Austin Air Companie Blog

Air Conditioning Problems

August 3rd, 2016

Nothing can make the alarm bells go off in your head more than AC problems in the summer time. Just the mere thought of this will probably gives you chills clear to your spine. Even worse is if you just recently had an AC repair and you live in Katy, Texas where the heat is enough to make you wilt after viewing the weather forecast.

If you are a home owner living in or near Katy, Texas area with air conditioning problems this blog is for you. You have found the right place. I am a Licensed HVAC contractor. It’s important that I describe who I am so you can understand the difference from what my company provides as opposed to most of my competitors. Unfortunately not all HVAC companies are created equal. This might be why you are here anyway.

I am what is known as a ‘working’ Licensed HVAC contractor. This difference is that I don’t use AC technicians, sub contractors or even installers. I do all of the work myself. The benefit from using one person is that the person that services, repairs and installs knows your system better than having multiple service people repairing or replacing your system. This will typically give you far less hassles, better service and less down time.

This is what it’s all about right? Convenient, easy, dependable, professional service when you need it.

Home Air Conditioning Mechanic

You see, I am a unique victim of the financial crisis that hit U.S. shores over a half decade ago. I started my HVAC company during this time and in many cases what I have done is to go against the grain rather than with it, some may call this ‘disruptive’ because I have found that by doing things right and doing them well by myself, I can deliver a much greater longer lasting product when you decide to have me install a new HVAC system. Without me in the equation your odds are probably close to 40% success rate.

Certainly, I also repair many AC systems too, but if the system is old and has had many people working on it over the years you have to be realistic in that they don’t last forever. From a national average standpoint the average life of an AC system is 15 years.

Now just because your system may be this old or older doesn’t always mean you are forced to replace it. After I inspect your system I can give you recommendations and then you can decide what you want to do from there. In some cases a repair may be all you need, but this has to be assessed in person. I am not here to play guessing games.

From those looking at my HVAC Company from the outside in, even professionals with in the industry view this as impossible for one man to do everything up to and including new system installations. What can I say? I have a lot of trade secrets that I have developed over the years and I am extremely efficient at what I do and in many cases I run circles around my competition due to this fact.

Am I perfect? No, I’m human like anyone else. My failure rates typically hover in a range of 2-3% on equipment that I’ve installed myself. Failure rates on repairs can be higher but older equipment doesn’t last forever so you can’t really count that with a straight face. I only deal in reality, not fantasies and fairy tales. The failure rates I talk about above are failures within the warranty period of the equipment that I have installed myself.

From a normal run of the mill HVAC company perspective they strive for failure rates of no more than 25%. So in other words, if you’re not using me as your HVAC service provider your HVAC equipment failure rate could be 8 times higher or worse! These HVAC companies deem this standard failure rate as ‘ACCEPTABLE’! Say what?

AC Repair

In Katy, Texas during the summer there is really no job I do more than repairing AC systems. Pretty much any age, any brand and repairs ranging from electrical problems like breaker keeps tripping to compressor will not start or AC is blowing hot air, low cooling or no cooling. In some cases I have found some of these problems related to poor HVAC maintenance services.

AC Services that you paid for earlier in the year to get your AC checked or tuned up. You have to realize that if the AC maintenance is not done properly it makes not one bit of difference how much you paid to have it done. Most of these AC technicians doing this kind of work may not be as skilled as you think they are.

Certainly there are good reputable AC technicians out there. I was one of them at one point in my illustrious HVAC career, but the odds that you will get a good one are unfortunately quite slim.

Professional Air Conditioning Services

I’ve simply eliminated the fuss and the cuss using a few old wives sayings and applying these sayings to my business model. Maybe you can relate to these…

1. Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth.

2. Be original in all you do, if you’re any good some will try to copy you.

3. Lucky for you that you can only be you and no one else. (secret sauce!)

Just so you know it is me writing this (Ray Austin), the one who will actually come to your house to fix your AC or replace your HVAC system. You are in good hands, I have been doing this for 21 years as of 2016. So you might be asking yourself how do I do it? Work ethic. In America with hard work and dedication nothing is impossible. If you don’t think Air Conditioning is hard work then I am probably not the HVAC provider you are looking for. I am not running a scam operation here. I use my own name as the name of my company. I only have one last name. Why would I work as hard as I do at something only to destroy it with half truths or bold faced lies?

I’m well aware you are on the internet and so reading isn’t always believing… this is why I go to the extent I go to. To do my best to prove it to you before you even pick up the phone to call me. To my knowledge, you simply will not get this kind of dedication in any competitor of mine. Subscribe to my You Tube Channel here.

Free Air Conditioning Gimmicks

Did you fall for that special word free — Did your eyes light up? We’re humans and consumers rolled into one. But when you go to work do you tell your boss at the end of the week that this week is on you and you’re going to give him your hard efforts for nothing in return?

The HVAC industry is built on gimmicks. These gimmicks are used to make the phone ring. But did you know that a free call to an HVAC company is really code word for “Please send me a salesman.”???

An air conditioner replacement is something you will be lucky to do 3 times in your life time if you are lucky. If you are unlucky you may do it double that number of times. Many people don’t realize the complexity involved in today’s residential HVAC service industry. Let alone the problem of finding a AC contractor that actually knows what they are doing.

A salesmen call is a call in which someone comes to your home to do one thing. To sell you something, they will sugar coat everything, they may tell you your current unit is undersized for the home. How will you know anything different?

In some cases you won’t even realize the HVAC company sent you a salesman. The easiest way to know is if there is no service fee for the call to your home. Why do you suppose? You have to think for a moment. The salesman is paid on commission. The salesman makes no money unless he sells you something. It doesn’t matter one bit what your interests or problems are. The salesman in most cases has only one interest and that is to sell you whatever he can, the more the better for him.

This is the hidden cost of a free service call. They talk you into it and convince you. It’s a cat an mouse game to say the least and many people fall victim to these high pressure sales tactics all too often.

What happens if you have trouble with whatever the salesman sold you? You’re left to get service people of that company involved. Better hope they are as good as the sugar coating the salesman sold you. Yes this adds more people to the equation to find a solution. The salesman is out of the loop, he’s not coming back most likely because he’s paid on commission remember? He would just come back to try to sell you something more… it’s what they do.

Licensed HVAC Service Provider

Now certainly if you call me and want me to pretend to be a salesman I can play along. I’m flexible. But my goal isn’t to just sell you something for the sake of selling you something. My goal is to become your HVAC provider. Solve the problems you have now and be available to solve future problems. If I sell you something and you have a problem with it you pick up the phone and call me. Doesn’t this sound better than the aforementioned way? Do you see the difference?

One guy (Licensed HVAC Contractor) to take care of all your HVAC needs. Sounds too simple right? My way works… Less hassles, better service. I wouldn’t be writing this blog myself in the heat of summer if my way didn’t work. Please choose your HVAC service provider wisely.

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope I helped you understand things more clearly and above all I hope your day is comfortable.

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information and everything AC and heating

for your home visit me at my main website @

www.austinairco.com

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Posted in AC Equipment Installation, AC problems, AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, HVAC service provider, No AC Salesmen, No Technicians, Professional AC Repair, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Problems

How To Do Air Conditioning Yourself

July 27th, 2016

You go outside and take a look at your AC condenser, you peer inside see a few parts and say “hmm, this doesn’t look very complicated.” I think I could do this myself.

I can’t tell you how many times a year that I get calls from people who thought they could fix it themselves only to make the repair more costly because they damage something or worse yet spin the unit so far into the ground to the point it is not worth repairing.

I named this subject this way to hopefully warn those who think this way is really a rational way to solving their AC problems. Your home is the most expensive asset you will likely own in your lifetime. You should be more interested in protecting this asset than potentially destroying it. Hopefully I am saving you from the extremely possible nightmare that lies in front of you.

How To Buy AC Equipment Online

Worse still is if you think you can buy the equipment online and then get someone to install it for you. Certainly you can buy the equipment online. This is no secret, but if you have a problem with the unit, if a part fails look at the fine print on the website from which you plan to buy this equipment from. No one installing the equipment for you will warranty anything you bought online, that becomes your burden. When you don’t have the HVAC licensing backing you up you’re in shark infested waters to say the least. A Technician does not have an HVAC license. A Technician has only the ability to work under the ‘SUPERVISION’ of a Licensed HVAC Contractor. A Technician who does ‘side’ work, faces immediate termination from their job in most cases if they’re caught. Why do you suppose? Any person willing to install equipment for you this way is likely not worth their salt anyway. Now think for just a few seconds on how I could possibly know this.

Licensed HVAC Contractors Carry General Liability Insurance

Ah-ha the very important difference between a Technician and a licensed HVAC contractor. What happens if the Technician burns down your home while trying to install a AC system on your property?

What happens if after the Technician installs the system on your property and the AC system does not cool well? Who will take the blame? The Technician will likely blame the equipment and thusly you because you bought it. Do you see the error of your ways yet? Without a HVAC Contractors license backing you up you have no recourse what so ever. You are ‘STUCK’ in a big bad way.

HVAC Manufacturer’s Void Warranty For Purchases Online

Ok, So now prove it to yourself with what I just said: visit the manufacture website of your choice and find out the fine print of the warranty documents they provide: purchases of equipment online the warranty is void. Go ahead and look if you don’t believe what I am putting here. Every Manufacture has an Online purchase policy, it makes no difference which manufacturer’s product you choose.

HVAC Licensing And Building Codes

Ah yes the fine little details to keep your home legal and avoid serious health problems, not to mention damage to your home up to and including burning it to the ground or turning it into a health hazard years later with mold growth. Watch the evening news. There are at least a half dozen stories a year in which a fire originates in the attic of a home. Why do you suppose?

As a Licensed HVAC contractor myself I am required by law to be licensed within the segment of the HVAC market in which I perform work for others. On top of this licensing I am required to carry General Liability Insurance, not to mention commercial vehicle insurance. I am also required to follow current building codes, this type of knowledge and know how is to ensure you get what you are paying for. I am what is called a ‘working’ HVAC contractor. I do all the work, including new HVAC installations. From a quality stand point on the product(s) I offer there is no substitute. I back this quality pledge up with prompt service after the sale should your new system ever need repairs. If you take any other route to accomplish this you are on your own. There is no HVAC company I know of that will stick their neck out on a HVAC installation gone bad. The cure in many cases is to rip it all out and start over. Remember hindsight is always 20/20.

Home Inspections Prior To Selling Your Home

Certainly you had a home inspection prior to buying your home didn’t you? But you think you are somehow going to pull a fast one and when you go to sell this home that others will forgo a home inspection prior to buying it? Certainly you could sell the home to the ugly home buying people, but they will only give you pennies on the dollar for it. So much for your home being an asset.

Realize what I say in this blog post is a ‘popular theme’ these days. Part of my job as an HVAC contractor is to deal with the dirty side of the market and warn those who may be thinking such things. The lure of what appears to be a ‘great deal’ winds up being a great deal of trouble up to and including the loss of your home and maybe effects on your health.

When it comes down to it, all I can do is warn you. In 21 years of doing this for a living, I can tell you it matters not one bit how much I write or warn about this subject. There are always those who must learn by experience rather than by me warning them. Hopefully ‘you’ are not one of them.

About the author of this blog:
My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

Austin Air Companie
832.475.6895
“Your home comfort from A to Z”
Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information on everything air conditioning and heating

for your home visit me at my main website:

www.austinairco.com

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in AC Equipment Installation, AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Maintenance, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Specialist, Buy AC Equipment Online, Do It Yourself, Do It Yourself AC Repair, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, HVAC service provider, Professional AC Repair, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on How To Do Air Conditioning Yourself

Important Facts About Air Conditioning Locator Services

July 16th, 2016

There are several ways in which you might find or locate your HVAC contractor. No matter which way you choose to find your local HVAC service provider it depends ultimately on how much home work you do to make sure the service provider is who they say they are and will do what they say they will do. This day and age anyone can say anything and often times they do.

One way you could go about finding an HVAC service provider is by using a 3rd party locator service. While using a 3rd party service is convenient and easy as pie it doesn’t really vet the service provider necessarily. Reviews on such sites of the service providers can in some cases be manipulated and controlled, even though they say they are not. Finding the truth the hard way is not recommended. Do your homework, it’s why you are here right?

Why Would A Third Party HVAC Company Locator Service Lie?

Money. The third party service has a motivation by collecting advertising fees of the AC service providers they list on their site. So if the third party listing service lists unfavorable reviews of a HVAC company that spends a lot of money in advertising with them, why would that HVAC company want to keep spending advertising dollars on that site? It’s really no different than the game that the BBB was caught up in years ago, by collecting fees and erasing bad reviews and turning F’s into A+’s. It’s about collecting fees and little else. The end user (customer) has little recourse to do much of anything, other than call the company with a complaint and try to get them to do something to fix the problem.

What Are Some Popular AC Listing Service Providers?

Angie’s List, Home Advisor (formerly Service Magic), and Yelp to name a few. There’s certainly more than this but there is rarely much difference between them because they generate their revenue by selling ads of the companies they list or charge fees via other methods by producing and distributing leads to the companies that listed with them.

There is no method, no matter how these hosting companies are set up that isn’t complicated by potential fraud from one degree to another. It matters not one bit how they collect the fee.

Angie’s list originally was noted as being less geared toward the company and more geared to the customer. Problem with that method is that they lost a lot of money. So they have since shifted gears and the advertising revenue ‘conflict of interest’ method was generated out of a need to survive. Angie’s list still collects fees via the customer route as well, but that is likely a very small revenue stream.

A listing service (any of them) is likely going to give precedence to their biggest advertiser. This advertiser whomever it is, is spending a lot of money. This money has to be made up somewhere. Who do you suppose pays for it?

Any service business in which the service provider comes to your home is a costly business to be in to begin with, even before the advertising costs. Austin Air Companie is a small HVAC business a one man operation. I run it myself and do everything from repairs, to new equipment installations. Yes, I’ve installed complete systems by myself.

From merely an expense point of view I often have thousands of dollars in expenses every month. Realize I said $1,000’s much more than what someone would think looking in from the outside without a service company perspective. These expenses do not include paying myself anything.

Why Would I Bring Up This Air Conditioning Locator Subject

To make the customer aware of the games and tricks of advertisers and those of whom they represent. A single man, a one man show — Austin Air Companie — has proven that none of these worthless gimmicks are needed to run a HVAC Service Company.

You know what I’ve learned? You can not be something you’re not. There is only one Ray Austin. Sell that to the best of your ability. Service as well as service quality sells itself.

Check me out. My foot print on the internet is larger than ever. More than 99% of my content was made by: ME (Ray Austin if you’re hard of hearing, LOL) Subscribe to my You Tube Channel here. All of the videos on my You Tube Channel were made by me.

I don’t follow the grain when it comes to these things — I go against the grain. If I have to sell you something using a flashy gimmick, I would rather not. I would rather warn you against such things. Hype doesn’t last. An HVAC system is designed to last approximately 15 years. This is the national average replacement timing. Now what do you suppose hype does to HVAC replacement timing?

My goal is to give you less hype and surpass your expectations rather than give you more hype to wind up giving you nothing but frustration. HVAC service for life.

That’s a tall order to fill, isn’t it? Do you want anything less?

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope you learned something and as always, I hope your day is comfortable.

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

 

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information:

Videos, tips and everything Air Conditioning and Heating

for your home visit me at my main website.

www.austinairco.com

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Posted in AC company location services, AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, HVAC service provider, Professional AC Repair, Third Party Service Locators, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Important Facts About Air Conditioning Locator Services

Air Conditioning Repair

June 26th, 2016

In Katy, Texas during the summer it’s almost certain that you will want your AC system back on line and running again as soon as possible. I see it quite often running service on the weekends and even on summer holidays not to mention during the week. It becomes clear to me that fast, friendly AC service is often not thought of until the need arises and the cooling stops.

A fair number of my customers come to me this way. I am given a big responsibility to these customers that I will not let them down. Certainly I can perform AC repairs for most of them with in 3 hours of getting the call depending on the current demand for AC repairs. I think many people that stumble across my AC services are surprised at the speed and efficiency of which I operate.

You see just as there can be heavy AC repair demand, there are also a good number of lulls in demand as well. I use these lulls to do various tasks and functions like writing blogs and so on. I know for you looking from the outside in and comparing me to other AC companies that I probably look much larger of a company than what I am.

This is merely to show you, the customer there is someone “At The Wheel” that cares. I can’t be all things to all people, I try to be the best at service and quality of that service and let the chips fall where they may. I offer timely solutions to your HVAC problems and I know a good many of people see the value in that.

Air Conditioning Replacement

There are times in running service calls that your air conditioning system may not be able to be repaired or may not be worth trying to repair it. The last thing you want to do is waste money on a AC system that has seen better days.

In situations like these I give good reason for my opinion of repair versus replacement. In some cases I may give you both repair and replacement options and let you decide on your own. This decision isn’t always about me and what I want, it’s about giving you choices for you to decide on your own in some cases.

However, the cost to repair an older system that is most likely a Freon based system is fraught with heavy risk for you. In cases such as these depending on what is wrong with your system I almost always recommend replacement because you need to be aware of what is coming very soon.

R22 Freon Is Going Away

You must realize that R22 Freon is going away (January 1, 2020 R22 Production Ceases). The cost of this refrigerant is going up. Amounts of how much anyone can buy at any given time is being restricted. As time moves forward this situation will continue to get worse. Therefore, it is in your best interest to make plans now to switch over to the new refrigerant for the High Temp application of Air Conditioning. This new refrigerant isn’t really new. It’s been in use for over 20 years now and is called R410a or Puron.

AC Freon Recharging

This is an old practice of temporarily fixing an AC system that has Freon leaks. Due to higher refrigerant costs this practice is no longer feasible. Each situation is different and while I can recharge a system temporarily the risk is that this money for recharging is wasted. Many times I may find AC systems in which AC service work was performed poorly and for those reasons feel a refrigerant recharge may work because I have no service history on the system. Even still this is merely a judgment call in which I am not always right. I explain the risks to you and let you decide your own path in certain situations such as this.

Guessing What Is Wrong With Your AC System

You shouldn’t try to guess what is wrong with your AC system. Nor should you try to get me to guess over the phone. I realize it matters not one bit what I put here people will continue to do what they have always done. But for the sake of this text I will give you some reasons why you should not guess as to what is wrong with your air conditioner.

Guessing doesn’t fix anything. There are a multitude of parts that make your AC function and do it’s job. You want a professional job don’t you? What part of professional is consistent with guessing?

I think my system is low on Freon? Certainly your system could be low on Freon but did you know that over 90% of the time the problem is more likely to be an electrical or mechanical problem. In some cases it could be electrical as well as a refrigerant problem.

Hire A Licensed AC Professional

It’s tough out there to find an HVAC pro that knows what they are doing. This business is a hard business, it takes many, many years to gain the experience in all things HVAC. Technicians mostly dominate the field because HVAC License holders are mostly older and rarely work out in the field any more. These reasons put me in a class all of my own because I do all of my own work. From repairs to new installations. This hands on approach gives you a better quality product not to mention a HVAC service provider second to none.

This isn’t to mean all Technicians are bad. I was once one of them too many years ago. This is merely a rough example how difficult it can be to find a GOOD one. Once you realize these things I’ve spelled out in this blog post you are much further on your way to making a better decision regarding your home comfort and repairing or replacing your HVAC system.

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope your day is comfortable!

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

 

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information:

videos, tips and everything air conditioning and heating

for your home you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, R22 Freon Problems, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Repair

Does Freon Leak Stop or Freon Leak Sealer Work?

June 1st, 2016

Air Conditioning Refrigerant Leak Sealer

The HVAC industry continues to change and develop new technology. As refrigerants become more and more costly this trend will only continue.

With that said, caution should be heeded. The risk is that whatever you place in your HVAC system will remain there in some form up to and including the line set. (Line sets are typically not replaced when equipment is replaced as many times it is not feasible to do so… in some cases you may have no choice.)

This is why it is important for the professional to visit you in person to go over options you are considering to possibly repair this problem you are having with your HVAC system.

The problem with refrigerant leaks is the volume of refrigerant that the system is leaking. The more the refrigerant leaks, the less likely a leak sealer will work. Due to the nature of this, it’s in your best interest to consider all your options and choose with caution any option that includes the use of leak sealers.

Air Conditioning Refrigerant Leak Experience Required

Not all refrigerant leaks are created equal. Refrigerant leaks in certain areas of the equipment will have to be repaired the regular way. This takes experience to know what will work as opposed to just throwing money away… because if it doesn’t work, all the Freon that was put in is all going to leak out again and you just spent all that money on Freon and a proposed leak sealer for nothing. To make matters worse you never, ever want to add two different leak sealers this will likely contaminate the entire system. It’s not uncommon for people to jump from one HVAC contractor to another… this is dangerous for what should be obvious reasons.

You see my job isn’t just to give you a cheap solution. Many cases leak sealers are just nothing more than a temporary repair. In this realm temporary means 1 year, best case scenario. It could last more than 1 year… but could, should and will are entirely different terms.

I am here to work with you… it may not be in your interest to add a leak sealer to your system. I can only give those options in person for me to be able to see in person what I am dealing with.

R22 Freon Production Ban Coming Soon

Due to the phase out and banning of R22 Freon effective January 1, 2020 these things will only continue and likely get worse. R22 Freon will become so expensive that these schemes and scams will likely proliferate.

There is no drop in for R22 Freon, in the realm of being exactly as good as Freon R22. They can come close, but efficiency is lost as well as rated capacity of the machine the drop in refrigerant is being put into.

If it sounds “TOO GOOD” to be true… it probably is. Avoid hype or promises that are unrealistic, nothing on this planet is perfect. An air conditioning system is a 15 year appliance (national average). Nothing will stop that clock.

Realize I repair and fix air conditioners more than any job in the summer time. But just because you want a repair to avoid cost doesn’t always make it feasible. Any good HVAC contractor would help you make wise financial decisions because that contractor is depending on you for repeat business— in most cases “years” down the road. If your finances are blown due to improper repair the HVAC contractor is in jeopardy as well. A “GOOD” HVAC contracting business is built on doing it right. Fifteen years is a long time to live with a mistake.

My tag line “Done Right” isn’t there on accident.

Make air conditioning repairs carefully. If you’re not sure ask questions. The answers to those questions should help you make the wiser choice. Avoid decisions that are based on cost alone. If the HVAC repair doesn’t fix it, what difference does it make how little or how much you spent?

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope you’ve learned something from your visit and as always I hope your day is comfortable.

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a professional HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

A Ray Austin HVAC Service Company

For more information you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com 

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Maintenance, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, R22 Freon Problems, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Does Freon Leak Stop or Freon Leak Sealer Work?

2 Speed Air Conditioners

April 24th, 2016

You likely found this air conditioning blog because you have questions or you may be facing a decision regarding replacing your home HVAC system. It’s not uncommon to get technical terms thrown at you during a HVAC maintenance visit with little to no clear understanding. I am a licensed HVAC contractor serving Katy Texas | Cypress Texas | Richmond Texas and some surrounding areas. I have over 20 years experience in HVAC systems for your home. This information was written by the finger tips of a licensed air conditioning contractor from a AC pro’s perspective.

You see I’m what is called a “working HVAC contractor”. Working means I do the work. From writing my own blogs, to you guessed it – repairing and replacing home HVAC systems. I’m describing this to you, because there are professional writers on the internet that only write. Many act as professionals, but are not. If you need visual representation of who I am you can visit my You Tube Channel and subscribe. I also include a playlist of clips embedded below for your convenience.

Two Speed AC Versus 2 Stage Air Conditioners

A 2 stage AC is often called a 2 speed AC, these aren’t one in the same. You see a 2 speed AC is an AC that has a 2 speed compressor and a two “stage” AC is really an air conditioner that has 2 physical compressors. Even I make the slip up from time to time, it’s easy to do.

Typically a 2 stage AC, the one with 2 compressors will run at 50% capacity during stage 1 as the 1 stage compressor is half the size (capacity) of the stage 2 compressor. The benefit is better humidity control from that of a single speed on or off regular air conditioner. These varieties typically cost more initially and can cost more to repair because there are more moving parts as well as controls. They are also normally louder during operation than a two speed air conditioner and in some cases even a single speed air conditioner (single speed meaning either on or off).

The best of both worlds collide when it comes to “some” 2 speed air conditioners. You get a more efficient system for less cost than a 2 stage option, less moving parts and much quieter as well. You see a 2 speed air conditioner with a 2 speed compressor will run at a slower speed when in speed 1. Typically the cooling provided is around 40-60% of the cooling capacity of the AC system. What this does for you is the HVAC system runs in this 1st speed upwards of 90% of the time. Because of this, the system runs longer and reduces humidity levels in your home making you and your family more comfortable for less cost than a traditional “on or off” single speed air conditioning system. Because it’s running in first stage more often the cost to operate it is much less than a system that is either on or off only.

So with that said you’re probably thinking “Ok, then what is the catch?”
The catch as it were is that you have to replace your entire HVAC system. These types of systems were designed as complete systems, not cookie cutter or piece meal and in many cases what is considered “retro fit” repairs.

So you fully understand this, piece meal means just replacing one part of your AC system, in most cases the part of your system that is not working right. The equipment of an HVAC system typically consists of a gas furnace, an evaporator coil and the out door air conditioning condenser as well as a thermostat to control it.

In order for a 2 speed or 2 stage AC to operate properly you must have the proper controller for it. Otherwise it will not operate properly and in some cases could damage the system. The 2 speed HVAC systems I sell and install are what is called a Communicating HVAC System.

Communicating HVAC System

This isn’t your dad’s air conditioner. The HVAC industry is evolving into more energy efficient, more comfort, quieter and smarter HVAC systems. Communicating means that the pieces of your HVAC system talk with one another. The thermostat “talks” with the furnace and the out door AC condenser and by doing this gives you a HVAC comfort system for your home that you could only dream about just a few years ago. Yes, it’s no joke thermostats actually do talk. Are you listening? If only you knew what they were telling me about you. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

A communicating HVAC system that can pay for itself over time and potentially last your lifetime and more importantly provide you the best comfort you are likely looking for right now.

Introducing the 5 Speed Air Conditioner

Maybe you are eyeing potentially what may be the next generation of extreme comfort, the 5 speed air conditioning system. Like the communicating system mentioned above this is a communicating based HVAC system. The air conditioner of this system can deliver a range of capacity from 25% of capacity up to 100% rated capacity of the system.

This is the beginner model for an inverter based ducted HVAC system. The next step up from this is a completely variable speed compressor. The 5 speed air conditioners on the market today typically use algorithmic programming to decide which speed to run in, there are varying ways of how these systems operate. The benefits of this system is even quieter operation when in these lower speed settings. Based on manufacturer printed decibel ratings of this equipment you probably would not even hear it running up to about speed 3 or 4.

Solutions For A Noisy Air Conditioner

Tired of getting woke up at night with that noisy single speed air conditioning system?

One of these communicating HVAC systems mentioned above might be exactly what you’ve been looking for to get a more comfortable and restful nights sleep. Then get that monthly electric bill and have a hard time to stop smiling. You know smiling is contagious don’t you?

SEER Rating Of AC Equipment Doesn’t Decide

Don’t get confused over a high SEER rating of equipment. Single speed air conditioning systems could be quoted as high as 17 SEER or higher in some cases, this doesn’t mean this type of system is 2 speed. If it doesn’t say 2 speed compressor, then it’s not a 2 speed air conditioner. In fact some AC models will claim 2 speed fan motor operation only. Realize a fan motor is not the compressor. I often say the devil is in the details of any HVAC system configuration for good reason.

Some unscrupulous salesmen and even some technicians sometimes say a 2 speed air conditioner will never keep up because it always runs in 1st stage. Sure, it will run in 1st stage a lot. This is a benefit because it will reduce humidity in the home much better than a single speed system. Realize a communicating system has the benefit of “knowing” what the out door temperature is, it knows which speed to run in to give you the best comfort, the right amount of comfort you and your family needs.

Reducing Humidity In Your Home

Did you know that your air conditioner is actually a dehumidifier? During normal operation when your AC starts up air is blown across your indoor evaporator coil. The humidity in the air condenses on the coil runs down into a condensate pan and down the drain. The problem is that a single speed air conditioner is either on or off and the only reason it turns on or off is due to temperature and not humidity.

Imagine it is 75 degrees in your home and the humidity is 70%. If you are a frog or a lizard this would probably be pretty comfortable. Now imagine if the temperature was 75 degrees in your home and the humidity is 50% or less. This is the difference that is very hard to explain in text alone, fortunately the out door weather does this for me annually. You wake up on a fall day, 75 degrees and the air is light and crisp. You know this feeling, now imagine it every day inside your home.

Remember a great HVAC system starts with proper installation. Choose a licensed HVAC pro, it’s the only way to go!

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope your day is comfortable.

About the author of this blog:
My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

For service before and after the sale, count on:
Austin Air Companie
832.475.6895
“Your home comfort from A to Z”
Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Staging | Zoning
For more information:
videos, tips and everything air conditioning and heating
for your home you can always visit me on my main website @
www.austinairco.com

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Posted in 2 speed air conditioner, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Maintenance, Air Conditioning Specialist, Better home comfort, Energy Efficiency, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, noisy air conditioner, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, reducing home humidity, Smart HVAC system, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on 2 Speed Air Conditioners

Air Conditioning Maintenance

April 18th, 2016

 

Air Conditioning Maintenance Myths Exposed

You turn on your home air conditioner for the first time this year and maybe it dawns on you that you have never had your AC checked or maybe you are one of the very few that actually take the time to get your air conditioner maintenance done annually.

You live in

Katy, Texas

(my AC service area) the last thing you want is to experience the brutal summer heat without air conditioning. Maybe your HVAC system is making odd noises, maybe it broke down last year or maybe you just want a little peace of mind to see if it might need some cleaning and have that AC condensate drain checked.

Maybe you saw some attractive AC maintenance offers, and naturally because you’re human you like the premise on saving money and like a bug to a bug zapper you find a price of less than $49 maybe as low as $29. Wow! you’re going to save so much money.

Not so fast. I’m here to expose this myth for what it is. I’ll do it one better. I’ll demonstrate it in the video embedded below this text toward the end of the video that shows it is impossible financially for an “honest” company to make a profit at such low AC maintenance price points. Not to mention possibly dispel a few other myths as well in this lengthy process. By the end of the video you’ll see why and how this is so important. ( I can only put so much information within a text based format – and as you know anyone can say anything without any facts at all.)

Subscribe to my You Tube Channel Here

Why do HVAC companies offer these low AC check up rates if they can’t make a profit?

Quite simply they do it to make the phone ring. Like a bug to a bug zapper. The bug doesn’t realize that he faces death until it’s too late. Maybe that description is a little too dramatic, but when your comfort is at stake and possibly your home finances I think it’s worth a little drama to capture your attention at least for the time it takes you to read this blog post and watch the embedded video above. Ultimately if you decide to ignore me, that’s fine. You may be part of the 40% out there that are extremely lucky when it comes to HVAC problems as well as choosing your HVAC company.

I think you are here for a reason. You see, operating and running a business is expensive but offering house calls is even worse, these kinds of HVAC companies that dwell on gimmicks to attract customers often think of the short term objective of making the phone ring. They don’t look at the long term… when the bills come due and the fall season comes, the call volume drops and they fade from existence.

Heaven forbid, you fall for this scheme and buy new HVAC equipment from one of them. I can tell you it matters not one bit what I put here. I could talk about this problem within the HVAC industry until the cows come home and it would change nothing. If you bought one of these supposed “great deals” you have roughly a 60% chance there will be some serious problem with it within the first 3 years you operate it. I see it all the time, every year like clock work.

( if you made a

HVAC installation mistake

, I may be able to provide a way out for you. I am that good. I didn’t get to where I am by not being good.)

You see I’m a unique victim of the financial crisis that hit in 2008. Many HVAC companies didn’t want HVAC technicians that could “repair”, they want those who sell to “replace”. So after much work I became a Licensed HVAC contractor serving the Katy, Texas area.

Now for further explanation from above, in some cases

replacing your HVAC system

is the better option so if you’re reading this please be realistic if your HVAC system is over 15 years old the odds are that it has seen better days. I perform miracles annually, but you still have to be realistic. I can only discuss these options in person when you’re willing to pay for fair service.

I have the experience and ability of

repairing and fixing air conditioning systems

as well as replacing them. Isn’t this what it’s all about?

If you are willing to pay for service I am as close to the very best you could hope for, this is what I do for a living for over 20 years now. If you buy a new HVAC system from another HVAC company, will they have the aptitude and knowledge to fix or repair the AC system when it breaks? Service after the sale is rarely thought of beforehand.

Many good HVAC technicians left the HVAC field after the financial crisis and have not returned. The AC Maintenance video embedded above shows what I deal with all too often. If you like air conditioning horror stories you’ll love it, otherwise it’s merely an eye opener made for you to help you understand things more clearly.

The pricing I charge is fair for what I offer, the experience I have obtained and the service quality I deliver 362 days a year. If you settle for anything less you may find yourself at the short end of the proverbial “stick”. They give better odds in Las Vegas, if you’re a gambler that is.

Even with my great quality standards and methods, service problems can and do develop. Currently these problems are less than 3% on equipment I have installed myself. It is not uncommon for me to run over a dozen calls a year to find a new customer who has a HVAC unit that is 3 years or less old with a serious problem or AC system failure on an HVAC system that was installed by a different company. Why do you suppose they are calling me?

If I were to make a major motion picture on this subject the title might be something like “No Way Out”. This is how important your installing HVAC contractor is, but yet many choose to make price the main factor. The title of that film would likely be named “3:10 To Disappointment”. The reason that people give me for choosing one HVAC contractor over another is that it was such a great deal. Oh, if only I had a crystal ball that worked, I could revolutionize the HVAC industry.

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope I may have saved you from making what could be a big mistake.

Also please remember air conditioning maintenance is only recommended if it is done right. If pricing isn’t fair a HVAC company has to make up this shortfall some where. ( I explain this quite well in the AC maintenance video embedded above, if you haven’t already watched it.)

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a professional HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

A Ray Austin HVAC Service Company

For more information you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com

Better Stuff. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Maintenance, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, Professional AC Repair, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Maintenance

R22 Freon Production Ban Timeline 2016

March 22nd, 2016

R22 Freon, the chemical coolant used in home air conditioners since the 1960’s is marking it’s final seasons until it will no longer be produced. The chart graphic above shows the year and the amount of R22 Freon allowed to be produced for that given year until January 1, 2020 when no more R22 Freon will be produced beyond that point. The production limits are set and controlled by the EPA and can be further changed at any time. The chart reflects the last Rule Change for production limits set by the EPA in October 2014.

There will likely be small amounts available after 2020 as older reclaimed R22 refrigerant is turned in and sent off to reclaim centers that clean it of contaminants and resell it as virgin quality once it has been cleaned of impurities. However, prices will likely be very high and very likely strict limits will be placed on how much can be bought at one time.


Once these strict limits are placed on how much can be bought it is very likely in my opinion that system recharges will no longer exist. Home owners and businesses will be forced to fix the leak(s) or replace and upgrade the air conditioning equipment to R410a Puron refrigerant. It is in your best interest to make plans now to either fix your AC system refrigerant leaks or come up with a plan to replace your AC system to the newer R410a refrigerant.

R410a is the replacement refrigerant to R22 Freon. While it is the newer standard, it isn’t all that new. It has just taken a long time for it to gain acceptance because the pressures are higher and better service practices are required when working with it.

Because of these requirements certain HVAC companies held off making the change, I think partly due to ignorance, partly due to laziness and even more likely the cost forced onto you the consumer because it’s in your best interest to replace the whole AC system when changing over instead of just one piece of the system. Taking short cuts with an R410a system is less forgiving than with an R22 Freon system.

Like I said above R410a Puron isn’t new. It became available in the mid 90’s. It’s pressures are higher and the equipment that uses it had to go thru special processes to ensure the higher pressures could be handled appropriately. Additionally it requires the use of synthetic oil, where as most older R22 systems today use mineral oil. Your R22 Freon system will not work with R410a Puron. I’m sure you might have been thinking that. There’s more differences between the two systems than oil types and pressures. There’s also refrigerant flow which relates to capacity of the system. Your current AC simply will not work to recharge an R22 Freon system with R410a Puron. It will not work.

Remember, the makings of a scam is something that is “too good to be true.” Be smart about it, you will be glad you did.

If you would like to know more about this subject you can watch several videos I’ve made on the subject as well as a lot of text on the subject since 2009. You can click the link below to open that page from my main website.

R22 Freon VS R410a Puron The Facts

I hope you have found this information before you made a costly mistake. I have installed as well as retrofitted countless systems over to the newer R410a refrigerant for years now. I’m sure I could do the same for you and your family.

Thank you for visiting with me today! I hope your day is a comfortable one.

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

 

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information:

videos, tips and everything air conditioning and heating

for your home you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com

Better Stuff. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, No AC Salesmen, No Technicians, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on R22 Freon Production Ban Timeline 2016

Air Conditioning Specialist

March 20th, 2016

When your home has an air conditioning breakdown in Katy, Texas you pick up the phone and call an Air Conditioning Company to get it fixed. Because I am the owner of an Air Conditioning company serving the Katy area, I know that it’s not always this simple. If it was there likely wouldn’t be any need for the AC services that I offer.

Many times the need of an Air Conditioning Specialist in Katy, Texas and some surrounding areas is sometimes caused by the people who you have called in the past or maybe a previous owner of the home you purchased. To help you understand this a little better you have to realize that air conditioning and heating for your home is a system that on a national average lasts about 15 years if it’s installed properly the problems should be few. Because your HVAC system lasts so long (typically) the problems tend to develop slowly, unless the AC problems are made worse by those servicing your HVAC equipment.

Many AC companies get into the AC business by becoming “cleaning” companies or “maintenance” companies. You see the ads don’t you? Get your AC tuned up, get your AC checked. This doesn’t mean this isn’t a legitimate service. It is, but only if the service is done right.

Most companies use Technicians and due to the financial crisis in 2008 many good HVAC Technicians left the HVAC service industry. So in many cases this leads to you getting “hoodwinked”. Spin the AC technician roulette wheel, let me see what you win ok?

Did you know that 55% of Air Conditioning companies fail due to incompetence? I did a video on that a year ago and I’m in the process of making a new video to show how these things can effect you. Subscribe to my You Tube Channel so you don’t miss this special AC presentation. It should open your eyes just a little.

The HVAC business is highly technical and requires a certain amount of aptitude to perform it, not to mention continual learning. I didn’t become an Air Conditioning Specialist over night and I don’t really consider myself all that special other than the fact that I know that I have solved very complicated air conditioning problems in the past. Problems so bad in fact that the home owner was being led to believe they needed to replace a HVAC system that was only 2 1/2 years old. How is that for technical aptitude?

Replacing AC systems can solve your problems and in some cases that is the better option, but does this mean every time you have an AC problem you will just replace the HVAC system? I bet you have more money than you know what to do with.

Remember, when replacing an AC system “the devil is in the details”. Every major HVAC manufacturer makes multiple models, most of them are junk. A salesman is paid to sell you this junk most of the time. A free estimate is code word for “please send me a salesman”. The other part is service after the sale and the ability to repair the AC system when it breaks. Sure, you could say that talk is cheap right? Well I can help you prove it to yourself. You probably found me via a Google search, so do another search about complaints of any major HVAC brand, list the brand name in the search. You will see that I’m right. This is what I do for a living after all, why should I apologize for the truth?

If you are reading this after the fact and got taken advantage of by getting what you thought was a good deal and now have nothing but air conditioning problems I can come up with a solution for you. I hear air conditioning nightmares all the time, if you are living one don’t make it worse. Find a licensed HVAC contractor that knows what they are doing. It’s not uncommon for me to see a dozen or so of these kinds of calls a year. I’d say it’s pretty important to have an HVAC contractor install your new AC system that knows how to fix them when they break. Wouldn’t you?

There is no manufacture warranty for: improper installation or AC equipment purchased over the internet. Please choose your licensed HVAC contractor wisely. Look at the whole picture, look at the details of the job before you make any hasty decision and do not choose based on price alone. Otherwise you may have to resort to spending time and more money trying to find a solution. I could be that solution.

Realize that my definition of “solution” is to solve the problem without causing additional problems, otherwise you’re not problem solving and the solution is not a true solution.

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope your day is a comfortable one!

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information:

videos, tips and everything air conditioning and heating

for your home you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com

Better Stuff. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, No AC Salesmen, No Technicians, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Specialist

New Air Conditioning System

March 12th, 2016

It’s that time of the year again in Katy, Texas when you start contemplating the hot summer and realize it might be time to replace that old air conditioning system and maybe the heating system as well.

Some times this may be done at the spur of the moment when it’s already 90 degrees or more in your house and you’re under stress to just get it done. If you happen to be reading this earlier in the season before the summer arrives you have a bit more time to make a more informed decision.

Many people tend to approach this as just finding the lowest price possible to replace the AC unit. In some cases this may be all that’s needed if you plan to sell the home a short while later. However, with the current real estate market near the top more people are deciding to stay in their homes longer. This is a fine balancing act to decide exactly what you want. To complicate this further air conditioning manufacturer’s make so many different models, different SEER ratings, different configurations, more features, differences in warranty coverage that it’s enough to make your head swim.

To top all of that off, you call a few HVAC companies for a AC replacement quote and you may determine that these are merely salesmen looking for a quick score. For those of you that don’t know, a salesman only gets paid to sell. The problem with that is more times than not they don’t have your best interest at heart. Sorry, but the only way to sell “crap” is to embellish what it can do and how cheap they can install it for. The salesman however won’t come back once the sale is complete.

HVAC manufacturer’s make HVAC systems. That is how they are designed is as a complete systems. So if you only replace “part” of your HVAC system you are getting what is often called a “piece meal” AC system or “mismatched AC system” meaning that the parts of the system are of a different model design and in some cases a different manufacturer. On top of that, if you are buying a complete system it may be an inferior model, an outdated model, a system that has been sitting in a warehouse for an extended period. Do you want an older model because it’s cheaper? Do you want a new model that is better, fresh off factory floor with better features? How will you know this difference if you are talking to a salesman?

The piece meal option doesn’t always mean anything bad, other than the less of your system you replace typically the more likely it is that it will break down again. Additionally what it also means is that it likely won’t be quite as efficient as the rating of the new equipment suggests. This depends greatly on what your current HVAC system configuration is. No two homes are alike in this regard.

Everyone likes a “good deal” when it comes to just about anything. Are you going to measure a good deal in price alone or are you going to measure a good deal in quality, features and performance?

A good deal in price alone is often fleeting because the electric bill is coming to your house every month whether you like it or not. Your air conditioning system efficiency and performance makes up the majority of that bill, so if you skimp on one side you pay for it on the other. To top that off if the price one company is offering is very low compared to other quotes, they are cutting corners somewhere. There is no way around that, and you will wind up paying for it at some point.

A Good Deal For A New HVAC System

When it comes to these things I often say “the devil is in the details”. You are buying an HVAC system for comfort. If it doesn’t truly fulfill that purpose then why buy it?

Your installing HVAC contractor is who you should be calling if and when the system breaks. All AC brands can and do break down, don’t be fooled into thinking otherwise. If you can’t depend on the HVAC contracting company that installed your AC system then what are you left to consider?

It’s not uncommon for me to repair a dozen or so HVAC systems a year that were installed by other companies. These aren’t free calls, the manufacturer doesn’t warranty improper installation, systems that were purchased over the internet or any other illogical method that some people consider.

If the HVAC system pays you back thru reduced utility cost, provides you the comfort you desire and you have a professional licensed HVAC contractor that can repair your air conditioning and heating system when that need arises why would you want anything else?

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope I might have saved you from making what could be a costly mistake. National average life of an AC system is 15 years. That is a long time to live with a mistake.

Make your new HVAC system a GREAT one!

Choose Austin Air Companie

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the owner and operator of Austin Air Companie, a HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with over 20 years experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs.

 

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

 

For more information:

videos, tips and everything air conditioning and heating

for your home you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com

Better Stuff. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Air Conditioning, Energy Efficiency, Heat Pumps, Heating, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on New Air Conditioning System

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