Efficiency

The efficiency rating of the system you select will dictate your annual energy savings. High-efficiency air conditioners start at a seasonal energy efficiency ratio of 16. And over the life of the equipment, higher SEER-rated systems will net you substantial energy savings over systems with a lower SEER rating.

Installation

To get the most out of your investment, that high-efficiency air conditioner requires expert installation. In fact, experts estimate that poor installation can lead to significant energy losses if airflow, duct size and air supply and return systems are not up to par.

Sizing

The size of the system you select will also affect your savings and home comfort. A reputable contractor will use a Manual J sizing calculation to determine your home’s unique cooling load and then match an air conditioner’s output to that load. The risks of an improperly sized unit are high. Among them are increased wear and tear on the system, higher repairs and compromised home comfort.

Quality

Choosing a reputable manufacturer can mean the difference between a lasting, durable air conditioner and one that breaks down. Buying an air conditioner that’s manufactured by a premier company gives you an edge because of the company’s years of expertise in producing quality HVAC equipment. The quality of the equipment you select greatly contributes to system performance and longevity, but not nearly as much as . . .

Finding the right contractor

Major consumer watchdog publications state that finding the right contractor is what matters most — more than brand and even more than price. You see, the U.S. Department of Energy reveals that more than half of all HVAC contractors design and size the systems they install incorrectly. An unscrupulous  contractor can install what is perceived as a premium brand, only to have the unknowing homeowner suffer years of frustration, discomfort and untapped efficiency potential because the system was not sized, designed or installed correctly.

Maintenance

No system will operate at its peak without regular maintenance. So once it’s installed, you’ll want to schedule an A/C maintenance appointment every year. In fact, in climates like that of San Antonio’s, experts recommend that you service your A/C twice a year for optimal results.

Get the most out of your investment with this air conditioner buyer’s guide from Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve served the San Antonio area since 2001.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Air conditioner image via Shutterstock

We estimate that over the course of a year, you will run your heating and cooling equipment more than 3,000 hours. Considering all the moving parts and other key components, it’s nonsensical to neglect your system.

If you fail to provide a precision tune-up for your HVAC equipment for just three years, your system could run for nearly 10,000 hours without ever getting lubrication or a motor check. The refrigerant in your A/C would go without a necessary recharge.

Even in just one year, a lot of dirt can build up in a furnace or A/C, which eventually causes  the internal components to touch and begin wearing out. Buildup is also one of the most significant contributors to high energy costs, as a furnace and A/C must work harder and longer to overcome buildup.

Here’s more proof: With regular maintenance, you’re engaging in a low-cost way to ensure top-dollar, lasting results, such as:

• Fewer repairs
• Higher efficiency
• Increased energy savings
• Longer system life span
• Ensured home safety
• An active warranty

The experts at Jon Wayne have created the Rescue Club Membership to offer you more value for your money. By participating in the club, you’ll get two precision tune-ups every year for one set price. You’ll also get:

• Priority service
• Discounts on HVAC upgrades
• Waived overtime charges
• Loyalty Credits that you can apply toward a purchase

Is that enough proof? If you haven’t scheduled two precision tune-ups for your heating and cooling system yet, call Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. Ask about our Rescue Club membership, which makes valuable annual service all the more affordable. We have served homeowners in the greater San Antonio area since 2001.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Tune-up image via Shutterstock

The initial cost of an air conditioner is often the main factor that a homeowner considers. However, a system’s overall efficiency and the features it uses determine how well it will operate over its lifetime. Air conditioners with a low Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio rating will cost you more to operate, while systems with a higher SEER rating will cost less to operate.

Because you live in the San Antonio area, investing in a higher-efficiency system is a smart move, because you use your A/C nearly year-round. Additionally, you’ll benefit from:

• Energy savings – High-efficiency A/Cs start at SEER 16. By comparing that unit with a minimum-rated 13 SEER system, you can expect several hundred dollars more in annual energy savings. For systems rated even higher, your savings can grow incrementally.
• Payback – When you invest in a high-efficiency system, you’ll see a quicker return on your initial investment. And with most properly sized, designed, installed and maintained air-conditioning systems lasting up to 20 years, once higher energy savings pay back the difference in purchasing costs, you’ll continue to benefit from those energy savings.
• Value – Investing in a quality system also raises the value of your home. When it comes time to sell, that high-efficiency A/C will be an immediate draw.
• Repairs – The advantages of the lower lifetime costs of a high-efficiency A/C extend to other operating costs, such as repairs. These types of systems are generally manufactured with features designed to use less energy and run at lower speeds. For instance, two-stage cooling systems consume less energy, using only as much as needed to meet the temperature demands. When the system runs at that lower stage, it also saves the compressor from wear and tear and lasts longer.

For expert help to calculate lifetime costs when upgrading, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. We have served greater San Antonio since 2001.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Energy efficiency image via Shutterstock

Air conditioning problems

Further, you’ve invested a lot of money in your cooling system, and you rely on it day after day to cool your home. If you try to solve an air conditioning problem on your own, you could do more harm than good.

Because most air conditioners operate on the same principles and use similar technology, they generally experience similar problems. There are a few troubleshooting steps any homeowner can try, but there are others that a DIYer shouldn’t attempt.

Often, an air conditioner will shut down because of power problems, and luckily, these are scenarios you can and should try to resolve.

• Make sure the main power supply to the A/C is active. Find your home’s circuit panel, and flip the circuits to the A/C.
• Look at the A/C equipment itself, and ensure that the power switches on the indoor and outdoor units are on.
• Check your thermostat’s setting: It should be 3 to 5 degrees lower than your home’s temperature for the A/C to cycle on.

If these steps do not resolve the situation, you probably have a more serious problem:

• No cooling – If your A/C is running but the air isn’t cool, you might have a problem with the system’s refrigerant charge, which must be handled by a certified professional.
• Air conditioner won’t cycle on – If you don’t hear the A/C running, and the thermostat is set to cool, you might have a faulty thermostat or other defects.
• Water problems – Your air conditioner produces quite a bit of condensation, which should be properly drained. Possible problems include water that has gathered around the A/C, a failed pump, a clogged drain or a low refrigerant charge.

At Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning, our experts are highly trained in air conditioning problems that occur in San Antonio’s climate, and we’ve been helping area homeowners for nearly 50 years. Call us to schedule a service appointment.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Maintenance image via Shutterstock

Regularly servicing your A/C, furnace, heat pump or other home-comfort system will ensure that it operates at peak efficiency. But preventive maintenance performed by heating and cooling professionals has other benefits, too. With consistent annual service:

• You can extend the life of your HVAC system by taking good care of it, maximizing your investment.
• You will avoid unnecessary repairs, because regular inspections can help ward off problems caused by wear and tear.
• You can increase your energy savings, meaning your energy bills will shrink.

In the San Antonio area, Jon Wayne’s Rescue Club combines a preventive maintenance regimen — to keep your HVAC system in tip-top shape — with a set of perks to make life easier for our loyal customers.

Rescue Club members receive these seven perks:

• Two system tune-ups, one in the spring for your air conditioner and one in the fall for your heating system
• Priority service
• Discounts on repairs, if you should experience a problem with your HVAC equipment
• Discounts on labor costs, when a repair is necessary
• Loyalty credits, which you can apply toward any future purchase of HVAC equipment. You’ll get $50 for every year that you’re a member of the Rescue Club.
• The highest discount we offer when the time comes to replace your HVAC equipment
• Top-quality workmanship that will extend the life of your equipment and lower your heating and cooling bills

Take care of your valuable HVAC equipment, and ensure maximum return on your investments. With annual service membership, you can rest assured that your systems will operate efficiently and provide optimal home comfort.

For expert help or to sign up for our Rescue Club membership, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve served the Greater San Antonio area since 2001.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Service image via Shutterstock

These 10 tips can help you save money throughout the year:

• Use your programmable thermostat to set an energy-saving schedule, and be sure to implement at least one eight-hour period a day when you dramatically adjust temperatures for maximum savings. Most homeowners schedule these periods when the home is unoccupied or when they’re sleeping.
• Upgrade the insulation throughout your home. This action will create a better barrier to prevent heat gain during the summer.
• Seal the air leaks around your home’s exterior. When you close leaks, you’ll keep more conditioned air inside and reduce energy consumption.
• Use ceiling fans during the summer. Running them only in the rooms that are occupied will allow you to raise your thermostat a degree or two while still feeling cool, which will help your A/C consume less energy.
• Install a zoning system, which will help to regulate temperatures throughout your home and decrease energy waste.
• Change your system’s filter regularly to ensure proper airflow through the A/C. When airflow is constricted, your system will consume more energy.
• Ventilate your attic, which will help to move hot air out and ensure adequate circulation — and simultaneously help prevent moisture problems.
• Install weather stripping, applying it around window and door frames to prevent air losses.
• Close the shades or curtains on south- and west-facing windows to prevent heat gain from the sun during the hottest times of the day.
• Replace old, inefficient HVAC equipment, like your A/C or water heater, with high-efficiency systems that will dramatically boost your monthly energy savings, and maximize your investment over the life of the equipment.

By implementing some simple strategies to boost energy savings, homeowners can reduce their energy consumption while making their homes more comfortable. For expert advice, contact the HVAC professionals at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning today. We serve homeowners throughout the San Antonio area, including surrounding communities.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Energy savings image via Shutterstock

We encourage you to get familiar with the Jon Wayne Guarantee before you choose any other HVAC contractor, because we’re convinced that we’ve developed the most thorough plan available.

1. We give you two years to test-drive your new equipment or service. If you’re not completely satisfied, we will refund your money.
2. We promise to send only the best technicians to your home and ensure that they will clean up after themselves and treat you with respect. Every technician we employ will have passed a substance test and a background search, in addition to meeting all of our stringent certification requirements.
3. We will do whatever it takes to ensure that you are completely satisfied with the quality of your system.
4. Within the first year of installation, we guarantee that you’ll save at least 25 percent on the costs to heat and cool your home, or we’ll pay double the difference.
5. We promise to correctly size and install the right type of equipment to meet your home’s heating and cooling loads.
6. If you’re not satisfied with your equipment, we never offer an excuse. Instead, we fix the problem or offer a refund.
7. We will thoroughly protect your home, inside and out, while we work there.
8. If you do experience a problem or system failure, we will fix it without any charges within 24 hours, and we will pay you $100 each day for your inconvenience.
9. If you enroll your system in our Rescue Club, we never charge you for overtime work.
10. We offer price matching.
11. We offer “no lemon” protection.
12. You get a comfort guarantee for five years. If your equipment fails to properly heat or cool your home, we’ll replace it.

At Jon Wayne, we make choosing a heating and air conditioning contractor easy, with a plan that leaves no stone unturned and offers complete protection. Contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Best choice image via Shutterstock

Why does duct design matter? The typical home’s ductwork efficiency often falls well under par, wasting energy and hurting home comfort. An inefficient duct system can lead to a host of problems, including:

• Air leaks, which cause HVAC equipment to work harder and consume more energy
• The installation of oversize systems to make up for energy losses
• Poor home comfort, with some rooms that are stuffy and others that are hot or cold zones
• Improper pressure balance, which creates an uncomfortable home and forces your HVAC system to consume more energy to try to overcome losses through air leaks
• Poor indoor air quality, as a leaky system creates an entry point for humidity and contaminants such as dust to gain access to your home
• Low airflow rates throughout the home, which also can create undue hardship on your HVAC system

Many of these problems result when ductwork is designed as an afterthought. It pays to take the time to develop a well-thought-out plan for your home’s ductwork design. Among other benefits, good ductwork design:

• Allows the ductwork to meet the cooling and heating loads of the home
• Ensures proper equipment sizing and meets airflow requirements
• Optimizes airflow through a well-sealed system
• Guarantees maximum indoor air quality, and prevents contaminants from gaining access
• Ensures that supply and return ducts create a balanced pressure throughout the home
• Prevents energy losses with adequate duct insulation

While you might think that retrofitting ductwork is too costly, many homes can significantly benefit from even minor adjustments in ductwork design. The payoff of energy savings usually makes the service worthwhile.

To get the most out of your investment in your home-comfort systems, and to maximize home comfort and energy savings, your home’s ductwork design should score high marks. If it doesn’t, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. We’re happy to visit your home and conduct our comprehensive duct evaluation and develop a whole-house strategy to improve yours. Serving the San Antonio area, we’re always happy to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Ductwork image via Shutterstock

Your A/C’s coils are key to its operation. Your system has two sets of coils, one indoors in the condenser and one outdoors in the evaporator. Refrigerant flows through the coils, extracting heat from your home, then moving outside and releasing the heat into the air. (The refrigerant absorbs and releases heat as it changes state — between liquid and gas — inside your system.)

Coil design has changed dramatically over the past few decades, and new technology has enabled A/C coils to contribute to greater overall system efficiency. In particular, coils are now designed with larger surface areas to accommodate refrigerant — without taking up more space.

There are three basic coil designs:

• An A-shaped coil can accommodate enough refrigerant so that your A/C will work fairly efficiently.
• N-shaped coils get much better results, however, because they allow for more overall coil surface area inside the unit, allowing them to accommodate more refrigerant and absorb or release more heat — without requiring larger equipment.
• Slab coils, while less common than the other two types, generally consist of coils that are in a straight line. They’re less efficient.

In addition, high-efficiency coils, like the N coil, can get better results because they use:

• Enhanced, more efficient tubing materials inside the coil
• Better fin design on the external portion of the coil
• A better valve, usually a thermal expansion valve (TXV), to meter how much refrigerant the coil needs at any given moment

In the past few years, to comply with governmental regulations, manufacturers have had to produce these more efficient coils to meet efficiency standards. And experts agree that these coils can boost system performance and home comfort and lead to better system reliability. To get the most out of your investment in a new cooling system, be sure that coil design will optimize performance.

For help evaluating cooling systems, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. Serving the San Antonio area, we’re always happy to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Cooling/heating image via Shutterstock

• Preventing system failure. If your filter is dirty, it won’t allow enough air to flow into the system — air that it needs to operate at peak performance. Worse, over time, restricted airflow can damage the system, causing the motor and air handler to work harder than it should and leading to early system breakdown.
• Ensuring optimal system efficiency. When your filter is clean and it has enough surface space to allow for optimal airflow, your air conditioner will run more efficiently.
• Extending the system’s life span. By changing air filters regularly, you’ll ensure that your system is protected from buildup of dirt and grime and receives optimal airflow, both of which will help your A/C last longer.

Other benefits of changing air filters extend beyond improved performance of the HVAC equipment itself. You’ll:

• Decrease your equipment’s impact on the environment, with less energy waste
• Lower your energy bills, thanks to equipment that runs at peak efficiency
• Improve your home comfort, allowing your system to filter out impurities before they are circulated throughout your home

Not all systems are the same, and not all homes are the same. When you start to use your air conditioner on a regular basis, most experts agree that checking air filters once a month works best. So set up a reminder in your calendar, and change your filter when it looks full or dirty — at least once every three months.

You can build a healthy foundation for your HVAC equipment by making it a priority to check and replace your filters. For more information about your HVAC equipment, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving the Greater San Antonio area since the mid-1970s.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air filters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Air filter image via Shutterstock