Installation
We love our city, but too much of the hot humid New Orleans weather can be dangerous, that’s why investing in a high quality, reliable Air Conditioning is essential. Ed Blancher Service is dedicated to customer comfort and satisfaction, that’s why we offer top of the line equipment and professional installations to the people of the New Orleans Metro area. High humidity and even higher temperatures make having the right A/C more than a luxury, it’s a necessity. Investing in the proper system will allow you to save time on repairs and money on your energy bill. Ed Blancher Service, as a certified American Standard dealer, offers the full range of comfort options including central air, heat pumps, furnaces, as well as ductless mini-splits. We specialize in assessing your space to determine the right fit for your specific needs.
INSTALLATION
Which system is the right investment for you?
The reason your equipment is an investment and not just an appliance is that your system is responsible for your consistent comfort and is unique not only to the space it resides, but to you and your family as well. Not giving enough time or care to properly select, size, and install your equipment will lead to inefficiencies and problems for the foreseeable life of the unit; typically, 10 years for A/C and 15 years for a furnace. Our team is here to provide you with not only the knowledge, but expert recommendations on which equipment will best serve you and allow for the most return on your investment.
Central Air Conditioning
Central A/C systems provide consistent cooling throughout your entire home, ensuring every room maintains a comfortable temperature. Designed solely for cooling, central systems extract heat from indoor air and release it outside, resulting in a cooler indoor environment. They are highly efficient at cooling larger spaces, making them ideal for homes with multiple rooms or larger square footage. Central systems often come with a central thermostat, allowing for convenient control of your entire home’s temperature from a single location. Many central A/C units are designed for quiet operation, minimizing noise disturbance in your living spaces. Central A/C units are typically concealed, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your home without visible indoor units. Pairing your central systems with a furnace allows for efficient heating during the colder months.
Central A/C systems provide consistent cooling throughout your entire home, ensuring every room maintains a comfortable temperature. Designed solely for cooling, central systems extract heat from indoor air and release it outside, resulting in a cooler indoor environment. They are highly efficient at cooling larger spaces, making them ideal for homes with multiple rooms or larger square footage. Central systems often come with a central thermostat, allowing for convenient control of your entire home’s temperature from a single location. Many central A/C units are designed for quiet operation, minimizing noise disturbance in your living spaces. Central A/C units are typically concealed, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your home without visible indoor units. Pairing your central systems with a furnace allows for efficient heating during the colder months.
Central Air Conditioning
Furnaces
American Standard furnaces are available in both electric and gas models, and they differ significantly in their operating principles, fuel sources, efficiency, and installation requirements. Here are the key differences between electric and gas American Standard furnaces:
Gas Furnace:
Gas furnaces use natural gas as their primary fuel source. They rely on combustion to generate heat. Gas furnaces are generally more energy-efficient than electric furnaces, especially when using natural gas. They can provide high-efficiency heating with Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings of 90% or more. High AFUE ratings indicate less wasted energy. Gas furnaces can generate and distribute heat quickly, making them effective at rapidly warming a home, even in very cold conditions. In regions where natural gas is relatively inexpensive, gas furnaces tend to have lower operating costs compared to electric furnaces. However, costs can vary depending on local utility rates and the furnace’s efficiency. Gas furnaces produce greenhouse gas emissions during combustion, which can contribute to environmental concerns. However, they can be more energy-efficient and produce fewer emissions when compared to some electric heating methods. Gas furnaces require a gas line for fuel and proper ventilation for safe operation. They must be professionally installed, and venting systems are necessary to expel combustion byproducts.
Electric Furnace:
Electric furnaces, as the name suggests, operate solely on electricity. They use heating elements (similar to those in electric stoves) to produce heat. Electric furnaces are less energy-efficient compared to gas furnaces. They have a lower heating efficiency, as some energy is lost during electricity generation and transmission. Electric furnaces typically have Electric Heating Efficiency (EHE) ratings, which may not be as high as gas furnace AFUE ratings. Electric furnaces may take longer to reach the desired temperature, especially in extremely cold weather, as they rely on heating elements that may not produce heat as rapidly as gas combustion. Electric furnaces can have higher operating costs due to the typically higher cost of electricity compared to natural gas. This makes them less cost-effective in terms of heating efficiency. Electric furnaces do not produce direct emissions at the point of use, making them cleaner in terms of indoor air quality. However, the environmental impact can vary depending on the source of the electricity. If the electricity is generated from fossil fuels, there may still be emissions associated with the electricity generation. Electric furnaces do not require gas lines or venting systems, making their installation less complex. They are generally easier to install and may have lower installation costs.
In summary, the choice between an electric and gas American Standard furnace depends on factors such as energy efficiency, fuel availability, operating costs, and environmental considerations as well as the size, location, and construction of your home. Gas furnaces are often preferred for their higher efficiency and quicker heating performance, while electric furnaces are simpler to install and may be suitable in areas with limited access to natural gas.
Heat Pumps
A heat pump and a traditional air conditioning (A/C) system differ primarily in their functionality and capabilities. While both systems can cool indoor spaces, a heat pump offers additional heating capabilities, making it a more versatile solution for year-round comfort. A heat pump can both cool and heat indoor spaces. It operates by extracting heat from the outdoor air and transferring it indoors to heat the space. During the summer, it reverses this process to cool the indoor air. This dual functionality makes heat pumps an energy-efficient solution by moving heat rather than generating it through combustion or electric resistance heating. This means it will keep you cool during our hot, humid New Orleans summer months and provide heating when it gets a little colder. While heat pumps are known for being energy efficient, more environmentally friendly and very cost-effective, their efficiency may decrease as outdoor temperatures drop significantly. Because of this, supplemental heating should still be installed just in case the need arises. While heat pump installations are more complex and may involve higher upfront costs due to the dual functionality they provide, the energy savings over time can offset the initial investment.
A heat pump and a traditional air conditioning (A/C) system differ primarily in their functionality and capabilities. While both systems can cool indoor spaces, a heat pump offers additional heating capabilities, making it a more versatile solution for year-round comfort. A heat pump can both cool and heat indoor spaces. It operates by extracting heat from the outdoor air and transferring it indoors to heat the space. During the summer, it reverses this process to cool the indoor air. This dual functionality makes heat pumps an energy-efficient solution by moving heat rather than generating it through combustion or electric resistance heating. This means it will keep you cool during our hot, humid New Orleans summer months and provide heating when it gets a little colder. While heat pumps are known for being energy efficient, more environmentally friendly and very cost-effective, their efficiency may decrease as outdoor temperatures drop significantly. Because of this, supplemental heating should still be installed just in case the need arises. While heat pump installations are more complex and may involve higher upfront costs due to the dual functionality they provide, the energy savings over time can offset the initial investment.
Heat Pumps
Ductwork
Achieving optimal efficiency in any central system hinges on the quality of the ductwork. At Ed Blancher Service, we specialize in creating custom hard metal ductwork solutions to maximize the efficiency of all central equipment. Buying a highly efficient unit is only the first step, having high-quality ductwork installed by professionals is crucial to unlocking the full potential of your central A/C system. It’s worth noting that hard-pipe ductwork surpasses flex-duct in several critical aspects. Flex-duct is susceptible to kinks, has a limited lifespan, and lacks the durability of hard metal alternatives. Any efficiency gains achieved through the installation of high efficiency equipment will be limited if the quality of the ductwork installed is not up to standard. If you encounter any of the following issues it could be time to have the experts at Ed Blancher Service take a comprehensive assessment of your existing ductwork:
- Inadequate temperature control
- Poor or inefficient airflow
- Uneven cooling distribution
- Strange or foul odors
- Noisy operation – scraping, knocking or metallic banging sounds when your system is running, starting or shutting down
- Visual signs of mold inside any ducts
Mold is one of the most dangerous signs that your ductwork needs to be replaced. When ductwork is damaged or not installed properly, moisture can infiltrate the interior of the duct, resulting in mold that directly effects indoor air quality.
By entrusting us with your ductwork needs, you can ensure that your central air conditioning system operates at peak efficiency, providing the comfort and energy savings you desire.
Ductless
Central A/C and heat pumps are both great systems to have installed in your home, but in certain applications a ductless mini-split may be the most feasible or tailored option for your specific needs. Going ductless offers a range of benefits including increased efficiency, higher accuracy of temperature for specific spaces, sleeker design, and lower costs on energy and operation overall. In order to save money on energy costs, ductless split systems allow you to cool rooms individually, instead of having to wait for the whole house to cool. Paired with a quiet, whisper quiet operation and compact sleek design, going ductless can be the perfect alternative to achieving optimal humidity and temperature control in otherwise isolated spaces. Keep in mind that while all these features are great, ductless systems only operate at peak performance in certain isolated areas. Ductless mini-splits operate best in areas such as home addons, where adding ductwork can be an expensive hassle, garages or basements that are desired to be cooled or heated independently from the rest of the central system, or in cases where excess interior walls cause problems with air circulation. Ductless systems also offer the benefit of quicker and less invasive installation, as they do not require ductwork, making them suitable for retrofitting older spaces.
Ed Blancher Service offers the highest quality installations of the highest quality units with American Standard, an industry leading brand in innovation and comfort, and Mitsubishi. To learn more about the equipment that American Standard and Mitsubishi offer, visit the products section on our website.
Central A/C and heat pumps are both great systems to have installed in your home, but in certain applications a ductless mini-split may be the most feasible or tailored option for your specific needs. Going ductless offers a range of benefits including increased efficiency, higher accuracy of temperature for specific spaces, sleeker design, and lower costs on energy and operation overall. In order to save money on energy costs, ductless split systems allow you to cool rooms individually, instead of having to wait for the whole house to cool. Paired with a quiet, whisper quiet operation and compact sleek design, going ductless can be the perfect alternative to achieving optimal humidity and temperature control in otherwise isolated spaces. Keep in mind that while all these features are great, ductless systems only operate at peak performance in certain isolated areas. Ductless mini-splits operate best in areas such as home addons, where adding ductwork can be an expensive hassle, garages or basements that are desired to be cooled or heated independently from the rest of the central system, or in cases where excess interior walls cause problems with air circulation. Ductless systems also offer the benefit of quicker and less invasive installation, as they do not require ductwork, making them suitable for retrofitting older spaces.
Ed Blancher Service offers the highest quality installations of the highest quality units with American Standard, an industry leading brand in innovation and comfort, and Mitsubishi. To learn more about the equipment that American Standard and Mitsubishi offer, visit the products section on our website.