Home Air Conditioning: Keeping cool, the Total Aire Care way

The big heat of summer is almost here — time to get serious about home air conditioning.

Things to consider about your home air conditioner

Is your AC unit out of date?
Is it time to service your present air conditioner?
What do you need to know when buying a new one?

Air conditioners can last a long time, but old ACs devour power at an alarming rate. So there comes a time when it makes more sense to invest in a modern AC because energy savings will provide a fairly quick return for home air conditioning.
Once you decide on a new AC, our trained technicians will carefully measure your home to determine its volume.
An air conditioner that’s too small will struggle to keep your home cool; an AC that’s too large is an unnecessary initial expense.
We, at Total Aire Care, will ensure you get an air conditioner that’s just right.

How do ACs work?

The first job for an AC is to remove humidity from the air (yes, humidity does add to discomfort). Air in the home is then circulated to an outdoor unit loaded with coils containing coolants. The cooled air is then sent back into the home.

AC Inspections and tune-ups

Air conditioners should be inspected regularly. The outdoor unit can collect debris such as leaves, which can affect its efficiency. Total Aire Care provides an inspection and cleaning service for all makes of air conditioners.

So, how do you decide what size of air conditioner is right for your home.
Believe it or not, there are “tons” of information. It all goes back to before mechanical air conditioning, when ice was used as a coolant. Just as refrigerators took over from iceboxes, air conditioners supplanted tons of ice for cooling homes. Obviously, modern ACs don’t use ice, but the old term “ton” remains.

A ton describes how much heat an air conditioner can remove from a home in an hour.  One ton of air conditioning can remove 12,000 British Thermal Units of air per hour. A four-ton unit can move 48,000 BTUs and so on. The greater the tonnage an AC unit is rated at, the more air it can cool.

Before you can decide on the right AC, other factors have to be considered, including ceiling heights, windows, and airflow. You will need a ton of air conditioning for every 400 to 1,000 square feet. A home air conditioning unit that’s too small will leave areas uncovered. A unit that is too large will needlessly increase the initial cost. Our York Certified Comfort Experts at Total Aire Care 226-894-1000 will gladly visit your home and provide an accurate estimate for a home air conditioning solution that will meet the specific needs of your home.

So, what will an air conditioner cost?

Prices vary widely. A new economy AC for a small home will start at $1,800, plus tax. AC for a large home using a top-of-the-line system could start at $10,000.
Total Aire Care uses York ACs, assuring customer of top-of-the-line, high-efficiency products.

How long do air conditioners last?

Longevity depends a lot on location.
An air conditioner in Texas, for example, will be used a lot of the year, but an AC in temperate Waterloo Region and area will be used for just a few months.
Most estimates vary widely: 17 years in warm climates, up to 30 years in temperate regions, especially when using high-grade York ACs.

How many types of air conditioners are there?

These are the six most popular 

1. Central Air Conditioners – The best home air conditioning system to have is a central AC, which cools the entire home.
2. Split systems – These systems are composed of a two-part system. They are commonly used in buildings without full duct systems. They consist of two or more parts, the condenser unit, which is installed outdoors, and then compact blower units or evaporative units, which are mounted on walls in areas you want cooled.
3. Window ACs – These are adjusted to fit into a window, and likely will cool only one room. Total Aire Care does not install window Air Conditioners.
4. Portable ACs – are used when a window air conditioner is impractical. A drawback is that the portable’s warm air has to be exhausted through a hose, similar to a clothes dryer duct. Total Aire Care does not install Portable Air Conditioners.
5. Through-the-wall air conditioners – Basically, the same as window ACs, and used when a window AC is impractical. A hole has to be built into a wall. Because the AC is quite heavy, the frame for the unit must be quite strong. Therefore, it’s a good idea to use a professional to make sure the wall can bear the AC’s weight. Total Aire Care does not install Through the Wall Air Conditioners.
6. Package Terminal Air Conditioners – or PTACs are ACs commonly found in commercial spaces such as hotels, hospitals, and apartment buildings. These are most often installed just above the floor and usually just below a window. On the other side of the wall, the PTAC has an exhaust system sending warm air outside. We can do commercial ACs up to a certain BTU. Call for details. 

To learn more about how Total Aire Care can help you with home air conditioning, please visit our AC Installation page, and for history buffs, a look at AC’s roots with this article, the history of HVAC air conditioning.