FAQ Category: Energy Efficiency

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.

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.

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.

If you’re facing a frozen AC coil, there are a few things you can try. Start by setting your thermostat to high and fan only mode for a few hours. If this doesn’t work, it could be a more significant issue, such as a refrigerant leak or a dirty coil. In such cases, it’s best to book a diagnostic with the Pros.

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Although mini split ACs have numerous advantages, there are also several disadvantages of ductless air conditioners that homeowners must consider.

The main disadvantages of ductless air conditioning include:

• Initial cost – the cost to install a ductless mini split air conditioner is similar to that of a forced air system and much more expensive than a portable AC.
• Aesthetics – with a ductless air conditioner, the indoor evaporator unit is mounted to a wall or ceiling. Some homeowners do not like this aesthetic and prefer a more inconspicuous central air conditioning system.
• Regular maintenance – like a forced air system, a mini split AC requires routine maintenance. For example, the filter of each interior evaporator unit should be cleaned every 4 to 6 weeks (or more frequently if you smoke or have pets).
• Risk of leaking – Due to the indoor condenser being mounted on the wall inside your home, there is always a possibility of leaks. Regular maintenance should help prevent this, but there have been instances where tenants or homeowners neglected proper maintenance, resulting in leaks that damaged walls, decor, and other belongings.

Reasons your AC unit won’t run at all, sounds like an electrical problem. A fuse may have blown or circuit breaker tripped. If resetting those doesn’t solve the problem there may be an issue with the unit’s circuit board. In which case check with ProSolutions Inc. to give you a diagnosis.

Trust ProSolutions Inc.’s expertise and choose Ameristar Air Conditioning brand for a comfortable summer.

There are several possible reasons. The usual ones relate to a frozen evaporator coil, dirty filter, dirty condenser coils, a leak somewhere in the refrigeration system or possibly in the ductwork system. It could also be that your unit is older and simply not able to keep up with the extra heavy cooling demands with our weather changes these days. ProSolutions Inc. can check this for you, identify the issue, and advise you on the best actions to take.

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. 

Ductless air conditioners offer reliable and efficient cooling – so installing a mini split AC is worth it for many Edmonton homeowners. That said, a ductless mini split air conditioner is not worth it for every home.

Here are some situations in which a ductless air conditioner is worth it:

• Efficiency is your top priority.
• You want to lower your monthly energy bills.
• You live in an apartment or condo.
• You are adding an addition to your home (e.g. suite, bonus room, sunroom, etc.).
• You want to control the temperature in each room separately.
• You need to cool a room with temperature issues (e.g. a room with large, south-facing windows).
• You want to install AC in a house that has no existing ductwork.

If your furnace blower is not working, there could be a couple of issues here, one more serious than the other. Firstly, it is important to understand how a furnace works. You can begin to understand this through a very simple principle. A furnace uses some type of fuel (i.e. electrical, oil, gas, etc) to heat a series of coils.  What type of fuel your furnace uses for this combustion.  This series of heated coils (called a heat exchanger) has a fan (called a blower motor) which blows your houses’ air over them and into your air ducts where it is dispersed throughout your house.  This simple process, regardless of what type of fuel you use, is how your furnace is able to blow warm air into your home.

If you’re having any issues with your furnace blower not working. It can come down to the blower motor in the furnace may need replacing and that’s usually a job for the experts. A capacitor. If the capacitor is defective, the fan motor might be noisy, overheat, or not run at all. If the control board is defective, it might not send voltage to the blower motor. If the furnace is not getting power, check the furnace circuit breaker or fuse as this might also be an issue.

On the other hand, the unit may be clogged with dirt and dust and you may be able to fix that yourself but may likely need special attention to unclog the debris and dirt from the components.

In the end, there are several things that can lead to a furnace not blowing air.  If you decide to try and repair an older unit and it requires more effort and costs incurred. It may just be more advantageous to replace it.

If you need help with your furnace issues, give us a call today!

5 of the best ways to save energy in your home include:

1. Taking shorter showers – If you can reduce the amount of hot water that your water heater needs to produce then you can save energy. Reducing your shower by just a minute can help you reduce your energy consumption throughout the year.
2. Turn off the tap when water is not being used – By reducing your hot water usage you can reduce your energy consumption and save money on your utility bills.
3. Repair leaky faucets – When hot water is constantly dripping from a leaky faucet, energy is being wasted. Repairing your faucet will save energy and money.
4. Adjust your thermostat – Reducing the temperature in your home when you can, even by just a couple of degrees, can help you reduce your energy consumption.  
5. Use cold water in your washing machine – if you’re washing something that doesn’t require hot water, use cold water instead. This will reduce the energy required by your hot water heating system.

If your AC unit’s power is on, but nothing is happening. You may have blown a fuse or tripped a circuit breaker. There may be a problem with the motor. Other factors could include a refrigerant leak, a filter that needs changing and dirty condenser coils. A capacitor could be weak. If you are unable to diagnose and fix it yourself, call in ProSolutions Inc. to help. Our trained AC technicians will be able to quickly diagnose the issue.

Experience a refreshing summer with Ameristar Air Conditioning brand, recommended by ProSolutions Inc.