If possible, plan to have an aging air conditioning system replaced before the summer heat arrives. Spring is a good time to arrange for the work with our installation specialists. However, we understand that air conditioners can appear to be in good shape before the summer starts, only to abruptly crash when the heat becomes intense, requiring an emergency new system installation.
And we also understand why homeowners might want to attempt to do the installation on their own, or look to an amateur who makes big promises about saving money. But air conditioning installation and replacement must be left to professionals. Here are some reasons why:
Proper Tonnage for the New Unit
Tonnage doesn’t mean how much an air conditioner weighs: it’s a measure of the cooling capacity of the air conditioner. One ton = 12,000 BTUs of heat removed from a home per hour. Most homes use an air conditioner between 1.5 and 5 tons—but this isn’t a simple figure that you can guess at. An amateur is extremely likely to pick an air conditioner with more tonnage than necessary for the space, and this is a common problem with inferior AC installation.
An air conditioner that has too much tonnage for the house it’s supposed to handle will waste energy and spend so much time starting up and shutting down that it will likely need to be retired and replaced early from all the stress. Only licensed professionals can perform the heat load calculation necessary to find the correct tonnage of AC to cool a house without wasting power.
Licensed to Handle Refrigerant
Refrigerant is the chemical blend that allows an air conditioning system to move heat out of a house. Proper handling of refrigerant is essential during installation, when the technicians put the correct charge into the system. (An incorrect charge will damage the AC.) Only technicians with special licensing are permitted to handle refrigerant.
Correct Connection to the Electrical System
Electrical troubles are one of the most common reasons for AC failure—and most of them are avoidable if the system received a professional installation in the first place. Skilled technicians will ensure the air conditioner is correctly hooked into your home’s electrical system so you won’t have to keep dealing with tripped circuit breakers in the future.
Speed
You don’t want to spend days in hot weather while a non-professional tries to get a new air conditioner running. And you don’t want to be the person toiling away in the heat for those many days. Only technicians with training and the best tools are capable of doing a speedy AC installation without making major mistakes. They won’t rush the job, but you can still expect them to finish in a few hours so you’ll hardly miss out on cooling.
If you’re in a situation where you need air conditioning installation in St. Paul, MN as soon as possible, make sure you call on people who can not only do the job fast, but will do it without taking shortcuts that can lead to costly future problems. Our NATE-certified technicians will see the work is done to meet your highest expectations.
Freedom Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. serves the Twin Cities and the surrounding areas.