Common Signs of A/C Problems

With the hot days of summer just around the bend, now is the time to take stock of your air conditioning system. The last thing you want is for problems to arise just when the temperatures start edging up toward the 100 degree mark or beyond. Although an A/C unit can breakdown without warning, there are usually a few signs that it needs service before it stops working altogether. Here are a few common signs of A/C problems:

  • Cool air, yet not cold. Turn on your A/C and test the temperature of the air when turned on the highest cooling setting. Does the air quickly become cold, or is it only cool? If it is not getting cold in a matter of minutes, it is a sign that there is a problem. It may be something as simple as a clogged filter, but you want it resolved before the heat hits.
  • Drips or leaks. Run you A/C system for a few hours and look for any drips or leaks. This is one of the most common issues, usually indicating a low pressure system. If you notice any leaks around fittings or find a puddle on the floor, call in a HVAC specialist.
  • Strange sounds. Listen to your unit when it is running. Is it louder than usual or have any strange sounds that catch your attention? If the compressor or other components are wearing out, they often will begin making unusual noises that can alert you of impending repairs.

The best way to be ready for summer is to have a professional maintenance service performed on your air conditioner. A technician can check all the components and perform any maintenance that is needed, ensuring your system is ready to keep you cool all summer long.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
Alpharetta, GA
(770) 475-9555

Give Your Air Conditioning A Helping Hand

Although most newer air conditioning units are designed to operate efficiently, there are ways that you can get the most from your unit during the hot summer months. Using little tricks to give your A/C a helping hand can allow it to run more efficiently, using less energy while still keeping your home cool and comfortable. Here are a few ways to ensure your HVAC system does not need to work any harder than it has to during the hottest days of summer. 

–        Keep vents clear. Make sure that all your return air vents and supply registers are kept unblocked, allowing for easy air flow. Do not put furniture or drapes in front of these air vents to ensure there is nothing impeding air flow.

–        Manage your temperatures. Regardless of the heat outside, keep your A/C at least 78 degrees during times when you are home, higher when you are out of the house. Every degree can make a considerable difference in your utility bill. Make this easier with a programmable thermostat that can be set to automatically increase temperature settings for times you are regularly out of the home or sleeping.

–        Check your filter. A dirty filter can cost you plenty in utility bills. Save stress on your unit and money off your energy bill by replacing filters on their regular maintenance schedule.

–        Keep ducts well sealed. A small leak in your air ducts could be leaking expensive cooled air outside of your home. Have your ducts inspected by your HVAC professional along with regular maintenance on your unit to make sure every element of your system is working efficiently. 

Keeping up on maintenance and managing the use of your unit can allow it to work at its most efficient level. Not only can this save you money on energy bills this summer, it can also prolong the life of your unit, making it worth the effort.

Posted on behalf of James Smith, ClimateSmith LLC

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Air Conditioning Can Reduce Outdoor Allergens

Millions of people suffer from allergies, especially during the summer months. Pollen and other airborne allergens fill the air, making many people wheeze, sneeze and walk around with puffy eyes. According to WedMD.com, one of the best ways to reduce allergy symptoms is to reduce your exposure to these outdoor allergens. You can do that by sitting back and enjoying your air conditioned home. 

Using Air Conditioning To Reduce Allergens

If you suffer from outdoor allergies, you need a place that is free from these antagonizing elements that are making you ill. Make your home a place to relax and enjoy some refuge from sneezing and wheezing by keeping pollen and other outdoor allergens out of your home. WedMD offers some of the following suggestions, including using your air conditioning: 

  • Keep doors and windows shut to keep out allergens
  • Use your air conditioning unit to keep your home cool and filter out allergens
  • Wash clothes and bedding in hot water to kill dust mites
  • Have your air conditioning ducts cleaned and filters changed before summer 

While you cannot stay in your home all the time, by making it as allergen-free as possible, you can at least have several hours a day of relief. This is especially important at night, when you need to get a good nights rest to tackle the next day. 

Since your air conditioning unit is so important in creating an allergen-free home, make sure it is ready for the summer season by having regular HVAC maintenance performed. Call your local HVAC specialist to have your unit serviced, including changing any air filters and cleaning your ducts if needed.

Posted on behalf of James Smith, ClimateSmith LLC

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How a Heat Pump Works

Heat pumps are an energy-efficient alternative to air conditioners or furnaces, and are primarily used for climates that need moderate heating or cooling. But most people aren’t aware of just how heat pumps work. 

Heat pumps use electricity like a refrigerator, in order to make a cool space even cooler, and a warm space warmer, as the pump moves heat out of a cool space and into a warm space. Because they simply move heat rather generating it, heat pumps are able to put out up to 4 times the amount of energy that the pumps consume. If you use electricity to power your heat pump, it can cut down on the electricity you use to heat or cool your home by 30% to 40% when used on a regular basis. 

In the wintertime, heat pumps draw heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house, while in the hot summertime, it expels heat from your house into the warmer outdoors. Heat pumps are highly efficient, and they dehumidify the air in your home better than the more common central air conditioners used by most homes. Using a heat pump also requires less energy and can make your house cooler in the summer months. However, the efficiency of most air-source heat pumps as a heat source drops dramatically at low temperatures, generally making them unsuitable for cold climates, although there are systems that can overcome the problem. 

Making the choice of a heat pump for your home is an important one, something that you should discuss with your HVAC contractor in order to make the best selection for your needs and those of your family.

Troubleshooting Your Air Conditioning System

When it’s hot enough to fry eggs on the sidewalk the last thing you need is an air conditioner on the blink. It can happen, though, because the hottest weather is when power systems are stressed and can easily be overloaded. What to do if your AC suddenly stops working? Well, before you call the HVAC service  hot-line there are some steps you can take yourself. 

The following list includes some of the most common air conditioning repair problems you are likely to face, as well as some advice on when to call in the HVAC repair experts. 

  • Air conditioner stops, won’t turn back on – First, check that the thermostat is set to cool and that the power switches are turned on. At this point you should also check all fuses and circuit breakers to make sure the home electrical system is working.
  • “Funny” noises coming from AC unit – Turn unit off, then go outside to see if fan blades are dirty.
  • Unit leaking refrigerant – When the unit is leaking or is low on refrigerant, don’t simply add more refrigerant. This is “call the repairman” time. Your HVAC tech will come out to address the issue, test your unit and make sure it is properly charged with refrigerant.
  • Unit is leaking water – It’s likely that the unit isn’t cooling properly and that cooling coil may be freezing over. The problem could be an inadequate air supply or low refrigerant. This will require a tech to diagnose and fix.
  • Thermostat disagrees with thermometer – This might be a simple DIY fix; recalibrate and reposition thermostat  so that it accurately senses room temperature. 

If you are at all uncomfortable performing any of these steps don’t hesitate to call yoru residential HVAC contractor.

Silencing a Noisy Air Conditioner

Central air conditioning is a wonderful thing, but the unit that sits outside your house (called the condenser) can be irritatingly noisy especially if it has been installed under a bedroom window or similarly unfortunate location.  Even with the windows closed, it can get pretty noisy especially if you or your guests are trying to sleep.

To help quiet the beast, first make sure it has been properly serviced by a reputable HVAC service and repair techncian.  Be sure to ask the HVAC technician to check for loose sheet metal and to check the fan blade clearance.  Vibrating sheet metal is noisy and sometimes just securing the sheet metal housing will significantly reduce the amount of noise it is making.

Building an enclosure around the unit is a possibility, but be careful to allow for sufficient air flow. Ask your HVAC technician how much space to leave around the unit.  Sometimes good results can be achieved by enclosing the top and sides closest to the house and leaving the side away from the house open or covered with lattice.  Also, you will need to make sure that the enclosure allows for easy access to the entire unit for servicing.

Relocating the unit to a better location can be very effective.  There is some cost involved because your HVAC contractor will need to run new coolant lines and do some electrical work, but sometimes just moving it a few feet can make a big difference.

Finally, when it comes time to replace your HVAC system, look for quiet running unit.  Central air conditioners are rated for noise and some models are much quieter than others.

Why Can’t My Air Conditioner Keep Up?

If you turn on the air conditioning system this year and discover that it is running more than it used to or runs constantly and still can’t keep your home cool, it may be time for a new HVAC system or at a minimum, to schedule an appointment for HVAC system maintenance.  However, before you spend the money on a new system, have your current system checked out by an experienced HVAC contractor.  You may be able to increase the operating efficiency of your existing system and avoid the cost of a new system.

The first thing to do is to check your air filter and clean or replace it if needed.  A dirty air filter can not only reduce your cooling system’s efficiency, but it can cause the system to work harder and wear out sooner.  Cleaning or changing your air filter regularly will help keep your system in top operating condition.

Next, have your duct system inspected and sealed if necessary by a professional heating and cooling equipment contractor.  Leaky, inefficient duct systems are very common and according to EPA estimates, they account for a reduction in system efficiency by as much as 20 percent.  Sealing your ducts will not only increase the efficiency of your cooling system and make your home more comfortable, it will also reduce energy consumption and help protect the environment.

Finally, have your system serviced by an experienced HVAC technician.  Your system could have low refrigerant levels, malfunctioning expansion valve, or some other problem that is causing the system to work poorly.  You HVAC technician has the training and skill to identify and correct the problem and keep your system in top operating condition.

What To Do If Your Air Conditioner Does Not Turn On

As warmer temperatures make their way across the country, many homeowners will be turning off their furnaces and turning on their central air conditioning systems.  A surprise awaits a few unlucky homeowners:  when they turn on the air conditioning, nothing happens!  For most, the initial reaction will rightly be to call their local HVAC to schedule air conditioning repairs but before you make that call, there are a few things to check that might fix the problem and save you the cost of an unnecessary maintenance visit.

One of the first things to check is your circuit breakers.   The circuit breaker for your air conditioner may have tripped over the winter.  If so, re-set the breaker and try again.  If breaker trips frequently, you may have a problem with your air conditioning system that should be addressed by a good HVAC technician.

If you just changed the air conditioner/furnace filter (which is an excellent idea) make sure the filter access door is properly closed.  Many units have a switch that prevents the air conditioner from operating with the access door open and unless the door is fully closed, the switch may be preventing the air conditioner from turning on.

Finally, check to be sure that your thermostat is set to “cool” and that the temperature setting is below the ambient air temperature.  Some digital thermostats use the same settings for heating and cooling so you may need to adjust the  thermostat temperature setting for comfortable cooling.  Also, some digital thermostats have a time delay to avoid “short cycling” the system which can cause damage.  Just waiting 5 to 10 minutes will sometimes solve the problem.

After checking these items, if your air conditioner still does not turn on, it’s time to call your local HVAC contractor for a system maintenance visit.

Air Conditioner Lightning Damage

Like any electrical appliance, your air conditioner or heat pump can be damaged by a power surge caused by a lightning strike.   Most homeowners protect sensitive electronics like computers and audio visual equipment from surge damage by using a surge protector strip, but relatively few homes have surge protection for their air conditioner.

A power surge can cause damage to your air conditioner ranging from moderate to severe.  It can fry wiring and knock out the compressor, fan, or condenser.  The lightning does not have to strike your home to cause this kind of damage.  A lightning strike anywhere in your neighborhood could cause a harmful power surge.

If you suspect that your air conditioner may have suffered lightning damage, have the system inspected by a reputable HVAC contractor with experience in residential HVAC repairs.  In some cases the damage can be repaired but in others an HVAC system replacement will be in order.

Air conditioning repairs for damage due to lightning strikes are usually covered by your homeowners insurance, but proving the cause of the damage can be a problem.  It’s up to you to convince the insurance adjuster that the damage was caused by lightning and not some other source.

Ask your HVAC technician to show you the damage and take photographs or video of the damaged components.  Damage to other household electronics is another good indication of a lightning strike.  Contact your homeowner’s insurance carrier promptly and show the adjuster your documentation.

You can protect your air conditioner or heat pump from most power surges by having a surge protector installed.  Talk to your HVAC technician about surge protection for your air conditioner or heat pump.