Before you tinker with a malfunctioning air conditioning unit, you have to understand that some issues need the intervention of your AC Technician or local trusted HVAC company. Understandably, you don’t want service fees when you can resolve the cooling problem on your own, but where do you draw the line?
Knowing when to make a service call and knowing what a real air conditioning emergency looks like will save you precious time and effort. It’ll make a huge difference in your safety and comfort at home too.
Here are 5 signs that you need an AC technician immediately. When you notice any of these 5 signs, forget flexing your DIY power. Go ahead and make that phone call to your AC technician.
Strange Noises
Most air conditioning systems make low-level noises once it’s “waking up” to start or winding down to shut off. These noises are tolerable and to be expected. However, loud, shrieking sounds are sure signs you need an expert to take a look at your unit.
The annoying noises may be due to loose parts, a malfunctioning or broken compressor, or a leaking refrigerant. These are issues you can’t fix on your own, providing of course you aren’t an AC expert.
When not fixed as soon as possible, the underlying cause or causes of these strange sounds will lead to more serious cooling issues. Before that happens, have a professional repair your unit.
Insufficient Air Flow
A weak stream of cool air from AC vents can put a damper on anyone’s day. It can quickly escalate to a life-threatening scenario especially during the height of summer and in a household where someone has a medical condition, like hypertension.
If your filters aren’t clogged and your vents aren’t obstructed, call an AC technician as soon as possible. A frozen evaporator coil, a malfunctioning blower, or a hard-starting compressor may be the culprit. This condition can be prevented when proper and routine AC maintenance on the equipment is performed.
Bad Smell
The most common causes of unpleasant smells from an air conditioning unit are leaking gas, burnt or burning components, leaking refrigerant, molds, and stuck dead pest or animal. Any one of these will emit an unmistakable unpleasant smell.
Removing a stuck dead animal or a rotting carcass from your AC’s duct work may be something you can fix yourself. Pest-proofing your equipment should be done after so the same disaster doesn’t happen again.
For other issues, there’s no other way out. You have to call an AC specialist. When the refrigerant leaks, it emits hazardous chemicals into the air, which are just as dangerous as the gases from malfunctioning exhaust pipes.
When the AC smells like burning plastic, turn it off right away and call an HVAC technician.
Warm Air
Warm air from your air conditioning unit may be a simple case of incorrect thermostat setting or poor air circulation due to clogged filters. However, it may also be an indication of a more serious problem that requires the attention of an HVAC professional.
A leak in the refrigerant system or a dirty condenser coil are common causes of warm air from your AC.
Air Conditioner Leaking Water
Frequent Water Leaks
If not taken care of immediately, leaking air conditioning equipment can cause other major problems, not just on the HVAC system but on ceilings, walls, and other parts of the house. That’s why you need an AC technician’s help. If you can’t trace the cause and fix the leak completely, don’t wait for further headaches before booking a home service appointment.
Dealing with a faulty air conditioning unit is not a pleasant experience. It can be costly and stressful, not to mention potentially hazardous to your health. Your best defense is always proper and regular AC maintenance. Fix small issues before they balloon, but when they do get out of hand, take action immediately by calling in professional AC technicians.
Always deal with a highly rated local HVAC company that is licensed -bonded-insured. That way you can ensure all their technicians will be of the highest caliber.
When you have to have a technician perform AC repairs or maintenance please make sure he is a certified pro.
Everything you need to know about HVAC hard start kits.
If you have an air conditioning system at home, you’ve surely heard of the term “HVAC hard start kit” before and you’ve most probably wondered if you need one.
What exactly is a hard start kit and how does it help your air conditioner at home?
Here’s the lowdown on everything you need to know about HVAC hard start kits, compressors, and the best long-term solution to your hard start problems.
What is a hard start kit?
A hard start kit is a start capacitor. It’s a device used to resolve an air conditioning system problem called hard starting. To understand how a hard start kit works, first you should have an idea how a compressor works during AC startup.
Essentially, the compressor is the heart of your air conditioner. It powers the AC. It’s the hardest working component of an AC unit. The moment it starts the cooling cycle, you usually hear its whirring sound.
As the compressor increases the pressure and the temperature on the refrigerant, the metering device reduces the same pressure and temperature on the refrigerant. Basically, the metering device is responsible for the amount of refrigerant that flows through the system.
It reduces the electricity used to power up the air conditioning system.
It reduces the startup period of the compressor.
Without a start capacitor, it takes the compressor four to eight times more electric current to start than to keep running. That surge of power causes the electric current to spike during startup, causing excess heat that may damage not just the compressor but other AC components as well. Old and worn units are especially prone to damages caused by electrical surges.
Without a start capacitor, the compressor has 50% torque efficiency, but with a hard start kit, torque efficiency drastically increases to 98%. With high efficiency, the compressor motor takes a shorter time to shift from start mode to run mode and the transition is smoother, prolonging the life of your cooling system.
Doesn’t it make sense then to install a start capacitor into the HVAC system? It does. In fact, manufacturers used to produce air conditioning units with built-in start capacitors, but the practice has been discontinued to decrease production costs.
What causes hard starting?
There are several reasons why an air conditioner experiences a hard starting problem. Knowing them may help you find the solution even before you call an expert in air conditioners.
The capacitor may have lost the ability to store temporary voltage for the motors of the unit. Without enough voltage, it can’t send enough power to the motors that start up the compressor and keep it running.
Heat does this to the capacitor, and when the capacitor starts failing, you will usually hear a clicking sound upon starting up your AC.
Worn down compressor motor due to loss of lubrication is another cause of hard starting. Without proper or enough lubrication, the compressor tightens up and has difficulty moving.
Hard starting may also be a sign that the air conditioner is worn down and ready for replacement. This can easily be discovered when you regular AC maintenance check-up. Sometimes replacing a hard starting air conditioning system is more cost-effective than getting it repaired over and over.
What are the signs of hard starting?
How do you know if your HVAC system is hard starting? What are the signs you need to look out for?
Short-cycling is one of the signs you should be aware of. When a compressor starts to short-cycle, it starts up, runs for a short time, then shuts off. This means the compressor doesn’t have enough stored energy to power the AC and cool the house.
If your AC is making louder noises than usual or if you hear clicking noises, that’s a sure indication that you need to call a top-rated HVAC contractor ASAP. A service call will tell you that your AC may be hard starting.
Short cycling and too much strain on your compressor lead to a spike in electric consumption. Many customers have discovered that hard starting always means bigger electric bills.
Call your technician once your AC begins hard starting.
Who needs a hard start kit?
An air conditioner needs TLC just like about everything else in your home. Before your compressor starts showing signs of wear and tear, let HVAC experts service your AC for tuning up and maintenance.
Do you need a hard start kit?
You need a start kit if
you want to prolong the life of your air conditioner
your compressor is showing signs of hard starting
your circuit breaker trips
you want your AC to start smoothly even when there is low voltage or high head pressure, and
you want to avoid unnecessary repair and/or replacement expenses.
What are the different types of hard start kits?
Older AC models are usually equipped with start devices, but when they show signs of wearing down, a hard start kit may come in handy. For newer AC models without a built-in start kit, the compressor manufacturer or OEM usually specifies the type of capacitor suitable for the model.
It may be either one of the following:
PTC hard start kit
The PTC (positive temperature coefficient) is a 2-wire hard start kit that uses a ceramic component to remove the capacitor out of the circuit. As the PTC component heats up in less than a second, the capacitor is taken out. PTC kits are considered more convenient because of their 2-wire feature, which helps with easy installation.
MPR hard start kit
With the help of electro-motive force, the mechanical potential relay hard start kit takes the capacitor out of the circuit once the compressor is at 80% of its capacity. Most technicians find this kit more reliable thus it is often the recommended type.
If you have the phone number of an AC technician, give him or her a call so he or she can guide you in choosing the right hard start kit.
What are the benefits of a hard start kit?
A technician will tell you that the benefits of a hard start kit outweigh its disadvantages. With a hard start kit you
remove the strain of excessive electric current on your systems
prolong the life of your HVAC systems
significantly reduce electric consumption
decrease instances of flickering lights
avoid circuit breaker trips, and
avoid untimely repairs and replacements.
In essence, your air conditioner and/or heating device needs TLC. That is what a hard start kit is all about.
How much does a hard start kit cost?
A hard start kit is relatively inexpensive. When you look at repair and/or replacement costs, buying a hard start kit is the most sensible thing to do. It beats the cost of hiring an HVAC technician to service your cooling system, and for a small investment, you’re ensured you won’t have to deal with a hard starting problem.
Regular maintenance fees for cooling and heating services usually scare off customers, but an air conditioner needs maintenance services if you want it running inconsistent top condition. A hard start kit is one way of taking care of your AC.
Conclusion
The startup of an AC system is a complicated process that all takes place in seconds. Those seconds affect the way your cooling device works and ultimately affects the air quality in your home. The best part is, you can do something about it. Taking proactive steps to lessen the strain on your system will make a huge difference, so if you don’t have a hard start kit yet, it’s about time you get one.
Did your local HVAC professional mention your central air conditioner evaporator and you’ve no idea what it is? In a nutshell, it’s actually what cools the air before it is blown into your room. A lot of homeowners can’t locate it easily because it’s enclosed in a metal case, looking like a bulk of copper coils that sits inside your unit.
Are you still confused? Here’s what you should know about AC evaporator coils.
The Basics
If you ever think that your AC primarily creates cool air on its own, think again. It’s not how it really works. Your unit removes heat from the indoor air. This is where your evaporator coils become handy.
Your AC’s evaporator coils have a refrigerant that absorbs moisture and heat from the indoor air. Then, it gets converted into cool, dehumidified air that gets released inside your home.
After that, the heat and moisture are carried all the way to the condenser, dumping it into the outdoor air.
AC Evaporator Maintenance
Now that you know how the process works, it’s time for aftercare. Your AC evaporator needs to be maintained, too. Otherwise, you might deal with further problems that won’t only affect your evaporator but also the whole unit. Here are three maintenance tips you can do at home.
Replace Your Filter
Checking your filter once a month is highly recommended. And if you’re using your central air conditioner more often, especially during the summer months, it’s time to change it.
Keep the Vents Open
Make sure that all the air vents in your home remain open. What happens is that the blocked ones will restrict airflow in your AC system, causing a lack of warm air. This will eventually keep the cold coils frosted which aren’t good for your AC system. Warm air is necessary for your unit to function properly.
Keep Your Evaporator Clean
Your central air conditioner evaporator should remain clean. Dust and dirt can affect the heat transfer process. When left unattended, you’ll notice that your AC is no longer cool enough, your energy bill increases, there’s more wear and tear on the unit, and ice builds up on the coils.
Cleaning them should solve and even avoid these problems. Access the evaporator on the indoor unit. Wipe all the dust, dirt, and other debris with a soft brush or cloth. You may also use a commercial cleaner to speed up the process. If there is larger debris to get rid of, you can use compressed air.
Opt for Maintenance
Preventive maintenance is an essential part of your central AC aftercare. Your HVAC professional does it. Once you call them, they will come over to your home and replace the air filter if necessary, check your evaporator, spot some potential issues like refrigerant leaks and fix them before they turn out to be bigger problems.
Key Takeaway: Central AC Maintenance
Maintenance is a great investment that will increase your central AC’s lifespan. Aside from cleaning your unit, this will also help you diagnose problems that might cost you a lot more money later on.
When in doubt, don’t hesitate to reach out to an HVAC professional. Got questions? Call us today and we’ll get back to you immediately.
Have you ever become frustrated on a cold winter day as your furnace keeps shutting off? It even becomes worse if it lights up for a couple of minutes then instantly loses its flame on its own. There are several reasons why this happens. While you can simply call an HVAC professional to sort it out, it’s actually best to figure what causes this issue. Here are several reasons why your gas furnace won’t stay lit.
How Your Furnace Ignites
For starters, you might wonder how your furnace works and provides warmth to your home. There are actually two types of furnaces that households have.
A direct ignition furnace works by relying on a thermostat when to heat up, the fan turns on, and the gas valve proceeds to turn on the burner by blowing gas.
A furnace with a pilot light also works similarly, except that you have to turn the pilot light on your own first. This an old type of furnace, so turning it on works manually.
Situation 1: The Pilot Light Ignites, But Doesn’t Stay Lit Before Lighting Burner
Malfunctioning Flame Sensor
The flame sensor gives a signal to the furnace that the gas is already lit. This comes in handy since it prevents the furnace from continuously allowing gas to flow into your room. Once it malfunctions, it will indicate your furnace to do the opposite, even when the pilot light is out. If this is the main culprit, your flame sensor needs to be replaced immediately.
Wrong Flame Sensor Positioning
The flame sensor might work, but it’s positioned poorly on your furnace. This might not detect the pilot’s flame accordingly.
Bad Ignition Board
The ignition board is responsible for controlling the gas flow. Once it malfunctions, the ignition sequence is affected, and your gas furnace won’t stay lit.
Limited Gas Pressure
If the amount of gas pressure is not enough, it will affect the thermocouple. You can only sort out this problem by adjusting or replacing the gas valve.
Situation 2: Burner Lights Up Before Heating Your Home
Overheating
Once the heat exchanger gets hotter, your gas furnace will also overheat. This is typically caused by closed vents and dirty filters. Remember that you have to open your air vents, even inside unused rooms, and change your filters regularly.
Malfunctioning Limit Switch
The furnace’s limit switch is no longer working properly. If this is the case, it needs to be replaced.
Inaccurate Temperature Reading
Your thermostat might be the main culprit by indicating that your house is warm enough. This shuts down the burners immediately.
Poor Flame Sensor
If you have a direct ignition furnace, a poor flame sensor won’t detect a flame, causing the burner to shut off on its own.
Key Takeaway: What to Do?
A lot of households rely on gas furnaces as their main heating source. The tips mentioned above can be a great help to diagnose the main problem. And once you’ve figured out where the issue comes from, it’s time to call your local heating professional.
A repair expert can provide the right advice and consider repair or replacement services. Once fixed, your gas furnace will stay lit, keeping you warm and cozy inside your home. Got questions and concerns? Our team is ready to help. Call us today!
From art market mainstays to persistent provocateur. It was a tall order and a picky search for us when we tasked ourselves with determining an ultimate list of the greatest living modern artists. More important than that, do not touch bare wires!
When you need your company to have a new website or if you venture on updating your old webpage with a new look and functionality, the choices are versatile… Assuming that you will go the easy way and choose a theme for your WordPress website, the overall number of characteristics that you will need to keep in mind narrows down significantly. But how do you stay focused on what kind of a template you need and what do you want to get from that template?
Whatever you think art is, rethink it for a awhile and only then it will truly become an art.Adam Smith
These are Design or Visual Looks; Functionality; Easy Installation and Administering & Google-friendliness. All the WordPress themes that we have here have had a vast team of professional designers sketching, working, and executing the ultimate visual look for it. With such a wide range of choices at hand, we strongly advise you to stick to the WordPress Theme that is based on your business or a closely related field. Either way, thanks to all the diversity here you will be able to choose a Theme that can be either of a formal color scheme with some light colors in it.
Each business niche may require a unique functionality of its own… With that notion in mind, our team of professional WordPress coders has been working day and night to roll out a definitive collection of built-in WordPress plugins, that come with each of our WordPress themes… Due to the fact that this is a WordPress theme, the process of installing it and using it is truly as easy as it gets! Read our documentation to understand how fast you can go from purchasing a TemplateMonster WordPress theme to actually using it as a live skin for your company’s webpage.
In the modern days of a very tight online business competition, ranking high in such search engines as Google, Bing or Yahoo is critical. With the help of our heavy customizations, each of our Business WordPress Themes is enhanced with optimized features. Believe us, Google will just love crawling your new website!
All in all, feel free to browse our Business WordPress Themes category and you will definitely find a new look for your company’s website!
From art market mainstays to persistent provocateur. It was a tall order and a picky search for us when we tasked ourselves with determining an ultimate list of the greatest living modern artists. More important than that, safe during season’s work
When you need your company to have a new website or if you venture on updating your old webpage with a new look and functionality, the choices are versatile… Assuming that you will go the easy way and choose a theme for your WordPress website, the overall number of characteristics that you will need to keep in mind narrows down significantly. But how do you stay focused on what kind of a template you need and what do you want to get from that template?
Whatever you think art is, rethink it for a awhile and only then it will truly become an art.Adam Smith
These are Design or Visual Looks; Functionality; Easy Installation and Administering & Google-friendliness. All the WordPress themes that we have here have had a vast team of professional designers sketching, working, and executing the ultimate visual look for it. With such a wide range of choices at hand, we strongly advise you to stick to the WordPress Theme that is based on your business’ or a closely related field. Either way, thanks to all the diversity here you will be able to choose a Theme that can be either of a formal color scheme with some light colors in it.
Each business niche may require a unique functionality of its own… With that notion in mind, our team of professional WordPress coders has been working day and night to roll out a definitive collection of built-in WordPress plugins, that come with each of our WordPress themes… Due to the fact that this is a WordPress theme, the process of installing it and using it is truly as easy as it gets! Read our documentation to understand how fast you can go from purchasing a TemplateMonster WordPress theme to actually using it as a live skin for your company’s webpage.
In the modern days of a very tight online business competition, ranking high in such search engines as Google, Bing or Yahoo is critical. With the help of our heavy customizations, each of our Business WordPress Themes is enhanced with optimized features. Believe us, Google will just love crawling your new website!
All in all, feel free to browse our Business WordPress Themes category and you will definitely find a new look for your company’s website!
