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Copper Coils Versus Aluminum Coils

Sunday, April 15th, 2018

The residential HVAC industry has been going thru many changes over the past decade or so in terms of the metal materials they use to make certain pieces of HVAC equipment.

To give you some understanding first, there are two different separate type of coils that your HVAC system uses for your air conditioner or heat pump to work properly. The outdoor coil is the condenser coil, the indoor coil is the evaporator coil. This subject is primarily dealing with the indoor evaporator coil.

HVAC Refrigerant Leaks In All Aluminum Evaporator Coil

Come with me on a repair call in which I repair a Freon (refrigerant) Leak in an all aluminum evaporator coil. (Watch video embedded below) I also discuss the copper versus aluminum debate in the video.

This Katy, Texas AC blog subject for today is regarding the indoor coil or evaporator coil section of your residential HVAC system. Because usually, this part of the system starts to leak refrigerant more frequently than the outdoor or condenser coil. (Realize the AC refrigerant leak you may have could be in the outdoor coil just as much as it could be in the indoor coil: proper diagnosis must be performed, a guess is not a diagnosis. Just because an evaporator coil refrigerant leak is more common, doesn’t mean that this is where your refrigerant leak is.

As of 2018 nearly all, if not all manufactures of HVAC equipment make all aluminum evaporator coils. Copper tube and aluminum fin evaporator coils are at the beginning of the end as manufacturers continue to cut costs from their AC manufacturing processes.

Aluminum Coils Are Better Than Copper Coils

All Aluminum Evaporator coils are often called a new way of doing things. Truth be known, this isn’t the first time the HVAC industry used all aluminum evaporator coils. (indoor evaporator coil, don’t get this confused by the spiny fin aluminum condenser coil of Trane / American Standard brands, which was invented by GE in the early 1980’s.) With that said, about 30-40 years ago Carrier made their air handlers with all aluminum evaporator coils. The difference now is that the technology is much better this time around, but not infallible.

The problem with the technology back then was the connection point to the copper line set. They used a compression type connection to connect the line set to the evaporator coil. After some time this connection would leak. With no real way to repair this leak, the solution was to replace the coil with a copper tube and aluminum fin coil. You see when I say ‘copper coil’ I mean copper tube and aluminum fin. Manufactures to my knowledge have never made an all copper evaporator coil for residential air conditioning systems. That would be very costly, not to mention very heavy.

All Aluminum Evaporator Coils Are Probably Here To Stay

The drive away from copper tube evaporator coils is in my opinion due mostly to cost of the metal and because it’s been determined that formicary corrosion is leading to increased failures of this type of evaporator coil this increases the home owners cost as well as the manufacturer of the coil, because as the coils have become larger due to equipment efficiency requirements, the walls of the copper tube to these evaporator coils have become ‘paper’ thin or very close to it, which gives little to no protection against formicary corrosion.

To find out more about what formicary corrosion is and what it looks like watch the video embedded above. There are examples of formicary corrosion within the video. This type of corrosion effects all brands of copper tube and aluminum fin evaporator coils. The formicary corrosion attacks the copper part of the coil which causes it to leak refrigerant.

High efficiency air conditioning has driven up material cost in recent years because requirements to increase efficiency have made coil sizes increase as well. More material = higher cost. It’s only common sense that by using cheaper materials a manufacturer (all manufacturers) can cut these material costs.

So because aluminum is not effected by formicary corrosion, aluminum is the better coil material? Aluminum is a very reliable material. However, this does not mean an all aluminum coil will not fail ‘at some point’ due to refrigerant leaks.

Remember we’ve been here before with all aluminum coils (30-40 years ago). While the technology now is considerably different and in my opinion much better than before, aluminum coils can fail (spring refrigerant leaks) just as much as a copper tube aluminum fin can. Watch the video embedded above if you think an all aluminum coil can’t leak refrigerant.

I have installed many, many all aluminum coils over the course of my illustrious HVAC career (23 total years as of 2018). It is my opinion that all aluminum coils are a good replacement option in light of the formicary corrosion problem that is well noted and documented by the HVAC industry as a whole.

However, all aluminum coils used as evaporator coils in your AC system are not without their own set of problems or short comings. While all aluminum evaporator coils are currently better than the copper tube and aluminum fin coils they are replacing and quite reliable this doesn’t mean they will not fail at some point. If a salesman is trying to sell you on a shiny all aluminum coil, realize nearly all manufacturers make an all aluminum evaporator coil. This feature is nothing special as of 2018.

Air Conditioning Refrigerant Leaks To Remain A Challenge

Refrigerant leaks have always been a challenge to one degree or another in relation to an AC system. The difficulty now is that your AC system must be refrigerant leak free due to the rise in cost of all refrigerants. The method of recharging systems without leaks being repaired is a method of the past. It is no longer cost effective to do these practices any more.

If you watched the embedded video above demonstrating where this particular all aluminum coil failed, my personal opinion is that this coil most likely failed by some sort of corrosion because the coil sits in condensate waste water from air pulled from the home. It is unlikely this leak was cause by any other means.

Because I install all my own equipment, is the reason I can say such things without a shadow of a doubt. Certainly there could be other reasons not yet known. If anything, this example in the video shows the complexity of this subject.

There is no such thing as an air conditioning system that doesn’t fail, for one reason or another. You will always need a good reliable HVAC repair man. Maybe it’s me?

So what can you do? Build up a service history with me. (CHECK MY SERVICE AREAS HERE) I keep track of things of this nature via your service invoice, if a particular coil is failing often I will attempt resolution by offering other solutions. Some manufactures are better at different things and or different configurations of HVAC equipment. Just realize this isn’t a gimmick as I know that all brands of equipment fail at some point, the idea is to limit or reduce the failures as much as possible.

This is another reason why I sell more than one HVAC brand and these decisions are constantly being evaluated. I don’t just blindly keep replacing the same brand coil over and over again as it is my opinion this would result in insanity. Obviously this is ultimately your decision how to proceed, but I will at least attempt to offer another option that may give a better result due to my own personal experience in equipment choices I have sold in the past to other customers.

Currently my failure rates of all aluminum coils (any brand) that I originally installed is less than 2%. Some AC brands I’ve installed the failure rate on the coils is currently 0% (it’s likely not a brand you know). While all aluminum evaporator coil failures do happen it’s not as often as you may think. Some equipment configurations are more susceptible than others.

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 23 years ‘hands on’ 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. I specialize in Residential HVAC systems.
About Austin Air Companie:
Happy Birthday! Turning 10 years old in 2018. Has it really been this long?

Happy Birthday

Austin Air Companie Celebrates 10 Years

Austin Air Companie

832-475-6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information you can visit me on my main website at

www.austinairco.com

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

 

 

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Posted in AC problems, AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Freon Leaks, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, HVAC service provider, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, R22 Freon Problems, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Copper Coils Versus Aluminum Coils

AC Freon Refrigerant Leaks & High Pressure AC Sales

Sunday, March 25th, 2018

The terms Freon and Refrigerant more or less mean the same thing when people use them in a sentence when referring to an air conditioner’s coolant gas. However, Freon and refrigerant terms are very broad based terms that only attempt to suggest what is really meant.

You see the word Freon is actually a trademark owned originally by Dupont Corporation and is now owned by Chemours Company and the refrigerant term is another broad based term that more or less means the same thing.

Repairing R22 Freon Leaks

Come along with me on a AC repair job I did to eliminate R22 Freon Leaks. Watch the video below.

You can subscribe to my You Tube Channel here.

Air Conditioning R22 versus R410a Refrigerant

You may be surprised to know that there are literally dozens of refrigerants all uniquely different depending on the application in which the refrigerant was intended to be used. You can’t put gasoline in a diesel engine and expect it to run, just as much as putting the wrong refrigerant in your central air conditioning unit in your home HVAC system. This will not work well and certainly not for very long.

All refrigerants are solvents to one degree or another and some refrigerants are also fuels and so because of flammability concerns they make poor choices for being used as a refrigerant. Propane and Gasoline are good examples of poor refrigerants because of explosion potential.

As refrigerants pertain to the high temp air conditioning market (residential and commercial structures) there are really only 3 refrigerants that represent reasonable long term choices. A few more refrigerants are being considered for the future as of 2018.

The old refrigerant being phased out is R-22. The new refrigerant is R410a. R410a refrigerant is really not all that new. R410a has been around for over 25 years if you can imagine that.

This R410a refrigerant was made by Honeywell in 1991, but was known as Allied Signal back then. The first R410a AC systems for residential use were installed in 1996. Currently many refrigerant companies make R410a refrigerant under licenses provided by Honeywell.

The change over to this new R410a refrigerant has been slow, mostly because equipment must be replaced to be able to use it and because pressures at which this R410a refrigerant operates at is considerably different than the R-22 refrigerant that the HVAC industry has grown accustomed to.

There also can be complications in some structures which can increase the cost to change over in addition to equipment costs. For the longest term and most efficient use, R410a is ultimately best choice for high temperature air conditioning application as of 2018.

R-22 Freon Cost Expected To Keep Rising

Production of R-22, commonly known and referred to as Freon, as it was heavily marketed by Dupont Corporation under that name, can no longer be produced after December 31, 2019 and the amount that can be produced is extremely limited in relation to the demand of it.

When there is strong demand for something with extremely limited supply, prices go up. Supply versus demand.

While warnings of cost increases related to R22 refrigerant have gone out, many are oblivious to what is happening in the residential HVAC market in terms of cost of repair and options on what the home owner can do to repair their AC systems without spending a fortune on repeated R22 recharges.

You have to fix the refrigerant leaks. If you don’t fix the refrigerant leak(s), the refrigerant will just leak back out. At this point R22 Freon is the worst when it comes to cost, but R410a requires leak repairs as well. The old way of recharging systems every year is hard on the wallet and this will likely only get harder for the foreseeable future.

High Pressure AC Sales Tactics

I touch base a little on this subject in the video embedded above in this blog post, for the simple reason the HVAC system in the video wasn’t that old but due to the R22 Freon problem, the best way forward was to replace the AC system and the home owner agreed even though I also offered to replace only the evaporator coil to fix the refrigerant leaks. These kinds of choices are always yours to make when you use my Katy, Texas AC repair services.

High Pressure AC sales come into play when a company uses the refrigerant leak problem (whatever refrigerant it is) to suggest that the whole HVAC system needs to be replaced. Like the AC and the furnace in the case of the video embedded above.

If the goal of the home owner is to go with the most energy efficient AC system they can buy, then in most cases the furnace would have to be replaced to obtain those high efficiency requirements, I say this so you understand that depending on the choices you make there may not be any other way forward if high efficiency air conditioning is your goal. This in turn raises the cost and if you’re planning to sell the home soon, it’s unlikely you will recoup the added cost of the high efficient HVAC system. Typically high efficiency HVAC systems are best suited to home owners who plan to live in their home for at least 15-20 years or longer. In some cases these high efficient HVAC systems are considered ‘lifetime HVAC systems’.

If the goal of the home owner is just to fix the AC, then depending on how long the home owner plans to own the home and where the problem with the AC system is can give you many more options when you are using a HVAC company (like mine) that is professionally skilled in those kinds of HVAC repairs.

My goal is to fix or repair your AC system and in many instances there is more than one way to accomplish this goal, obviously if one of these choices may waste your money I would think you would want to be informed of that before you select that option. Each choice I offer you is a matter of preference based on how long you plan to own the home among other considerations. If you call me to come to your home to fix your AC problems I will give you options best suited to fix your air conditioning system, given your current situation or comfort goals you are trying to achieve in your home. There is rarely a home comfort solution that fits everyone. It is my opinion that the decision is yours to make once all the facts are laid out to you.

A new HVAC system can break down just as much as an old one can. Regardless of brand. Professional installation of the HVAC equipment is by far the most important part of the decision which is why I personally install all HVAC equipment I sell, this will drastically cut your risk of breakdown more than anything else.

While it’s typically more common for an older system to break down, there are a number of HVAC systems (any brand) I see in the summer that are only a few years old and broken. Over 99% of these are HVAC systems I did not install. My trouble rate on AC equipment I’ve installed is less than 2%. That means less than 2 pieces out of 100 in any one given year. HVAC industry as whole typically accepts 25% failure rate as being ‘normal’. My experience is telling me many people are being duped.

With that said, no matter if you replace one part of your HVAC system or the whole thing, in my climate of Katy, Texas you will always need a good knowledgeable HVAC repair man. Maybe it’s me?

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 Ray Austin HVAC Service Company serving Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas. I am a Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor with 23 years ‘hands on’ experience in Air Conditioning and Heating Systems as of 2018. I hold an AOS degree in HVAC/R Mechanic, EPA universally certified to handle any refrigerant and NATE certified in HVAC installations and repairs. I specialize in Residential HVAC systems.

About Austin Air Companie:

Happy Birthday! Turning 10 years old in 2018. Has it really been this long?

Austin Air Companie

832.475.6895

“Your home comfort from A to Z”

Air Conditioning | Controls | Heating | Zoning

For more information you can always visit me at my main website at:

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 Freon Leaks, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, HVAC service provider, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, R22 Freon Problems, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on AC Freon Refrigerant Leaks & High Pressure AC Sales

Air Conditioning Freon Leaks

Sunday, February 25th, 2018

In the embedded video below I show an elaborate example of my air conditioning repair service in Katy, Texas in which I repair a refrigerant (freon) leak.

 

To start this topic off the right way it would be to tell you that ‘Freon’ is an improper term as it merely is a trademarked name owned by Chemours Company which was previously owned by Dupont Corporation. Dupont did a good job at putting this branded name on the lips of people across this country over the past 50 years or so.

The reason I use the term Freon is for ease of understanding for the customer base I serve. Nearly everyone out there knows that Freon means coolant or refrigerant for your air conditioner.

 

In fact if you search the meaning on line it gives refrigerant as the definition of the term. If you are here reading this right now you may be surprised when I tell you there are dozens and dozens of different kinds of refrigerants. This is really the main reason that Freon is an improper term. For the sake of understanding is the only reason I have gone this far to explain it.

For the application of high temperature air conditioning the refrigerant list is much smaller. This statement is to show you the subject of refrigerant leak repair is broad. For the sake of keeping this simple my focus is only the high temperature air conditioning application for your home or small business. Most of my HVAC service and repair work is for the residential air conditioning market in Katy, Texas area.

I am EPA universally certified to work with any refrigerant. This is important to point out, because if someone works on your system without proper knowledge it could make matters worse. There is skill involved in performing AC refrigerant leak repair like the one shown in the embedded video at the top of this blog post.

Because R22 also widely known as Freon, is being phased out (Production Ban begins December 31, 2019) there is a plethora of misinformation regarding various other refrigerants being used to replace it, because R22 is used in more than one application certain refrigerants have been developed for those applications and not the high temp air conditioning market. There are very good reasons why a certain refrigerant is selected or not selected for it’s intended application.

Because I am knowledgeable in these things it may in some cases make me come off as a know it all and that’s ok, but let me put it to you this way – I specialize in the air conditioning market for residential based HVAC systems if I don’t know a lot about something I specialize in I am in serious trouble right? I have a broader knowledge than that, but I don’t delve into those areas – because my sole focus is the Residential HVAC Market. While I do from time to time service commercial HVAC systems up to 25 Tons, this market is not my focus and is quite different from a service and repair aspect alone.

No Drop In Replacement For R22 Freon

So when you hear me say there is no drop in replacement for R22 Freon, realize I am saying this as it is for the High Temperature Air Conditioning Application. This is as of 2018. Time doesn’t stand still, the HVAC industry is continually evolving.

When I say ‘drop in replacement’ it does not mean mix it with whatever refrigerant is in your current system. The HVAC industry is full of people who don’t understand various terminology as it relates to refrigerant repairs and proper practices. There is no HVAC manufacturer that will warranty a system that has been charged with improperly mixed refrigerants.

Residential Air Conditioning Repair Specialist

Realize that what ever refrigerant your system has I am knowledgeable enough to know what type and kind you need. I only use virgin quality refrigerants. I do not reuse refrigerants that are pulled from your system to make repairs. Due to refrigerant contamination, it is never a good idea to do this practice. If I can store your AC system refrigerant in your AC system without removing it to make a refrigerant repair that is a completely different and longer story that I will not get into here.

The key to a well working air conditioning system is one that is not only free of refrigerant leaks, but also clean refrigerant with no acid. Acids can form under intense heat, so the threat is always present. Once acids form in the refrigeration circuit they start to eat away at the lining of your compressor windings. Once this thin protective layer on the windings of your AC compressor has been eaten away, your compressor will have a direct short to ground. An air conditioning compressor will not run with a short to ground. So you would be looking at a new AC unit at that point. Not any fun if you just spent money on a repair to your AC system.

You Will Always Need A Good HVAC Repair Man

Remember, whether you decide to repair your air conditioning system or replace it with a new one, you will always need a good knowledgeable HVAC repair man. If you live in the Katy, Texas area maybe it’s me?

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 23 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 you can also visit me at my main website at:

www.austinairco.com

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

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Posted in AC problems, AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Freon Leaks, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, HVAC service provider, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon & R410a Puron Leaks, R22 Freon Problems, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Freon Leaks

Furnace Repair

Sunday, December 17th, 2017

This is a furnace repair video of a fairly common problem among this particular brand of furnace. (Carrier) I embed a video clip of the call so you can see what I am talking about in this HVAC repair blog post for Katy, Texas area.

For whatever the reason this particular furnace has problems with blower wheels getting blown apart. While I don’t have video of past repairs I’ve made of other Carrier furnaces over the years this is a problem I’ve seen numerous times over the past 15 or so years that Carrier has been manufacturing this furnace.

Many times shaking problems like this shown in the video above are related to what is called ‘ excessive static pressure’ with in the duct system so just because you see a shaking system doesn’t necessarily mean what I show in the video. I can tell you that this problem (shown in the video) is not likely from excessive static pressure, because it’s the only brand I’ve seen with this problem in 23 years of running service. (noisy blower wheel)

Just to be clear though, this isn’t a blog post just to pick on Carrier. All brands sometimes have their own unique way of failing to one degree or another. I have seen system failures on new equipment as early as 1 year old and the brand wasn’t Carrier. So you understand there isn’t one HVAC brand that is somehow better than another brand. All HVAC brands break.

With that said, the real purpose of this blog post is to show that this problem can be repaired and the furnace can live another day. Many times on repairs of this nature your HVAC company may try to sell you a new furnace.

This is where you have to be careful. It’s not that a new furnace won’t fix your problem of a noisy, shaky furnace, but the furnace you choose is a very important part of your HVAC equipment. Choosing the proper one can make a big difference in how your Air Conditioner operates and can determine how efficient your air conditioner can operate.

A furnace should last more than 20 years for a climate like Katy, Texas. This is why if and when it does come time to replace your furnace that you choose one with performance not only for heat, but also keeping in mind the efficiency of your air conditioning system as both of them work hand in hand to keep you comfortable year round.

About the author of this blog:

My name is Ray Austin. I am the video creator / editor of AustinAirCo youtube channel, author of this blog and 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 23 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 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 Furnace Repair, Furnace Repair, Furnace Repair, Furnace Repair, Heating, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, HVAC service provider, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Furnace Repair

Air Conditioning Problems

Monday, May 1st, 2017

Air Conditioning Problems Katy, Texas

The single most common reason why my AC company exists. It seems that everyone chases around after that perfect elusive brand that is without worry of breakage. The gimmick of all gimmicks… an Air Conditioner that never breaks down. Every AC brand breaks down. So what can you do? You must find someone you trust in the area in which you live. This is not a do it yourself business.

Repair Any AC Brand*

I’m in the AC business. My business only exceeds by being able to fix or repair any Air Conditioning brand, sure I design systems & install them too, but that is only a small portion of my business, many people would rather live by mistake then to do what is deemed by me as doing it right. If you live within my service area of Katy, Texas | Cypress, Texas | Richmond, Texas and some surrounding areas and you call me it is unlikely I will ask you what brand of air conditioning equipment you have. [*Some limitations or restrictions may apply.]

Why does this matter? Because I want to fill you in on a topic that is often used by salesmen in general to sell you new equipment and more importantly a brand that is ‘supposedly’ better than what you have. I have given this the term that I call ‘brand bashing’. Your unit broke down so it is inferior to the brand I carry.

Watch this video embedded below for further understanding of this topic: (note this blog was updated March 25, 2019 video added)


How convenient. Comparing a new machine to one that is broken? Are people really this naive? Not you… You wouldn’t be reading this / watching videos about such topics would you?

Manufacturer’s of Air Conditioning Systems

Did you know that there are only 7 manufacturers of Air Conditioning and Heating equipment? But there are a plethora of different brands and even more in differences of models among those brands? You wouldn’t be able to use them all in your lifetime. So you are going to pick one model of these based on a NAME?                                                Hello? Do you see a problem with that?

Ok, so let’s name them shall we? (in no particular order)

York

Carrier

Trane

Ruud

Lennox

Goodman

NorTek

I bet you recognize a few of those names. Those are the manufacturer’s. They are the one’s responsible for all brands, makes and models available today in the Air Conditioning and Heating market. Now let me make your head spin a little and name some off brands that just pop into my head that are also made from the same manufacturer’s I just named above in no particular order….

Generic Air Conditioning Brands

Rheem, Ducane, Heil, Tempstar, Ameristar, Payne, Bryant, Amana, American Standard, Arco Aire, Grand Aire, Maytag, Gibson, Frigid Aire, Aire Flo, Armstrong, Day n Night, GMC, Daikin, Comfort Maker, Cobra, Coleman, Whirl Pool, Kenmore

There could be a few more but even my head is hurting after all of that. So what’s my point?

Easy really. If there was ONE. Just one perfect brand among 7 different manufacturer’s then why are there so many? It is like anything else you buy.

But you know what I often hear in the field? Oh, I’ll buy anything but brand xyz?

Which brings me to another point… If I go to a home that already has the common preferred brand and it’s broken, there is no fan fare about brand. Realization of a gimmick is different from impression of something that is advertised as being better. When in fact it is not. They all break.

I Need An Air Conditioning Solution

So then what is the solution? Me. Certainly this won’t help you if you are outside of my service area. But if anything this gives you clues as to who you need to search for in your area. Someone like me.

Your other option is to look extensively at the maintenance AC men of the world and throw the dice. (You see the tune up ads everywhere you look right?) You may get lucky, you may waste a lot of time, energy and possibly money. There’s about a 40% chance you will find anyone really that good in larger companies and the face they send you will likely differ every time you call which will only decrease the odds out of your favor further.

If you call me on the other hand… it is me who will come to your home. Have you ever heard the phrase ‘Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth?’ Well can you imagine what this does to your poor AC system?

Put the trust of your HVAC system in the hands of a pro (one pro) and don’t look back. ( I am a licensed HVAC contractor a technician in this state is merely registered with the state and must work under the supervision of a licensed HVAC contractor.)

Your comfort is my business and my job. That is a tough order to fill right? If it’s not a tough order to fill then you probably have a lot of time to waste and love being uncomfortable in your own home huh?

The truth doesn’t pay like a flashy gimmick seems to. Ah the world we live in. You’re smarter than all that nonsense or you wouldn’t be here. It is by no accident that my company comes highly rated. If the AC brands I installed were inferior how could my ratings as a company be that high?

If my work wasn’t that good how is it that I answer my own phone?

If my work wasn’t that good how is it that more than 50% of the calls I receive are repaired within 3 hours of receiving the call?

If I wasn’t the one doing the work and typing this how could I say the above comments?

Try me and you’ll find out what many of your neighbors already know.

Clearly anyone can brag on themselves on the internet, but my goal is to inform you here. This doesn’t mean I never make a mistake, but the odds of such are quite low and many times I catch the mistake before it becomes evident to you.

Thank you for visiting me today. I hope your day is comfortable – My business is Service & Comfort, as service is a part of comfort. It is my opinion you can’t have one without the other.

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 you can always visit me on my main website @

www.austinairco.com

 

Better Service. Done Right. On Time. Guaranteed.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in AC problems, AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Specialist, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, HVAC service provider, noisy air conditioner, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon Problems, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Problems

My Bedroom Does Not Get Cool Enough

Sunday, October 2nd, 2016

This problem is more common than you think and this problem magnifies itself thru various times of the year. Shoulder seasons can typically be the more challenging times of the year to get comfortable in a bedroom at night.

AC shoulder seasons in Katy, Texas, a suburb of Houston can extend for several months before summer as well as several months after. This problem is directly related to the design of the air conditioning system. The air conditioner can not control temperature in a room that it was not designed to control. (The thermostat that controls the system is in a different room.)

The opposite of this ‘My bedroom does not get warm enough’ can be addressed at the same time. System control integrated with design defeats temperature problems when addressed properly.

Air Conditioning Design

If you have the above problem in which your bedroom rarely stays comfortable and it’s been determined it’s no fault of the air conditioner, then you likely have what is called a HVAC Design Problem. It is the invisible flaw until AC system performance is put thru heavy loads or heavy loads in one room with no system control.

Design of your HVAC system determines how well it will perform in various areas of the home given certain attributes (loads) and the temperature you are attempting to achieve. HVAC Design for the most part is an invisible attribute and more often than not rarely thought of until long after the problem is discovered. Most people, when replacing their AC system think of replacing a box with another box when the AC system breaks. Everyone is different when it comes to what they deem as comfortable or uncomfortable which is another attribute with which to contend with. The HVAC retrofit (service) market is inherently slanted toward ‘just replacing a box’ and because of this design of the AC system is rarely addressed.

Proper design for AC in regards to control of the system can get quite complicated as well as ratchet up installation costs. Much of this can be decided when it comes to how long you plan to stay in the home and how much you have budgeted to make your home a home by making it comfortable not only to sleep but also entertain guests. To grasp this a little easier is that control is temperature control in more than one area of the home. While this sounds simple, it is more complex for your HVAC system to do this properly because the area in which you are trying to cool or heat maybe much smaller of an area of the home such as a bedroom.

The more control you have of your HVAC system along with proper design and installation, the better your system will provide you the comfort you are searching for. If your air conditioner suffers from a design flaw, there is but one option to fix it and that is to redesign it. Home builders build. Rarely do you find HVAC design a top priority in the home builder real estate market. This is what separates the retrofit AC pros from the builders. A professional HVAC company is built around ‘quality’ AC system installations and not ‘quantity.’ Service for life and not a badge of how many HVAC systems that were installed. Different mindset, requires different thinking.

New Air Conditioning System Installation

The Installation and design of an HVAC system determine the performance, longevity and overall satisfaction of the AC system. Customer service after the sale is the final part. When I install a HVAC system, I install it with the intent of coming back and servicing that AC equipment when that need arises. In fact, I do the same thing if the home owner decides to only replace one piece of their HVAC system.

You see this isn’t only about what I want, it’s about what you want. However, there are limitations to everything. The consumer of today has more knowledge available to them than ever before, that is the other part of this blog is to inform you that you have more choices in regard to home comfort than you may be aware of. I am an HVAC Solution provider. I can give you options (choices) and recommendations based on your budget as well as what kind of comfort you are looking for to cool and heat your home. Communication is key for you to get the kind of comfort you are looking for your home.

I work 362 days a year. I know what you’re thinking… ‘that’s impossible’. I originally thought that myself. But because I install AC systems myself I have the ability to correct many installation problems upfront during the installation where as an installer may just view this as another ‘job’… if it doesn’t work the company will send someone else to fix it. (Hopefully) Air conditioning replacement is typically a once in 15 year thought when done right. Those reasons are what makes me able to work 362 days a year. It is extremely rare that I must go back to an installation, due to a problem and in many cases if I do they are typically only minor problems depending on how much of the HVAC system was replaced.

If you choose me (Austin Air Companie) I work for you, this isn’t just a job to me, this is my profession and my career. I don’t run a gimmick of the month service which is how I am able to give you the best service available. My AC service is worth what you pay for it. Technician roulette wheels with varying opinions among techs only goes so far. I say this from my own personal experience… yours may be different.

Air Conditioning done right is a 15 year appliance (national average). Certainly I can get busy, there are a good many of AC companies posing as professionals that are not. I have found that it’s easier to take a hands on approach rather than pass it off to someone that likely doesn’t have the experience and skills that I possess let alone the attitude to do the job as it should be done.

Air Conditioning Temperature Controls

The way air conditioning is designed for many homes is to put the control (thermostat) in main living areas. Temperature swings from one room to the next can be upwards of 5 to 10 degrees or more. Some of this depends on location of the room(s), how many people or other loads that are in the room. [Loads are considered heat loads as your air conditioner operates by removing heat.]

The cheapest way to resolve this problem is to live with what you have. So if you are here thinking there is some magical method to solve this problem I am here to tell you straight, there is not. The cheaper you try to fix this the more likely it is you will create additional problems up to an including the destruction of your HVAC system. I am here to do the job right, if you want snake oil you will have to look elsewhere.

Temperature controls also known as thermostats, are what is used to cycle your air conditioner on and off. These are merely elaborate switches that turn the HVAC system on or off. Most air conditioning systems are either on or off single speed air conditioners. If you live in a humid climate like Katy, Texas and your goal is comfort then you will probably be best advised to consider a 2 speed air conditioning and heating system with dehumidification functions.

HVAC Zoning: An Air Conditioning Dream

Putting cooling or heating where it is needed within your home. Comfort. You know that fuzzy feeling you feel on a brisk autumn day. Imagine that everyday all year long in the favorite room of your home.

Remember what I said earlier: ‘different mindset, requires different thinking’. Due to energy costs your budget may not include cooling the whole home as cool as you would like it in the bedroom, unless the home’s foot print is very small then you probably wouldn’t need zoning. HVAC Zoning for sure isn’t for everyone it is a choice and design enhancement to obtain more comfort and make your HVAC system performance the best it can be.

The thought behind zoning is to put ‘conditioned air’ where you are at in the structure. (In this example: your home.) The idea is that you can only be in one room at a time. Thirty three percent of your life will be spent in the bedroom. (eight hours divided by 24.) The lack of a good night’s sleep can effect your entire day.

By making your bedroom more comfortable via zoning can make other rooms perform better in heat waves by closing the zone to the bedroom when not in use. The capacity of the system under this scenario would then be provided to supplying comfort to other occupied areas of the home. Because people are creatures of habit and often go to bed the same time every night the thermostat for those zone(s) can be programmed easily to control temperature without much thought or fuss.

Another way to think about zoning is your home’s plumbing and electrical systems. You have more than one faucet in your home right? More than one light switch? These are other examples of zoning that reside in your home already, to help you understand what zoning is. Just realize that zoning an HVAC system ‘properly’ is a bit more complicated than electrical and plumbing systems.

Proper HVAC Installation

I emphasize the word ‘properly’ because there are many zone systems as well as basic AC systems that do not work the way they should. Design means everything and in some cases a zone system may not work for what you want to do. This is the definition of a true professional in which you are sold a solution to your problem and not just selling something to be selling something. If you catch my drift.

I hope this blog post eliminates some confusion with this very common problem as well as highlights your ability to go about correcting this problem to your satisfaction. Remember this is an advanced problem, there is nothing ‘basic’ about it. If you don’t go into it with the attitude of doing it right, it very well could be very costly with little to no help solving the actual problem.

Problem solving by definition should be to solve the problem ‘without’ creating additional problems. Otherwise you’re likely buying ‘snake oil’ to one degree or another.

About the author of this air conditioning 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 AC & 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 2 speed air conditioner, AC Equipment Installation, AC problems, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Specialist, Better home comfort, Energy Efficiency, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, HVAC service provider, HVAC Zoning, No AC Salesmen, No Technicians, Professional AC Repair, Smart HVAC system, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on My Bedroom Does Not Get Cool Enough

A Better Air Conditioning & Heating System

Saturday, September 3rd, 2016

Typically when you think of discussions about what makes one AC system better than another, the subject often gets turned into discussions about particular brands or manufacturer’s of said air conditioning equipment. This discussion winds up being anything productive as it is rarely about what is important to you and the comfort you will obtain for your home. Getting on the this brand is better than this brand band wagon is not going to help you any in my opinion. So then what is the best air conditioning system when it comes to addressing real issues in regards to your comfort not to mention indoor air quality? I like to call this: ‘The Devil Is In The Details’!

Note: This article is to describe what is better from a whole HVAC system approach with functions and benefits of this kind of HVAC equipment. These HVAC systems are not piece meal type systems. The whole HVAC system replacement approach has additional benefits other than what is discussed here. Never underestimate the importance of a great HVAC installation as well as a HVAC company known for repairing such systems, regardless of whether you are replacing one piece or the whole HVAC system all at once. There is no substitute for great service.

Humidity Control & Dehumidification

In a humid location like Katy, Texas it’s amazing that more HVAC systems in this area aren’t geared for controlling humidity better than what they do. The problem is that single speed air conditioning systems ‘over cool’ the air and cycle off too quickly in cooler weather to combat this problem properly. The AC system is controlled by temperature and nothing else and due to single speed operation of the system most of the time the unit cycles too soon to really control humidity in the home much at all.

Better humidity control will make you feel much more comfortable at higher temperatures than you would without it. What makes this problem so difficult to address is that humidity is independent from temperature. In a humid climate like Katy, Texas it can be humid even when temperatures dip below typical cooling temperatures. If it’s 75 degrees outside and 80% or higher humidity that is not very comfortable. With a 75 degree outside temperature your indoor single speed AC system isn’t going to run long enough to make you feel as comfortable as you could be in high humidity. The humidity levels in your home can easily be greater than 65% RH (relative humidity).

Did you know that RH readings of 60% or more inside your home can cause mold growth under the right conditions? Mold growth can contribute to an assortment of indoor air quality (IAQ) concerns. Humidity is something that is very important to your health as well as your comfort. You can test this yourself by buying a humidity meter for your home. Realize this reading will fluctuate just as much as temperature does during the various seasons of the year.

Whole Home Dehumidification Systems

This type of dehumidification system is a separate system that works with your current HVAC system. It has a separate control and it’s only job is to dehumidify the air in your home. This ultimately would be the best way to control humidity in your home. The problem with this option is cost. Part of this cost is the system itself, maintenance of that system and operational costs. It is estimated that running this type of system in a humid climate can add an additional 30% to your monthly electric bill. If you have two HVAC systems in your home that can get pretty costly of a consideration.

The real advantage to a whole home dehumidification system is that you could add it to your existing HVAC system without replacing any of that equipment. Over time operational costs and maintenance costs may become prohibitive for many home owners to consider this option.

HVAC Systems With Dehumidification Control

Humidity control with these systems is probably not the proper term to use. As I said earlier in this blog post, humidity in the home is a complex problem to solve because humidity is independent from temperature. So in many respects humidity control via your HVAC system is derived via an assortment of varying degrees of options or choices.

Some single speed AC systems can offer a degree of dehumidification control depending upon the furnace that the AC system is matched with. However, in my opinion it is very little difference than what you would have via just a single speed air conditioner and basic thermostat control. Part of the issue with this is ‘over cooling’ already mentioned. Because a single speed air conditioner delivers full capacity every time it turns on. During cooler and humid periods humidity control with this system would prove futile in most situations.

Multi Speed HVAC Systems

You see your air conditioner is really a dehumidification device. It is dehumidifying the air every time it runs. However, it is mostly controlled by temperature alone. Over capacity will cause the unit to cycle more and not run long enough to dehumidify the air. By installing a multi stage HVAC system or multi speed HVAC system you get better humidity control just by the way these particular HVAC systems run most of the time as opposed to a single speed AC system.

There are 2 speed air conditioners, 2 stage air conditioners, 5 speed air conditioners as well as variable speed air conditioners. The 2 speed and 2 stage AC variety more or less operate in first speed or first stage before enabling second speed or second stage. While running in speed 1 or stage 1 the system is running at a reduced cooling capacity which causes the system to run longer. This reduced cooling capacity could vary from 50% to 60 or 70% of the overall capacity of the HVAC system. Because the AC runs in this first stage most of the time it will run longer and dehumidify the air better than that of a single speed AC. The more speeds or stages the AC has the better it will control variations of the load of the home, the longer the system will run which in turn reduces and controls humidity better.

Dehumidification of these multi stage HVAC systems is included in normal operation of the unit when it cycles as well as a band of control via the thermostat controller of the system in question.

Indoor Air Quality & Air Filtration

Another benefit with these dehumidification enabled HVAC systems is that you get the best comfort for your home as well as better indoor air quality. You could add better filtration to one of these systems and attack the indoor air quality on both fronts… moisture content of the air as well as dust particle filtration. This is the best and proper way to address indoor air quality concerns.

If you suffer from allergies, asthma or other air quality problems I have the solution for you. Not all indoor air quality solutions are created equal. Over the years many IAQ systems have come to market that produce ozone. It has since been determined that ozone in any amount is not good for you and over time can actually make your symptoms worse.

Many times within the HVAC industry, solutions are often given by treating a symptom rather than addressing the real problem. I often refer to these as gimmicks bent on selling you something without really do much for you or putting the interest of selling you something just for the sake of selling you something ahead of what your true goals are. You would probably get more mileage out of chasing your own tail.

I go to the extent I go, to show you the right way to accomplish what you want to accomplish. Stay in the loop and subscribe to my You Tube Channel here. The solutions I offer are solutions that work. Why would you want anything other than that?

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope I helped you understand things more clearly in regards to finding comfort options for your home. As always, I hope your day is comfortable.

About the author of this air conditioning 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 AC & 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 Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Specialist, Better home comfort, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, HVAC service provider, Professional AC Repair, reducing home humidity, Smart HVAC system | Comments Off on A Better Air Conditioning & Heating System

Air Conditioning Service

Tuesday, August 16th, 2016

Air conditioning repairs, AC service or new AC equipment installations require the magical little word called ‘SERVICE‘. Without that word you’re in big trouble if a problem develops with your AC system. What does that word mean to you?

This little word ‘service‘ is what in many ways separates one AC company from another. Now all things aside some people view service differently than others. Maybe due to household schedules or whatever. However, your AC system whether new, a few years old or even a decade old or older can break down at any time. Brand of the equipment doesn’t matter all that much in most cases.

Weekend, Night time, Holiday, etc. An air conditioner doesn’t know time like you or me. So why is this important?

If you buy a new HVAC system and it breaks down, your best option to repair it is thru your installing HVAC contractor, because this is who you bought the system thru. It would be a ‘HUGE’ conflict of interest to let another HVAC contractor repair your HVAC system that was installed by another.

If your HVAC system is older and out of the manufacture warranty envelope then it only matters to what degree you trust the HVAC provider that you are calling.

Any HVAC company you use should be licensed and insured and the license number should be displayed on all invoices, advertisements and both sides of the front quarter panel of the service vehicle that comes to your home. (This is Texas law.)

HVAC System Problems & Conflicts of Interest

So why then is this a conflict of interest to have Company ‘B’ work on a new HVAC system installed by Company ‘A’?

Because lets say you have two companies without mentioning names… you have company ‘A’ and company ‘B’. Company ‘A’ installed your new HVAC system.

Your new AC system is now broken and you call ‘A’ but they are closed, don’t answer their phone, goes to voice mail or maybe after hours call service in which you sit on hold for who knows how long only to be told after waiting on hold –that an on call person will call you back in some cases hours later. Say What?

So you think… not clearly due to the excess heat in your house, that you’ll just call another company that services HVAC equipment. Company ‘B’ answers the phone not realizing they are a 3rd party to your otherwise inoperable dilemma. Say they come out diagnose the system for you, charge for labor and other things not covered by your manufacture warranty. They leave, the system works for awhile then breaks down again.

You now decide to call company ‘A’ back. After investigating the system Company ‘A’ determines someone else has been working on it and decides to take the brash approach of denying a warranty claim on your otherwise new AC system. You are in a bad position to say the least.

Unresolved AC Technical Problems

Another common scenario to this is Company ‘A’ the installing company of your new or fairly new HVAC system is called back during normal business hours, they make a repair to the AC unit under warranty terms of the installation charge for labor or whatever charges aren’t covered by the warranty of the AC system.

The AC system works for awhile and then breaks again OR the AC system doesn’t work at all still or worse than before. Part of the reason some of these HVAC companies exist is to replace HVAC systems with no service or technical department to repair the systems they sell. A good deal is a bad deal in short order.

Sometimes they may brag about how many HVAC systems they have installed. But they never mention how many of them they still service? You see the problem with that? QUALITY over quantity OR QUANTITY over quality. Which would you want?

A parts changer is defined as changing parts without proving the part has actually failed. A guess is a guess. Guessing will not fix or repair too many air conditioning systems. Believe it or not you will pay for it one way or another. Why not do it right the first time?

Katy, Texas Licensed HVAC Contractor

This is what I am (Licensed HVAC Contractor), you can’t run a HVAC company in Texas (legally) by any other means. If you hire someone working under another license (commonly AC Technician) your recourse for AC problems that develop with your system goes thru them. If it is a ‘side job’ installed by a technician it is unlikely the warranty covering that system is worth the paper it’s printed on.

I take the HVAC contractor thing to the next level in that I do all my own HVAC installations and AC repairs. I don’t use Technicians, Subs or Installers. I have found I can offer much better quality when I’m fully involved in any project whether it is repair, replace or SERVICE! (It is actually me writing this blog – Ray Austin. No one can be me, but me.) Subscribe to my You Tube Channel here.

Side Job AC Installations Warranty Void By Manufacturer

There are little disclaimers within the warranty limitations that protect manufacturer’s from unlicensed, unskilled people from selling, installing and or servicing equipment.

Improper installation is not warrantable just as much as purchasing equipment over the internet. If you have to resort to such methods imagine how much trouble you are going to have if your AC equipment fails unexpectedly?

Side jobs are done in cash. A technician doing a side job doesn’t want any documentation because if his boss finds out he faces immediate termination from his regular job. You can’t hide a side job from a licensed HVAC contractor. If you don’t have any documentation of installation how do you expect to be covered by a Manufacture Warranty?

Every piece of AC equipment made has unique model number and serial numbers that are attached to the HVAC license that bought it. If there was no HVAC license present at the time of sale, the warranty is virtually worthless in most cases. A technician license is not a valid license in and of itself. In Texas, a valid HVAC contractor license is gold in color, a technician license is white.  A technician license is merely a registration with the state. Send in your $20 and boom! You are now a AC technician too? Ironically it doesn’t mean much without EPA certification. The more you read here, the more you will learn.

No Licensed HVAC contractor worth their ‘salt’ is going to warranty or install an air conditioner that you bought over the internet. You buy it, you install it and warranty it yourself.

A new AC system install a few years old with problems and you’re calling a HVAC contractor that didn’t install it? What do you suppose this Licensed AC Contractor is going to think when he sees the equipment in question?

Why aren’t you calling the HVAC contractor who installed it?

Just for fun, I’ll tell you a few likely titles of this made for home movie:
“NO WAY OUT!”
“That’s Going To Cost You”
“No Where To Hide”

Professional AC Repairs

This Air Conditioning blog is designed to help you make wise decisions when it comes to your choices regarding comfort decisions for your home. I hope you attained this information before making a costly mistake.

All is not lost, costly mistakes are lessons, provided you learn from them and don’t repeat them. An HVAC system is, by a national average, a 15 year appliance and in some cases can last even longer when installation and maintenance is done properly and adequately. Notice I didn’t mention a brand name here, brand bashing is not professionalism by any stretch of the imagination.

Nothing is perfect in an imperfect world. AC Equipment that I’ve installed myself has failure rates within the warranty period that run in a tight range of 2-3% annually. Most HVAC companies have new equipment failure rates often 8 times or higher than this figure. In some cases this may be due to a lack of maintenance by home owner, improper installation, improper diagnosis or out right incompetence. Please choose your HVAC contractor carefully and wisely.

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 on AC & 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 problems, AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Pro, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Specialist, Buy AC Equipment Online, Do It Yourself, Home Improvement, HVAC Contractor, HVAC service provider, No AC Salesmen, No Technicians, Professional AC Repair, R22 Freon Problems, Uncategorized, Working HVAC Contractor | Comments Off on Air Conditioning Service

Air Conditioning Problems

Wednesday, 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

Wednesday, 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

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