All You Need To Keep Your Raleigh Home Cool
The team at Dawson's Electric & Air knows how important reliable air conditioning is during our hot North Carolina summers. Whether your AC needs repair, you're ready to replace an old, inefficient system, or you just want to make sure your current unit is properly maintained, we're here to help. We believe in doing honest work that keeps your family comfortable without surprises, and we'll always give you straightforward answers about what your air conditioner needs.
If you're having AC problems or want to schedule maintenance, give us a call at 919-887-8284 or reach out online.
What Air Conditioning Services Do We Offer?
We provide complete air conditioning services to keep your home comfortable all summer long. Here's what we can do for you:
AC Repair
When your air conditioner breaks down or isn't cooling properly, we diagnose the problem and get it fixed fast. We repair all makes and models, handling everything from refrigerant leaks and compressor failures to electrical issues and frozen coils. Our goal is to get your AC running again quickly so you're not stuck in the heat.
AC Installation
Installing a new air conditioner is a big investment, and we make sure it's done right the first time. We'll help you choose the right size and efficiency level for your home, then install your new system properly so it runs efficiently for years to come. Professional installation makes all the difference in how well your AC performs.
AC Maintenance
Regular maintenance keeps your air conditioner running efficiently, prevents breakdowns, and extends the life of your system. We clean coils, check refrigerant levels, inspect electrical connections, replace filters, and make sure everything is working the way it should. Routine maintenance saves you money in the long run.
Ductless Mini Splits
These systems provide cooling without ductwork, which makes them perfect for room additions, garages, sunrooms, or homes without existing ducts. Ductless mini splits are energy-efficient, quiet, and give you independent temperature control for different areas of your home.
How Does An Air Conditioner Actually Work?
Understanding how your air conditioner works helps you appreciate what it does and recognize when something's wrong. Here's the basic process:
- Heat Gets Removed From Inside Air: Your air conditioner doesn't actually create cold air; it removes heat from the air inside your home and moves it outside. The indoor unit pulls warm air across cold evaporator coils filled with refrigerant, which absorbs the heat from your indoor air.
- Refrigerant Carries Heat Outside: The refrigerant, now holding all that absorbed heat, travels through copper lines to the outdoor condenser unit, where the heat gets released into the outside air. The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant to make this heat transfer process work efficiently.
- Cool Air Gets Distributed Throughout Your Home: Once the heat is removed, the now-cooled air gets blown back into your home through your ductwork by the blower fan. Your thermostat monitors the temperature and cycles the system on and off to maintain your desired comfort level.
- The Process Repeats Continuously: This cycle continues over and over, constantly removing heat from your home and releasing it outside. As long as the system has power and all components are working properly, it keeps removing heat to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
- Humidity Gets Reduced Too: As warm air passes over those cold evaporator coils, moisture in the air condenses on the coils and drains away, which is why your AC also acts as a dehumidifier. This humidity removal is just as important as cooling for comfort in humid North Carolina summers.
It sounds complex, but we help make it simple. If you need help with your air conditioning, call us at 919-887-8284 today!
What Does SEER Rating Mean & Why Does It Matter?
SEER rating is one of the most important numbers to understand when buying a new air conditioner, and it directly affects your energy bills. Here's what you need to know:
- SEER Measures Seasonal Efficiency: SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and it measures how efficiently an air conditioner converts electricity into cooling over an entire cooling season. The rating is calculated by dividing the total cooling output by the total energy consumed during that time.
- Higher Numbers Mean Better Efficiency: A higher SEER rating means the air conditioner uses less electricity to produce the same amount of cooling. For example, an 18 SEER system uses significantly less energy than a 14 SEER system to cool your home to the same temperature, which translates directly into lower utility bills.
- Minimum Requirements Vary By Location: As of 2023, new air conditioners in North Carolina must have a minimum SEER rating of 14.3 because we're in the Southeast region, where air conditioning usage is high. Units with SEER ratings of 16, 18, or even 20+ are available for homeowners who want maximum efficiency.
- Upfront Cost Versus Long-Term Savings: Higher SEER units cost more to purchase and install, but they save money on electricity bills over time. The longer you plan to stay in your home and the more you use your AC, the more worthwhile it is to invest in a higher SEER rating.
- Other Factors Affect Actual Efficiency: Your actual energy savings depend on more than just SEER rating, including proper system sizing, quality installation, ductwork condition, home insulation, and regular maintenance. Even the highest SEER system won't perform efficiently if it's poorly installed or maintained.
Have more questions about SEER ratings? Call our experts at 919-887-8284 today!
How Often Should I Replace My Air Filter?
Air filter replacement is the single most important maintenance task you can do yourself, and it has a huge impact on your system's performance. Here's what to know:
- Standard Recommendation Is Monthly: Most standard 1-inch filters should be replaced every 30 days during heavy use months like summer, when your AC runs constantly. Checking your filter monthly and replacing it when it looks dirty is the best approach for most homes.
- Your Home's Conditions Matter: Homes with pets, smokers, high dust levels, or family members with allergies may need filter changes every two to three weeks. Conversely, if you live alone with no pets and don't run your AC much, filters might last 60 to 90 days.
- Thicker Filters Last Longer: If you have a higher-end system with a 4-inch or 5-inch media filter, these typically last three to six months instead of one month. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for your specific filter type.
- Dirty Filters Cause Serious Problems: When filters get clogged, your system has to work much harder to pull air through, which increases energy bills, reduces cooling performance, can freeze up the evaporator coil, and puts unnecessary strain on the blower motor that can lead to expensive repairs.
- Filter Changes Are Cheap Insurance: Quality air filters cost just a few dollars, making them incredibly inexpensive compared to the repair bills and efficiency losses that result from neglecting them. Setting a monthly reminder on your phone ensures you never forget this simple but critical task.
Air Conditioning FAQs
There are a lot of great HVAC brands out there, but what matters most is how your system is installed, set up, and maintained. Even the best unit won’t perform well if it’s not installed correctly.
At Dawson’s, our HVAC technicians make sure your system is sized properly for your home, installed to manufacturer standards, and maintained for long-term efficiency. We work with trusted brands known for reliability and comfort, and we’ll help you choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.
On average, a well-maintained air conditioning system lasts 10–15 years. Regular maintenance, like tune-ups and filter changes, helps your unit run efficiently and extend its lifespan.
Our qualified HVAC technicians can set up a maintenance plan to keep your system running smoothly year after year, saving you money and avoiding unexpected breakdowns.
There are several reasons your AC might not be cooling properly, including:
- Tripped circuit breaker
- Thermostat not working correctly
- Failed components or an old system
- Low refrigerant levels
Our fully qualified technicians can inspect your system, diagnose the issue, and perform the necessary repairs to get your home cool and comfortable again.
Professional AC Services Help You Keep Your Cool
At Dawson's Electric & Air, keeping Raleigh families cool and comfortable has been our focus since 2005. From quick repairs that get you back to comfort fast, to new system installations that lower your energy bills for years to come, to regular maintenance that prevents problems before they start, we handle all your air conditioning needs with the same honest approach we've always believed in. Ready to get your AC taken care of? Give us a call at 919-887-8284 or reach out online to schedule your service.
