We pride ourselves on using best practices through every step in the upgrade process. When you contact Roscoe Brown for a consultation, we’ll walk you through our high-quality air conditioner upgrade process, which includes:

Selecting the equipment

Central air-conditioning systems have come a long way, and today’s units take advantage of advancements that allow air conditioners to reach significantly higher efficiencies. And the efficiency of your system is the cornerstone of an air conditioner upgrade. What should you look for? First, take a look at the seasonal energy efficiency ratio ratings of the systems you're considering. Those ratings tell you how much energy each unit will use to generate cool air.

The government has set the minimum standard for new air conditioners at SEER 13. But to guarantee top-notch energy savings, you’ll want to investigate systems that get better results, such as those with a SEER 16 rating. Once your new system is in place, you will begin to appreciate what a high-efficiency air conditioner can do for you. An upgrade from a SEER 8 system to a SEER 16 system can yield considerable energy savings. 

The system's features will also dictate how energy efficient the system is. It's worth it to investigate certain features, such as:

• A variable-speed air handler, which will allow your air conditioner to run continuously at a low speed, optimizing humidity control and energy consumption, while producing even temperatures. During more extreme temperatures, the air handler will adjust its output, increasing the speed to meet demand.
• Two-stage cooling, which operates much like the variable-speed air handler. A two-stage system uses less energy, automatically adjusting the output of the air conditioner. In general, this feature allows your A/C to operate at low output for a majority of the time, enhancing humidity control

Conducting a load calculation

The next step involves sizing the air conditioner to match your home’s cooling load. Some contractors use rule-of-thumb sizing practices, which means the technician sizes your cooling system’s tonnage to meet a certain amount of square feet. Industry standards, however, offer a technical way to size a home -- the Manual J method.

A Manual J load calculation will take your home’s square footage into account, along with other key factors, such as your home’s thermal losses through improperly insulated areas, air leakage, your local climate needs and window efficiency. Only then can a contractor properly select an air conditioner to meet your home’s cooling load, ensuring a comfortable home and an energy-efficient system.

Installing the air conditioner

Once you’ve selected an efficient system and have the results of the load calculation in hand, your technician must follow best practices for installing the equipment. In fact, failing to properly install the A/C can lead to a significant loss in efficiency.

A proper installation should include:

• Sizing the ductwork, using the Manual D method
• Evaluating the ductwork’s supply and return registers
• Retrofitting ducts, if necessary
• Sealing ducts
• Reducing noise levels
• Testing the system’s airflow
• Checking the A/C’s refrigerant charge

Maintaining the system

Once your new air conditioner is in place, the only way to guarantee that it will continue to operate at peak efficiency is to have it serviced regularly, because over time dirt will build up in the system. If left unchecked, that dirt buildup will negatively affect your system's efficiency and cost you more to operate.

A well-maintained system, however, will net you several benefits, including optimal energy savings, fewer repairs and a longer lasting system.

Don’t trust your home comfort and energy savings to just anyone. To maximize your investment during an air conditioner upgrade, contact the leading HVAC experts in mid-Tennessee, Roscoe Brown Heating & Cooling & Insulation.

 The average American household spends $1,400 a year on energy bills, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. What many households don’t realize is that they are paying more than they need to, and by making a few basic home improvements, they can bring down the cost of their bills every month. 

WINDOWS

Some energy-efficient windows are designed for warmer climates with coatings that prevent heat absorption. 

LEAKS

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are many culprits for air leaks around the house that contribute to inflated heating and cooling bills. But applying weather stripping to windows and doors is an easy do-it-yourself project for most homeowners.  

GREEN APPLIANCES

Appliances account for 20 percent of homeowners’ energy bills. When shopping for new appliances, heaters, or air conditioners, Roscoe Brown recommends consumers to look for the Energy Star logo – the federal government’s label for energy efficiency. 

OUTSIDE GROWTH

Plant a tree! By planting trees homeowners can create shade in the summer and windbreaks in the winter. Not only do they add aesthetic value, but carefully positioned trees can save up to 25 percent of the energy a typical household uses for cooling. 

AIR CONDITIONING

Whether residential or commercial, air conditioning and heating systems help keep people comfortable and healthy by maintaining good indoor air quality and comfortable temperatures. 

 A free consultation with any of our Roscoe Brown professional technicians can give you a better idea on which HVAC units would be the best fit for your Murfreesboro, Tullahoma or Nashville, Tennessee home or business. We offer savings, rebates and special promotions from our trusted HVAC manufacturers. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment call toll free 1-888-MY-ROSCOE (1-888-697-6726).

 Heating

The “H” in HVAC stands for heating, and encompasses a wide variety of heating systems from gas furnaces, electric furnaces, oil furnaces, oil and gas boilers, to radiant heating systems, heat pumps and forced air systems.   

Ventilation

Ventilation is the “V” in HVAC. This can refer to ventilating a home using ductwork or ventilating a kitchen using ductwork and fans with a hood. It can also refer to combustion air that is needed for some heating systems.  

Air Conditioning or AC

The “AC” refers to air conditioning and the variety of methods that use refrigeration of air or water for the conditioning and cooling of designated spaces.  Air conditioners and chillers are most often used for the job of air conditioning. 

HVAC Equipment

All equipment in an air conditioning and heating system (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) are designed to work together to maintain comfort for your property. Whether residential or commercial, HVAC helps keep people comfortable and healthy by maintaining good indoor air quality and comfortable temperatures.  

HVAC Manufacturers

Carrier and Bryant are two HVAC Manufacturers of air conditioning and heating equipment that play a key role in the industry.  Both produce high quality air conditioners, gas furnaces, heat pumps and other air conditioning and heating equipment like indoor air quality equipment. 

Refrigeration

If the HVAC has an “R” at the end, the “R” stands for refrigeration. This can be applicable to residential installations but is mostly used for commercial refrigeration units used in supermarkets and cold storage warehouses. 

A free consultation with any of our Roscoe Brown professional technicians can give you a better idea on which HVAC units would be the best fit for your Murfreesboro, Tullahoma or Nashville, Tennessee home or business. We offer savings, rebates and special promotions from our trusted HVAC manufacturers. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment call toll free 1-888-MY-ROSCOE (1-888-697-6726).

Humidity is needed in the air, but it should be in the right proportions. Too much humidity can lead to condensation, which can cause corrosion or electrical shorts. But too little humidity creates buildup of static electricity, which can potentially short circuit and damage your laptops, computers or any office electronic. Moreover, it will make your staff and/or customers uncomfortable.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that the ideal relative humidity (RH) is under 50 percent, but it’s also vital that you keep it above 40 percent. Maintaining a certain humidity range when using your air conditioning and heating system often requires addition or removal of water from the air. But be aware, if you try using outside climate to assist your in-house humidity you may end up making humidifiers work harder. Just “opening the windows” of your facility sounds like a great (and cheap) cooling option, but doing so on Spring-time rainy days can cause your air conditioning system to work overtime removing the excess humidity.

The biggest challenge for most facilities is balancing the right temperature and humidity range, while still protecting equipment from heat and condensation. Stay cool and dry, but efficient at the same time.

Our professional technicians at Roscoe Brown offer free business/commercial consultations and can answer any and all of your humidity concerns. We also offer rebates and promotions from our trusted heating and air conditioning manufacturers. To schedule an appointment, call toll free 1-888-MY-ROSCOE (1-888-697-6726).

♦  What is the function of your AC?

The main function is simple. Your home or business air conditioner removes heat and humidity from inside your home to the outside, cooling you and your home and/or business. Below are the three main parts:

• Evaporator coil: The air is cooled by blowing it over a set of cold pipes.
• Refrigerant: The refrigerant is pumped outside the house to another coil where it gives up its heat.
• Condenser: This outside coil is called the condenser because the refrigerant is condensing from a gas back to a liquid. 

♦  What is the size of your AC unit?

There are different models, sizes and efficiencies available. Air conditioner sizes are determined by the cooling capacities. The way this is measured is by how many “tons” of cooling your unit carries. Usually, an AC unit used in a smaller home would be about two tons and one used in a larger home would be about five tons. Of course commercial units are much larger in size and require specific load calculations. 

♦  What is the role of the Filters?

Every AC unit has filters. The filter removes harmful particles from the air stream. However, dust particles usually accumulate on the filter and cuts air flow. That is why it is advised to change your filter regularly. 

♦  What are the benefits of maintaining your system?

Changing your filters is inexpensive and brushing dirt and obstructions from the coils and the drains from outside at the start of each cooling season is a great way to avoid damage that may spiral into an expensive repair or replacement. Whether you have a home or commercial AC system, regular maintenance inspections should be scheduled a minimum of 2-3 times a year.   

Contact one of our Murfreesboro, Tullahoma or Nashville, Tennessee Roscoe Brown HVAC professionals to get more information about AC maintenance or replacements. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, call toll free 1-888-MY-ROSCOE (1-888-697-6726).

 Here at Roscoe Brown, we feel that the first and most important step in picking the right HVAC unit for your home or business is recognizing the different types of units and their relative function and limitations. Below are the five most common types of HVAC systems:

1. SINGLE ZONE: Single zone HVAC units work well for apartments or single family homes.  Rooms share cooling and heating vents.
   
   
2. MULTIPLE ZONE: These systems are perfect if you’re the OWNER or supervisor of a multi-story apartment or business building. It provides heating/cooling to more than one area of a building. Each zone can have a different temperature regulated with separate thermostats.
   
   
   1. CONSTANT VOLUME: Constant volume HVAC systems are designed to provide each zone with a constant volume of airflow. It’s a bit similar to the multiple zone HVAC system but gives more control to a single hub by regulating temperatures by switching the HVAC unit “ON” or “OFF”. This system is mostly used in commercial retail buildings with large structures.
      
      
   2. VARIABLE VOLUME: These units allow users to control the amount of cooled or heated air delivered to each zone. This is also a common option for commercial retail buildings.
      
      
   3. RADIANT: Radiant HVAC units usually run cold or hot water through metal pipes to cool or heat the air before it is released into the room. These systems are commonly used in older homes and buildings.

A free consultation with any of our Roscoe Brown professional technicians can give you a better idea on which of these HVAC units would be the best fit for your Murfreesboro, Tullahoma or Nashville, Tennessee home or business. We offer savings, rebates and special promotions from our trusted HVAC manufacturers. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment call toll free 1-888-MY-ROSCOE (1-888-697-6726).

Important Tip: Make sure to turn off the power to your air conditioning unit before starting any work. This is a safety precaution.

• Change or clean your AC filter every month. It is the easiest and most cost effective maintenance you can do. By changing or cleaning your AC filter you are removing particles from the air stream to the AC unit and into your home. A clean filter in an AC unit will help prevent failure in the long run.

• Maintain the area around the outside air conditioning unit. Clear away weeds, grass and other debris that may block airflow through the coil. This is an important step; especially in the spring and fall.

• When turning your unit back on, try to listen for odd or loud noises from your unit.   If you hear anything that sounds different or unusual, we recommend that you call an air conditioning service professional to come take a look. If there is a problem, fixing it right away may save you from more expensive repairs in the future.    

The service life span of an air conditioner is between 10 to 15 years; however, if proper maintenance is neglected, it may last less. A well maintained air conditioner will perform more efficiently, which decreases energy cost and reduces replacements or repairs in the future. Contact one of our Murfreesboro, Tullahoma or Nashville, Tennessee Roscoe Brown HVAC professionals to get more information about AC maintenance. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment; call toll free 1-888-MY-ROSCOE (1-888-697-6726).

Before anything, we recommend a maintenance check-up every three to six months scheduled by your local HVAC service professional, especially if you recently purchased a new air conditioning unit for your home. In addition, as a homeowner, here are two simple and cost-effective tips that will maximize comfort and reduce major repair costs: 

• Maintain your outside unit so it is free from debris and leaves! It’s often not stressed enough how important it is to keep that area clean to avoid debris getting in your unit outside. Additionally, to give the fan in your unit a break – turn your air conditioner up in the summer to 78º and down to 65º in the winter if you are going to be away for a day or more. 

• The easiest and most cost effective maintenance you will ever do is changing or cleaning your AC filter every month. Not only does changing or cleaning your AC filter remove particles from the air stream to both keep the AC unit clean and remove particles from the air, but it also helps extend the life of your heating and air conditioning system in the long run. 

For your safety, make sure to turn off the power to the condenser and the evaporator before starting any work on your AC unit. Additionally, make sure the condenser unit is not covered up since it needs as much fresh air as possible to function properly.

If you have any questions, please call Roscoe Brown toll free at 1-888-MY-ROSCOE (1-888-697-6726)

Benefits:

• Time: A furnace or heat pump tune-up and complete HVAC system inspection can fix any potential little problems before they become big problems. The tune-up is designed to find out and fix any potential deficiencies now so your system doesn’t break down when it’s below freezing or sweltering outside. This will help optimize the effectiveness of your system and include air filter cleaning and replacement, detailed inspection of all coils and ductwork, airflow measurement, testing the heat pump, furnace and entire air conditioning unit, and much more.

• Money: In the long-run, you’ll be saving money. Small fixes now can add up to big savings later. You don’t want to be in a position where your entire system needs to be replaced a couple of months down the road because something simple wasn’t checked or adjusted earlier. Seasonal maintenance can also help save on monthly utility bills.

• Headaches: A furnace or heat pump repair, service and maintenance tune-up can also save headaches later. The last thing you want to be doing when the temperature is below freezing is running around going through the hassle of emergency repairs of a broken heating system. Your family or customers comfort and health are at stake.

In addition to a spring tune-up, Roscoe Brown also recommends Tennessee property owners have their HVAC system inspected before summer to make sure the system is ready to go before the heat of summer. Before that happens, however you have the unpredictable winter to contend with. So, you’ll want to make an appointment with one of our experienced technicians to have your HVAC system thoroughly checked out.

 Cleaning or replacing filters regularly, particularly during times of high usage, will help the unit run more efficiently, save energy, improve air flow and enhance air quality. Refrigerant should be checked by a qualified ac or heating repair professional.

Programmable thermostats allow you to automatically regulate the temperature during times that you select based on your lifestyle and schedule. Pre-programmed settings that lower or raise the temperature during times you don't need as much heating or cooling will save energy.