Fort Worth Air Handlers
Sooner or later you will replace your heating and cooling system. Furnace and heat pump air handlers have a useful life of about twenty years. Air conditioning condenser useful life varies between five and fifteen years. The condenser is the outdoor unit. If you need to replace your heating and cooling system, here are some things that First Call Air Conditioning & Heating will do to ensure that your system provides safe, energy efficient, and green operation.
- Comply with all local building codes and manufacturer's instructions when installing your new equipment. First Call Air Conditioning & Heating knows and comply with local building codes and with manufacturer's instructions.
- We Install new equipment that has the highest energy efficiency rating that you can afford. The energy savings from a high efficiency system will often save you more over the system's life than the additional cost. Higher efficiency systems qualify as green and add value to your Fort Wort home. They may also qualify for government and utility rebates.
- We can replace both the furnace or air handler and the condenser, even if the furnace or air handler still works. An air conditioner condenser and evaporator coil (the inside and outside units) are designed to work best as a system. You may not receive the full energy efficiency of the new condenser if it is connected to an old evaporator coil. An improperly matched condenser and evaporator coil may be highly inefficient and result in higher than necessary energy use.
- We do not use duct tape. We use foil tape at joints. These joints include where: the evaporator coil connects to the air handler, the supply plenum connects to the evaporator coil, the return plenum connects to the air handler, and the air ducts connect to the plenum. Supply and return plenums are rectangular metal boxes where the ducts connect to the air handler. Joints and ducts that leak air can significantly reduce the energy efficiency of your system and increase operating costs.
- We can connect flexible air ducts to the plenums using both foil tape and plastic straps. Improperly secured flexible air ducts may leak and may work loose from the plenum.
- We do not bend a flexible air duct so that it reduces the diameter of the duct. An air duct is like a garden hose. If you kink a garden hose, the water flow is reduced. If you kink a flexible air duct, the air flow is reduced. Reduced air flow can cause the system to work longer to heat and cool your home. Reduced air flow can also cause comfort problems in rooms. Improperly installed flexible ducts are a common problem.
- We install overflow pans or condensate cutoff switchs under air handlers with evaporator coils located in attics and anywhere else inside the home where leaking water could cause damage. If you see water coming from this overflow pipe, there is a problem. Call First Call Air Conditioning & Heating to locate the problem.
- We will Install a 3/4 inch diameter drain pipe from the evaporator coil to the outside or to a plumbing drain. Slope the pipe down toward the discharge point over its entire run. Insulate this pipe if you live in a warm and humid climate. Water that flows in this pipe is cold and can cause condensation on the pipe's exterior. This condensation can damage materials and provide moisture for mold.
- We will replace the circuit breakers for the condenser and air handler if the recommended circuit breaker rating for the new equipment is different from that of the old equipment. It is common that new equipment is more energy efficient than the old equipment and needs less power to operate. More energy efficient equipment usually needs a circuit breaker with a smaller rating.
- Confirm that the air ducts are the proper size to work with the new system if you are adding air conditioning to a Fort Worth home without air conditioning or if you are changing from one type of system to another. For example, air ducts sized for an old oil-fired furnace may not be properly sized for a high efficiency gas-fired furnace. Improper air duct sizes may affect system energy efficiency and may cause comfort problems.
A new Fort Worth furnace or heat pump can provide many years of safe and energy efficient service when properly installed. By using these tips you can ensure proper installation of your new HVAC system.
