How To Choose a New Air Conditioning & Heating Unit

Fix My AC, Inc., has installed all sizes, types and brands of units for over 20 years.
We feel confident that we can help you out whichever your preference may be.

Size of the Air Conditioning Unit:

If you were happy with the previously existing air conditioning system, there is no reason to change the size.

If you were not - and the issue was strictly a size issue - then we can increase the size of your system. As a consequence, we will have to replace the furnace/air handler and the ducting as everything must be matched in order for the system to work well.

If you are adding a new Air Conditioning to your office/building, then Fix My AC, Inc. can perform a heat load calculation for you and accurately determine the optimal size for your air conditioning.

Today's wisdom is to vastly undersize the A/C system and to let them run non-stop. A 2-ton system running all the time is supposed to cost less than a 5-ton system coming on and off all the time.

The new HVAC system must take into consideration the numbers of people occupying the building, the heat loads due to heat-producing equipments (computers, manufacturing machines etc), physical activities of the occupants (a fitness center will have different needs than an accountant office for example) etc. So you definitely want to select an Air Conditioning system which would be large enough to cover all your needs during the hottest time of the year. But bigger is not always better in Air Conditioning so beware not to oversize your system.

Fix My AC, Inc. is here to guide you through this process.

Which SEER Level to Choose?

The minimum Energy Efficiency rating allowed in California by Title 24 is 13 SEER for residential and 11 EER in commercial applications as of 2011. However and beyond the legal requirements: The more the Air Conditioning is been used, the more savings in utility bills can be made by investing in a more efficient A/C system. Systems can go up to 21 SEER today.

Choosing an air conditioning system with a higher SEER is also the greener choice.

Refrigerant Choice:

In contrast to residential HVAC system which worked with R22 for many years, commercial systems and air conditioning with special applications used not only R22 but also a series of other refrigerants.

Since January 2010, manufacturers are not allowed to manufacture R22-containing systems. This is in accordance with the phase out of the ozone-depleting agent R22.
In 2015 there is no reason anymore not to choose R410A systems where applicable like in mini-split systems and package units. Fix My AC installers have been trained to install R410A systems for years.

Zoning:

Residential: In some cases like two-storey house or home office, zoning may be the option for you.

Our Recommendation: While we do not favor zoning in residential applications for a number of reasons, we will offer it when it makes sense. In contrast, it is routine work for commercial applications.

Brands:

Fix My AC is able to install any type of air conditioning systems.

Residential Options: There are many brands out there, all of which offer different advantages. Carrier is known as the leader in residential air conditioning while Trane is well established. Goodman/Amana is a more recent manufacturer but they have acquired a larger part of the market thanks to their warranty policies.

Commercial Options: Choices may depend on historical experience, specific needs, technical properties, unique features, physical dimensions and many more.

Do You Have A Split Space to Cool?

Fix My AC, Inc. will review your particular circumstances and make recommendation as to whether it is economically advisable to add a HVAC system to separately cool a space, independently from a larger space.