If you took a minute to step outside your house in Charlotte this week, you know it’s here… With temps floating into the 90’s for the 8th straight day, you can rest assured that Charlotte air conditioner repair companies are running full steam ahead to keep their customers cool during the heat spell. In a previous article, we discussed the cost to recharge a home air conditioner or heat pump on your Charlotte area central HVAC system, and in this Charlotte HVAC Guide, we are going to look at how many pounds of freon or refrigerant a system can hold. The general rule amount that can be estimated is in the 2-4 pounds per ton of cooling for your system. Disclaimer: This rule of thumb is VERY general and there are several variables that come into play. My Carrier 3-ton system may use 4-5 pounds, while your Goodman heat pump may use 5-6. The ONLY way to know for sure is to read the label on the side of the unit, and have your installer or service company provide the info for you.

As always, we recommend comparison shopping for installation and repairs as often as you can. Just like any other factor in pricing, you may find that 3 Charlotte AC repair contractors have 3 completely different prices for the same product or service. Take a look at the important variables that can affect how many pounds of freon your AC or Heat Pump may need. Probably one of the biggest factors, the size of your home AC or heat pump is going to have a significant effect on the amount of freon it uses on its own, but it will also have a downwind effect on several of the other factors listed below. For example, a larger condensing unit, needs a larger liquid line on the lineset… which also means more capacity. Length and Size of Copper Lineset The farther distance between the condensing unit and the evaporator coil, means a longer lineset is used to connect the two. Most AC units come from the factory with enough of a charge for the unit, and 15 feet of lineset.

Longer distances require additional freon. Larger capacity units also use a larger diameter tubing on the lineset, which will require more freon.floor standing air conditioner units SEER Rating, or Operating Efficiencyair conditioner and heater canada If you have seen a 10 SEER system, you know they are roughly 20-30 inches tall with a 24 inch base. components of central air conditioning unitEssentially, a nice, small footprint. A comparable 15 SEER condensing unit may be 4 feet tall, with a 36 inch base, and be 2-3 times the size of the lower efficiency unit. This is due to all the extra coil surface required to generate the higher efficiency cooling, and thus… more freon is needed to fully charge the coil.

It’s common to use a larger evaporator coil with an AC unit. In most cases, it can provide higher efficiency due to the larger coil area. Along with the added coil surface, you may need additional freon capacity to fill it. A split system, where the condensing unit is outside and the air handler, furnace and coil are inside (aka Split) is going to have to accommodate for different coils, linesets, and several other factors that were determined by the installer when the unit was first put into use. A Packaged HVAC System, or “All in One” has everything in one cabinet outside the home. There are no different coil sizes to deal with and the lines connecting everything are self-contained in the same box. Fortunately, most Charlotte AC Contractors are honest and treat customers fairly. If you think you may have been taken advantage of during a recent home ac recharge, make sure you ask them about it and give them a fair chance to explain their pricing and reasons for using the amount of refrigerant they did.

Up to 21 SEER Precision comfort to 1/2° Quietest sound rating at 55 dB Up to 20.00 SEER Up to 18 SEER Humidity control for ultimate comfort Up to 18.00 SEER Exclusive Spine Fin™ coil Up to 17.00 SEER Up to 16.00 SEER Up to 14.50 SEER Up to 16.50 SEER Up to 13 SEEROlder central and window air units cost more to run than newer ones. Air conditioning makes the hottest summer days more enjoyable, but rising energy costs and the growing awareness of energy conservation and resource depletion demands you cool your home as cheaply and energy efficiently as possible. Deciding which cooling method will save you the most -- three window air conditioners or a central air unit -- depends on a few factors. Cooling your home with the proper system saves you money and electricity, and keeps you completely comfortable no matter the temperature outside. Comparing Energy Usage Considering that the average home uses more electricity for cooling than for any other appliance or accessory, if you want to save money on your utility bill, carefully consider your cooling choices.

A central air unit uses more energy to cool your home. As Mr. Electricity states, a window unit uses anywhere from 500 to 1440 watts to run, while a 2.5 ton central unit (about the size for a typical 1,500- to 2,000-square-foot home) uses about 3,500 watts. It's not simply about the size of area cooled, but the fact that central air involves the furnace, too. The air does not flow to the rest of the house without the furnace blower -- so more running parts equal a larger power draw. Cost of Unit Installation It's simple to see that a central unit uses more power than a window unit, but there's more to your cost than just the energy draw. Once you factor in the purchase price and cost of installation, your cost per use may rise significantly. Dividing the total price and installation labor cost by the months you use it dramatically illustrates the true cost of just having the air conditioner, without figuring in the utility bill. Window units sell for a lot less than central units, and the installation typically is do-it-yourself.

It's Not All About the Unit Another factor when determining which cooling unit is best for your circumstances is the condition of your existing HVAC system. No matter how efficient your central air unit, if the ducts the cool air travels through are full of holes, or poorly insulated and exposed to temperature extremes, the efficiency of the whole system goes down -- and the cost goes up. If you choose to run a central air unit, insulating your ducts, and inspecting and maintaining the whole system is important, although it adds to the cost. Compared with window units, which blow directly into the room and need little but occasional cleaning unless they go out, a central unit again costs more. Verdict Although it costs more to purchase and install a central unit -- and responsible owners also spend more on annual service calls for maintenance and inspection -- if you plan to cool three or more rooms, the most cost-effective and energy-efficient choice is the central unit. A central unit has greater resale value, so you recoup more of your investment if you sell your home.