The following are answers to some of the questions frequently asked regarding Kickstart® devices: What do Kickstart® devices do? Kickstart® hard start devices utilize a capacitor/relay combination to allow your air conditioning and heat pump compressors to start with maximum efficiency thus reaching normal rated speed at up to ten times faster than compressors with no hard start device installed. During start-up, a typical compressor motor with no hard start device installed has an electrical efficiency rating (also known as “power factor”) of less than 50%. That means only 50% of the available power is being utilized to start the unit. Under those conditions, the compressor has to work much harder and is exposed to a lot of excess heat that is generated with each and every start. With a Kickstart® device installed, the electrical efficiency is boosted to over 98% enabling all of the available power to reach the compressor for smooth, fast starts. What are the benefits of having a Kickstart® device installed on my air conditioning or heat pump compressor?

The two main benefits of installing a Kickstart® hard start device are: Life extension of your compressor By reducing the duration of “inrush” current, Kickstart® hard start devices minimize the amount of damaging heat that compressor windings are otherwise subjected to during start-up. air handling unit explainedOver time, this reduced stress on insulation, wiring, and other critical components of the compressor has the effect of increasing its reliability and extending its useful life.how to hook up ac unit to furnace Reduced “light flicker” during compressor start-upprice of hvac unit Air conditioning and heat pump compressors (especially those with higher SEER ratings), often produce the undesirable side effect of “light flicker” when they start-up.

Because the Kickstart® hard start device brings the compressor to rated speed up to ten times faster than normal, energy consumption is minimized and noticeable “light flicker” is usually completely eliminated. If hard start devices are so important to my compressor, why doesn’t my unit come with one already installed? At one time, all single-phase air conditioning, heat pump, and refrigeration compressors were equipped with hard start devices at the factory. Several years ago, however, manufacturers decided to discontinue that practice for most air conditioners and heat pumps in an effort to reduce costs. Refrigeration compressors, on the other hand, were considered to be so critical to homeowners (due to potential food spoilage, etc.), that hard start devices continued to be installed to ensure reliable starts time after time. Because the average homeowner is unaware of these developments, the makers of Kickstart® have teamed up with your local hvac service contractor to make sure you have the information you need to take the best care of your air conditioning equipment.

With a Kickstart® device installed on your air conditioning or heat pump compressor, you can rest assured that your unit will start reliably with the least amount of energy consumption and stress each and every time. What is the life expectancy of a Kickstart® device? Since Kickstart® hard start devices are constructed with high quality components that are used extensively throughout the industry and approved by major manufacturers, the average life expectancy is comparable to the life expextancy of those components; generally 5-7 years or 500,000 starts. All Kickstart® hard start devices currently come with a 3-year warranty. Why should I choose Kickstart®? Kickstart® is the only hard start device that is patented, U.L. Reconnized in the U.S. and Canada, and approved by major compressor and equipment manufacturers for permanent installation. Kickstart® is also the only pre-assembled, 2-wire, easy-to-install hard start device that utilizes the superior sensing capability of a potential relay in combination with a start capacitor.

Kickstart® devices work on all single-phase PSC and CSIR air conditioning, heat pump, and refrigeration compressors (1-5 horsepower; 208V to 265V).Top positive reviewSee all 32 positive reviews Top critical reviewSee all 44 critical reviews2/5/2012: product review updated and rating cut to 1 star today... see end of review.9/21/2013: Amazon now has a competitive product that is very high quality and works great it's named "The Mister", it's basically a very high quality, computer controlled, misting system that kicks on automatically when it detects the compressor comes on electrically, and it has a high quality water filter to eliminate the hardness, it works really good, puts out a ton of mist... it's a little pricy, but it's definitely worth the money with the very high quality and the electricity savings is big enough it pays for itself quickly anyway.... it's really in a whole other class... really really nice product.... I'm starting a similar long term review there so we can see what the deal is with that one...link to the amazon page here:THE MISTERORIGINAL REVIEW:this product DOES work to increase AC efficiency... there was a Tulane study of it that measured it's heat transfer increase at the condenser at 40% and 70% humidity ... the short story being that there was at least a 70% increase of heat transfer on the coils.

Another reviewer stated that if you have a humidity over 40% this is not effective.... per the Tulane study that is false... this is a water pre mister for standard residential Freon type AC units... it works by misting / evaporatively cooling the intake air to the gas condenser so that condenser heat transfer to the air is more efficient... it is not using water as the primary evap mechanism... his statement was correct for water coolant vs gas... just about every house in the USA has gas / Freon so this is a good product for them regardless of location.So it does increase heat transfer to the air at the condenser by >70%.... this means that if the rest of your AC system is in good shape... air handler temperature should go down (at the exit, not the vents necessarily), the cycle time should go down creating more off time, and the amp draw at the compressor should go down reducing the electric bill in addition to the increase in off time.This product has two significant flaws....1 cheap construction.... if you are a capable do it yourself-er... shouldn't be a big deal to maintain2 susceptible to hard water... not easy to tell how hard is too hard... only way is to try it and monitor for clogs and calcium build up on the fins... if lime away or the like doesn't get the fins clean, take it off... not worth a condenser replacement.so for a guy who knows what he's doing... it can make a big

difference even in a swamp....AFTER SUMMER FOLLOWUP:I used this product through Jul, Aug, Sep, and Oct to the 21st with the following result:1- in FPL's South Florida district, over the 3.75 month period, I saved about 28% of my electric bill compared to the pro rata 2 month period of May Jun.... total 3.75 month savings about $410.....2- the jets clogged from hard water and required a cleaning about every 6 weeks3- eventually there was a build up of hard water deposits on the condenser fins, which can be a serious issue4- the base kit was far too small with 3 jets to treat the whole condenser, it will require at least 1 expander kit, but it did a good job anyway5- the flapper valve had 2 defects: it made a loud squeaking sound when running at temperatures below 85..... and it leaked all the time..... this is a major product defectoverall.. .the product works as advertised, but considering the price, the manufacturer should provide a quality flapper valve and make it clear that the misters that come with the kit are only for the smallest installations....... if someone else comes out with a quality product, these guys are going to lose their entire business....

FINAL UPDATE:Today, the leaking flapper valve KILLED my condenser fan, repair cost will be about $200 doing it myself with no AC on superbowl sunday in south florida with 82F and 90% humidity expected.... The product saved well over $200 in electricity, however the hassle of water penetrating the fan housing (which it mounts directly on top of) is HUGE. Accordingly I'm lowering the product rating to 1 star.... It is a GREAT product theory... but until someone comes out with a quality product and doesn't market cheap garbage like this... save your money and hassle.... TopMost recentmisunderstood product2/5/2012: product review updated and rating cut to 1 star today... see end of review.9/21/2013: Amazon now has a competitive product that is very high quality and works great it's named "The Mister", it's basically a very high quality, computer controlled, misting system that kicks on automatically when it detects the compressor comes on electricallyIt is a GREAT product theory... but until someone comes out with a quality product and doesn't market cheap garbage like this... save your money and hassle....