Author: aqua

Categories
Air Conditioner Maintenance

AC Repair and Maintenance for Your Home

An air conditioner plays a very important role in many homes. That’s why you should always ensure that it functions properly. Unfortunately, some homeowners only remember to check their air conditioners when summer or winter set in.

The first step in maintaining your AC unit is to understand its parts and how they function. The coils, fins, and filters are crucial in the normal functioning of an air conditioner. As such they should frequently be checked and repaired if necessary.

Ignoring regular maintenance of an AC will gradually reduce its efficiency and lead to an increase in energy bills. Below are the different parts of an air conditioner unit and the importance of regularly maintaining them:

Filters

Filters are important when it comes to increasing the efficiency of an air conditioning system. However, this is only possible when if you regularly clean and replace your filters. Filters that are dirty and clogged inhibit normal airflow and reduces efficiency.

When the normal flow of air is blocked, the air passing through the filter can directly carry dirt into the evaporator coil and affect the coil’s absorption capacity. Experts believe that replacing your dirty and clogged filter can lower the energy consumption of an air conditioner by five to 15 percent.

Coils

The AC’s condenser coil and evaporator coil gather dirt for months and years. When the filter is clean, it protects the evaporator coil from getting soiled easily. But as time goes by, the evaporator coil will still collect dirt. The only way to avoid this problem is to regularly check your evaporator and clean it.

Coil fins

The aluminium fins found on the condenser and evaporator coils can easily be bent and block airflow in the process. Most air conditioner manufactures sell something known as a “fin comb” meant to comb the fins close to their original shape.

What you should know about AC repair and maintenance

Not all AC repair and maintenance tasks will require a technician. There are some things homeowners can do on their own to improve the efficiency and performance of their units. However, all technical issues should be left to a qualified and licensed professional.

Here are tips for AC repair and maintenance:

1. Check your thermostat

This is one of the easiest tasks as far as air conditioner maintenance is concerned. It is important to frequently check the thermostat to ensure that it is operating normally.

In case you are using an old model thermostat, then it will be a good idea to purchase a smart and programmable one.

A smart thermostat gives you an opportunity to set higher temperatures when there is nobody at home. Besides, it can start to cool the house a few hours before people return back to the house.

2. Clean the outside part of the AC unit

With time, leaves, dirt, and grass accumulate around the AC unit. Although this may not appear as a bid deal, it has the potential of decreasing the capacity of your system performance and minimizes airflow. That’s the reason why cleaning the AC from outside is crucial.

Start by switching off the unit. This can be done at the service disconnection of the outdoor unit or even the main breaker panel in your home. You can then take a garden hose to remove the debris. Avoid using a power washer as it can damage the AC unit.

3. Replace or clean air filters

As mentioned earlier, replacing or cleaning air filters is one of the most important maintenance tasks of an air conditioner. It is supposed to be done at least once a month during summer and winter. If you are not sure where to find the air filter, then you can contact a trained technician to assist you.

The best way to avoid common issues with your AC is to invest in high-quality air filters. This is because cheap fiberglass filters can’t capture tiny particles such as pollen, viruses, and bacteria. You are also supposed to change them every 30 days.

But high-quality filters are able to capture even the tiniest particles – based on the MERV rating. MERV is an acronym for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. If the MERV rating of your filter is high, then it means it can capture more airborne pollutants.

4. Check components and wiring

The internal connections in an air conditioner are vital for its operation. Failing to check these connections and components could significantly affect the efficient functioning of the unit. Opening and trying to repair the AC unit on your own can be dangerous unless you are a trained technician.

It is safer to contact a local AC repair and maintenance company to help you with any repairs that involve internal connections. This is something that should be done at least once a year or when you experience an electrical issue.

5. Check the fan of the condenser unit

The air conditioner won’t be able to cool your home properly if the fan blades of the condenser are in poor condition. You should check them often to see if they are in good shape or not. Turn off the air conditioner unit and see if the fan placed on top of the condenser is still intact.

If there are any visible cracks on one or more blades, then arrange how to replace the blade. You can buy fan blades online or from any accredited air conditioner dealer. However, do not purchase the blades until you are sure they can fit your condenser unit.

Some online stores will give you a list of compatible blades or will request you to provide the model of your air conditioning unit.

Bottom line

The importance of an air conditioner cannot be overemphasized. It is important to ensure that it is well maintained and repaired for efficiency. This starts by understanding the different parts of your AC unit and performing regular checks on them.

There are many AC repair and maintenance companies that you can always contact if you are faced with an AC issue that appears more technical.

Categories
air conditioning heating

Heating and Air Conditioning – A Must For Comfortable Living

A hot house is definitely not a fun house. Thankfully, the days are gone where people have to suffer from their homes being too hot or too cold. With the invention of air conditioning and central heat, homes are a lot more comfortable.

To make sure that the heating and air conditioning work well, homeowners need to make sure that they take care of their system. An improperly cared for system can lead to breakdowns, rooms in the home being too hot or too cold, and more. There are several steps that homeowners can take to ensure that both the air conditioning system and the heating system work all year long.

Ensuring That The Air Conditioner Works Well

There are several steps that homeowners can take to ensure that their units work well. These include:

1. Air filter maintenance

The air filter on the air conditioner needs to be changed at least every couple of months. It is important to note that when purchasing a new furnace filter, that the right size is purchased. A person must never try to cut down a filter to make it fit. This may lead to air getting around the filter. If the furnace has a washable filter, this filter should be washed monthly to ensure that the air quality is excellent.

If there is an allergy sufferer, smokers, or asthma sufferers in the home, the filter should be changed and washed out more often. Changing the filter properly will help to ensure that the air quality in the home is great. Proper air quality will not only help the homeowner, but it will ensure that the unit works well.

2. Checking the Ductwork

Since the ductwork is found in the attic or under the house, most people do not think about inspecting the ductwork until there is a problem. It is important that people take a look at their ductwork periodically. Rodents and natural wear and tear can cause holes in the ductwork. This will cause leaks, which will allow air to escape. This can lead to rooms being too warm or cold and can cause unnecessary wear and tear on the HVAC unit. By periodically inspecting the ductwork, homeowners can ensure that it is working properly.

3. Checking Floor Registers

Floor registers allow air to come into your home while blocking the hole in your floor. It is important that the registers stay clear of debris and are not covered. If the registers are covered, this can cause air not to get into the rooms of the house. This may also cause an issue with static pressure in the unit. If the static pressure is too high in the unit, this can lead to breakdowns and expensive repairs.

A homeowner will want to go through their home to make sure that the registers are not covered. Registers should also be cleaned periodically. This is especially true if there are children in the home or pets. Things can get put down in the registers, causing airflow restriction. Registers can be vacuumed off and cleaned with warm soapy water. They should be allowed to dry fully before being placed back into the vents.

4. Add an Air Purification System

A homeowner should consider adding an air purification system to their home to help ensure that their HVAC unit functions well. Having purified air in the home will help to lessen the chance that any dust or debris will build up in the unit. Having an air purifier will also help to improve the air quality for anyone that is home.

5. Upgrading the System

An air conditioner is no longer energy efficient after it reaches ages ten or older. A homeowner will want to have the most energy-efficient unit available in order to save on energy bills each month. An inefficient air conditioner will struggle to cool the home in the warm summer months, so an upgrade will be necessary. If a homeowner has a machine that is older, the chances are that it may be running on Freon. If the unit is running on Freon, it will need to be replaced as Freon has been phased out of the market due to the environmental impacts it caused.

The Importance of Preventative Maintenance

One of the best things that homeowners can do when it comes to maintaining their heating and cooling system is to make sure that they have preventative maintenance done each year. It is best to do it twice a year. Once when the air conditioner will be turned on, and once when the heat is turned on. During preventative maintenance, an HVAC technician will check the following:

  • Components. During this maintenance, all of the components for the unit will be checked. If anything seems to have a problem, it will be addressed.
  • Electrical. The technician will inspect all the electrical components of the HVAC unit to ensure their functionality.
  • Thermostat. The thermostat will be inspected to make sure that it is working correctly.
  • Ductwork. The ductwork will be inspected to ensure that there are no air loss or airflow issues.
  • Cleaning. If the coils or the outdoor unit need to be cleaned, this will be done. This will help to ensure that no dust or debris damages the unit.
  • Charge. The unit will be inspected to make sure that it has enough refrigerant to cool the home. If not, more will be added to it.
  • Drain lines. Condensate drain lines will be inspected and cleaned to ensure proper drainage.
  • Repairs. If the technician notices any repairs, these will be done to help ensure that the problem does not worsen. Problems that are left untreated can become worse and become more expensive to repair.

Doing all the tips above will help to ensure that the air conditioning and heating unit works as it should. Anybody that is experiencing problems with their unit should call their local HVAC company for a repair as soon as possible. If maintenance has not been completed in a while, this should be done to ensure that the machine works well and lasts for many years.

Categories
Uncategorized

Welcome!

Welcome to our brand new site! If you want to learn about everyday tips or tricks, we are the place for you! come back later this fall to find out all of the best tips and tricks.