Air Conditioning Tune Checklist
As springtime comes around, it is that time of year to call up your local, trusted HVAC specialist to schedule that annual tune-up for your air conditioner system. As you make the call to make the appointment, you may be wondering just what exactly is on the checklist to get this completed? You have been told by your warranty, the person who sold you your AC unit, as well as your trusted HVAC specialist, like Autumn Mechanical, that it is important to stay on top of your annual tune-up, or preventative maintenance. The big, main reason is so that your AC system is fully functional to its potential. So let’s get down to the meat of the subject, what exactly is ticked off that mental checklist that all HVAC specialists follow to complete a tune-up? During the time of your tune-up, which can take up to an hour and a half to complete, there are several things that your professional will not only check up on, but also do. Thermostat – Making sure that your thermostat is functioning correctly, as it controls how long the AC runs as well as the temperature you wish your home to be at. Air Filter – They will go take a look at the air filter to ensure that there is no buildup and that the air is flowing through without any disruptions. Evaporator Coils – They will clean the coils of any dirt and debris to help prevent any buildup from forming. This helps prevent compressor failure and makes sure that it functions efficiently. Condensate Pan – Checking to make sure that there is not clog in the pan will help prevent any water damage or mildew growth. They will also check to make sure that there are no […]
AC Tune Up Specials
When it comes to shopping, personal grooming, etc. we are always looking for the best deal, coupons, and specials. The same always goes for maintenance or repair work, every person in the world is always looking to save money, which is not a bad thing. It is just when you do not have a trusted, local HVAC specialist, it is always best to shopping around for one. This meaning to check websites like Angie’s list for reviews, ask neighbors if they recommend anyone or if there is someone to avoid, or even Google+. Research and get as much information as possible before deciding on a professional. The reason to shop around is because you want to find someone that is legitimate, and will give you an honest opinion if there are any issues. Unfortunately, there are scams going around about specials and deals that certain contractors may have going on. These are contractors and specials and deals that are best left to avoid. One scam that is going around is where it states that you need to schedule by a specific date to get this price. Or ones that give you the option to purchase now so that you are able to save so much off their regular price, and if you do not then the price will be this other price. These scams try to get homeowners to call and schedule an appointment before they have even had a chance to do any research or thought completely through. A contractor is reputable; they more than likely would not try to pull stunts like this to bring in customers. The gain customers by being reliable, honest, and trusted. You will generally spend anywhere from $80 to $160 for a genuine preventative maintenance appointment. If you […]
Why is AC Repair so Expensive?
One of the worse things that can happen during a hot and humid summer in Houston, Texas is having your air conditioner break down. Now you need to see about scheduling a repair appointment and pray that they can come out as soon as possible before you and your family melt into a puddle in your home. Everyone dread this happening to them because the thing that pops into their mind is cost. What is wrong and how much is it going to cost me to fix it? There is always that fear and worry about if what you are being told is truth and if you really need to repair this one thing, or if they are just looking to worm more money out your pocket. Figuring out just exactly why you are being charged so much for your air conditioning repair is just by looking at it this way. They say that on average to have a contractor come out to your home the cost comes to around $75-$85 an hour. Here is why: One thing that you must bare in mind with HVAC contractors, they are certified by the state they are working in. This means that they studied and worked and took this huge test that the state requires and passed. This is a test that must be done occasionally so that they show that they are staying up to date with the rising technology surrounding air conditioning systems. Also, the environment they are working in can be very demanding not to mention the temperatures as well. Think about the areas they have to work in from working on an outdoor AC unit to one that in indoors up in an attic. Then being able to troubleshoot the AC for issues as […]
Who to Call For AC Repair
One of the biggest comforts in your home during the hot and humid Houston, Texas summer is your air conditioner unit. When this is not operating properly that can wreck havoc on your comfort levels. Unfortunately, this is one comfort in our homes that we do not really pay too much attention to until it’s on the fritz. This, obviously, is not such a wise decision. If you do end up needing to have your AC unit serviced, repaired, or even replaced then you would need to contact an HVAC specialist or contractor. HVAC stands for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning. A contractor or specialist is like a doctor who specializes in a specific field of study, they just specialize in heating and cooling units and ventilation. They can install and maintain your units such as furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, and heat pumps. Also, if you are in need for a new unit, they can help you find the right system for you and your home. You may now be wondering just what is so special about an HVAC specialist and why its recommended to schedule an appointment with them instead of seeing if your local handyman can come out and take a look. You could call and see if your handyman could come out, but there are some really serious reasons why you should not. An HVAC contractor is someone that has been state-certified, which means has been checked with the state to ensure that they know just exactly what they are doing when they are testing and working on your AC. They are usually licensed through the state and more than likely have certifications and affiliations as well. HVAC contractors will also have insurance that consists of worker’s compensation and liability. This protects […]
When To Call AC Repair
At one time or another everyone has had to call up their trusted HVAC contractor to come out and see if they need air conditioning repair done to their unit. This is especially expected in Houston, Texas with how hard our hot and humid summers can work our AC units. So it definitely is best to become familiar with your AC system and know when a professional need to be called out for AC repair. The absolute best way to avoid needing to have your AC repaired is by making sure that you keep up on the maintenance. Making sure that you change out your air filters regularly and that nothing is blocking both the outdoor unit as well as any vents and registers in your house will help. The most important thing is to make sure that you schedule the annual preventative maintenance, which is also known as your AC tune-up. This ensures that your entire AC system is functioning to its full potential as well as makes sure that there are no potential issues that can happen down the road. The HVAC contractor will also make sure that your entire system is nicely cleaned and well lubricated. Though it is always best to make sure that you do not put off any potential issues that happen with you AC as it could cause further problems or damage, it is best to check these few things first to make sure it is not a more simply problem. Check your thermostat, make sure that it set to the right temperature and that it has been switch from heat to cool. This may sound very stupid and simple, but it has been known to happen and can end up saving you some money not having a professional […]
How To Repair AC Line
Say you are sitting in your home in Houston, Texas with your air conditioning system running. You know you have your thermostat set at a particular temperature but have heard your unit running the entire day and noticed on your thermostat that it states that the temperature inside is several degrees higher than what you have it set for. You then go and check a few of your vents or registers and the air does not feel cool. Your next step is to give your HVAC contractor a call and schedule an appointment for them to come out. He runs through his troubleshooting and even hooks up the gages to your system to check everything. Finally, he sits down with you and tells you that your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, or Freon. One thing that you need to realize is that your AC unit does not burn off or “eat” your refrigerant or Freon. The entire unit is supposed to be sealed tight, which if it is low on Freon this is due to a leak somewhere in the system. If this is not addressed right away, this can cause further damage and even cause your entire unit to freeze up. The best way to get an AC line fixed is by contacting a trusted HVAC contractor. There are benefits behind why getting a professional is best. This is mainly because of their knowledge on working on air conditioning systems as well as if they run into any snags know the best way to conquer them. Now hiring a HVAC contractor can be expensive as they need to come out and troubleshoot to find out where the leak is coming from. From there the pricing can vary depending on where the leak is, if […]
How to Repair AC Coil Leak
One of the worst nightmares that can happen during the hot and humid summer in Houston, Texas is hearing your air conditioner run, feel the air blowing but it is not cooling down the house. One of the reasons this might be happening is due to a coil leak. When a coil leak happens that usually means your Freon is low. When this happens, your AC cannot pull the heat and humidity from inside your home to cool it properly. The bad thing is that this is not the only thing that can happen, your AC unit can actually start freezing up which can cause more damage to your unit. When it comes to fixing a Freon leak, it can be as simple as just needing to tighten a fitting or replaced a valve core. The worse could be that you would need to replace your evaporator coil, condenser coil, or a copper line set which any of these can be rather expensive. If you are told by your HVAC contractor that your Freon levels are low, there is a leak. You do not run low on Freon by it burning off or such, so the only thing that can happen is that it leaked out somewhere. There are a few areas that the leak could possibly be located at, the shipping valve, rusted filter canisters, valve cores, weld joints, or the copper tubing itself. Majority of the time you will find the leak itself within the evaporator coil and some other times new valve cores would be needed. How to detect where the leak is coming from is your HVAC contractor will use an electronic sniffer. This will help them find the general area where the leak is happening. Some might use something as […]
Why Your AC Is Not Working
It is summertime in good old Houston, Texas, which brings not only heat but humidity too. So the worse thing that can happen is your air conditioning system going on the fritz leaving you and your family sweltering. If this happens to you, there are thankfully a few troubleshooting steps you can take to see if you can get it operating again. First if your system is not working at all it is always important to check and make sure that your air conditioner is still receiving power, and the best way to check this is at the electrical panel or on your thermostat by making sure it is on. If you find that your air conditioner is running, but is not blowing out air as cool as it usually does, try turning it completely off. Then go and check your air and furnace filters to make sure that they are clean and not filled with dust and debris. After this, check and make sure that on the part of the AC unit that is indoors, there is not ice or frost forming on the evaporator coils. If this has happened, turn the power back on, but to fan only. Be sure to clean out the condensation drain thoroughly. If your AC system tends to turn off and back on periodically, you may need to make sure that your evaporator coils are clean and not being blocked by anything. If they are dirty, clean them up, or if there is a blockage, be sure to remove it. Then check and make sure that the outdoor part of your AC system is functioning properly. If your air conditioning system still is not blowing out cool air, it is possible that your refrigerant is either low or […]
Which Central AC System is the Best
Thinking about a new central air conditioning system or the one you have is beyond repairs and needing to replace it? To make sure that you and your family are comfortable, it is always best to gain as much information possible. What makes up an entire AC system is a condenser unit, a part that handles the air, and an evaporator coil, plus the ductwork system that the air blows through and distributes it throughout the house. You traditionally find the condenser unit outside and then the evaporator and part that handles the air are located indoors. The ductwork is set up throughout the house ending in different vents and registers in each room. The basic rundown of how the AC unit work is that the air blows across the evaporator coil where refrigerant turns into a gas from a liquid by absorbing the heat from the air as well as the moisture. From there it flows into the condenser and compressor in the outdoor unit where it releases the heat and turns back into a gas. Then the air that is now heat free is now cool and is pushed back into the house and spread through the air duct system distributing the now cool air throughout the house, cooling the house till it reaches the temperature set on the thermostat. Now that you have become familiar with the different parts of the central air conditioning unit, now is figuring out the size of unit you need and price range. Along with this is finding out the features, warranty provided, energy efficiency, and much more. Finding a unit that is energy efficient is nearly everyone’s top priority. Energy costs have risen as and it does take quite a bit of energy to run […]
When Your AC Freezes Up
One of the worse things to every experience during a Houston, Texas hot, humid summer is finding a huge puddle surrounding the inside portion of your air conditioning system. The first thought that flies through your head is how much will this cost or what did it have to happen on the hottest day of the summer? There are a few ways that you can try to solve this issue yourself. First part, is knowing what and why your air conditioning unit has frozen over. It is the component, called the evaporator coil, that is in charge of transferring heat from the inside of your home to the outside part of the air conditioning system. There are two most common reasons as to why your evaporator coil has frozen over. The first is airflow restriction, and the other insufficient refrigerant. These affect your evaporator coil from working properly. It causes condensation to form on it that eventually freezes over, thus creating its own icebox. First thing that you need to do to unfreeze your evaporator coil is by turning your AC system completely off using your thermostat. Do not try to thaw out the evaporator coil by turning the heat on and raising the temperature. That will not work, but shutting it completely off. Next you need to make sure that there is nothing blocking or preventing a consistent airflow to your air conditioner. You simply just need to check both your furnace, air handler, and air filters. Make sure that they are not dusty or filled with tons of debris. Make sure that all of the registers throughout your home are open and not blocked by furniture or other items. After that, it is always best to call a professional, like Autumn Mechanical right […]
