What you need to know about air conditioning

In business, having a reliable, cost-efficient cooling system is not an option, it is a necessity. A commercial air conditioner is essential to keep your customers comfortable, employees happy and productive, and equipment cool.
A good cooling system needs to accomplish that while:

• Operating efficiently to keep electricity bills down
• Reliably performing year after year when properly serviced
• Run quietly and be low in maintenance needs

Size
The cooling system must be sized correctly. If it is too small it will not keep your business cooled sufficiently. And if it is too large it will cycle (turn on and off) more than necessary, wasting electricity and potentially straining the compressor.

At Air 1 Heating we determine the optimal system size for your business by carefully evaluating your cooling requirements. This can include:

• If you have appliances that generate heat
• Your business’ insulation, the floor space
• Your window dimensions and exposure
• The local climate and direction your business faces

Efficiency
When deciding between air conditioners with similar features, capacities, and prices, energy efficiency should be the deciding factor. Energy efficient units may be higher priced, but cost less to operate, and can return back the extra initial cost many times during their lifetime.

The SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) is the BTU (British Thermal Unit) of cooling output during a typical cooling-season divided by the total electric energy input in watt-hours (W-h) during the same period. This is expressed by the formula: SEER = BTU ÷ W-h.  The higher the SEER rating of a unit, the more energy efficient it is. Considerable energy savings can be obtained from more efficient systems. For example by upgrading from a SEER 9 to SEER 13 system, the power consumption is reduced by 30%. This can result in a substantial annual energy savings depending on your usage rate and the cost of electricity.

Installation
Having a properly engineered and carefully installed system is very important. An air conditioner installed improperly, such as the ducts not properly insulated, will waste energy, even one with a very high efficiency rating.

Cost
At Air 1 Heating we understand each business environment requires special attention to cost control while focusing on keeping customers and employees comfortable. When comparing different installation estimates on cost consider the following. There are four costs that make up the total cost of owning and operating an air conditioning system.

Initial Investment: Without being properly informed, it is easy to look at the initial cost on estimates you have been provided and just choose an installer based on it.  However, what actually needs to be considered is the lifetime cost of the system, as this deciding factor will cost you more money in the end.

Operating Cost: The operating cost of the system is what you will be paying to the utility company for the next ten or more years. Here are some of the items that will affect your operating cost:

• Equipment selected and equipment’s ratings
• Installation material used and installation procedures
• Installer training and skill level and experience of the installers
• Supervision of the job
• Condition and sizing of the present or replaced ductwork

Many business owners for example assume choosing a 13 SEER air conditioning system results in a 13 SEER system installed. This is not always the case. It would be fairly easy for a contractor to install 13 SEER equipment, but deliver a 10 SEER system. Numerous areas affect the system during installation. Is the refrigerant copper properly sized? Is the refrigerant copper soldered so it does not leak? Is the refrigerant charge exactly correct? Is the air properly filtered? Are there any air leaks in the ductwork? Is the ductwork properly sized?

Repair and Maintenance Cost: Many of the areas that affect the operating cost also affect the repair and maintenance cost. The experience and skill level of the installers play a large part in the repair and maintenance cost. An example is an installer that allows dirt and moisture to get into the open refrigerant piping; this can result later in a failed compressor.

Future Replacement Cost: Any air conditioning system, regardless of the equipment chosen and how well it is installed, will eventually need to be replaced. The difference, of course, is how long the system will operate before needing replacement. For example, a system properly engineered and carefully installed may last for 15 years, whereas another system may last only nine years.

Want to know more on the basics of air conditioning systems? Watch this video.

Call us today at 360.829.5159 to arrange for a no-obligation evaluation of your cooling needs and a FREE estimate.