What Does “Tonnage” Mean for an Air Conditioner?

July 10th, 2017

outdoor-condenser-units-ACThe world of HVAC has a set of terms that often sound bizarre to people who aren’t professionally trained. This is true of any technical field, and part of our job is breaking down details of air conditioning, heating, and ventilation in ways that make sense to laypeople. We want to maintain good communications with our customers and keep them informed every step of the way.

One bit of HVAC lingo that people find hard to understand is tonnage. This is a vital part of new air conditioning installation and replacement. Although you can always trust to our experts to do the best job of air conditioning installation so you end up with the ideal new AC, we’d like to share a bit about what tonnage means and how it fits into the installation process.

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How a Dirty Evaporator Coil Affects Your Air Conditioner

June 26th, 2017

Air-conditioner-repairmanWhere does the actual “cooling” in an air conditioner occur? It happens along the surface and fins of the evaporator coil, located in the indoor cabinet of the air conditioner—which is also known as the (surprise) evaporator. Warm air drawn through the return air ducts by a blower fan passed over the coil, and the cold refrigerant moving through the coil evaporates. This draws heat from the air (as well as moisture), lowering the temperature of the air. The air continues into the ventilation system and then to the various rooms around the house.

It’s important for an the evaporator coil and fins to have a clean surface. During regular air conditioning maintenance, HVAC technicians always make a check of the coil and fins to see if they are developing dirt and grime across their surfaces. If they are, the technicians clean off the dirt so the air conditioner will work at its best during the summer.

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We Recommend Wi-Fi Thermostats—But Here’s Something You Need to Know

June 12th, 2017

remote-home-controlsIn a post we wrote at the beginning of the year, we talked about why we recommend having a Wi-Fi thermostat installed for your home’s comfort controls. Here’s a quick rundown:

  • Wi-Fi thermostats help you save energy by allowing you to control the your home’s climate remotely from anywhere you have Internet or satellite access with a smart phone, laptop computer, desktop computer, or tablet.
  • The smart capabilities of Wi-Fi thermostats improve upon your own settings to find new ways to save energy. You don’t have to do the work—the thermostat will take care of it.

When you’re planning to have a new HVAC system installed, there’s no reason not to have a Wi-Fi thermostat included as part of the installation. You want to receive the best performance from any new comfort system, and including the best type of thermostat will help see you get that best performance.

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3 Major Myths about Air Conditioning We’d Like to Debunk

May 29th, 2017

spinning-ac-fanWe love the Internet! It’s the best way for us to reach customers and let them know the services we can provide for them. We bet you love the Internet as well, since it puts information and services at your fingertips in a way never possible before.

But there are also those times when we all sort of hate the Internet. If you’re an HVAC contractor, one of your pet peeves about the web is how easily it spreads bad information about air conditioning and heating systems through DIY blogs and amateur websites without credentials. This has kept a number of old air conditioning myths alive that should’ve been buried a long time ago.

We’re here to try to put to rest 3 of the biggest myths we still hear and read about. Knowing the truth will help you better care for your AC, as well as let you know when it’s time to contact us for air conditioning service in Bossier City, LA and throughout the Shreveport area.

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Summer Humidity vs. Your Air Conditioner

May 15th, 2017

air-conditioning-condensers-on-risersIn our last blog post, we looked at the ways summer heat puts strain on your air conditioner and how this leads to needing to call us for repairs.

But as you know as a resident of Louisiana, heat is only half the story during summer. The other half: HUMIDITY. The scary eight letters! Our air conditioning systems in Shreveport, LA face special challenges because the moisture in the air is especially high. This not only means needing to run air conditioners for longer (putting more strain on their components), it also means the moisture causing wear to the AC.

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How Summers Strain Your Air Conditioner

May 1st, 2017

Air-conditioner-maintenance-technicianDuring spring is when we encourage our customers, as well as our soon-to-be customers, to arrange for regular professional air conditioning maintenance with our team. A maintenance visit from one of our skilled technicians will find any spots where an AC needs to have repairs or adjustments, as well as provide a general cleaning and tune-up to alleviate wear and tear on the system so it performs at peak efficiency through the summer. A well-maintained AC should few malfunctions over its service life.

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A Dehumidifier and Your Indoor Air Quality

April 17th, 2017

woman-in-front-of-fanHow humid can it get here in Louisiana during the spring and summer? If you’ve already lived her for at least a single year, you know the answer is incredibly humid. The average daily high for humidity through most of the year is 90%, and it’s rare to dip below 50%. Humidity tends to reach its peak in October, but we don’t receive anything like a break from it during the summer. This is why having a dehumidifier installed in a home is so helpful.

But a dehumidifier—or at least a powerful and professionally installed whole-house dehumidifier—has some other uses as well. It can lead to improved indoor air quality for a household, as well protection for building material and personal possessions.

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Air Conditioner Efficiencies: A Short Guide

April 3rd, 2017

money-saving-homeTwo weeks ago, we took a look at making plans to have a new air conditioning system installed in your home. Spring is a great time to have this done, and when you contact our technicians regarding it, you’ll soon be on your way to enjoying an excellent new AC in your home.

In today’s post, we’re going to look at specific piece of information about new air conditioning systems that’s essential for ensuring you end up with the ideal new unit: efficiency. This is a complex topic and requires the know-how of professionals. But a bit of knowledge is always helpful for consumers, so here is a simple explanation of the efficiency ratings for modern air conditioners.

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Planning for a New Air Conditioning Installation This Spring

March 20th, 2017

air-conditioning-grillSpring is the best time of year to make major plans for your home cooling system. If your current air conditioner is too old or has shown signs that it’s likely to fail during the coming summer, it’s a smart idea to have the replacement done ahead of time, during the moderate warmth of spring, rather than wait for the summer when you can’t afford to go for long without a working AC. It’s always better to replace an air conditioning system before it breaks down and forces you to replace it.

We handle many air conditioning replacements in Shreveport, LA. We’d like to share some of our knowledge about putting in a new air conditioner to make the process easier for you. If you have further questions, don’t hesitate to contact one of our air conditioning professionals. We’re always glad to help.

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Is It Too Early to Think about Air Conditioning Maintenance?

March 6th, 2017

sun-and-snowflake-badgeIt’s March, and March means the start of spring… although not until later in the month. But we are already experiencing hotter weather here in the Shreveport area. The temperatures can go through major shifts during March, a month that is proverbially known for its unpredictability. (Does it enter like a lion and leave like a lamb, or is it the other way around?) You may still need your heating system in the coming weeks, but if you’re wondering if it’s time to consider scheduling air conditioning maintenance, the answer is a big “yes.”

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