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Do you have a “runaway air conditioner”? Okay, this isn’t an official term or anything, but when your air conditioner just keeps running and running without ever shutting off, you might think of it that way. What could possibly be going on? It’s not that hot, is it?
The fact is, the run time of your air conditioner might have nothing to do with the temperature at all. There are actually several reasons this might be happening, and unfortunately, it’s wasting a lot of the energy that you’re still paying to use. The compressor within your air conditioner draws on a large amount of electrical power to operate, so this becomes even costlier if it’s always running.
When you need a trusted professional for your AC service in Cedar Rapids, IA, you needn’t look any further than Dalton! In the meantime, read on to see what could be behind this “runaway air conditioner” problem.
We’re in the fortunate position that it’s currently summertime, and you don’t have to deal with a burst pipe right now. Why’s this? Because it’s a problem that happens when your pipes freeze, which can occur when temperatures outside dip below 30°F. Before you click off this blog post though, this is still a good thing to keep in mind for later! Because not only can we help you fix a burst or frozen pipe, we can help you prevent this problem from occurring altogether.
Read on as we uncover not only what to do when you have a burst (or frozen) pipe, but how to prevent this and other plumbing problems in the future.
Buying a new air conditioner is a huge investment. We get it! We do applaud you for looking into this purchase now rather than waiting for temperatures to warm up. This gives you time to truly explore your options, looking at not only the initial cost of your system, but how much it will likely cost you to operate from month to month, the type of system you want, and how efficient of equipment you want. For a deeper understanding, check out this guide on air conditioner installation costs. The average cost to install central air conditioning ranges from around $5,000 to $12,000, so planning ahead is crucial.
When considering system sizing, it’s important to evaluate the cooling capacity and cooling power needed for your home. The right size AC unit is determined by the square feet or square footage of your space, ensuring your system can deliver adequate cooled air. The size of your home significantly impacts the final installation price because more square footage typically requires a larger AC unit.
There are several types of cooling systems to choose from. Window units are a cost-effective option for small spaces, while central systems and central air units are better suited for whole-home cooling. You can also consider air source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps, which provide both heating and cooling and are known for their efficiency.
If you’re looking at ductless systems, remember that a pre installation evaluation should include checking your existing ducts and refrigerant lines. Modifications may be needed to accommodate a new AC system. A thorough pre installation evaluation is also essential for checking for air leaks and assessing how well your home retains heat, which helps ensure your new HVAC system is properly sized and efficient. A pre-installation evaluation can cost between $250 and $2,000 depending on the home size and complexity of the home energy audit.
During installation, adding a new AC unit or doing an AC replacement may require electrical work, such as installing a dedicated circuit, to support the new system. Financing options, like a home equity loan or home equity line, can help manage the average cost of installing a new AC system. Financing options for new AC installation include home equity loans, HELOCs, personal loans, and cash-out refinances.
Choosing a high efficiency system with higher SEER ratings can reduce your energy bill over time, even if the upfront cost is higher. Regular maintenance and professional installation are important to avoid costly repairs and ensure your system delivers cooled air efficiently. Investing in yearly maintenance can help avoid costly repairs and extend your AC unit’s lifespan.
You should only ever trust a pro for this job. Trained and experienced HVAC professionals, like the members of our team, will be able to adequately match and size the right AC system to your specific home, for your specific needs. A properly installed AC system will have optimal cooling output and help maintain comfort throughout your home. Read on as we uncover the factors that go into your AC installation cost.
Something that many Cedar Rapids area homeowners fail to realize is how the quality of their indoor air can actually be worse than the outdoor air. At least, this is the case without the right indoor air quality products and services in place. The right air filtration, purification, and even humidity balance can help improve the overall comfort of your living space, and therefore improve your quality of life! Contaminants in the air can cause a number of problems, both in comfort and for your family’s health. For more strategies on maintaining a healthier home, check out these tips to improve your home’s indoor air quality.
At this point, you might be wondering if you really need anything more than the standard air filter that comes with your HVAC systems during manufacturing and installation. The answer is probably yes! The thing is, the purpose of this air filter isn’t to improve your indoor air quality. Rather, its purpose is to protect the interior components of your HVAC system from dust, dirt, and other debris that can get inside and damage its components.
Read on to learn about more powerful options that are designed to improve your overall indoor air quality.
There’s no secret that homeowners today not only want to be comfortable in their homes as affordably as possible, but that they also want to be as safe and healthy as possible. There are many ways to achieve this–with the right comfort control systems, the right indoor air quality solutions, and the right water treatment!
That last one doesn’t get talked about a lot, but it should. Even though the water that comes from the city’s plant is heavily treated, it has many miles to travel from that plant to your home, and along the way can pick up minerals and contaminants that affect the taste, the water quality, and even your plumbing system.
Read on as we uncover the types of water treatment systems on the market today, the signs you need water treatment, and what the benefits are of having a whole-house water treatment system installed.
There’s a common belief among homeowners that air conditioners have their limits. They do, just maybe not in the way that you think.
For instance, most air conditioners can not reach over 20°F below whatever the temperature is outside. So, if we were to experience a 100°F day, setting the thermostat to 70°F won’t do anything except cause the compressor to keep running, and do so inefficiently.
Another limit is that even with careful, routine maintenance, all air conditioners will eventually wear down to the point that they’re no longer usable. The useful service life of the average cooling system is 10-15 years.
A common question we get, in regards to air conditioning limitations, is “how long should I run my AC during the summer?” The short answer to this is, “as long as you want to!” Here’s the thing…. you can keep your thermostat set to “cool” mode 24/7 during the summer if you want to. This only becomes inefficient and leads to faster wear and tear if you fail to have your system professionally maintained and/or you don’t use your thermostat correctly. Read on to learn more!
More and more homeowners throughout the Cedar Rapids area are seeking ways to cut expenses and explore alternatives to their current HVAC methods in order to do so. Geothermal energy can often get overlooked, with folks assuming that it’s “just as expensive” as any other type of air-source heating and cooling applications.
But this simply is not the case. Geothermal cooling and heating may be the perfect solution for your home. Below, we’ve outlined how this might be the case. If you want to keep your home as comfortable as possible, as affordably as possible, read on!
When homeowners are looking to purchase a new air conditioner, they go into it knowing it’s a huge investment. Therefore, they may be tempted to cut corners and do an installation on their own to save money. However, the thing about big investments is that you really need an experienced professional on your side to make sure it operates as effectively and efficiently as it’s meant to. So, our answer to “Is it difficult to install a ductless mini-split” is going to be, “For you, maybe not… for one of our professionals, definitely not!”
Installing a ductless system on your own could leave you with a system that doesn’t operate as well as it could have otherwise or with broken air handlers later on down the line, which we’ll elaborate on below. Read on as we uncover what you need to know about ductless installation.
Whether you’re having a new air conditioner installed or you need a repair for your existing cooling system, it’s never a “set it and forget it” kind of deal. In order to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible, your air conditioner needs to be properly maintained, throughout the years. This means that you need an experienced professional to inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it.
How often should this service be done? For a typical air conditioner, this service is needed once a year. It’s a biannual service, though, for year-round heat pump systems.
When you have an AC technician over, to install, repair, or maintain your system, it’s a perfect time to ask them some questions in order to gauge how to best care for your air conditioner to keep it operational for as long as possible. Read on as we uncover what some of these questions could be, and provide you with some brief answers for now.
Temperatures are starting to warm, and with that change in the weather, you may be wondering if your air conditioner is ready for another hot season ahead. Of course, if you’re making that decision now, it could be tempting to rush into a purchase before summertime hits in earnest. Rushing a decision like this, however, can be a mistake, leaving you with a potentially inefficient air conditioner and/or an improperly installed air conditioner.
We’re going to assume that you’re not rushing into this purchase, and this is why you’ve decided to read this blog post. With that, we’re happy to share some information that may help you make a careful, educated decision about your next air conditioner purchase. Read on!
