Residential FAQs
Table of Contents
- What should I look for when choosing a contractor?
- I'm concerned about power surges damaging my home's heating and cooling equipment; what can I do to help prevent this?
- My outdoor unit has got frost on it, or looks frozen. Is something wrong with it?
- Why does my new unit make a different noise than the old unit I put in 20 years ago? We thought the new unit would be quieter than the old unit?
1) What should I look for when choosing a contractor?
How long have they been in business? James River Air Conditioning was founded in 1967. Since that time, James River has grown to become one of the premiere heating, air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing contractors in the Richmond, Virginia area.
Does the company employ certified factory-trained technicians? James River Air Conditioning has over 150 employees. Over 70% of our residential service technicians are NATE certified. James River places great emphasis on training and ongoing certification. We hold an annual "training day" and have an onsite computer simulation lab. We use state-of-the-art tools and diagnostic equipment. Our fleet of over 80 computer-dispatched trucks helps us provide you with professional, timely service.
Are they bonded and insured? James River Air Conditioning's technicians are fully bonded, insured, and covered by Workman's Compensation.
Do they represent several reputable manufacturers? James River Air offers the most reliable products of the major manufacturers to provide you with
2)
I'm concerned about power
surges damaging my home's
heating and cooling equipment;
what can I do to help prevent this?
Power surges can be a problem; we've probably all had at least one appliance ruined by a power surge. Lightning is the most obvious cause of power surges, but cycling of home appliances, heating and cooling equipment, etc. can also cause them.
James River Air offers a couple different solutions to protect against damage to your home comfort system caused by power surges.
The first option is a condensing unit surge protector. Installed next to your condensing unit, these are very affordable, protect against up to 100,000 amps of current surge, and come with a limited lifetime parts warranty. Damage to your condensing unit (especially to the compressor) can be very costly, so these are a wise investment.
The second option is a whole-house surge protector. These are installed next to your breaker panel; one of these is required for each breaker panel up to 400 amps. They protect against surges up to 48,000 amps, feature LED indicators to confirm proper operation, and come with a five-year parts warranty. This will help protect everything connected to your electrical panel.
Our electricians have installed hundreds of these devices for area homeowners. You can be confident that a surge protector from James River Air has been installed properly and will be there when you need it.
If you'd like more information about surge protection, please call our Residential Service department at (804) 358-9333 or e-mail jrac@jamesriverair.com
3) My outdoor unit has got frost on it, or looks frozen. Is something wrong with it?
This is a common question that we get every fall when we start into the heating season.
Rule of thumb: In general, it is okay to get frost on the coils of your unit that is the thickness of a dime. It is also a natural occurrence to have a defrost cycle in which you will see steam rolling out of the top of your unit. A lot of people think it is smoke or that the unit is burning, but it is really a natural occurrence.
What is not a natural occurrence is ice thicker than 1/4" on the unit. This can come from low refrigerant levels, inclement weather, or stopped up gutters on your home.
If we have an ice storm and your unit ices up, please allow the unit to completely thaw and run on emergency strip heat until the storm and ice are gone. If you still have an ice problem after that, call us to set up a service call.
4) Why does my new unit make a different noise than the old unit I put in 20 years ago? We thought the new unit would be quieter than the old unit?
The condenser fan motor in your new unit should be quieter than the fan on your old unit. But it is true -- the compressor may make more noise. The "surging" sound that your new unit makes is due to the type of compressors that are installed in today's more efficient heat pumps and air conditioners.
Environmental regulations require manufacturers to produce equipment that is very efficient. Since 2006, all central air conditioners manufactured in the U. S. must have a minimum 13 SEER rating. The previous minimum rating was 10 SEER. In order to achieve this higher efficiency, manufacturers have to use scroll compressors. And scroll compressors simply make more noise than the reciprocating compressors that were used in old, less efficient units.
The positives outweigh the negatives...Although today’s new compressors may be slightly noisier—their positive attributes are worth it because they:
· cost much less to operate
· more eco friendly
· leaves a much smaller carbon footprint
Our in-house line of equipment, James River Select, has one of the quietest scroll compressors manufactured today. Other brands often come with lighter bases- and they make more noise.
A new high-efficiency James River Select system gives you all the benefits of the newest technologies along with one of the quietest designs available.
If you'd like to schedule an appointment with a residential supervisor to evaluate your heating and cooling system, please call us at 358-9333 or e-mail us at jrac@jamesriverair.com.
