Pasadena HVAC Installation & Replacement

Quality heating installation & retrofit.

Installing a New Heating & Cooling System

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. So making smart decisions about selecting a new heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills

When it's time to replace your heating and/or air conditioning system here are some things to help you understand the services you should expect from your heating and air conditioning contractor at change-out time.

A Quality Installation Begins with a Professional Design

Unfortunately, some contractors merely size a new system based on the old system's capacity rather than completing a professional design. What if your home's heating and cooling needs have changed since the last system was installed many years ago? What if the original system was not sized properly to begin with? Guesswork can lead to under-sizing your new system which can reduce the comfort of your home. Over-sizing will add unnecessary expense to the job's cost. Bigger is NOT better. Many contractors will readily sell you a bigger unit than you need. It costs you more to buy, and it can cost a lot more to operate and service. Even worse, over-sizing will add unnecessary expense to the job's cost and may contribute to moisture-related problems down the line.

It takes time and expertise to complete a professional load calculation and system design. Contractors lacking in the necessary technical skills or who are just interested in making a "fast buck" may try to convince you this is not important. Quality design is important in virtually every product we use including heating and air conditioning systems.

The Load Calculation is Where it All Begins

Year-round, comfort is the goal. In the summer, your air conditioning system not only cools your home's air (sensible cooling), it removes moisture (latent cooling). In the winter, your heating system must keep you comfortable without causing high utility bills.

Make sure that your contractor uses the Manual J® residential load calculation procedure. Manual J is the official standard for residential load calculation and is required by many building codes around the country.

Your contractor will carefully measure your home and evaluate its levels of insulation. Windows' sizes and quantity will be noted, levels of infiltration will be estimated and internal loads including lighting and kitchen appliances will be taken into consideration.

Selecting the Right Equipment

Heating and air conditioning equipment comes in many capacities, configurations and efficiencies. It's important that your contractor selects the right equipment that will be compatible with your home's heating and cooling needs. Once again, it's difficult for a contractor to select the right equipment if an accurate Manual J load calculation has not been completed.

Make Sure Your New System is Installed Correctly

The final concern is how your new system is installed. Many poorly trained or careless technicians often create problems during installation. For example, sloppy workmanship often creates duct leakage where your new equipment is connected to your existing ductwork.

It's also essential that your new air conditioning or heat pump system has the proper refrigerant gas charge (most commonly known as Freon ™). Most contractors make no correction for the actual length and internal volume of the copper lines in your system. They just crack open the valves and use whatever refrigerant charge came in the new outdoor unit from the factory.

Because of this common mistake, a recent study by a major electrical utility found that 79% of newly installed systems had either significantly too much or too little refrigerant gas. This increases utility bills, reduces the amount of cooling created, and often causes premature failure of the new system.

It takes time and training to correct the refrigerant gas charge for each installation. Very few residential contractors know how to do it properly. And even if they do know how, many still don't invest the time needed. A good contractor will either precisely weigh in the proper charge, or adjust it based on careful temperature, relative humidity and refrigerant gas pressure measurements.

Selecting the Right Contractor is Key

Buying a new heating and/or air conditioning system is a major decision - ranking just behind paying for your home, your cars and your children's college education. Selecting the right contractor to design and install your new system is essential. After all, homeowners only buy new heating and air conditioning systems once every ten or twenty years. When selecting your dealer, look for a manufacturers' authorized dealer seal of approval. It means they have met the manufacturers' criteria for repairing, installing and servicing your heating and cooling system. Most authorized dealers have better warranties and guarantee their work.

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning contractor selected to inspect, upgrade or install an air conditioning system is as critical to the system's successful operation as the equipment itself.

Choosing the right HVAC contractor