpler to schedule part replacements when they are needed and with whom.
For most cases, when homes are sold the warranty on the central air system is voided. To determine whether this is the case for your air conditioner, you can find the model and serial number of your unit and contact one of our technicians to assist you in calling the manufacturer and make the repair or replacement.
5. What is the condition of the duct system?
The air duct system is the method by which conditioned air is delivered to each room of the home. Because it is the only method of delivery, its condition has much to do with the air you receive and breathe. Clean and healthy ducts result in clean and healthy indoor air. Dirty and leaky ducts mean airborne contaminants fill the indoor air supply from the outside in.
Work with your preferred HVAC technician to determine if your air ducts are in good shape.
Some questions to consider include:
- Are there holes or leaks in the duct system?
- Are they clean or filled with dust and contaminants?
- Of what material are they made?
Older ducts may be made of asbestos which can be dangerous when they begin to fray and release fibers into the air stream.
Service Champions offers a full duct inspection to ensure cleanliness, health and function. Other options to eliminate the entry of external contaminants include duct sealing.
The Perfect Way to Air Conditioning
Service Champions Plumbing, Heating & AC has worked with thousands of California families to bring the absolute best in air products and services. Through exceptional customer service and expert technical care, Service Champions has become the only Diamond Certified heating and air conditioning provider for Orange and Los Angeles Counties. If there is anything else new homeowners should know about their AC system, we’re here to answer your questions.
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