First Choice Heating & Cooling Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Choosing the Right AC for Your Next Installation

Monday, October 23rd, 2023

Two outdoor cooling units next to a house, ideal for cooling replacement services.

Home cooling systems last for 10–15 years, which is why selecting your next one is a big deal. Before choosing a new system, it’s important to assess your entire house’s cooling needs to ensure the unit is properly sized and tailored for your house. Proper airflow is essential for effective cooling and comfort, and issues like weak airflow from vents can significantly impact system performance. For many homeowners, a central air conditioning unit is a popular choice due to its efficiency and ability to cool the entire home. It’s a long-term commitment, so taking the time to select the right cooling system is well worth it. Installing a new air conditioner can provide improved efficiency, greater comfort, and access to the latest technology. When assessing your house’s cooling needs, professional calculations, such as Manual J calculations, are crucial to ensure the unit is properly sized for maximum efficiency and comfort. A Manual J calculation ensures that HVAC equipment is accurately sized to meet the specific heating and cooling demands of the home. Choosing the right system is important, as an upgrade to a modern unit can help reduce energy costs over time. Newer models offer improved energy efficiency, updated features, and higher SEER ratings compared to older systems. Investing in a new air conditioner pays for itself over time, as the energy savings and improved performance offset the initial cost. Right now, let’s run through a few different features you need to look out for, and schedule your AC installation in Fenton, MI.

What key steps should homeowners follow when choosing a replacement cooling system?

Assess your home’s current cooling needs with a professional evaluation to ensure the system is properly sized.
Compare types of units (central AC, ductless mini‑splits, heat pumps) based on efficiency, zoning, and layout.
Prioritize energy efficiency and features like advanced filtration or zone control.
Schedule a pre‑installation assessment to check existing infrastructure and identify installation challenges.
Plan for ongoing maintenance to maximize system performance and longevity.

Tags: Air Conditioning System Installation, Fenton
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Uncommon AC Repairs You Should Be Aware Of

Monday, October 9th, 2023

Your air conditioner might break down for reasons like a bad compressor, and the fan may eventually run into problems as well. These are expected, and it could be any number of various mechanical problems that pop up. As homeowners, you expect issues like these, but they’re not the only problems that can befall your AC.

When we answer calls for AC repair in Howell, MI, we run into some odd problems that you might not expect. While the situations we’re about to talk about aren’t common, they’re also possible, and it’s good to know as a homeowner all the unexpected ways your air conditioner can incur damage.

Tags: AC Repair, air conditioning repair, Howell
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How to Turn Off Your Air Conditioner (Without the Thermostat)

Monday, August 14th, 2023

Your thermostat reads the temperature of the room, then sends an on or off signal to the air conditioner. The AC itself isn’t detecting the temperature in your home, so it has to rely on the thermostat. But what happens when it becomes unreliable?

Incorrect signals are being sent to the AC, or the last signal your thermostat sent was an “on” request, and it never followed up with an “off” request. You need to know how to turn off your air conditioner, so here are a few ways that don’t involve the thermostat.

Tags: AC Repair, air conditioning repair
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Can You Fix a Leaking Air Compressor or Does It Require Replacement?

Monday, June 5th, 2023

Your air compressor starts to kick the bucket, or so you think. Does it have some life left in it, or do you have to get an entirely new one? Can you fix a leaking AC compressor? Let’s talk about that.

First of all: yes, you can fix a leaking compressor, but the long answer is a little more nuanced than that. Let’s go over all the things you need to know about that air compressor repair before you throw money out the window.

Tags: AC Repair, air conditioning repair
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What to Expect During Air Conditioner Installation

Monday, May 22nd, 2023

Smiling technician speaking with a homeowner while performing a cooling replacement service.

It’s old, broken, or inefficient as can be—whatever the reason is, your old air conditioner has to do, and a new one is getting installed soon enough. But you weren’t there the last time an AC was installed in this home, so what do you do now? What do you expect when installation day rolls around?

What does a cooling replacement installation typically involve?

Removal of old system: Technicians disconnect and haul off your existing unit and tidy the area.
New wiring and lines: Faulty or outdated connectors are replaced to ensure safe, reliable operation.
Installation of the new AC unit: Indoor and outdoor components are assembled and integrated properly.
System integrity testing: Leak checks and connection diagnostics help avoid refrigerant or pressure issues.
Final performance test: Technicians confirm proper airflow, venting, and temperature output before cleanup.

Getting AC installation in Brighton isn’t as daunting as you might think. Here’s a basic outline of what you can expect so you know what’s coming. Hopefully there will be no surprises along the way.

Tags: Air Conditioning System Installation, Brighton
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How to Know If Your AC Condenser Is Running Into Trouble

Monday, April 10th, 2023

air-conditioner-techs-working-on-AC-cabinet

Your air conditioner has a lot of working parts, and chief among them is the condenser. If you’re not sure what it does, let us explain it to you. Your condenser removes heat from your home by working with other components in your air conditioner.

As you can imagine, when your AC condenser in Fenton gives out, it’s a pretty big deal. Let’s help you identify the warning signs before that happens in the first place.

Tags: air conditioning repair, Fenton
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The Impact of Dirty Air Filters on Your Air Conditioner

Monday, March 27th, 2023

technician-inspecting-air-conditioner-filter

Your air conditioner is a forced air system. The air it pulls in helps pull heat from your home, while the output releases cool air, and the cycle continues until your home reaches the desired temperature. Sounds great, but it’s easy to put a wrench in the gears, so to speak.

Your heating and cooling system completely depends on that air intake. Without sufficient air coming in, well, there’s a few problems that can happen. Let’s talk about those.

Tags: air conditioning maintenance
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Can You Fix a Freon Leak in an Air Conditioner?

Monday, March 13th, 2023

AC technician inspecting outdoor units with a clipboard for AC repair assessment.

Your air conditioner doesn’t quite feel the same as it used to. It’s running for longer and your house isn’t getting cool as quickly. What gives?

It could be a number of things, but one major problem could be a freon leak. Freon is the brand name for a chemical blend that’s used as a refrigerant in the lines of your AC. In fact, low refrigerant levels are one of the common reasons AC isn’t cold that homeowners encounter during the summer months.

But can you fix a freon leak in an air conditioner, or does it spell certain doom for your home cooling system? Let’s talk about that.

Tags: Air Conditioner Repair, air conditioning repair
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Why Your AC Won’t Shut Off

Monday, August 15th, 2022

air-conditioner-plastic-grill When it’s hot, you want your air conditioning system to run for as long as necessary to get your house cool. There is such a thing as too long, however! Air conditioners are designed to run in cycles where the compressor comes on for 15–20 minutes and then cycles down until the thermostat registers the need for more cooling. If you start to notice that your AC never seems to cycle down or the fan runs continuously, you may need to have air conditioning repair in Brighton, MI.

Tags: air conditioning maintenance, air conditioning repair, Brighton
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Signs Your AC’s Compressor May Be in Trouble

Monday, August 1st, 2022

Close-up of an air conditioner unit with exposed components for AC compressor replacement.

The second half of summer often places major strain on home air conditioning systems. The heat increases and forces more work from an AC that’s already done plenty of it. Routine maintenance in spring goes a long way to helping an air conditioner make it through this time of the year, but maintenance isn’t magic. We recommend you pay attention to strange behavior from your AC at the end of summer and call us for air conditioning repair in Burton, MI when anything crops up. Spring is ideal for getting your AC tuned up, so problems like compressor strain are less likely later in the season.

For example, a part of your AC that can encounter problems from wear and tear at the end of the season is the compressor. This is the most vital part of an air conditioning system because if it fails, it’s often more cost-effective to replace the entire AC rather than just the compressor. If you catch compressor issues in time, our technicians may be able to rescue it with less expensive repairs. Issues like refrigerant loss can damage compressors quickly if left unresolved.

Tags: Air Conditioning System Repair, Burton
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