Air Conditioner Installation & Repair Services

In the Shenandoah Valley, swamp coolers are very rare due to the humidity that typically accompanies our warm weather months. In Augusta, Rockingham and the neighboring counties, if you need cooling equipment, you need an air conditioner.

Sizing an A/C system is not solely a function on square footage. Factors such as insulation, windows, building construction, foundation, neighboring conditioned space and landscaping contribute to the sizing. The ONLY way to properly size an air conditioning system is to develop a heat load calculation (sometimes referred to as manual J). When it comes to air conditioning, bigger is NOT better!

If your house has existing duct work, typically you would consider a convention split system. If you house does not have duct work, typically you would consider a ductless (sometimes call a mini-split) system.

The best system is a cooling system that properly and adequately dehumidifies the space you are wanting to cool. Typically this is best accomplished through a conventional central air duct system or a ductless (mini-split) system.

Nowadays most all residential A/C systems are electric. Central air conditioning can be added to existing gas furnaces but even in these situations, the power consumed during the cooling season will be electricity.

If you need something quick, a window A/C will do the trick. They are usually noisy and inefficient but in a pinch they will work. If you’re looking for a long term solution typically people in our area gravitate towards adding a conventional central air duct system or a ductless (mini-split) system.

Air flow is critical for an air conditioner to properly function. An A/C tune up should include an inspection of the evaporator coil, air filter and blower motor. In addition, the technician should check the electrical components of the outdoor unit along with the cleanliness of the condenser coil. If either the evaporator coil or condenser coil are dirty, they need to be cleaned. Checking refrigerant levels is not always necessary. Each time a technician connects his manifold hoses to an air conditioning system, there is a small amount of air and contaminants that is introduced into the system. An experienced technician can determine if the charge needs to be checked.

The best practice is to not turn off your A/C when you leave the house but rather to turn it up a few degrees. This practice will keep the humidity down while operating less. When you return it will not take as long for the air conditioner to get the house back to the thermostat set point.

The heart of an air conditioner is the compressor. Over time the compressor will wear and as it does it becomes less and less efficient. Eventually it can wear to a point where everything is working but no cooling is occurring. One thing you can do to keep you air conditioner problems to a minimum is to use cheap air filters and change them often (every month).

Maybe. If you have a room that doesn’t get cool or warm enough – or if you’ve added on to your home and don’t want to tie into existing ductwork, a mini-split system may just be the ticket. Give us a call to discuss options!