Versatility

The air handler delivers the conditioned air within a space. Some of the outdoor compressors for ductless systems can support up to four separate air handlers, making it possible to cool larger spaces with these systems. The handlers can sit on the floor, hang from walls or the ceiling. The air handler can be as far as 50 feet from the compressor and each one has its own temperature settings.

Ease Of Installation

Since the ductless cooling systems don’t need to connect to ducts, much of the work of installation has been eliminated. The HVAC installer drills a small hole through the exterior wall to connect the conduit and the air handler. The manufacturer installs the refrigerant to the precise level, eliminating this step when the system goes into your home. Since these systems may not require high-voltage wiring, connecting the electrical components may go quickly without requiring an additional circuit.

Energy Efficiency

These systems carry the same SEER ratings that central air conditioners do, with the minimum starting at 13. The SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The SEER ratings on some ductless systems is higher than 13, lowering electrical use even more. These systems do not have any conditioning losses from air ducts, which can save you 30 percent or more on cooling costs.

If you’d like more information on ductless cooling, contact Trusted Heating,Cooling and Solar in Tucson to learn more. We’ve been serving southern Arizona for 55 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about ductless cooling and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Trusted Heating and Cooling services Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

• Carefully inspect your entire duct system, from attic to basement, even checking the crawl space if necessary.
• Check the system airflow and pressure to make sure it is adequate. This will help him find leaks.
• Use mastic or foil tape or a spray sealant to seal any leaks he might find.
• Examine the air returns to determine if they are appropriately sized for the system, since they are often too small.
• Check to see if any ducts are damaged or loose and then repair any that are.
• For ducts that pass through unconditioned areas, he will make sure they have insulation with at least an R-6 value. If they do not, he will install the appropriate insulation.
• He will make sure that all registers and grills are properly attached to the ducts.
• He will replace the system filter.

Your ducts can make all the difference between having an enormous energy bill or something more reasonable that you can live with. This is why, when you are hiring a contractor, you should choose a reputable company for the job. If you have any questions about sealing your ducts, please contact us at Trusted Heating, Cooling and Solar. As a family owned business with three generations of experience, we will be happy to help you.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about hiring a contractor and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Trusted Heating and Cooling services Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

As it currently stands, Freon prices are at about $50 per pound. However, Freon prices are expected to almost triple this summer, truly making the product liquid gold. The skyrocketing Freon prices are caused by new emission standards established by the EPA. Air conditioners that are five to 10 years old are only compatible with R22 Freon, which is gradually being replaced by R422 Freon, a more environmentally friendly alternative.

By 2020, R22 Freon will no longer be produced at all. This means that in the next eight years, about 80 percent of all air conditioners in the country will need to be replaced. With replacement air conditioners starting at several thousand dollars, many southern Arizona residents, and consumers around the country, have a hard reality to face.

Fortunately, with this knowledge years ahead of the “deadline” to replace your old air conditioner, you can make the replacement at your leisure. It’s definitely worth your while to replace your A/C sooner rather than later, though, because rising R22 Freon prices will increase the cost of servicing older air conditioners. By choosing a replacement system that runs on R422, you will enjoy less costly services, dependable operation, and fewer emissions for years to come.

The increase in Freon prices affects everyone from apartment renters to home and business owners. Anyone who stays cool with equipment using R22 Freon is affected by the rising costs and should look into making an air conditioner replacement sooner rather than later.

To learn more about staying cool in southern Arizona without paying more than you need to, please contact Trusted Heating, Cooling and Solar, your Tucson home comfort experts.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about Freon prices and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Trusted Heating and Cooling services Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!  

Money Savings image via Shutterstock   

• Look at the specifications on the unit. Does it have a thermal expansion valve (sometimes called a metering device), for regulating refrigerant flow through the unit? Units with this kind of equipment will usually have an EER (energy efficiency ratio) of 11.6 or higher. This means your air conditioner will continue to operation efficiently even when temperatures approach 100 degrees.
• Does the unit have a variable-speed air handler? This feature allows the blower fan to perform at several different speeds. This makes it far more efficient than older models that operate at only one speed.
• Also look for a “fan only” mode. This will allow you to circulate cool air during the evening without having to run the compressor unit. This means your air will still get filtered at a fraction of the cost of running the entire unit.
• Is there an automatic-delay function? This is a function that runs the fan for a few extra minutes after the refrigeration unit has shut off. An air conditioner with automatic delay will assure that no cold air gets wasted in your ventilation system.
• Check the operating noise. This is a feature that many people don’t pay attention too until the unit kicks on in the middle of a ball game or movie. A loud unit can be a nuisance and checking the running noise before purchase is the best way to avoid it.
• Is there a filter replacement indicator light? A visual reminder will help you keep your unit working efficiently.

For help making the best choice in a new air conditioner, contact the experts at Trusted Heating, Cooling and Solar.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Trusted Heating and Cooling services Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Create a room-by-room energy assessment check list for each room. A good list will include:

• Windows (seals, gaps, broken glass, etc.).
• Doors (weatherstripping, gaps).
• Electrical outlets.
• Wall openings.
• Baseboards.
• Register gaps.
• Fireplace dampers.
• Ceiling and attic openings.

Optional items may include:

• Mail slots.
• Pet doors.
• Dryer vents.
• Laundry chutes.
• Ventilation fans.

An exterior check list will include:

• Corners.
• Areas where two materials are joined.
• Windows.
• Doors.
• Spigots.
• Vents.
• Pipes.
• Foundation or siding cracks.
• Plants growing into the siding of the home.

Look and shake windows and doors. If they are loose, they are leaking air. If you can see gaps or daylight around any edges when the window or door is closed, you have leaks. Look for broken or missing weatherstripping, single-pane windows, missing caulk or other obvious signs of leaks.

For more difficult leaks, close all your windows, doors and fireplace flues. Turn off all gas-burning appliances such as water heaters, furnaces, stoves and other items. Place a large fan in one window facing outward. Tape plastic around the sides to seal the fan. The fan is used to suck the air out of the house. Light a stick of incense and walk around each room. The smoke will bend when there are leaks.

Note the leaks on your test sheets. Inspect the exterior and the attic and basement spaces. Inadequate insulation, gaps in ductwork, gaps around pipes or openings in the exterior walls, missing vapor barriers and outdated equipment should all be noted. Some older homes will have no exterior insulation or insulation between one floor and a basement.

Correct as many of your leaks as you can. For the more difficult problems, contact an HVAC professional.

For help with all your home-comfort needs, contact us at Trusted Heating, Cooling and Solar.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy assessments and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Trusted Heating and Cooling services Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Check For Dust

Ducts, heat pump coils and fans can all accumulate dust and other debris during the year that need to be removed for the system to operate efficiently. The technician can also replace your filters while he is at it.

Check For Leaks

If your ducts are leaking, a large portion of your conditioned air could be just floating away. A trained professional can find and seal these leaks.

Check The Refrigerant

The refrigerant in your system is vital to its proper function. The technician can measure the amount you have and add more if needed. He can also check the system for refrigerant leaks.

Check Electrical Connections

Your system’s electrical connections will also be checked and cleaned, and any loose connections will be tightened. He will also make sure the controls and the thermostat are operating correctly.

Motors And Belts

Parts like motors that need it will be lubricated and the technician will also make sure that belts are not worn or loose.

With summer highs in Tucson and surrounding areas regularly surpassing 100 degrees, it is a good idea to make sure your heat pump is in top shape. That way you can get the most for your energy dollar while maintaining your family’s comfort.

If you have any other questions about this, please contact us at Trusted Heating, Cooling and Solar. Our team of trained professionals will be happy to help you.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Trusted Heating and Cooling services Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

• Small pops or bangs near your air conditioner: This is likely coming from your air conditioner itself. Schedule a maintenance session for your air conditioner with a qualified technician to adjust the unit and prevent the air conditioner from making noise.
• Scrapes or thuds in the walls of your house away from the air conditioner: This is probably due to your ductwork scraping against the framework of your house. When your ducts are filled with air, they expand and contract based on the temperature of the air inside the ductwork. You can fix this problem by adding additional insulation to your ducts, covering the edges of your ductwork with padding to muffle the sounds, or by widening the holes around your ducts so that they will not scrape against the framework. If you decide to expand the duct holes, you will need the opinion of a professional home contractor to determine if widening the space will damage the structural integrity of the house.

In extreme cases, it may be necessary to move your ductwork. If this is the case, you can use a small duct system or simple move it to a larger area of the house. This is only necessary for poorly-installed ductwork, where the original contractors forgot to account for duct expansion and there is not enough space around any part of the ductwork.

For more information about fixing noise in the ducts, contact us at Trusted Heating, Cooling and Solar. We supply Tucson with expert HVAC service and can help you eliminate duct noise.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about duct noise and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Trusted Heating and Cooling services Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

• You don’t need your furnace: With heating season over, there will be no down time when you are without heat. In the middle of winter, even a day or two can be a major inconvenience.
• You can take advantage of clearance sales: End-of-season markdowns are common, and are in place to make room for the newer models. This means you may be able to score a high-efficiency furnace for a fraction of what it would have cost you in the middle of the heating season.
• You have time to hunt down the best deal: Use this time to shop around for the best local deal you can find; keep other factors such as dealer reputation, and warranty, in mind when pricing out that new furnace.
• You have more bargaining power during the slow season: Late winter to mid-spring is typically a slow period in the HVAC industry. Your local contractor may be willing to work for a reduced rate at this time, with business at a lull. If nothing else, you will save the pain of paying overtime or weekend rates, that an emergency winter call out would have cost you.

Now that you are ready to replace your old furnace, give us a call at Trusted Heated, Cooling and Solar. With three generations, and more than 55 years of combined service in southern Arizona, we will help you find the best equipment for your home, at the best price.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about the heating season and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Trusted Heating and Cooling services Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Calculating Peak Hour Usage

Typical tankless water heating units can supply around five gallons of hot water per minute. In order to know if this is sufficient, you need to find the flow rate your household needs during the hours when your usage is highest.

• Make a chart of activities: Make an hour-by-hour chart of the activities that consume hot water. For example, does someone usually shower at the same time the dishwasher is running?
• Calculate the required flow rate: Refer to the owner’s manuals for your appliances to figure out how many gallons of hot water each activity requires. Add them together and you will know how much hot water you need during peak usage.
• Consider upgrades: If these numbers seem high to you, consider upgrading to energy-efficient faucets, appliances, etc. before you invest in your tankless water heating system.

Other Considerations

Faucets and outlets that are closest to the water heater will take their share of the hot water first, so take a minute to consider the layout of your house.

• Remote facilities: Do you have a washroom, bathroom or other hot water-intensive area that is fairly far from the other usage spots? If so, it is usually a good idea to install a dedicated heater for these areas to ensure they receive sufficient hot water.
• Placement of the heaters: For multiheater system, plan the installation according to the areas of hot water use, not according to the house. For example, if your kitchen and main bathroom are close together, you may need two units in that area rather than one there and another in a separate part of the house.

If you’d like more information about tankless water heating, contact us at Trusted Heating, Cooling and Solar. Our family has been serving the Tucson area for more than 50 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about tankless water heating and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Trusted Heating and Cooling services Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Retrofitting your home with passive solar with what’s called a Trombe wall is one option. This system consists of a wall of windows that draws sunlight energy into a sun room or buffered area. Here heat is drawn inward and upward while cool air sinks and is vented through the floor, circulating heated air in winter months and largely negating thermostat usage.

Design of a passive solar build should allow for a circuitous convection flow that distributes heated air in winter and makes use of vented cool air in the summer. It should consist of large window panes on the outer south-facing wall and vents in the floor to draw cold, stratified air down and out through floorboards. Commercial spaces can simply maximize their use of floor to ceiling windows (or any southward-facing area drawing in sunlight through large windows) by optimizing insulation and ventilation.

Passive solar is fast becoming the clean energy choice for homeowners and businesses alike, for its many benefits, such as:

• Big, long-term savings on energy bills
• A clean, zero-emissions energy source
• The perfect fit for sunny Arizona and the Desert Southwest
• Much cheaper and easier to install than photovoltaic panel build-out
• The ecologically sound thing to do

Retrofitting your home or business with a passive solar power source like a Trombe wall or solarium costs relatively little compared with the savings it will bring you and can be done quickly and affordably by licensed professionals who will work with you to create the perfect design for your structure.

For more information on solar power, whether active or passive, or anything related to your home comfort, please contact the experts at Trusted Heating and Cooling today. We’ve been serving Tucson and southern Arizona since the 1950s.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about solar power and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Trusted Heating and Cooling services Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!