This aging air conditioner was in need of replacing so the owner called in Birks Air Conditioning
We replaced with a high energy-efficient unit to complete the A.C. change-out fast and under budget.
California Contractors License #913542
Registered with Department of Industrial Relations – DIR #1000033801
A.C. Change-outs
AC change outs are not DIY / do-it-yourself projects. Among the many factors to consider are the size of the unit vs. the amount of space it needs to cool, the need to pull permits and determining if it is necessary to also upgrade the duct system. Birks Air Conditioning takes care of the entire process for you.
We begin with diagnostic testing of your structure and existing air conditioning unit plus duct system. The average HVAC system has a lifespan of around 15 years. If properly maintained, air conditioners tend to need to be replaced between every 10 – 15 years. Premature failure is most often caused by lack of routine maintenance. This will cause the unit to run inefficiently which means it has to work too hard to cool your space. Regular maintenance includes changing out the air filters, monitoring refrigerant lines, cleaning the condenser coils and ductwork, and other maintenance items that will insure the system runs efficiently and effectively.
Waiting for your air conditioning unit to reach the end of its life cycle is not always the best timing for an upgrade. Every year, new technologies emerge such as refined energy efficiency methods or new technologies altogether that increase the efficiency of HVAC systems. Many older HVAC systems fail to meet today’s Energy Star standards. The newer heating and air conditioner systems are much more efficient than older units and offer significant long-term energy savings. The federal government’s latest SEER guidelines (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) require cooling units should have a SEER rating of at least 13 starting in 2006. A twenty-year unit may have a SEER rating ofonly 7 or 8.
Replacing the AC unit by itself may not reduce costs as needed. An energy audit from Birks Air Conditioning can reveal air leaking windows and door seals, faulty duct work and inadequate HVAC to pair with the new unit. It does no good to change out your air conditioning condenser if you have under-performing ducts and let cool air leak through the windows and doors. Faulty ductwork can account for up to 30 percent energy loss.
As the California CSLB (Contractors State License Board) states, “California’s 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards indicate that HVAC ducts should leak less than 15 percent but, according to California Energy Commission statistics, the average duct system leaks about 30 percent, wasting energy and increasing utility bills.”
Many duct systems are poorly insulated and leak conditioned air into unconditioned attics and crawl spaces. When ducts leak, conditioned air can be forced out unsealed joints and lost. In addition, unconditioned air may be drawn into return ducts through unsealed joints. Attic temperature can be very high in the summer so any attic air that enters your system through unsealed duct joints will have to be cooled. This increases the load on your system and increases your energy bill.
When it becomes necessary to do an A.C. change-out, replacing the old unit with a new energy efficient one will also mean the two units are of a different size. This requires a new roof curb adapter to be fitted for the replacement unit. Birks Air Conditioning fabricates custom sizes specific to the exacting requirements of the installation. Custom fabrication is often the only option; “cutting corners” here could results in conditioned air leakage, increased utility bills and (worst of all) overworking and prematurely aging your brand new HVAC system.
Case Study: Custom Fabrication of Roof Curb Adapter
You might assume that your older home or office is going to be much more expensive to upgrade your air conditioning system. Not necessarily… Surprisingly, an older home may have a much better designed duct system than a new home and may only need a leak check and insulation upgrade. Newer homes, on the other hand, may bevictim of cost cutting measures and poorly designed duct systems. The use of flex duct has grown in popularity because ease ofinstallation and the high cost of shop made sheet metal ducts. Flex ducts — even when installed properly — are a poor substitute for well designed properly insulated sheet metal ducts. It is common practice to make plenums and coil boxes out of taped-together duct board.
Another reason to consider an A.C. changeout is your indoor air quality. While your air conditioning unit is cooling your home or office, it is also filtering the air, providing ventilation, monitoring and adjusting humity to comfortable levels and assisting in the removal of allergens and harmful pollutants from the air.
Newer air conditioning systems are capable of establishing zones throughout a living or work space that result in more moderate and consistent temperatures throughout the space versus the “hot” and “cold” areas that older systems typically deliver. Zoning your home or office is a smart energy-efficient solution worth considering.
Another advantage of newer systems is Smart Device Integration that improves energy efficiency. Make sure your new system will work with smart devices; smart thermostats, for example, connect through your home’s WiFi. You’ll be able to monitor and control temperature settings from our smartphone even when you are away.
When hiring a Bakersfield air conditioning company to replace your air conditioner with a new and improved system, look beyond cost to the overall reputation of the contractor, verify their licensing with the CSLB and weigh their track record for completing similar jobs. Upgrading your air conditioning unit is a good option for lowering your utility bills. Let’s face it, the cost of energy is not going down… So a viable cost savings solution is calling an experienced Kern County contractor like Birks Air Conditioning in Bakersfield (661) 343-0069 to complete your A.C. change-out.
Since 2007, Birks has proudly served Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County area.
Call today (661) 343-0069
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