No matter how well the furnace and air conditioner is made, the comfort, reliability, heating quality and efficiency (AFUE, SEER) is in the hands of the contractor doing the installation. That’s why it is said, “The most important day of the life of any furnace and air conditioner, is the day that it’s installed!”

Many poorly trained contractors – the ones that don’t invest in the knowledge, training, special instruments and start up procedures it takes for today heating and cooing system’s – find it much easier to use the “plug it in and run” technique for installing and setting up a heating and cooling system.

According To The EPA: “EPA believes that contractors who have participated in advanced training on diagnostic and installation practices will be able to install better performing systems that save money and produce less air pollution than many who do not.”

A properly trained contractor will be able to describe step by step how his technicians will install the new equipment, and how they test, measure and adjust it during start up to ensure safe and efficient operation.

Ask to see a copy of their quality assurance checklists that ensure your new system is delivering its rated Btu’s and efficiency. He’ll also be able to provide proof of attendance and ongoing continuing training for his technicians at vocational, association, industry and manufacturer trade schools.

Why is the furnace startup procedure important?  The oxygen, flue gas temperature and supply air temperature must be adjusted for proper burner operation and proper draft with a special Combustion Analyzer, and the fan speed set to achieve a minimum of 120 degrees at the registers.

Why is the air conditioner startup procedure important? It’s essential that your new air conditioner has been properly evacuated to 250/500 microns and held at that pressure for a certain time span to prove there are no foreign vapors in the system. The system should be electronically charged using either the superheat method or the subcooling method (or substantially equivalent) for it to achieve its rated BTU delivery. The minimum temperature split between supply and return should be no less than 20 degrees.

A recent study by a major electrical utility found that 79% of newly installed cooling systems had either significantly too much or too little refrigerant. A problem that increases utility bills, reduces the amount of cooling created, and often causes premature compressor failure.

It takes time, training and special instruments to correctly charge an air conditioner. Very few contractors know how to do it properly. And even if they do know how, many don’t invest in the time or the instruments that are needed. A properly trained contractor will either precisely weigh in the proper charge, or adjust it based on careful temperature, relative humidity and refrigerant gas pressure measurements.

When a a properly trained contractor installs a heating and cooling system and uses the manufacturer's strict start up procedures, he has completed the final critical factor for guaranteeing you’ll have year-round comfort without causing high heating and cooling bills.

Contact the air experts at Nevada Heating and Air. Ask our tech a question, request a service or offer feedback, please.