AC commissioning: what we measure that nobody else does
Anybody can hang an air conditioner. Commissioning is the difference between one that runs perfectly for years and one that limps along from day one.
Commissioning is the thorough startup process we run on every air conditioner so that the day you pay us, the system is working perfectly and should stay that way for years. We use digital gauges and charging blankets and check amp draws, inrush current at startup, voltage drop, refrigerant charge, subcooling and superheat, Delta T, static pressure, temperature rise and drop, wet bulb and dry bulb, relative humidity, and gas pressure.
When nobody does it, so many safety and operational details get skipped that it is hard to even count what could be wrong. Usually, just about everything.
What commissioning actually is
Commissioning is a big one for us, and it is one of the clearest lines between a real install and a quick hang-and-go. It is the full startup process where we measure, verify, and dial in the system before we call it done. Anybody can set an air conditioner in place and turn it on. Commissioning is the work that proves it is actually right.
We use digital gauges, we use charging blankets, and we can even do cold weather charging when the season calls for it. The goal is simple. The day you pay us, the system should be working perfectly, and it should keep working for years.
Everything we check
Here is the honest list of what we are measuring on a proper commissioning. It is long on purpose:
- Electrical: amp draws at startup and while running, inrush current at startup, tight connections, no voltage leakage, correctly sized wire, and a breaker in good condition.
- Voltage drop: checked at both the panel and the condenser, so we catch any loose connections before they cause trouble.
- Refrigeration: good subcooling and superheat, and a proper refrigerant charge, verified with digital gauges.
- Temperature performance: good Delta T (outdoor air versus the condenser), inside temperature rise and temperature drop.
- Airflow: static pressure, which most contractors never check at all.
- Air conditions: wet bulb, dry bulb, and relative humidity.
- Combustion side where applicable: gas pressure and temperature rise.
We go through this super thorough process every time. It is the same obsessive attention we bring to choosing the right AC in the first place. The selection and the startup both have to be right, or the homeowner does not get what they paid for.
Why static pressure is the one we hammer
Static pressure is a belief that makes other contractors roll their eyes, and I do not care. It needs to be checked on every system, and it needs to be accounted for, because it drives both longevity and efficiency. If the airflow is fighting too much resistance, the equipment works harder, runs hotter, and wears out faster. Skipping it is skipping the foundation.
What happens when nobody commissions the system
When a customer does not have this done, there are so many safety and operational things that get skipped, it is honestly hard to even fathom everything that could be wrong. Just about everything is in play. The charge might be off, the wiring might be loose, the airflow might be choked, the breaker might be wrong, and you would never know until the system fails in the middle of a heat wave.
This is exactly why we say the company you choose matters more than people realize. The codes and inspections do not catch this. We cover that reality in our look at what we do on every AC job. A thorough commissioning is what stands between you and a system that limps along from the first day.
The quick version
- Commissioning is the full startup process that proves an AC is actually installed right, not just running.
- We use digital gauges and charging blankets and verify subcooling, superheat, and the refrigerant charge.
- We check amp draws, inrush current, voltage drop, tight connections, and correctly sized wire and breaker.
- We measure static pressure, Delta T, temperature rise and drop, wet bulb, dry bulb, relative humidity, and gas pressure.
- Skip commissioning and almost anything can be wrong, and you will not know until the system fails.
Anybody can hang an air conditioner and turn it on. Commissioning is the part that proves it actually works.
We check amp draws, inrush current, voltage drop, subcooling, superheat, Delta T, static pressure, the whole list, every single time. When nobody does that, just about everything can be wrong, and the homeowner has no idea until it quits on the hottest day.
David WahlCEO & Master Plumber, Wahl Family
Want a Pittsburgh company that does it the right way, the first time?
Call 1-855-GET-WAHLFrequently asked questions
What is AC commissioning?
It is the thorough startup process where we measure and dial in a new air conditioner so it is verified to work correctly the day you pay us. We check the electrical, the refrigerant charge, airflow, and temperature performance, rather than just turning the system on and leaving.
What does Wahl measure during commissioning?
We check amp draws at startup and while running, inrush current, voltage drop at the panel and condenser, refrigerant charge, subcooling and superheat, Delta T, static pressure, inside temperature rise and drop, wet bulb, dry bulb, relative humidity, and gas pressure where applicable. We use digital gauges and charging blankets to get it precise.
Why is static pressure important?
Static pressure tells us how hard the system is working to move air. If it is too high, the equipment runs hotter and wears out faster, which hurts both longevity and efficiency. Most contractors never check it, but we check it on every system.
What happens if an AC is not commissioned?
So many safety and operational details get skipped that almost anything can be wrong, from an incorrect refrigerant charge to loose wiring to choked airflow. You typically will not notice until the system underperforms or fails during a heat wave, which is the worst time to find out.
Is commissioning included when Wahl installs an AC?
Yes. We run a full commissioning on every install and document a startup report. It is a core part of how we do the job, not an add-on, because it is the only way to confirm the system is actually working the way you paid for it to.
For a Happy Home, Get Wahl
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, since 1980. HVAC, plumbing, water treatment, sewer, and bathroom remodeling, all under one roof, all done the Wahl way.