Things worth knowing.
Straight answers to what people ask me most — including what the refrigerant changes actually mean for your system.
How often should I change my filter?
A one-inch filter every month or two; a thicker media filter every six months to a year. A clogged filter is the single most common cause of the calls I run.
When should I schedule a checkup?
Cooling in the spring, heating in the fall — before you need them. Once it's 100 degrees, everybody calls the same week.
Repair or replace?
It depends on the age of the system, the cost of the repair, and whether it's the first big failure or the third. I'll give you the honest math and let you decide.
Is your work licensed?
Yes. Oklahoma requires HVAC contractors to hold a state mechanical license and carry bonding and insurance. Ask any contractor for their license number — including me.
The refrigerant changes, plainly
DRAFT — PENDING ERIC'S WRITE-UPThe old standard, phased out of production. If your system still runs on it, repairs get expensive because the refrigerant itself is scarce.
What replaced R-22 in most homes. Still serviceable, but it's now being phased down in new equipment in its turn.
What new systems are being built around now. Lower global-warming impact, and it's what you'll get on most new installs going forward.
What it means for you: none of this forces you to replace a working system. It does mean that if you're on R-22 and facing a large repair, replacement usually makes better financial sense than it used to.