Troubleshooting Common AC Problems

July 27, 2021

Air Conditioning Problems and Causes It’s hot outside, and the last thing you want is for your air conditioner to stop working. However, to have your house go from comfortable to unbearable because of an AC problem is a significant concern. Problems with your cooling system may be a minor inconvenience or a huge hassle. Here are seven of the most common AC problems that happen during the summer months. 1. The Filter Needs Cleaning The air filter is a frequently overlooked component of your cooling system. Dirty filters won’t allow the unit to work efficiently. Dust, dirt, and smoke can cause the filters in your air conditioner to become gummed up and restrict airflow. A dirty filter can also lead to dirty motors, coils, and clogged drain lines. That’s why it’s essential to regularly clean or change your AC unit’s air filter throughout the summer to prevent other problems. 2. The Drain Line Is Clogged Another common issue with cooling systems is a clogged drain line. The drain line allows the moisture that your AC unit pulls out of the air to leave the system. If you’ve been neglecting the air filter, a lot of dirt will end up...

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How Does Central Air Conditioning Work?

June 6, 2021

Understanding How Central Air Conditioning Works Generally, a central air conditioning system is the most energy-effective option for relieving your home of high temperatures. Typically, central air conditioning units contain two parts that usually function concurrently. One of these parts is usually installed outside your house while the other one works from indoors. The indoor part is also known as the system’s cold part, which is meant for cooling your home. Typically, it involves blowing the warm air over the coils containing the refrigerant. Refrigerant is a liquid that changes from liquid to gas as it absorbs heat from the warm interior air. The exterior part of your AC unit, on the other hand, is designed to compress the refrigerant and then convert it back to a liquid state, releasing the absorbed heat. In addition, the outdoor part contains a fan that pulls air from outside via the exterior coils. The outcome is a continuous process of humidity and heat getting removed from interior air, cold air getting into the home, and humidity and heat exiting your home. How AC Works Typically, central air conditioning is a system that allows you to condition your whole house from a central point...

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Why Your Air Conditioner Smells and What It Means

June 13, 2020

Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell? When temperatures rise during the summer, you want your air conditioner to be in peak functioning condition. An AC that is operating accordingly will enable you to remain cool and cozy even in the middle of a heatwave. Unfortunately, as you keep relying on your air conditioner over the years, the machine’s wear and tear are likely to lead to various malfunctions. One of the most common cooling system problems that customers complain about is the foul smell that seemingly suddenly permeates from the unit to the rest of your household. Any mysterious smell from your AC unit may indicate myriad malfunctions and needs to be addressed accordingly. Want to know the reasons why your AC unit is suddenly giving off an unbearable odor? Here are seven possibilities. Identifying the Smell: What Your AC Is Telling You Unusual odors from your air conditioner are often early warning signs of underlying issues. Some smells can be addressed with basic maintenance; others need prompt professional attention to protect comfort, indoor air quality, and safety. Below are the most common AC odors, their likely causes, and what actions to take next. Musty or mildew smell: Typically caused...

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How Often Does an Air Conditioner Need Service?

April 15, 2020

Frequency Of Air Conditioner Service You may ask yourself how often you need to service your air conditioner if it is already functioning well enough. At , we recommend that customers in St. Louis, MO, and its surrounding communities choose our AC maintenance services at least once every year. This is done to make sure that your AC system keeps operating at peak condition. Whether your air conditioner is malfunctioning or not, it is always a good idea to have our skilled technicians inspect your equipment annually. The following are six benefits that show why annual tune-ups are absolutely vital. 1. Improved Energy Efficiency As your AC unit operates around-the-clock to maintain your indoor comfort, it is likely to pick up dust, fluff, debris, and other pollutants. The presence of unwanted particulates means that your unit works even harder than usual to deliver cool air into your household. Regular maintenance helps get rid of these substances, hence allowing your system to operate more efficiently. This will lead to less energy consumption. This greatly reduces your carbon footprint and contributes to a more sustainable planet. 2. Lower Utility Bills An aging or underperforming AC unit not only affects the efficiency of...

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Water Drips from Your AC Vents

September 24, 2019

Dealing With Water Dripping From AC Vents 3 Causes of Water Accumulation There are several issues that could lead to water dripping out of your AC vents. If you notice this happening, it’s important to determine the cause of the problem and take action in a timely manner. Some issues can be resolved without professional assistance, and some will require an air conditioning professional to take a look. Some of the most common issues that will lead to leaking air conditioning vents include the following. 1. Condensate Drain Line Issues A condensate line in your AC system that is clogged can cause condensation around your vents. To determine if this is the problem, check the drip pan on the outside part of your air conditioner. If it is full, this is likely your issue. You can clean the drain line with a shop vac or call a professional. 2. Dirty Air Filters If the air filters in your AC system are dirty, they can impede air flow. When this happens, it can cause frost to build up on the filter. When the AC unit is turned off, this frost will melt and end up dripping out of your vents. This...

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Symptoms of a Broken AC Motor Every St. Louis Homeowner Should Know

September 12, 2019

Dealing With a Broken AC Motor understands the stresses that a faulty air conditioner can cause. One of the issues that some systems have is a broken air conditioner motor. This could cause inefficient cooling and cause a variety of problems down the road. There are several signs that could indicate a problem with a motor. Common Signs Your AC Motor Is Failing A failing motor in your air conditioner—whether it’s the blower motor, fan motor, or compressor-related drive—can seriously degrade cooling performance and risk a full system breakdown. Catching these symptoms early lets you decide whether a repair or replacement is needed before more expensive damage occurs. Weak or no airflow: Poor airflow from vents is often the first sign of a failing blower or fan motor. If the fan struggles to push air, the motor may be straining, clogged, or nearing end of life. Unusual noises: Grinding, squealing, rattling, or buzzing sounds can indicate worn bearings, misalignment, or electrical issues inside the motor. Loud or abrupt noises are red flags that the motor components are deteriorating. Burning or acrid smells: Overheating electrical parts, failing capacitors, or motor windings breaking down can produce burning odors. This warrants immediate shutdown...

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How an Air Conditioning System Works: Simple Explanation for St. Louis Homeowners

July 5, 2019

How Your AC System Works A lot has changed in the 100 plus years since the invention of the first modern air conditioning system. However, today’s central air conditioners still work using many of the same basic principles. So how does a central air conditioner work? How an Air Conditioner Actually Cools Your Home An air conditioning system doesn’t create cold—it moves heat from inside your home to the outside. That cooling happens through a closed loop called the refrigeration cycle, which uses a refrigerant and four main components to absorb indoor heat and reject it outdoors. Understanding the basics helps you recognize issues early and get the most efficient performance from your system. Compressor: Often called the heart of the system, the compressor squeezes the low-pressure refrigerant gas, raising its pressure and temperature so it can release heat when it moves to the condenser. Condenser: Located outside, the condenser coil releases the heat the refrigerant picked up inside. As the hot, high-pressure gas passes through, it cools and condenses into a liquid. Expansion device (or metering device): This component (like a thermal expansion valve or capillary tube) reduces the pressure of the liquid refrigerant, causing it to cool rapidly...

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What Is a SEER Rating?

September 21, 2018

SEER Ratings Air conditioning systems have evolved. Today’s homeowner has the benefit of choice among many wonderfully efficient AC systems. The yellow EnergyGuide sticker on each unit now shows the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (“SEER”) rating, which lets you know the cooling output to expect per watt. After 2005 the law began requiring SEER ratings of 13 and higher on home air conditioners. Today, you can replace an old unit with a system rated anywhere up to 23. Your Reward for Making an AC Upgrade: Cash Back Replace your old AC unit, and let the savings in energy and money begin. Imagine you go ahead and upgrade a decades-old AC unit that only has a SEER rating of 9. You decide to replace that old unit with a new system that carries the EnergyStar® label. To earn that label your new air conditioner must have at least a 14 SEER efficiency rating. So, you decide to replace that 9 SEER unit with one that’s five levels higher in efficiency. After you’ve made the move from a 9 to a 14 SEER (or go from a 10 to a 15), expect to save 35% on your electric bill. Upgrade from an...

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5 Common AC Issues Every St. Louis Homeowner Should Know

July 25, 2018

5 Common AC Issues Let’s face it, air conditioning has become essential to our lives. Let us inspect your AC unit and make sure it’s going to be reliable through the summer season. We can make repairs with genuine parts and dependable expertise that will have your AC ready for the season or back up and running when things go bad. Early Warning Signs Your AC Needs Attention Air conditioners rarely fail without warning. Recognizing the most common problems early can prevent bigger breakdowns, improve efficiency, and keep your home comfortable. Below are five frequent issues homeowners see—and what you can do or check before calling a technician. Dirty or clogged air filter: Restricted airflow forces the system to work harder, can cause evaporator coil freezing, and reduces cooling performance. Regular filter replacement is one of the easiest preventative steps. Refrigerant leaks or low refrigerant: Without the correct amount of refrigerant, your AC can’t transfer heat effectively, leading to weak cooling and potential coil freezing. This requires professional detection and recharge. Frozen evaporator coil: Often a downstream effect of airflow issues or low refrigerant. When the ice melts, the system blows warm or damp air and performance drops. Turning the...

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Is Your AC Losing its Cool?

November 6, 2017

We know air conditioning is one of the most important concepts to your comfort and peace of mind. If your AC is not cooling properly, the reason could be as simple as dirty coils. Clean coils are extremely important for the proper functioning of an air conditioning system. Even if 1/100th of an inch of dust collects on the AC’s condenser coil, it loses 5% of its efficiency. Our St. Louis HVAC technicians explain how dirty coils could be causing your AC to under-perform. The Importance of Air Conditioning Coils There are two AC coils which are very important for the proper operation of the system. The evaporator coil is responsible for absorbing the heat and humidity from the space. The condenser coil releases the heat absorbed from the inner space, outside the building. The condenser coil is located in the outside unit and is exposed to the adverse weather, soot, dirt and other trash outside. Dust can easily accumulate on it. This can reduce its capacity to work properly. The Way in Which an Air Conditioner Works In order to understand how dirty coils reduce the cooling ability of the AC, it is advisable to know how an air...

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