Bullhead City Air Conditioning, Fort Mohave
Air Conditioning,
Mohave Valley Air Conditioning, Golden Shores Air Conditioning
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I
contact for air conditioning and heating products and service?
For questions concerning new products, energy efficiency
ratings, savings on your utility bills, or repair or replacement services, call
our office at Horizon Air Conditioning of Arizona,
Inc. We can answer all of your heating and
cooling questions.
How often should
filters be cleaned or replaced?
Typically, filters should be cleaned or replaced once a month. Some units are
equipped with permanent filters. They can be cleaned according to the
instructions supplied by the equipment manufacturer. Disposable filters should
be replaced with filters of the same type and size as the original filter.
Disposable filters for Bullhead City air conditioning needs are easily obtained
at most hardware stores.
What do rating
numbers mean?
The U.S. government requires an efficiency rating of all air conditioning and
heating equipment. The rating reflects the percentage of energy used
efficiently, with a high rating indicating high-efficiency. The next two topics
address this issue in greater detail.
What is a SEER?
There are special names for the efficiency ratings of various types of
equipment. Air conditioning equipment is rated by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency
Rating, or SEER. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit.
What does
HSPF stand for?
There are special names for the efficiency ratings of varying types of
equipment. Heat pump equipment in the heating mode is rated by the Heating
Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF. The higher the HSPF rating, the more
efficient the unit.
Should outdoor
units be covered in winter?
No. Heat pumps operate year-round and should never be covered. Similarly,
air conditioners that operate seasonally are built to withstand an outdoor
environment and need not be covered. However, due to the sandy environment, it
is recommended you have a Spring Service annually, especially if the outdoor
unit sits on the ground. Call Horizon Air Conditioning
of Arizona, Inc., if you have any questions.
Should a
thermostat be set to "auto" or "'on"?
Preferably "auto". That way, the fan operates only when the temperature
requires it. (This is the most used and the most efficient setting.) There are
advantages to using the "on" setting. Air is constantly filtered through the
unit's air filter and the constantly circulating air results in an even
temperature throughout the house. Bullhead City air conditioning is virtually
required due to the heat of our summers. Keeping the thermostat on "auto" will
help to ensure that your desired temperature is constant.
Can shrubs
or flowers be planted around an outdoor unit?
Yes. However, we recommend that plants be no closer than 18 inches to
the unit. This allows for plenty of room for air circulation in and out of the
unit. Without this room for air circulation, the unit could overheat, resulting
in a premature need for service.
If an
outdoor unit needs replacing, should the indoor unit be replaced too?
Yes. Air conditioning and heating units are designed to operate as a
complete, matched system. The efficiency rating is based on the entire system.
Replacing the entire system ensures the system will be reliable and efficient.
At
Horizon Air Conditioning of Arizona,
Inc., you can save money on the cost of
a new indoor coil by having it replaced at the same time you replace the outdoor
unit.
How do I
know what size unit our house needs?
Many factors are considered before making a recommendation. Factors like …
size of the house, type of home (manufactured or site-built), age of home,
climate, the number and type of windows installed, insulation, and even the
number of people living in the house. Contact
Horizon Air Conditioning of Arizona,
Inc., to help you determine
the size unit your home will need.
Why should I
replace my existing heating or air conditioning system?
You may wish to consider
replacing your air conditioning or heating system if it is old, inefficient or
in need of frequent or costly repair. Today's systems are as much as 60% more efficient than those
systems manufactured as little as 10 years ago. In addition, if not properly
maintained, wear and tear on a system can reduce the actual or realized
efficiency of the system. If you are concerned about utility bills or are faced
with an expensive repair, you may want to consider replacing your system rather
than enduring another costly season or paying to replace an expensive component.
The utility cost savings of a new unit may provide an attractive return on your
investment. If you plan on financing the purchase, the monthly savings on your
utility bill should be considered when determining the actual monthly cost of
replacing a system. The offsetting savings may permit you to purchase a more
efficient system. The experts at
Horizon Air Conditioning of Arizona,
Inc., can assist you with any questions you
may have regarding size, efficiency ratings and prices.
What is involved
in the change out of an old system?
Beside the placement of
the new equipment,
Horizon Air Conditioning of Arizona,
Inc.,, will inspect several items and make
a determination of whether or not these items need to be replaced. Some of the
items to be inspected and possibly replaced include, but are not limited to, the
ductwork, the insulation, the refrigerant piping, the electrical service,
wiring, thermostat, condensate piping, flue piping, flue terminations, chimney
liner, slabs, filter, driers, registers, grills, drain pans and evaporator coil.
What is involved
with the installation of a new system?
If a system is being
added to the home for the first time, most of the items noted in the previous
answer may be required to install the new system. Besides the equipment, the
most significant other component will be the ductwork. The ductwork can be
either metal or fiberglass type ductwork. The ductwork needs to be properly
sized to deliver the right amount of air to each room. The ductwork consists of
supply and return ductwork. The supply duct is attached to the outlet of the
furnace or air handler and delivers air to individual zones in your home.
Horizon Air Conditioning of Arizona,
Inc.,
will determine the size of the ductwork going into a space by the amount of air
that needs to be delivered to the space. The return ductwork attaches to the
inlet of the air handler or furnace and draws the air to be conditioned from the
space. The filter, which is in the return air ductwork, needs to be placed as
close to the furnace or air handler as possible.
Should I change my indoor
coil?
When replacing your air
conditioner or heat pump the answer is most likely yes. The efficiency ratings
that are advertised for the air conditioner or heat pump are based off the
performance as part of a matched system. If only the outdoor portion is changed
the efficiency and savings could be less than that of a matched system.
Where is my air
handler / furnace located?
It depends on the
application. The furnace or air handler could be in the basement for an up-flow
application, your attic for a horizontal application or in a utility or garage
area for either an up-flow or down-flow application. You may also have a
self-contained, or package unit, in which case the indoor and outdoor unit have
been combined into one package and mounted outside on a slab or on the rooftop.
How long should
my unit last?
If you perform the
recommended maintenance and service suggested for your unit, industry averages
suggest that an air conditioner should last 12-15 years and a gas furnace should
last as many as 20 or 25 years. These ages may vary, depending how often the
system is used, how many in the household, whether the unit or units have been
regularly serviced and personal comfort levels.
Contact us at
info@horizonheating.com
Copyright © 2002 [Horizon Heating & A/C]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 09/19/05.
