HVAC Repair Services: Common AC Problems And Solutions

HVAC Repair Services: Common AC Problems And Solutions

The air conditioner, just like any other appliance in your home, it’s prone to problems. Here are some of the most common AC problems as given by HVAC repair services providers:

Stopping of the air conditioner

It’s a nightmare for many homeowners when the air conditioner stops working especially in the middle of a hot summer. This issue often comes about when the batteries are dead. All you need to do is to take a look at the thermostat batteries and replace them.

If still, the air conditioner won’t start, chances are that it’s not set as properly as it should be. In such a case, you should confirm that the thermostat is set in the “cooling” mode and you have set it at your desired temperatures.

Sometimes you will find the problem isn’t due to a faulty thermostat. In this case, you should take a look at the circuit breaker. You need to flip the breaker to the “on” position. If this still doesn’t fix the problem, consider contacting an HVAC expert to give the unit a look.

Failure of the air conditioner to work at all

Here you will turn on the unit, but it won’t start. This can be frustrating especially when you are baking in a hot house. In most cases, the AC will fail to turn on when there is no power going in. The circuit breaker might have tripped or the fuse might have blown.

The issue can also be as a result of broken or loose wiring. In rare cases, the issue will be due to thermostat problems.

You should start by trying to fix the problems that you can easily fix. For example, identify the reasons why there is no power flowing to the air conditioner. If having an electrical problem, consider hiring an expert to help you with fixing the faulty wiring.

Thermostat problems

When the thermostat isn’t working properly, it won’t signal the air conditioner properly. This not only leads to an improperly functioning air conditioner, it also leads to a unit that consumes a lot of energy.

The thermostat will fail to work properly when it’s not properly calibrated. If you have the calibration skills you should go ahead and calibrate the appliance, but if you have never done it before, let an experienced HVAC contractor handle it.

If you have the modern air conditioner, you can easily do the calibration by following the instructions given in the thermostat manual. The manual will also guide you on how to properly program the appliance.

Leaking or dirty ducts

When the air conditioner is properly set, you should have a room that is cold according to your expectations. When the room is warmer than expected, it means that there is improper air flow through the ducts.

Due to age or improper installation, it’s common for tears to develop in the ductwork. The purpose of air ducts is to carry the return air to the air conditioner for treatment and cooling; therefore, when there is a rip in the ducts, the cool air begins to escape inside the walls.

As you might guess, this leads to a warmer house. You also end up spending a lot of money on house cooling as the appliance is functioning inefficiently.

You need to hire an AC repair professional to go through your appliance and find out the torn ducts. If they are present, it’s the work of the contractor to fix them. Sometimes they can repair them while in other cases, they have to replace the ducts.

For you to avoid being caught unaware by the issue of dirty or leaking ducts, you should make a habit of inspecting your lines regularly. If you come across an issue, you should fix it immediately.

Drainage problems

The moisture removed by the air conditioner is removed through a drain line into a pan then funneled into a drain. In the event, the drain is clogged and the pan overflows, the water tends to back up damaging the system in the process.

For you to avoid this, HVAC contractors Fairfax recommend that you make it a habit of inspecting the drain lines and in the event, they are damaged or at the blink of filling up, replace or empty them.

HVAC Contractors: Signs It’s Time To Replace Your AC

HVAC Contractors: Signs It’s Time To Replace Your AC

When you install a new air conditioner in your home, the last thing on your mind is when you will replace it. While properly maintained air conditioners can last for a number of years, it will come a time when you will have to replace them.

Many homeowners know this, unfortunately, most of them don’t know the right time to do it. To help you out, here are signs that it’s time to replace your unit as given by HVAC contractors:

The air conditioner is more than 12 years old

The average age of air conditioners is 12 years. After this time, the unit starts developing issues and you have to replace it. You should note that if your unit is this old but its working optimally you don’t have anything to worry about. On the other hand, if the unit keeps on failing, you should think of getting a new one.

Some people repair their appliances when they develop issues, but you shouldn’t do it as you will be wasting your money. This is because the unit will keep on failing. The solution is to get a new appliance.

The air conditioner frequently passes out

This is a clear sign that your unit isn’t going to last for a long time. If your air conditioner keeps on breaking down, it’s time that you think about a new one. This is more important if the unit is more than a decade old.

An air conditioner that keeps on failing is not only frustrating to have, it also tends to be expensive to have. This is because you have to hire an AC repair professional every now and then to fix it. When you hire the professional a few times every month, the costs can quickly add up.

You have noticed an increase in your utility bill

A sudden spike in your electricity bill doesn’t necessarily mean that your AC has run its course and it’s time to get a new one, but it’s a major indicator that it’s time to get a new one.

A high power bill is an indicator of an inefficient air conditioner. Before you make the decision that you should get a new appliance, you should first hire a professional to help you with the inspection of the appliance. If the appliance is new and the bill is high, chances are that you have installed a wrongly sized appliance.

You should return the appliance to the store you bought it from and you will most likely get a refund. The company can even exchange the unit for you.

On the other hand, if the power bill is increasing and the appliance is old, you are better off getting a new one.

The AC is no longer cooling the air

The role of the air conditioner is to cool the air; therefore, when it’s not doing its job, you have something to be worried about. When you set the thermostat at a given temperature it’s supposed to cool the air at that temperature.

If you have set it and it’s not cooling the house, contact an AC repair professional to inspect the source of the problem.

Sometimes the unit will fail to cool the air when there are problems with the coolant or ventilation. If this is the cause of the problem, you should replace the faulty parts—not the entire system.

On the other hand, if you notice that all the parts are okay and still the unit isn’t cooling the house, you should go ahead and replace it.

The unit is producing strange sounds

A properly working air conditioner is supposed to function quietly; therefore, when you notice grinding, chattering, or squeaking sounds, you have a reason of concern. This is because strange sounds are often signs of aging.

Just like with the other issues, don’t rush to your local store to buy a new appliance simply because you have noticed weird sounds. Before you go to the stores you should ask your local air conditioner repair McLean professionals to give a look at the unit.

In some cases, you may find that it’s the fan that is touching the sides of the unit and all you need to do is to line it up. If the unit is old and you have to replace it, ensure that the work is done by a professional.

AC Repair Companies: Tips On How To Save The Air Conditioner From Working Too Hard

AC Repair Companies: Tips On How To Save The Air Conditioner From Working Too Hard

When houses get hot, many people rush and crank up their air conditioners. While there is nothing wrong with this, there are plenty of other things you can do to help the air conditioner function even more optimally. Here are some of these things as given by HVAC companies:

Cover the windows during the day

While covering the windows during that day will stop light from getting into the house, when you do it properly you don’t have to worry about the house getting too dark. The purpose of covering the windows is to block heat and direct sunlight from getting into the house.

When you do this, you ensure that the insides of the house don’t receive heat thus you don’t need to overwork the air conditioner.

You should note that you don’t need to completely cover the windows making the house completely dark. There are plenty of thermal curtains in the market that you can use to achieve the results you are looking for.

You can also place lightweight materials on the windows. While the materials will allow the necessary light to pass through thus brightening the house, they block the harmful direct sunlight from getting in. As a consequence, you have enough light in the house and at the same time, you prevent heat from getting in.

Open the windows at night

When the sun sets, the temperatures outside will go down than inside the house. This means that the air that will get into the house will be much cooler thus cool the house in the process. For you to make the work of the air conditioner easier and allow as much cool air into the house, you should keep the windows open at night.

Also, remember to remove the covers so as to allow in as much cool air as possible. For you to ensure that the house is as cool as possible, keep the air moving all the time. If you have two windows that are positioned diagonally from each other, keep them open all the time.

Do you want maximum air movement? Place a fan in each window.

Stop using hot appliances

When they are working, hot appliances give off residual heat that increases the temperature in the house. As you might have guessed, this causes the air conditioner to work harder.

For you to prevent the unit from working too hard and all the time, switch off the hot appliances that you aren’t using. These include the dryer and oven. You can also consider substituting their use. For example, instead of using the dryer, use an indoor drying rack.

 Close the doors of unused rooms

If you have a large house, you definitely have a number of rooms that you don’t use. Did you know the heat from these rooms tends to move to the rooms that you are using? In other cases, the cool air moves to the rooms that you aren’t using requiring the air conditioner to work harder.

The best way of solving this issue is to close the doors of the unused rooms of the house. These are usually the bedrooms. By doing this, you trap the heat in and prevent the cool air from reaching them.

Avoid incandescent lights

Incandescent lights are lights that produce a lot of heat. As you might have guessed, they lead to a great increase in room temperature that requires the air conditioner to work hard.

While these lights have been banned in most parts of the united states, there are a few that are still available in the market. Do you still have the lights in your home? You should get rid of them as they aren’t of value.

In addition to the lights consuming a lot of energy thus hiking your power bills, they also produce a lot of heat thus you have to keep the air conditioner running all the time.

AC repair companies ronkonkoma recommend that you avoid using these lights as much as you can. Your best options are CFL or LED lights. These lights don’t produce a lot of heat and that the same time they don’t require a lot of energy to keep them running.