AC Replacement | Comfort Experts

Tips for Buying a New Air Conditioner

When summer approaches, it’s natural to wonder if it’s time to replace your aging air conditioning system. There are plenty of things to consider, and you really want to be sure you’re making the best decision. Here are three things you need to think about if you feel it’s time to replace your system.

Don’t Buy a Unit That’s Too Big or Too Small

You’re probably aware that air conditioners are sized based on the amount of space they can cool without being overworked. With that knowledge, you want to be sure you’re getting a system that is the right size for your home. The wrong size will end up costing you in more ways than the price of the unit and its installation. One important factor to keep in mind is that figuring out the right size for your unit is more than just looking at the amount of square feet in your home. When you invite someone to your home to discuss replacing your system, that person should consider a number of very important factors. What sort of insulation do you have? How many windows and outside you have? What are the sizes of the rooms in your home? What sort of air duct system do you have? Where does the summer sun hit your home the most? What temperatures do you like in the home? How many people live in your home? All this information along with some very precise mathematical calculations result in determining just what size air conditioner you need. If anyone tells you their “experience” tells them exactly what you need based on the size of your home alone, be careful. If you’re asked if your existing system is meeting your needs, and you tell them it isn’t, they may say, “Well, let’s just put in the next larger size.” While that may be ultimately what happens, you want the assurance you’re getting the right answer, not just an off-the-cuff guess.

Buy a Model That Is Energy Efficient

Energy efficiency means an air conditioning system uses energy without wasting it. You need to give careful consideration to the energy efficiency of any system you’re thinking about installing. New air conditioning systems must have at least a SEER rating of 13, but most experts recommend buying one with a higher rating for obvious reasons. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. Avoid the temptation to go with lower prices. Remember, your family’s comfort and your back account depends upon the efficiency of the unit you buy. Spending a little more up-front may save you much more in the long term. Another thing to keep in mind is that sometimes the best results may depend upon ensuring the rest of your system operates effectively.

Make Sure The Unit Is Installed Properly

You don’t have to be an expert in air conditioning to be able to spot the differences between a good AC company and a bad one. Don’t be tempted by the lowest cost. Since the effectiveness of the system you’re installing is critical to your family’s comfort and the on-going costs of operation, the successful installation of the best system for your home is essential. The AC professionals at Comfort Experts are always ready to answer your questions and help you every step of the way.

Signs That You Need to Replace Your Air Conditioner

When your air conditioning system breaks down, calling a professional to repair it is an obvious solution. Most problems can be repaired, and the professional you call can also discuss long-term solutions so future problems can be avoided. But what do you do when the repairs can’t fix things? What if the time has come to confront the ultimate solution – replacing your system? It can be intimidating to think about this, of course. It can cost a lot of money, but you need to consider the reality that not replacing your system is also costing you a lot. Along with the cost of repairs, there’s an unseen cost in terms of higher utility bills.It may be time to do one of those plus and minus charts. Ultimately, you’ve got to determine if the inconvenience caused by frequent repairs, the cost of frequent repairs, and the overall discomfort caused by frequent repairs is out-balanced by the cost of replacement. If you’re not sure, here are a few things to consider.

Your AC Has Been Around for a While

When you start thinking about replacing your car, you look at a number of things. You’ll consider its mileage. You’ll consider how often you have to repair it. You’ll consider if the features available in newer models over-ride your familiarity with your current vehicle. Is your current vehicle as safe as newer ones? Does it get as good mileage from gas as newer ones? You’ve been there, and it’s a routine you’re very familiar with.

Air conditioning systems are just like cars in that respect. If they had odometers, you’d be tracking things like how old is my system? How well does it run when compared to when I got it? Am I having to fix it all the time? And finally, is it time to replace it?

More Frequent Repairs

Let’s talk about that issue of frequent AC repairs. If it’s happening often enough to irritate you, it’s not going to get better on its own. Those repairs are providing temporary help, but they don’t last forever, and they start coming more and more often. One part replaced doesn’t mean another won’t wear out next month. When you have that professional out to fix your system, talk about the benefits of continued repairs as opposed to replacement.

It’s Not Doing Its Job

Have you ever gone out to start your car and have it refuse to start? Has it taken repeated efforts? Does the gas gauge drop more quickly than it used to? Is it burning oil? Has its “get up and go gotten up and left?”

Your air conditioning system can have similar problems. Are the temperatures in your home inconsistent? Does it take longer to cool it? How long does it keep you comfortable? You may discover the only thing your air conditioning system is doing well is costing you money.

Talk With A Professional

The professionals at Comfort Experts aren’t going to tell you to replace your system just because they want to sell you a new one. We’re here to help you, and meeting your best needs is the best way to do that. We can look at your system, and we can determine what your best option may be. We’ll give you an honest assessment, and we won’t pressure you into making a decision you’re aren’t comfortable with. Ultimately, it’s your decision, and we’ll make sure you have the facts to make that decision.

Is Your AC Unit on Its Last Leg?

If your AC unit is functioning well this summer, there’s no guarantee that it will keep functioning into next summer as well. The older your AC unit, the more risk of something going wrong. Because an AC unit is essential to staying cool all summer long, you may want to consider upgrading or saving to upgrade to a newer AC unit. But how will you know when your AC unit is on its last leg and it’s time to consider a change? Here are some common signs to look for to know your AC unit may not have much life left.

Increase in Energy Bills

Anytime your energy bills go up, it could be a sign of something amiss. An air conditioner that isn’t working properly will have to work hard to cool the home, causing an increase in energy use that leads to higher monthly bills. If this is the case, it could be time to think about upgrading to a newer, more energy-efficient unit that will save you money instead of cost you money each month.

Frequent Repairs

An AC unit on its last leg will require more repairs more often. If you are in need of an AC repair every year, then your AC unit is unreliable and maybe starting to go out. Instead of spending more and more money on costly repairs each year, spend that money to replace the unit and upgrade to a newer, more reliable model. Let’s face it, you don’t want to be left in the dead of the summer heat without AC to cool you down. If you rely on a unit that requires frequent repairs, this could be the case. Before this happens, it may be a good idea to reconsider your options.

Not Performing Well

An AC unit that isn’t performing its main job, cooling off your home, is one that may not be functioning optimally. If your AC isn’t blowing out cold air, there is a problem. It could be something like a leak or a problem with the thermostat. Or it could mean that an aging unit is just no longer up to par. When in doubt, contact professional AC technicians at Comfort Experts for a maintenance inspection. They will either repair the problem to inform you that your unit may need to be upgraded. You can count on their expert opinion to steer you in the right direction.

Strange Noises

Any type of odd noise coming from the air conditioner, such as high pitched noise, grinding sound, or other unusual noise, is an indicator that something isn’t right. Sometimes, noises are just a part of your unit running, but other times, it could be a sign of a bigger problem. Don’t risk it. Always call the professional AC repair technicians you can trust at Comfort Experts if you hear any suspicious noises as it could be a sign of an aging unit.

If you have an older unit, be on the lookout for any signs of your AC unit not working optimally for you. Maintaining your comfort level all summer long is important. Know when to invest in repairs and when to consider an upgrade. Comfort Experts is here to help with any air conditioning needs you may have this summer.

Why Fall Is the Best Time to Replace Your AC Unit

Fall is here and the weather is cooling off. You may not be thinking much about your AC unit right now, but maybe you should be. Fall is a great time to perform an annual inspection on your AC unit as well as replace older units if necessary. Here are some advantages to replacing your AC during the cool months of fall.

You Can Make an Informed Decision

Temperatures in your home should be nice and comfortable in your home during the fall. You aren’t in need of your AC and you aren’t pressured to be sure it is working to maintain a manageable temperature. For this reason, you can take your time in choosing an AC unit that will best fit your needs. There is no rush to choose a unit and get it installed as quickly as possible. Do your research and decide which AC unit can offer the most savings, the best features, or the most comfort. By waiting until the fall, you can also have a look at some of the newer, updated features that some units will be coming out with. It is a great time to be able to make the best decision for you.

You Can Save Money

During fall, when AC units aren’t as in high of demand as the summer, you can usually find some pretty good sales on AC units. This allows you to save a significant amount of money. The benefits and savings on AC units in fall can be great. Additionally, AC companies aren’t as busy as they were in the summer. You will be able to great your new AC unit installed at a great price and in a timely manner. An expert technician will be more available and able to help you with repairs, maintenance, or installation. The cooler weather in fall is also an added benefit, making it a great time to consider replacing your outdated or broken AC unit with a newer, more efficient unit.

You Will See Energy Savings

Newer, updated models are more energy-efficient than older units, leaving customers highly satisfied with their purchase in the long run. Some current units installed in your home could be the wrong size. A unit that is too big or too small for the home will not cool efficiently. The fall is a great time to choose a unit that is just the right size to efficiently cool your home to perfectly comfortable temperatures. Another added benefit is that newer units are not only going to cool your home better but also save you money on your monthly energy bills. Being able to save energy and money by replacing an existing AC unit is a great investment and one that you will be happy you decided to make.

If you are considering upgrading to a new, energy-efficient AC unit, then talk to the professionals at Comfort Experts to see how we can help you this fall season.

What You Can Expect From a New AC Unit

When you hear that you need a new air conditioning installation, it can be tough at first because you know the investment is a serious one that affects the comfort of your home. However, at the same time, you will probably feel a sense of relief because your old unit was probably in need of a lot of AC repairs and did not perform as well as you would like. When you get a brand new installation for an air conditioning unit, here are a few things that you can look forward to.

The Latest Thermostat Technology

Thermostats have come such a long way, and they make it easy to prevent AC repairs and keep your unit working like new for years to come. You can adjust the temperatures remotely so that you aren’t making your air conditioning system work overtime. You can even program the thermostat to cool the rooms that you occupy the most and save energy on the ones that you don’t go in a lot like the guest room. Just be sure that you speak with everyone about the right temperature setting so that your unit does not get overworked.

Plenty of Options

When you speak with an AC repair professional, you will be able to get information about the different options you have. They will review the different brands and manufacturers, price differences, and everything in between. Let them know what your comfort goals are for temperature control and learn about the benefits for all of the choices to make sure you make the right one for you.

A Lower Energy Bill

Having the best thermostat and a new unit will help lower your energy bill because the new systems are designed to run more efficiently and preserve energy. If you want to budget for your next unit, you can take the savings from your energy bill and put them away so that your current system pays for the next one, or you can just save the for a rainy day.

A More Efficient Cooling System

Your cooling system will be more efficient when you invest in a new air conditioning system, and you will find that this can improve the quality of your life. You will get a quiet unit that can handle even the hottest days. Because you have a new unit, you won’t have to invest in AC repairs for some time, but be sure that you are still changing filters and keeping debris away from the outside to ensure you don’t have these repairs prematurely.

A Reputable AC Repair Company

When you hire a reputable AC repair company to handle the installation, you will have confidence that your unit will work in prime condition. Even when you invest in the best air conditioning system, it won’t matter if you the crew that installs it does it incorrectly. The square footage of your home and other factors will need to be considered so that you don’t end up spending money to have someone redo the work.

Your Utility Company Wants to Help Pay for Your New AC System!

Would It Be Ok if Your Utility Company Picked up Part of the Cost of Your New Air Conditioning System?

After years of laboring through hot Texas summers, eventually, all air conditioners need to be replaced. And, as everybody knows, buying a new ac system is one of those major purchases that are never cheap. Fortunately, some Texans have found a way to get their power company to cover part of the cost of a new air conditioning or heat pump system.

This is all thanks to a special incentive program by Texas energy company, Oncor. As part of Oncor’s Take a Load Off Texas Home Energy Efficiency program, consumers in Oncor’s service area, who upgrade to a more energy-efficient air conditioning system, could qualify to receive incentives ranging from $300 – $1,500.

How to See if You Qualify

These incentives are available to consumers who are Oncor customers, use an approved service provider, and install equipment that meets Oncor’s energy efficiency guidelines.

1) Verify That You’re an Oncor Customer.

This is an area of confusion for many consumers because Oncor isn’t the company that consumers pay their bills to.

As a company, Oncor’s role is to take care of the power lines and ensure that electricity gets delivered to your home or business. For example, they supply the crews who go out and repair downed power lines or fix outages caused by a storm. If they’re the one that your electric company tells you to call in the case of an outage, then you’re one of their customers.

Other companies, such as Ambit, TXU, Champion, Direct, Green Mountain, Amigo, Stream, Cirro, and Reliant are energy retailers that enroll customers, and then bill them and collect payment for the energy used. So, even though your bill comes from one of these companies, you still may be an Oncor customer.

While Oncor covers all of the greater DFW metroplexes, there are pockets that are supplied by electric co-op’s (municipality-owned electric providers), or some areas that are serviced by multiple energy providers.

If you have any confusion about whether or not you’re an Oncor customer, call us at and we can look up your address to see if you’re in a qualifying service area.

2) Choose a Participating Air Conditioning Provider

In order to prevent fraud and control the quality of the workmanship, Oncor only partners with trusted heating and air contractors who are put through an intense application process – including an in-person interview. Consequently, Oncor sends the incentives directly to the service provider and leaves it up to them what to do with the money.

At Comfort Experts, we’re proud to continue our partnership with Oncor in 2015. “For us, it’s a no brainer to pass these savings directly to the consumer,” said Brett Hobson of Comfort Experts Air Conditioning and Heating. “In addition, we make sure each homeowner receives their incentive as an instant credit at the time of installation – which is often weeks before we get the check from Oncor.”

Procrastination Could Cost You Thousands of Dollars

If there’s a downside, it’s that Oncor budgets a limited amount of money to this program every year, and once it’s used up – it’s gone until the next year.

“This is a chance for consumers in the Oncor service area to save literally thousands of dollars on a new system,” said Hobson, “but it won’t last forever.”

For more information, to see if you qualify, or to see if there are still incentive funds available from Oncor, call us today at (817) 341-5149, and we’ll be happy to assist you!