As long as a ductless air conditioner is properly installed and adequately maintained, it will last approximately 10 to 15 years or more. Thus, ductless mini split ACs have about the same lifespan as traditional forced air systems.
Here are a few ways to ensure your mini split AC system lasts as long as possible.
Any AC unit that is 15 years of age or older is not only more likely to break down and need costly repairs, but is also much less efficient & more costly to operate. Therefore, an AC unit replacement may be the best investment moving forward. Ask ProSolutions Inc. to do a cost-benefit for you, so you can decide whether it’s better to fix the problem or invest in a new unit.
Cleaning a condensing unit can be an important part of maintaining the longevity of your condensing unit. Should you use a pressure washer or liquid cleaner though? The short answer is NO! Do not use a power washer. You may damage fins or other parts of the condensing unit. Use a garden hose and spray into the coil to remove all the dust and other stuff that gets onto the coil over the season. As for liquid cleaners, most of them contain corrosive agents and you don’t want to damage the coil or any other parts of the unit with which it comes in contact.
If you’re thinking about cleaning a condensing unit, a certified AC repair contractor will have specialized cleaners in cases where the coil needs to be thoroughly cleaned.
The size of AC you need will depend on several factors.
For help finding the right size AC for your home, book your free home estimate! We will help you find the right size and the right unit for your needs. Our technician will complete a load calculation to determine what size AC you need. Factors like the size of your home, the local climate, the number of appliances you have, etc. will be taken into account.
Keep in mind, while you can have an AC unit that is too small you can also have a unit that is too big. An AC that is too small will not be able to cool your whole home and a unit that is too big will waste energy. In both scenarios, your utility bill will be more than necessary and you will likely be reducing the lifespan of the air conditioner! The size of AC you need is essential to your home comfort. ProSolutions can help you find the perfect air conditioner unit for your home and get it installed for the perfect Summer.
The best way to reduce your energy bill at home is to ensure all of your household appliances are in top working condition. This includes your furnace, hot water heater and air conditioning system. These types of appliances use a lot of energy. Therefore, if they aren’t running as efficiently as possible it can result in a high energy bill.
The best way to guarantee that these appliances are running efficiently is to conduct regular maintenance. If you live in Edmonton or the surrounding area, your plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems should be professionally serviced once per year. Regular maintenance and servicing will ensure these appliances are working effectively and efficiently and can help to reduce your energy bill by up to 30%.
If you have old appliances, you might also consider upgrading them to more energy-efficient models. Installing a new furnace, hot water heater or AC unit can help to drastically reduce your energy bill.
ProSolutions has a complete range of systems and accessories ready to install in Edmonton from $3400 to $10,000+ for ultra high efficient and ultra quiet inverter units.
These AC systems are built for our weather and come with warranties to match. 10 years parts and warranty available and some brands even carry a manufacturers 10 year or lifetime unit replacement guarantee.
The most energy-efficient furnace is one that is ENERGY STAR certified and has an efficiency rating of 97% or higher. When you see an ENERGY STAR symbol on your appliance, you can be certain that it has been certified as energy efficient.
When it comes to the type of furnace, gas furnaces are typically the most energy-efficient. Although preferred in some situations, electric and oil furnaces are less efficient. Therefore, gas-powered furnaces are recommended.
The heating professionals at ProSolutions PHAC recommend the following high-efficiency furnaces:
If you already have an AC unit that is working, there may be reasons to replace it before it breaks. The primary reason for early replacement is to increase efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint.
The typical lifespan of a home air conditioner in Edmonton is around 10 to 15 years. If your AC is older than this, it may be time to purchase a new one. Keep in mind – how long your AC lasts depends on several factors, including brand, model, maintenance, and usage. Thus, with proper care and regular maintenance, you can help prolong the life of your air conditioner.
If you’ve noticed that your energy bill has increased even though you haven’t changed your cooling habits, it could mean your air conditioner is not running as efficiently as it once was. In this case, upgrading to a newer, high-efficiency model can help lower your monthly costs. New models are utilizing more eco-friendly refrigerants like R-454B or R-32, which are more efficient than the old R-410A. Better efficiency means better cooling for lower utility costs!
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) measures how efficiently an air conditioner operates over a typical cooling season. It’s calculated by dividing the total cooling output (in BTUs) by the total electrical energy input (in watt-hours). A higher SEER rating indicates greater efficiency, leading to lower utility bills.
SEER2 is the updated version of this rating system. It uses more rigorous testing procedures that better reflect real-world conditions, like how your AC actually performs with ductwork and airflow resistance in a typical Edmonton home. Because of this, SEER2 ratings are slightly lower than SEER, even though the equipment performance hasn’t changed. For example, a unit with a 15.2 SEER2 rating is roughly equivalent to a 16 SEER under the old scale.
In Alberta, where summers can get hot and dry, a SEER2 rating of 14.3 or higher is generally recommended for energy efficiency and comfort. Some systems go as high as 18+ SEER2. While higher-rated systems cost more upfront, they offer better long-term savings.
In Edmonton, both boilers and furnaces are used to provide homes with heat. The difference between a boiler and a furnace is the way in which they heat a home.
A boiler takes water and heats it then circulates this hot water (or steam, in some cases) throughout the house in order to heat it. The hot water is circulated using pipes, radiators and/or radiant floor systems. Once the water has cooled, it is returned to the boiler to be heated and reused in a closed-loop system.
A furnace, on the other hand, heats and distributes air in order to heat a home. This hot air is distributed via ductwork and vents.
You do not need a ductless unit in every room of your home. However, a single wall-mounted ductless unit can only cool one room or unobstructed zone (with good airflow). Thus, most Edmonton homeowners opt to install a wall-mounted mini split AC unit in each main living space they want to keep cool.
Keep in mind that one outdoor ductless condenser unit can support multiple (up to four) indoor units. Thus, one outdoor unit and four indoor units would cool four rooms.
Not sure how many ductless mini split air conditioner units you need or where they should be located? The ductless air conditioner installation experts at ProSolutions Inc. can help. Our professional HVAC technicians will help you decide how many indoor units you need, where to install them, and what size and model of mini split AC will work best for your Edmonton home.
To find the best AC system for your home you should take into account the size of your home, how many levels, what ductwork is available, and how many windows you have. All of these can factor into the efficiency of your air conditioner and the cooling requirements.
By booking a free home estimate, our team at ProSolutions can help recommend the best unit for your cooling needs! Just as we’ve done for more than 10,000 homes in the Edmonton area for over 25 years.
