Air Conditioning Manufacturers are Lying to You - Here's HELP!! with the Truth!

Every summer we all think about the high costs of our energy bills. We hope that the air conditioner doesn’t break down because we can’t afford to replace it with a new one this year.  We’ve said that for the past 5 years. In fact, this could be true in the winter with the heaters as well. Truth is, if your HVAC system is over 10-years-old, then it is costing you more to keep it than it would be to replace it. I know you’re thinking I’m crazy with a comment like that, but it's actually the truth. An old, inefficient a/c or heater will cost more to operate and repair.

Now, if you’re considering a replacement, then you run into the problem of which brand to choose? How do I know what Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating to use? Aren’t the higher SEER rated units more expensive? Who do I trust in getting the correct information? Is some salesman going to sell me some high priced unit that I don’t really need? We could go on and on about all of the concerns we have when it comes to replacing our central air conditioning and heating system, so let’s just dive into what we need to consider when the time comes.

Most HVAC Manufacturers Use the Same Parts

Many Manufacturers Use the Same Parts to Build Different HVAC Brands Every air conditioner manufacturer claims their units are best. Trane says, “It’s hard to stop a Trane.” Amana says, “American Pride” or “It’s the last unit you’ll ever buy.” Bryant says, “Whatever it takes.” Carrier says, “Turn to the Experts,” and Lennox claims, “As close to perfect as it gets.” I could cover all the manufacturers, but these are among the biggest players in the HVAC industry. I know what you’re thinking; "Come on Korey, get to the lying part." I’m getting there, but there’s a lot more to it. So, here it goes.

First let’s be realistic about who builds what. Every manufacturer has many names they sell under, with each being a different color or maybe some different side panels. For example, Trane and American Standard both come from the same assembly line but are built by Ingersoll Rand. Carrier and Bryant, which are essentially the same units with a different paint job also build Day and Night, Payne and Tempstar. Lennox builds Armstrong and Concord and finally, Amana and Goodman are all built by Daikin. All of these manufacturers use a lot of the same parts for their blower motors, fan motors, contactors, capacitors and even their compressors are the same in many of these units.

HVAC System Efficiency Responsibility

That being said, the manufacturers account for about 18.5% of how well a system will work. This includes equipment design, physical size, appearance, noise level and parts warranties.

That means, you the homeowner must play a part in having the best system possible. You are responsible for 7.4% of the air conditioning system, which includes maintenance and replacing the filters.

Where does the other 74.1% go? The rest falls onto your air conditioning installation company. They are responsible for the correct sizing, correct application (no two houses are the same), duct sizing, return grill sizing, refrigerant line sizing, condensation removal, proper venting, quality of installation, any and all warranties that may come with the system, insurance to protect you and your family if something goes wrong, and what I consider the most important fact, being able to service the system if or when a problem comes up.

HVAC Efficiency Primarily Depends on Your Installer

With all this being said, no manufacturer is truly better than the other; it’s all about how HVAC System installation. I will say that as a former technician, we do have brands we believe in more than others. I mean, we know which units we work on, and we can tell what problems you’ll have with each brand. I truly believe a well-informed technician can help you choose the best system for your needs. This is more than any HVAC salesman could ever hope to accomplish.

For example, I believe in two-stage system because of my own experience. I bought a house in May 2009, that summer I paid over $500 a month on my energy bills. My wife is a substitute teacher and was home with the kids, so I couldn’t turn the unit off while I was at work. That winter, I installed a two-stage system on my first floor and a highly efficient unit for the second floor. The next summer, my highest electric bill was $228.00. Talk about a return on my investment! Even with paying for all the new equipment monthly, I was still saving money over what my bills used to be, and my family was more comfortable in our home.

I accomplished this because I knew the truth about air conditioning manufacturers. I knew how to make sense of the single biggest lie in the air conditioning and heating industry that most manufacturers still use today, and the government allows them to do it. Wait, why is the government now involved? They set the standards by which each manufacturer is tested. So what is this lie? It’s a simple 4 letter acronym that is labeled on every unit - SEER.

What is Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)?

That’s right. You see these tags on almost every type of appliance we buy. Most are very truthful when you’re buying a refrigerator, but that’s about it. So, when you think you’re buying that 18 SEER air conditioning system, don’t get shocked when this tag says 15.7 SEER. I know you’re thinking, well I’ll just call that salesman that sold me an 18 SEER system and tell him that’s what I’m paying for and that’s what I want. I’m sorry, but he can’t deliver it. No one can. You see the manufacturers are allowed to say something is 17, 18, 20 SEER or even higher if they want to. How and why can they deceive us like that? I mean, in some cases we’re spending up to $10,000 or more for some of these higher SEER rated systems, yet we will never see those ratings. Here’s how they get away with it.

Manufacturers build air conditioners in sizes 2 ton, 2 ½ ton, 3 ton, 3 ½ ton, 4 ton and 5 tons. These are the terms we hear and know even if we don’t fully understand what it means. In this line of units, they build only one of these that can reach the actual ratings of let’s say 18 SEER. Which unit do you believe truly reaches the numbers to be called an 18 SEER unit? The little 2 ton is usually it. Yep, for that reason they can claim the entire line of that model 18 SEER. That’s why here at Help Service Co., we never use the term SEER because we will not lie and deceive any of our customers. These lines are now referred to as the 18 Series or 19 Series and never SEER. Now don’t get me wrong, these units are typically still more efficient than what you currently have, but please do not expect to get what the manufacturers claim.

Now let’s understand that all these numbers are created in a controlled laboratory, and we all know real life isn’t anything close to what they can create in a lab. So here is something I copied that’ll give you a little more insight to what I’m trying to show everyone so here it is.

"Save 50% On Your Utility Bill!" Truth or Fiction?

You may have heard that air conditioners, heat pumps and furnaces have come a long way in the past 10 years. In fact, a 1992, federal law forced the manufacturers to stop making inefficient units. Contractors and manufacturers will tell you that the savings on your utility bills will offset the cost of a new high, efficient system.

They will make claims of 50% savings on utility bills. Does this really happen? The truth is that a few homeowners actually do save up to 50% on their utility bills after buying a new system. An unfortunate reality is that some only see some savings, while others see no savings at all. This is not the fault of the manufacturer completely. The real story is when a contractor takes the equipment to your house for field assembly. Proper installation is the key to getting the most from your new cooling and heating system. Most homeowners are not getting the efficiency they are paying for and deserve.

The takeaway of this whole story is, don’t be fooled by the big box manufacturer’s lies. Talk to your air conditioning tech and ask him what he thinks is best suited for your home. Not all houses can handle the requirements of the highest SEER rated systems. Almost all of this has to do with humidity control, so beware of the guys that only offer the most expensive units available. All air conditioning systems must be designed to fit the house and not the other way around.


Thank you,
Korey Knobloch

About the Author

Korey’s Bio

I’ve been in the air conditioning and heating industry since I was 15 years old.  I have been working in the family business full time since 1984 and have been an owner of the family business for over 12 years.  Our main goal is to give our customers the best possible experience and to help educate them as to how an air conditioning system works.

Korey Knobloch
HELP!! Service Company

Co-Owner, IAQ Specialist

504-733-5888

Korey@helpserviceco.com

Why is Water Leaking Through My Ceiling?

Ceiling Leaks and Preventative Measures

You are sitting on your couch or your favorite chair watching TV, and all of a sudden, you notice a drip hit you in the face. That's when you realize it's coming from your ceiling.  You look up, only to see this giant bubble waiting to burst and dump water all over your hardwood floors-- or worse-- the expensive rug you just purchased.  You know if you don’t do something soon, your ceiling will end up all over the floor. 

Some people would get a large garbage can to place under the bubble and poke a hole to help drain the water build up.  Not sure if I like that idea, but it will release some of the pressure off of the ceiling and hopefully prevent it from falling down. 

What causes this to happen?  Seems like every year I have a drain problem.  What can I do to prevent this from happening again?  Isn’t there some type of miracle stop I can use?  I just had this ceiling replaced; I’m going to give that airconditioning company a piece of my mind.  This is their fault and they have to pay for my floors and my ceiling.  This is their fault.  They were just here a year ago and fixed the problem.  

These are just a few things that may go through your mind as frustration sets in trying to figure out what to do with this problem.  We hear it all the time. It even happens at our own houses from time to time.  So let’s look into why this happens and how we can prevent it.

What Causes Drain Clogs?

Depending on what part of the country you live in, an air conditioning system working at its peak can produce as little as 5 gallons a day or as much as 20 gallons per day in more humid climates.  That’s a lot of water flowing through a ¾ inch pipe tied into the plumbing system of your house.  In a perfect environment, this water should be clean and leave nothing in the pipes to clog them.  Unfortunately, this just isn’t so. 

The blower in your heater or air handler is either pushing or pulling air over the evaporator coil, and this is where the water is produced.  This air usually has particles of dirt in it that gets stuck on the fins of an evaporator coil.  Some of this dirt gets washed down the fins into the drain pan and of course into the drain line itself. 

Over time, this creates a buildup, which we refer to as slime or sludge.  After some time, this slime/sludge material will completely clog either the drain pan or drain line causing water to leak out of the system and onto your ceiling or flooring, depending on where your indoor unit is located. A lot of people might say, “I use the best filters and replace or clean them all the time so this should never happen.”  Well let’s talk about that, because you might be surprised.

How do I stop the Dirt Build up?

The truth is, you can’t. 

All filters are not created equal and even the ones that claim they stop 99.9% of the dirt aren’t telling the whole truth.  Dirt particles are very small and can get through almost any filter.  Some filters can be very restrictive on air flow so the unit will pull air from any place it can, especially if the system isn’t sealed properly. 

Air leaks around heater doors, air handlers, or even your duct work means unfiltered air is drawn into the system leaving dirt everywhere. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, you should use the best filters possible according to what your system can handle.  It’s not about what fits in the grill.  It’s about what type of system you have, where the best location of the filter is and, most importantly, whether the filter is the right size for your type of system.  We’ll talk more about this in another blog soon.  Let’s get back to your ceiling caving in and making a mess of your house.

How Do I Prevent Ceiling Leaks from Happening Again

Total prevention can never be guaranteed, but steps can be taken to greatly reduce the risk of it happening and destroying your ceiling. 

Let’s attack the drain pan in the evaporator coil first.  This is where the first signs of slime/sludge can (and will) occur.  Most manufacturers have started using aluminum tubing again, (it’s better, trust me) but the downside is that some units will produce the slime itself.  There are two ways to help reduce the possibilities of this happening.

1 | Pan Pads

One manufacturer told us in a training session that putting a piece of copper pipe in the pan will help.  I tried this once myself, but didn’t see any difference.  However, we do offer pan pads that release a chemical into the water, which reduces some of this buildup. 

The best part is this also goes down the drain line, which helps keep it clean too.  These pan pads need to be replaced every year because they have a limited lifespan.  Here is what they look like.  We simply put them directly in the drain pans and they will do the rest.

Does this guarantee you’ll have absolutely no clogs? Unfortunately it doesn’t. But it’s a great line of defense in reducing your risk.

2 | Float Switches

Another option is to have an inline float switch installed in the main drain line.  Now, this doesn’t release any chemicals in the water, but it will turn the system off in the event that the drain line clogs up somewhere between the float switch and where it ties into the plumbing stack of the homes drain system.  It has wires coming from it that turn the low voltage to the system which turns the unit off so that it no longer produces water.  Below, are pictures of 2 types of float switches that can reduce the chance of water leaking in through the ceiling or on the floors ruining floors and carpet?  The second type goes in the emergency pan (every unit needs one) and will turn the unit off if that pan fills up to.

Again, these cannot guarantee you won’t ever have a problem, but it will greatly reduce the risk of it happening.

Preventative Maintenance

This is the absolute first plan of attack against drain line issues.  This time of year is a great time for your technician to blow out the drain line using nitrogen or install a pan pad to protect your system.  This is the time they should note anything they may see that could become an issue later like a dirty filter or a dirty coil, and in most cases, they will clean them on the spot. 

Think of your air conditioner like your car.  You would never drive your car without having the oil changed or your tires rotated would you?  Running your air conditioner for a year is like driving your car 100,000 miles.  We just can’t drive our cars that long without having some type of issues.

Be proactive with your air conditioning and heating systems.  Have them checked every year and pay special attention to the drain pans and drain lines.

                                                                           

About the Author

Korey’s Bio

I’ve been in the air conditioning and heating industry since I was 15 years old.  I have been working in the family business full time since 1984 and have been an owner of the family business for over 12 years.  Our main goal is to give our customers the best possible experience and to help educate them as to how an air conditioning system works.

Korey Knobloch

Co-Owner, IAQ Specialist

504-733-5888

Korey@helpserviceco.com

Allergy Season - How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Allergy Season In New Orleans

It always seems to be allergy season in New Orleans, which likely means as you’re doing dishes, vacuuming the floor, or even resting on the couch, there’s a box of tissues and a bottle of allergy pills not too far. Even just walking outside and getting a whiff of the air might cause you to get sick. With that being said, it might be time you consider an exclusive solution for helping cope with seasonal allergies, asthma, and other problems associated with poor Indoor Air Quality.  Improving your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) helps with your allergen exposure, The solution to improving your indoor air quality is called the Clean Air Defense System.

How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality in New Orleans

EPA - Indoor Air Can Be 2-10x More Polluted Than Outdoors

According to the EnvironmentalProtection Agency, the air inside the typical home can be anywhere from two to 10 times more polluted than the air outside. There are an estimated 34 million Americans suffering from asthma, which is typically worsened by allergies. About 70 percent of asthmatics also suffer from allergies according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Typical home construction in the modern era seals and insulates so well that the air inside the home is simply recirculated over and over again. “What that means is that all that nasty stuff like pollen, dust mite waste, viruses, and bacteria is also recirculated again and again until it is trapped… either by a filter or, worse yet, in your lungs,” commented  Korey Knobloch, IAQ Specialist at Help Air Conditioning.

Clean Air Defense System for Your Home

In response to the need of homeowners to find a better solution to poor indoor air, we encourage our customers to consider solutions like the Clean Air Defense System.  Dynamic Air just came out with an updated and better allergy fighting system. For more than 20 years Knobloch has been involved with IAQ related information and well-versed in UV Light Kits work for which symptoms. "This Dynamic Air product line has always been at the top in my opinion," stated Knobloch.  "This is mainly because they know what they are talking about." 

Steve Mores, owner of Dynamic Air, has been involved with Indoor Air Quality for at least 25 years. When Mores set out to design the latest UV kits, he focused on product durability and perfecting a solution to help people that suffer from allergy-related coughs and sinus problems. 

Clean Air Defense System’s Three Lines of Defense

There are 3 phases of poor IAQ and each requires a different way of handling them.  The 3 Phases are:

PHASE 1 | Particles and Allergens

It is all about the stuff flying around in the air, most of which we cannot see.  The visible particles can be seen when the sunlight comes through your window; dust is floating around. This is tackled by proper filtration.  Beware of "Allergy Filters" as they will hurt your air conditioning system by reducing air flow. HELP!! Air Conditioning has you covered with the Air Ranger Filtration System. It requires no duct modification and slides right into your return air grill.

AirRanger Polarized Whole House High-Efficiency Air Cleaners

Clean Air DefenseAir Cleaners use electronic polarized-media technology for maximum air cleaning capability. Airborne particles pass through the field and adhere to the filter media where they are captured and removed from the air. 

These Air Cleaners capture the smallest sub-micron particles in addition to airborne pathogens and VOC's (volatile organic compounds such as gases from household cleaners) and capture 97% of particles at .3 microns in size and continue trapping particles much smaller in size.

PHASE 2 | Germs and Infectious Agents

Phase 2 is about the particles we can't see floating in the air causing respiratory problems such as throat and ear infections, as well as the dreaded common cold viruses.  UV Light is Mother Nature's way of cleaning some of our air problems.  However, the sun's UV rays do not reach inside of our homes and more importantly, the lungs of our homes the air conditioning system and duct work.  The newly designed UV Light Kit can destroy these germs each time they pass by the UV light bulb resulting in cleaner and healthier indoor air.

Air Ranger Polarized Whole House High-Efficiency Air Cleaners PLUS BioForce Defender Germicidal UVC Lamps

The Clean Air Defense System Germicidal UVC Lamp is a high-output germicidal lamp that harnesses the energy of the sun's UVC rays to disrupt the DNA of living viruses, bacteria and other living airborne organisms, killing or sterilizing them so they can no longer reproduce. Germicidal UVC is effective against viruses, bacteria, molds and mold spores, pollen, and other pathogens, making the air inside any home cleaner and healthier to breathe.

PHASE 3 | Chemical Gases and Odors

Cleaning chemicals, building products off gassing and Formaldehyde cannot be seen with the naked eye.  These gases typically cause dizziness, headaches and nausea.  The Phase 3 UV Kits can also help control odors in your home, such as pet odor.

Air Ranger Polarized Whole House High-Efficiency Air Cleaners PLUS the Active BioForce Defender Dual Wavelength Germicidal Oxidizing System

The Clean Air Defense System Oxidizing UVC System is a dual wavelength UVC/UVV system that harnesses the energy or the sun's UVC and UVV rays to control germs and gases. It is capable of superior odor control with the patented and adjustable UVV lamp chamber. The powerful UVC lamp kills and sterilizes germs while the photochemical reaction that takes place with the UVV lamp controls gases and odors in the home.

About the Clean Air Defense System

The Clean Air Defense System is designed to provide safe, reliable and affordable high-efficiency air cleaning products for today’s tight building construction. The Clean Air Defense System focuses on trapping and eliminating the danger before it becomes a problem for homeowners, which improves their overall health and well-being.

About Help Air Conditioning

Help Air Conditioning is a local family owned business that has been servicing the New Orleans metro and surrounding areas for 50 years.  Kenny, Keith, and Korey Knobloch are continuing what their father started and that is providing great customer service while helping customers stay comfortable during our sweltering summers.  Our Service and Installation Technicians are the best because we demand the best for you.  Your satisfaction is our #1 Goal.

Korey Knobloch

Co-Owner, IAQ Specialist

504-733-5888