Is it time to replace your Air Conditioning System? 

How do you know?

Here are some things to consider if  a replacement is needed:

• Typical life-span is 15 to 20 years. However, many of us push it longer than that, as long as routine maintenance's are done yearly.  
• Better efficiency!  Many newer models now offer better energy efficiency, which is very important when your watching your budget!
• Look at your "SEER" rating, the higher the "SEER" rating the better the efficiency!
• Do you have "single stage", "two stage" , or variable speed? Single stage is either off or on and tends to be least efficient.  Two stage is the middle ground, it uses high or low and tends to be moderately cost efficient.  Variable speed operates at a lower speed to keep the temperature steady, then uses higher speed when temperatures rise outdoors. Variable speed is the most efficient operating cost. 
• Lastly; consider your homes location, size and lifestyle, do you like it very cool and comfortable at all times?   Your HVAC system is measured by tonnage, the more tonnage the more powerful your system is to keep you comfortable. Tonnage and SEER rating are all factored in together to determine efficiency and operating costs.

So what to do if  your considering a change-out? 

• Check the seasonable energy efficiency rating "SEER" , www.ac-heatingconnect.com  . 
• Go to www.energizect.com , for low interest loan and rebate information.  This is great site to go to and determine what you can afford, what loans are available, and what rebates are available to consumers if you upgrade more efficient equipment!
• Call Douglas Mechanical Services, 860 357 4952 ! We can offer you a free, valuable consultation to determine what is available to you in in upgrades! 

The History of Air Conditioning!

• Once considered a luxury, but now AC is so important that 48% (https://www.eia.gov ) of energy consumption in America is for cooling and heating!
• Blocks of ice were once used to cool hospitals. These blocks of ice were shipped from frozen lakes, especially to Florida where temperatures soared !
• Dr John Gorrie began experimenting with artificial cooling and was granted a patent in 1851 for a compressor powered by horses !
• Eventually Willis Carrier invented the first modern electrical air conditioning unit. He obtained a patent for “his apparatus for treating air”. Willis eventually formed  Carrier engineering Corporation with six other engineers.
• During the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 mechanical refrigeration was used to cool the Missouri State Building. Most systems in the beginning were too large for residential homes, and most Americans flocked the movie theaters to watch the Hollywood stars!
• Finally in 1929 Frigidaire introduced a small enough split system to be used in residential homes.
• Over the years many, many improvements have been made with cooling our homes and businesses making our lives more comfortable. Progress is on-going to constantly make cooling more efficient and less harmful to our planet.
• For more more information on the History of Air conditioning, visit these sites; https://www.energy.gov , https://www.energy.gov/heating-cooling , https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/emerging-technologies , https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/energy-department-invests-nearly-8-million-develop-next-generation-hvac-systems .