With houses in the Plano area being larger than the national average, yet having hotter summers than most, careful design of Plano air conditioning systems  is a requirement. In particular a simple, single, air conditioning zone for the whole house is no longer a desired option.

Plano Air conditioning

If you are trying to cool a say 3,500 square foot home, it can be way too expensive to cool the whole area during the day if nobody is upstairs. If for example during the day, the lower level is mostly the one used, then it makes sense to have a separate zone for the upper level. This could be switched on whenever needed, rather than have the whole house share a single air conditioning zone. Using air conditioning zoning is known to reduce energy bills by 20-25%

In addition different zones can be operated independently. Here’s an example. Suppose there are some family members upstairs, and some others downstairs. In a good Texas summer the heat is intense, and the home will absorb a lot of the sun’s rays. As most schoolkids will tell you, heat or warm air rises, so upstairs will get hotter. To counter this, the family members upstairs may turn down the temperature to be more comfortable  – at the expense of the family members downstairs who may now be icy cold.

There is no need to stop at a second zone, the use of multiple air conditioning zones is becoming a lot more popular as more people look for energy and cost efficiencies. Cooling rooms that are not being used is definitely not an energy saving or cost-efficient way of managing air conditioning of a home.

If you are lucky enough to be able to plan air conditioning for your new home, it is definitely best to consider a multi-zone system. Here are some ideas on how many zones to use based on:

If there is part of the home with large glass windows or panels, that may need a separate zone. Also it will depend of how many levels the house has, the way the rooms are used, your individual lifestyles, down to preferences at night.

With zoning, you can have up to 3 or more zones, depending on the size of your home and its usage. Effectively your home can have separate areas that are controlled by the use of thermostats working independently of other thermostats.

To summarize, with Plano Air conditioning, zoning is a great and practical way of allowing your family to save money, but also be comfortable when and where they want.

If you plan on upgrading or renewing your airconditioning system, it can be overwhelming, there are so many terms and buzzwords. But like most things, if you have some basic knowledge, you can be a much more informed shopper. Here we explain some of the basics of a Plano Air conditioning system and what to look out for.

plano-air conditioning

Generally speaking, the best central air conditioning systems are those that use a minimum amount of electricity (minimize monthly bills) offer dependable performance for many years when properly maintained, run quietly and require minimal servicing over the time they operate.

One critical item is the air conditioner compressor. This is usually located outdoors together with the condenser.  Most home  air conditioning systems have an air conditioner compressor combined into a single unit which is sealed. Just like in your refrigerator the compressor works like a pump which moves hot refrigerant gas from inside a building, through the air ducts and evaporator coil. It then condenses the refrigerant gas causing it to have high pressure and high temperature. It is important to maintain the compressor to keep it in working order.  Regularly clean in and around the steel box that holds the a/c plano compressor. Remove any objects that might block the smooth flow of air into the condenser. Typically you need to cut back grass, weeds, and leaves, ensuring a small clear area around the condenser.

Unit Size

There is a balance between having a compressor that is too small (will run continuously without cooling your home enough) and having one that is too large (will turn on and off too often). Many people think having a big air conditioner is the best solution, but turning on and off too often will reduce the life of a compressor, not to mention the cost of significantly larger electric bills.

To find the right size Plano air conditioning system, it’s best to have a specialist HVAC expert report on the details of your home’s cooling needs. This depends on many factors such as the size of your windows, level of tinting, sunlight exposure, in addition to the square footage and insulation levels of your home. Whether your home is shaded by plants and trees is another major factor. The report will identify what size of air-conditioner in terms of throughput heat removed (in terms of British thermal units of heat removed per hour, and one ton is equal to 12,000 Btu/h).

Energy Efficiency

All Air conditioner manufacturers are required by law to clearly state their air conditioning equipment in terms of energy efficiency. This is known as a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). The higher a given SEER rating, the greater is energy efficiency. High Energy efficiency air conditioning helps save the environment, and also produces savings every month. Air conditioners with the highest SEER ratings typically cost more than lower rated air conditioners,  they typically more than make up for your initial investment by offering you significantly reduced electric bills over the course of their lifespan, so saving in the long-run.