Is it time to replace your air conditioner? Are your power bills high? Is your home starting to feel hot and sticky? Have repair bills been adding up lately?

What do you do next? Call an air conditioning company and ask for a “free” estimate to replace it. How do you know who to trust? Aren’t all companies and all salespeople the same?

In the air conditioning business, the answer is a great big NO!

This is a list of things that will empower YOU to get the best possible installation on your air conditioner, NOT necessarily the best price up front. I know everyone tries to sell their own brand of special snake oil, but in the air conditioning business, it’s not just one thing that matters. It’s all the little things that add up to great comfort, healthy air, low bills, and a system that lasts a long time.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Is this article legit?

Before I go on, you may ask, “Why should I trust you and your little article?”

And the answer to that is that you definitely shouldn’t… Yet.

I could try to convince you by telling you that I have dedicated my career to improving the air conditioning industry. I could tell you that I created the premier online resource for training air conditioning technicians all over the world at HVACRSchool.com or that I write training articles for the largest air conditioning trade magazine in the USA.

While those things may be true, as an owner of Kalos Services, I’m certainly not a neutral observer. So, don’t take my word for this list.

Do your own research and see if it lines up. Ask tough questions, and I bet you will be surprised at what you find. Truth be told, even at Kalos, even after 12 years of hard work, we don’t always get it perfect. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes over the years, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. But we are COMMITTED to this list of items and doing them all to the best of our human ability every day.

So, here they are…

Ask about proper air conditioner system sizing

Your air conditioner isn’t too small. It isn’t good business to tell you that, but it happens to be the truth.

There is no “rule of thumb” for sizing an air conditioner based on the square footage or the number of rooms. An air conditioner (and heater) is sized based on the internal and external heat losses and gains of the home. These losses and gains are everything from walls, to windows, to doors and ceilings, to how many people live in the house, and how many showers you take. All of these things factor into how much heat enters and leaves the home for a given amount of time. We must calculate the amount of heat entering and leaving to size an air conditioner properly.

The heat is contained in the air and in the moisture in the air. We measure that heat using a unit of energy called a BTU (British Thermal Unit); 12,000 of these BTUs make up one ton of cooling per hour. The more BTUs of heat we let into the house, the more them we need to pull out again with an air conditioner. The trouble is that when we pull out BTUs, we need to use energy to do that. It’s better when we can find ways to keep them out of the house in the first place through proper sealing, insulation, bath and kitchen ventilation, high-efficiency lighting, etc.

You may say, “But Bryan, my unit just runs and runs all summer and never gets to the temperature I set, so I need a bigger one!”

I understand the sentiment. The first thing there is to understand that a unit SHOULD run and run on the hottest summer days. That is actually how it is sized and is totally appropriate. An air conditioner is at its most efficient when it runs all day during the hottest days of the summer and only starts to cycle off at night. Going on and off is a big energy waste for an air conditioner and also negatively impacts humidity removal from the home.

There is something that can be done to get the house down to a more comfortable condition, and that is to REDUCE the amount of heat coming into the home from outside and reduce the amount of heat and moisture being generated or trapped inside. These are things like replacing door sweeps, sealing attic penetrations, replacing unsealed can lights with sealed LED trims, and increasing attic insulation. Of course, there are lots of other little things.

It also makes a big difference if the air conditioner is charged, maintained, and commissioned properly with proper airflow and properly installed and sealed ductwork. Many homes are losing 20%+ of the cooling capacity due to damaged, poorly installed, and leaky ducts.

Once all of these are factored in, VERY FEW homes need a larger A/C system, but it all must be considered by a professional who looks over your entire home, performs a manual J heat load calculation, and inspects your ducting as best as possible.

Let the company who quotes you look over your home. Do they look at the windows? Measure walls? Look at attic insulation? Check ducts? Inspect lighting? If not, they probably aren’t REALLY confirming that your air conditioner is the correct size.

Ask about refrigerant recovery 

Depending on your political or scientific views, you may or may not care much about this one. But the fact is that MANY technicians and air conditioning installers vent refrigerant (Freon) to the atmosphere when they replace systems or later on when they get them back to the shop.

The EPA requires that all refrigerants be recovered and not vented into the atmosphere. Because of that rule, EVERY technician will tell you they recover refrigerant, whether they do or don’t actually do it. In order to recover properly, techs need to have an expensive recovery machine and tank that look something like the one shown above. If they don’t have them or use them, they are almost certainly venting it to the environment.

Ask about flowing nitrogen

In air conditioning, the copper connecting lines are brazed (high-temperature soldering) together using torches. When copper is heated to the very high temperature required to make a proper joint, any oxygen inside the tubing or fittings creates a black oxide scale that can (and does) contaminate an air conditioning system. In order to prevent scaling, technicians need to use a special regulator to “flow” nitrogen at very low pressure and volume during brazing. In the past, many techs got away without doing this because older units used a type of oil that wouldn’t scrub this black scale off of the lines. Modern R-410a units use a new oil that will scavenge this oxide off of the pipes, resulting in damage to valves and even the compressor over time.

If you want a good install, ask them how they flow nitrogen while brazing. (Hint: It should be just a whisper of flow, about 3-5 SCFM.)

Ask about air conditioner evacuation

Evacuation is one of the most IMPORTANT yet most OVERLOOKED aspects of an air conditioner install. Once the copper is joined, the lines need to be evacuated with a deep vacuum. To do that, we use a special pump called a vacuum pump and a very sensitive vacuum gauge called a micron or vacuum gauge. This setup will take 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the quality of their hose and adapter setup, and it is ESSENTIAL for removing air and moisture from inside the lines before adding the refrigerant (Freon).

Evacuation should be done down to a level below 500 microns, and then held there in a standing “decay test” for 10-15 minutes to confirm there are no leaks and all moisture has been extracted. To really test a salesperson or tech, ask them how deep they pull a vacuum. (They should say 500 microns or less.) Then, ask them what they look for in a decay test.

A system that isn’t evacuated properly won’t last NEARLY as long, and you will never know why the compressor failed 5 years in. The contractor will just blame it on the manufacturer. Worst of all, they may even believe what they are saying (although the issue was improper evacuation all along).

Ask about ducts 

Duct installation with minimal leakage, kinks, etc., is a MUST, and many older homes have issues that will impact comfort, efficiency, and longevity if these duct issues aren’t addressed.

It is also important that ducts are sized properly to deliver the correct amount of air to each room for proper cooling and heating. A full-service contractor will inspect ducts visually and with thermal imaging cameras. They will take measurements such as airflow CFM using an airflow hood. They will also take duct pressure measurements using a tool called a manometer or Magnehelic gauge. If the person giving you a quote on a system doesn’t have test instruments, how can they know if the old ducts will work well on the new system?

A great unit installed on bad ducts is like running a new car on bad gas. It won’t work well.

On a side note, in Florida with the type of ducts we have in houses, I do not believe in the efficacy of duct cleaning. I explain my reasons for that HERE. Ducts need to be kept clean through proper filtration and installation BEFORE they get dirty in the first place.

Ask about commissioning

Once a unit is up and running, it needs to be fully tested by a trained professional to set the refrigerant charge, test airflow, ensure that the heat and cooling modes are working, test the drain, and check any dehumidification (humidity removal) features. It is incredible how often contractors miss this step gets missed and pass over proper commissioning. Ask your installer to demonstrate all the features and leave you with or email you a copy of the detailed reading they took for superheat, subcooling, delta T, and static pressure. The comfort and efficiency of the system depend on it.

Ask about the DETAILS of the air conditioner warranty

Many companies have long PARTS warranties, but they don’t cover labor, warranty processing fees, diagnosis fees, late charges, refrigerant leakage, etc. You want to be crystal clear on what your contractor means when they say “warranty.” Nathan and I made a podcast episode on warranties, and you can listen to it or read the transcript HERE.

In closing…

If you ask these questions and ensure that your A/C contractor takes proper steps for a great installation, good airflow, proper load calculation with heat gains reduced, etc., you will have a much better experience and should get a long life out of the system.

While this is only the tip of the iceberg, I hope this helps you get a great install on a new air conditioner. If you want to know more about us, healthy indoor air, what good air conditioning maintenance should include, or anything else, just call us up at 352-243-7088 or shoot us an email at office@kalosflorida.com.

If, at any point, we don’t live up to your standards, give me a call on my cell at 352-536-5718, and I will make it right.

Stay Cool,

Bryan Orr

The post 7 Things You Should Ask Before Buying an Air Conditioner (Your Salesman Won’t Like These Questions) appeared first on Kalos Services.

Well, that idea is pretty close to the truth.

Your air conditioner is similar to you and me. It doesn’t like getting started, but once it gets going, it feels a lot better. Starting and stopping more often is not good for your air conditioning system; he is perfectly happy running all the time and just doesn’t like having his motives questioned.

Your A/C doesn’t especially like really hot days, but it’s not because of how much he has to run. The hot days cause his blood pressure to rise, and when you are a demanding boss and set the thermostat down REALLY low (below 75°), it irritates him even more. He doesn’t mind working hard; he is PROUD of his work ethic! Rather, he gets annoyed when your expectations of him exceed what he can deliver. He can see your disapproving brow looking at his thermostat face. First, he gets discouraged, but if you keep pushing him, he gets angry!

Let’s say you got irritated and dropped that thermostat down to 68 degrees during the heat of the day when the house was 77 inside. Your A/C units begin hatching a plot against you that can have nasty consequences. During the day, when the home is still warm inside, everything is fine with the air conditioning, other than the fact that you feel warm. As evening approaches and the temperatures outside dip, your air conditioner will begin actually getting you down, down, down towards that ridiculously low temperature you chose in your rage. Now your bitter A/C snaps the trap and begins to FREEZE!

Here’s the kicker: once he begins to freeze, the longer he runs, the even more frozen he will become. You will then needs to shut him off long enough for him to become completely defrosted. WATCH OUT for the dripping tears of regretful water as he thaws! Your carpet, hardwood floors, and that mahogany chest your Uncle Theo got you are all potential victims.

Of course, MANY other things can cause an A/C to freeze up: dirty air filters, refrigerant leaks, and blower issues. Anytime your A/C freezes, you will want to have a professional give him a checkup.

Just be a good boss and don’t provoke him. He likes to work hard. All he wants to do is please you, but everyone has their limit when you push their buttons too often.

If you have a frozen A/C unit or suspect that your unit is sick or tired, and not just sick and tired of you setting the thermostat, give us a call at 352-243-7088.

The post Frozen A/C: Is it Running Too Hard? appeared first on Kalos Services.

The torn black pipe is actually tubing insulation. We often call it by the brand name “Armaflex” in the trade. Usually, you will find it torn or damaged near the outside portion of an air conditioning unit. This is often due to a combination of sun damage or damage from lawn implements, such as weed eaters and edgers.

The insulation on most system types covers the large refrigerant line that is traveling back to the compressor called the “suction line.” This refrigerant line carries cool, vaporized refrigerant back from the indoor unit. The low-temperature vapor helps to keep the compressor cool and running properly. On a “heat pump” system, this line can also turn into a hot gas line during the heating season. So, what was previously a cool line carrying refrigerant from the inside out is now a VERY HOT line carrying high-pressure vapor from the outside in.

The good news is that the small section of tubing insulation that is exposed outside actually has very little effect on the operation of your system overall. However, there is a small operational toll that can affect the compressor over time in an air conditioner.

On a heat pump, the insulation also serves to prevent an unwitting victim from receiving a burn as well as protects and wires that happen to be touching the line from melting.

At Kalos, when we install a new system, we coat the lines with a manufacturer-recommended UV coating. This white coating not only makes the lines outside look a little nicer but also protects the lines from damaging sunlight.

If your line insulation is torn or damaged, it is certainly no emergency. Still, you may want to ask your service provider about replacing it on their next scheduled A/C maintenance visit.

If you are interested in an A/C upgrade, you can fill out the form below or call us at 352-243-7088 for any of your repair, maintenance, or replacement needs.

The post What Is This Torn Damaged Black Pipe on My A/C? appeared first on Kalos Services.

Angie’s List Super Service Award For the 4^th Consecutive Year

Kalos Services Inc. has earned the service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of service provided to members of the local services marketplace and consumer review site in 2015. This makes it 4 consecutive years of winning this award.

“Service quality and customer satisfaction are the cornerstones Kalos Services is built on,” stated Kalos Services Co-Founder Bryan Orr. “Being recognized by our own customers is truly humbling and once again makes us aware of how special our customers are.”

Only about 5 percent of the service companies in the Orlando area have performed consistently well enough to earn our Super Service Award,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “It’s a really high standard.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2015 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade; the company must be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality.

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 Angie’s List helps facilitate happy transactions between more than three million consumers nationwide and its collection of highly-rated service providers in more than 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. Built on a foundation of more than 10 million verified reviews of local service, Angie’s List connects consumers directly to its online marketplace of services from member-reviewed providers and offers unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

Do you have questions? We can help! Fill out the form below:

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KALOS SERVICES RANKED ON INAUGURAL TOP COMPANY CULTURE LIST PRESENTED BY ENTREPRENEUR AND CULTUREIQ

Clermont, FL– Kalos Services Inc. was recently ranked on Entrepreneur’s Top Company Culture list, a comprehensive ranking of U.S.-based businesses exhibiting high-performance cultures created in partnership with culture management software and service provider CultureIQ^®. The Top Company Cultures list has placed Kalos Services as 6^th  nationwide in the Small Company category. Kalos Services is recognized for creating an exceptional culture that drives employee engagement, exceeds employee expectations, and directly impacts company success.

“When we started Kalos, we didn’t set out to be anything other than business people of integrity. Along the way, we have a built a team of amazing people, and they are the reason we have such an enjoyable and rewarding culture.”

Robert Orr, President of Kalos Services Inc.

“Creating an entrepreneurial culture is a key priority for business leaders, yet no one until now has really assessed the role culture plays in success,” says Ray Hennessey, editorial director of Entrepreneur.com. “This ranking celebrates the dedication that all teams, from entry-level to the C-suite, have in ensuring they are creating vibrant, healthy, and sustainable work environments. That’s good for employees, investors, and customers.”

“Of all of the things we care about in business, company culture is right at the top. A cornerstone of Kalos is the ideal that people are always more important than organizations, and a great organization can only be built one great person at a time. Only by valuing the significance and humanity of every person on the team can you reach true success as a business”

Bryan Orr, Co-Founder of Kalos Services, Inc.

The full list, presenting a total of 75 companies categorized as small, medium-sized, or large companies—25-49 employees, 50-99 employees, and more than 100 employees— is available on Entrepreneur.com. Core insights, behaviors, and attributes that have helped to shape the high-performing cultures presented by the top companies are shared alongside practices to help other companies improve their own workplace environments.

“There is always an opportunity to learn from each other when running and growing a business, which is why we are excited to honor these companies and share their success in building an effective culture,” says CultureIQ founder and CEO Greg Besner. “I find it particularly inspiring to see a wide variety of companies represented in the list, confirming that you can have a strong culture regardless of industry, size, or business maturity.”

The rankings for all companies were determined using CultureIQ’s methodology for measuring high-performance cultures. Employees at each company received a survey of 21 short, multiple-choice questions. The answers were used to assess a company’s strength across 10 core qualities of culture – performance focus, support, and innovation, to name a few. These quality strength scores were combined with the employee Net Promoter Score to create a cumulative CultureIQ Score. The companies with the highest CultureIQ Scores became the Top Company Culture list in ranking order. To be considered for the ranking, a company must have at least 25 employees, have been founded before Jan. 1, 2014, and be headquartered in the U.S.

To view Kalos Services in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/TopCultures

Kalos Services Inc. is a family-owned and operated residential service provider and commercial construction company. Kalos Services is licensed and specializes in high-end Commercial/Residential Construction and in the installation, maintenance, service, and repair of Air Conditioning, Electrical, and Pool Heating projects.

The company founders stated:

“We get a lot of questions about our name. For us, our name represents how we wish to approach our work and serve our customers. Kalos is:

Kalos is:

kalos: καλός noun /kay-los’/ defined- Ancient Greek; ideal personal conduct; integrity

We desire to not only please customers for the sake of doing quality work, but we are passionate about living, working, and growing our business with integrity. Kalos is more than just a name or even a company policy. It is an attitude of service that our customers rave about. From the time our company was founded in 2005, we’ve always desired to make a positive impact not only on your family or business but in the Central Florida community.”

ABOUT ENTREPRENEUR MEDIA INC.

For nearly 40 years, Entrepreneur Media Inc. has been serving the entrepreneurial community providing comprehensive coverage of business and personal success through original content and events. Entrepreneur magazine, Entrepreneur.com, and publishing imprint Entrepreneur Press provide solutions, information, inspiration, and education read by millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners worldwide.

To learn more, visit entrepreneur.com.

Follow us on Twitter at @Entrepreneur and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/entmagazine.

About CultureIQ^®

CultureIQ is culture management software that helps companies measure, understand, and strengthen their organizational culture. By providing research-driven and customizable surveys, insightful analytics, and reporting and culture resources, CultureIQ empowers companies to make data-driven decisions to better engage and retain their employees.

Based in New York City, CultureIQ was founded in 2013 by Greg Besner, a veteran entrepreneur and New York University Stern School of Business adjunct professor with a notable history of implementing successful culture initiatives. CultureIQ is backed by a group of successful business leaders, including Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s VegasTechFund and other entrepreneurs who have seen the valuable impact of prioritizing culture at their own companies.

For more information, visit www.cultureiq.com.

Follow us on Twitter at @CultureIQ and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/CultureIQ.

Do you have a project? We can help! Fill out the form below:

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