Peaden Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical Blog: Archive for May, 2016

Nothing beats the cool air of an air conditioning unit. Often, the only time you notice when AC repair is needed is when the system stops working completely. Then, you’re at the mercy of seasonal high temperatures and sometimes unbearable humidity.

Just like any mechanical or electrical system, your AC unit won’t go on forever, and sometimes a part just comes to the end of its natural life. Alternatively, if you neglect your annual servicing, then parts won’t last as long nor will your air conditioning unit work as efficiently.

Your air conditioning unit may not have given up completely, it may not be working well or not cooling properly. Either way you’re going to need an AC professional when things go wrong.

Do You Need an AC Repair Professional?

When it comes to AC repair, there are a number of indicators things have gone wrong or what may be the cause, and if there is anything you can do before you call out the professionals.

1. Your air conditioner isn’t working. If your air conditioning unit has given up completely, check the thermostat and make sure your fuses haven’t blown or your breaker hasn’t tripped.

2. No cool air is coming from the vents. Again, check your thermostat. If the temperature is equal to or above the temperature of the room, then your unit is obviously not going to have the effect of cooling the air.

3. Your air conditioner is making an unusual noise. It is possible a part needs replacing, and there is little you can do if you aren’t qualified. Make the call to an AC repair professional.

4. Your unit is turning on and off on a regular basis. It’s part of the function of air conditioning that it turns off when the air cools to the correct temperature and turns back on again when the temperature rises. If it’s doing so more than it should, then you need to get it checked, as it could be putting stress on parts, which could cause it to fail to work completely.

5. Water is dripping or leaking from your unit. Condensation is normal. But too much could be an indication of a need for repair. This is especially important as AC units have electrical parts which must be protected from water damage. Don’t ignore unusual levels of moisture coming from your air conditioner and act quickly to get it looked at professionally.

Don’t Ignore the Signs

Things may come to your attention gradually, or they may get worse over time. Don’t ignore the signs an AC repair may be necessary, as postponing a repair means further damage can be caused to your unit. Ignoring problems may be costly in the long run, or uncomfortable as your AC unit will likely become less effective over time and eventually, fail.

Acting quickly is important for safety reasons as well as financial. Consider the damage water could do to the electrical components of the unit for example. The cost of an AC repair when the problems arise will be less expensive in the long run.

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The cost of cooling the air in your home is significant. In some states, it is an essential piece of equipment in the home. It would be impossible to live comfortably in some seasons without air conditioning. Though the cost of servicing your air conditioning unit is an added expense to running the system, it is an essential one. Ignoring the need for AC service can prove expensive, and your unit may become inefficient over time, is more likely to breakdown, or parts will need replacing more regularly than they should. Regular AC service could save you money in the long term.

Can I Do My AC Service Myself?

It is recommended that your service be carried out annually by a qualified AC professional. Annual servicing can keep your AC unit running efficiently and prolong its life.

It is never a good idea to get into the mechanics or the electrical components yourself. However, just like maintaining a car, there are some things you can do periodically to make sure your unit is running efficiently:

• Replace and clean air filters regularly. Buy good quality filters to make sure they do the job well. A clogged filter makes your unit more expensive to run.
• Clean debris from the fan, compressor and condenser if you have a split system.
• Keep bushes away from the outside unit of your air conditioner. Cut them back so they don’t clog up the fan.
• Prevent your unit’s drain channels from clogging by passing a wire through them.
• If you have a window air conditioner, make sure the window seals are intact so cool air isn’t escaping through them.
• Clean the outside condensing unit with a hose and soapy water to reduce corrosion.
• Flush the condensate drain line with a bleach and water mix to prevent algae growth.

Be careful! If you aren’t confident in what you are doing, you could do more harm than good.

What Does a Service Entail?

The value in annual professional AC service is in the problems it prevents. A professional can recognize parts which are wearing out and need replacing and identify problems that can cause costly damage.

Our AC technicians will do a number of tests to make the parts are working properly, such as clean the condensing unit coils, check the compressor, oil fan motors and make any necessary adjustments to the belts, check operating pressures and temperatures so make sure they meet the manufacturer’s specifications, and check your filter and coolant levels. They will also clean your unit and do everything possible to keep your AC unit running for the future.

A Service Saves You Money

The cost of an AC service can seem like an extra expense you can do without, especially if there is nothing apparently wrong with it. But a professional service will help keep your air conditioning system efficient. It will likely last longer and is much less likely to suffer a major breakdown (though, as with a car, regular servicing can’t prevent some things from going wrong). Increased efficiency means more money in your pocket and less money disappearing into thin air.

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You cannot avoid occasional repairs to your air conditioning unit. It’s a fact of life that electrical and mechanical equipment will occasionally fail. But you can save on overall costs of running your unit by taking regular steps to improve your energy efficiency.

An air conditioning unit may be a necessity for you. But that doesn’t make the cost of running, servicing and repairing it any easier to bear. You can help prevent the need for an air conditioning repair through annual servicing, and keep running costs down through energy efficient behaviors.

Keeping Running Costs Low

1. Install and set a programmable thermostat that can help save on heating and cooling costs.
2. Ceiling fans help increase the comfort temperature of your room by continuously circulating the air. You can comfortably bear a high room temperature if a ceiling fan is helping the flow of air around the room.
3. Make sure your home is insulated well, as this prevents cool air from escaping into the atmosphere and warmer air, from outside, getting in. Check your attic insulation, and seal any cracks and openings. Insulate and seal ducts, too.
4. Don’t cool your home with air cooled by your air conditioning and then spend all afternoon cooking with your oven on. Consider using a barbecue or a microwave to cook on a hot day.
5. You can purchase energy-efficient window coverings that let in natural light but prevent solar heat from penetrating your windows and warming up your home.
6. Use a bathroom fan when taking a shower or having a bath to help remove heat and humidity from inside your home.

You Can’t Always Prevent Air Conditioning Repair

Older AC units are less energy efficient than newer models. Unfortunately, despite your best efforts, and with regular servicing your unit may have come to the end of its life. Keep in mind: if your air conditioning repair bill is rising and if you need it repaired regularly, if your energy bills are still rising, or if it is not as cool as it should be, then it may be time to buy a new unit.

Always Use Your Air Conditioning Properly

Many people simply don’t use their AC properly, or inefficiently. Often it is behavior which makes running an AC system expensive. Common sense practices and regular servicing will help keep your air conditioning running efficiently and well, and could extend the life of the system, saving you expensive repairs.

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