Maintaining Your Air Conditioning System

May 6, 2015

Preventative maintenance of your HVAC system is necessary to ensure that your air conditioner will serve you well this summer. A preventative maintenance program will reduce the need for unanticipated repairs and minimize expenses. Increase your knowledge about the HVAC system as well as become familiar with how preventative maintenance is performed. This knowledge will allow you to find out which maintenance work you can perform yourself and which maintenance work will require a St. Louis HVAC repair professional. Become Familiar With the System All central air conditioning systems have two main parts, the condenser and evaporator. The air conditioning condenser unit is normally located at the side or rear portion of the home. The evaporator coil is positioned on top of the furnace along the duct junction. A forced-air distribution system is also connected to the air conditioning system. The house is heated using the same motor blower and ductwork used in keeping it cool. Maintain the Air Filters Maintaining the air filters of the air conditioning unit is the easiest preventative maintenance measure. It will extend the life of the HVAC system and allow you to avoid expensive repairs. The fan may become clogged up if the air filters are blocked with...

View Article

Read More

What Can Cause an Air Conditioner to Blow Warm Air?

April 9, 2015

Is your air conditioner heating up your home instead of cooling it? There are numerous instances when homeowners find that their air conditioning unit is heating the house up instead of cooling it. Although this is an issue that needs urgent attention, it does not automatically indicate a major problem in the air conditioning unit. Check the Thermostat Settings Hot air blown by an air conditioning unit can be linked to problems with the thermostat. In some cases, the problem can be quite complicated such as the failure of communication between the air conditioner and thermostat, and it can be resolved only by an HVAC technician. However, if the thermostat is not set properly, it too can cause the air conditioner to blow warm air. It is necessary that the thermostat is on COOL mode and not on HEAT mode. The fan setting should also be in AUTO mode instead of ON. Although a homeowner may recall setting the thermostat properly, it is possible that another occupant of the house would have changed the setting. It is also possible that the settings would have reset to its default factory setting after power is cut off during a storm. The Outdoor Unit Should Be Connected Properly A disconnect switch is sometimes found...

View Article

Read More

Maintaining Clean Air Ducts

April 2, 2015

Pollutants can accumulate inside your home’s air ducts, reducing the indoor air quality of your home. Most residential and commercial structures are built with integrated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning or HVAC ducts. Fresh and stale air does not normally circulate together through these ducts. This will result in the accumulation of pollutants inside the air ducts and will lower the indoor air quality of the building. Those who suffer from respiratory ailments may experience aggravated symptoms from the pollutants. Maintaining Healthy Indoor Air Pollutants in the air ducts can be minimized or eliminated if the HVAC ducts are cleaned, resulting in a healthy environment inside the house. However, it is also possible that the air ducts will be damaged if they are cleaned too often. A regular cleaning schedule should be established. Although numerous recommendations are available for cleaning the ductwork, it is important to hire a St. Louis HVAC company to clean them properly. Aside from an improvement in air quality when the duct is clean, rodents will be also kept away. How to Clean Air Ducts A number of modifications have made in industry standards as well as duct cleaning methods over a number of years. The cleaning quality has improved with the developments...

View Article

Read More

How to Fix a Noisy Air Conditioner

March 30, 2015

An air conditioner makes your living space comfortable; however, if your air conditioner makes too much noise, it becomes a source of irritation. Has your air conditioner always been this loud or has it recently started making a lot of noise? If the noise has started recently, then the problem may be mechanical and you should get the unit inspected to locate the defect or the source of the noise. Using a Soundproofing Blanket Central air conditioners have an outdoor compressor and condenser unit which has moving parts that may become noisy with time. The most effective way to reduce noise for an outdoor unit is to install a soundproofing blanket on the compressor. Compressors generally have an internal cooling system and hence the problem of overheating due to soundproofing may not arise. However, first, check with the unit’s manufacturer regarding any warranty violations due to the use of a soundproofing blanket. Anti-Vibration Pads The noise of an outdoor unit can also be because of excessive vibrations. This can be resolved using anti-vibration pads. These are inexpensive rubber pads that can be installed under the feet of the compressor – they dampen the vibrations and decrease the noise levels. Another option is to install a ‘soft start’ controller...

View Article

Read More

How an Air Conditioning System Improves Indoor Air Quality

March 26, 2015

The role of an air conditioning system is not limited to circulating cool air inside a house. The latest air conditioning systems, particularly high-efficiency systems, also help control the indoor air quality in a house. Indoor air quality combines clean air with temperature, odor, and humidity control. Indoor air quality is significant to the well-being, health, and finances of a homeowner. The following suggestions will help you to maintain fresh, clean, and healthy indoor air inside your home. Replace Air Filters Every Three Months Filters prevent pollen, dust, spores, and other pollutants from entering the house. Replacing the filter is necessary since dirty filters reduce airflow, which affects the efficiency of the system and increases the operating expenses of the system. Dirty filters may also result in overheating of the system along with other issues that can permanently damage the system. Verify the recommendation of the original equipment manufacturer for proper scheduling. Install a System with a High SEER Rating To ensure good air quality inside the house, a longer air circulation period is required to allow air to continuously flow through the filter. High efficiency systems use low power at extended periods of time. They also ensure continuous air flow inside the house while enhancing both...

View Article

Read More

Hot and Cold Spots Inside the Home – Diagnose & Repair

March 14, 2015

A very simple fix to your temperature problem. Every home has that room that can never quite reach the same temperature as the rest of the house. Usually it is a bedroom, one of the most important rooms in the house. Either too chilly in the winter or too hot in the summer and the reason why is perplexing to the homeowner. Avoid putting up with it and ask your local St. Louis HVAC company for help. As part of the installation process of your home’s heating and cooling system, an HVAC technician performed what is known as a heating load calculation. Room size and layout is measured to determine how strong of a furnace and A/C system is needed along with the duct size, fan capacity, and register placements. This is supposed to ensure that all of the rooms in the home are being heated and cooled evenly. Inspecting the Home The first thing your HVAC technician will check is the register in the room for airflow. With a flow hood (air volume reader), they can compare the amount of air that is coming out of the register to those in the rest of the house. If found to...

View Article

Read More

Eleven Common Issues Affecting HVAC Systems

January 15, 2015

Eleven Common Issues Affecting HVAC Systems An HVAC system may have some problems. A number of these issues can be easily fixed by the homeowner, but for complicated problems, the services of a St. Louis HVAC professional may be required. 1. Busted Fuse Fuses ensure the compressor or motor of the unit does not get overheated. The breaker is the first thing HVAC professionals check when the motor stops functioning. 2. Damaged Contactor Three contractors are present in an HVAC unit, one each for the blower motor, condenser fan motor and compressor. It is important that whenever the system is switched on, an electrical connection is established by engaging and starting the motors and compressor. When pitting and arcing form on the contractor, it may not conduct electricity and will prevent the motor from starting. 3. Capacitors Start capacitors provide a starting torque for the compressor while run capacitors ensure a consistent speed when the unit motors are running. It is necessary to replace the capacitors when one of them becomes damaged to ensure the HVAC unit will function properly. 4. Gas valve The gas valve regulates the flow of gas into the unit through the gas line. Whenever the gas valve is corroded, it is necessary...

View Article

Read More

Winterizing Your Central Air Conditioning Unit

October 16, 2014

Protect your central air conditioning unit by preparing it for winter. Harsh Missouri winter is almost upon us and it is time to start thinking about switching from using your central air conditioner to your home’s heating system. If you want to make sure that your central air conditioning unit is going to be ready in the spring, make sure that you put it to hibernate for the winter the right way. Preparing the Outside Unit During the winter you are going to want to provide protection for the outside portion of your HVAC unit from the cold, snow, and ice. This will prevent rust formation and breakage from the weight of snow and ice. Call your St. Louis HVAC technician in-between seasons to shut down your home’s cooling system and check that the heating system is ready for the cold. The first thing they will do is switch the air conditioning off at its main breaker. This will prevent it from being turned on inadvertently if there is a particularly warm winter day. Covering the Outside Unit Next, they will hose the unit down and remove any leaves or twigs. Once the outside unit is cleaned, it will be left to completely...

View Article

Read More

How to Protect Your Air Conditioner’s Performance

September 11, 2014

Keep your air conditioner performing for another summer season with the following tips. Your air conditioning system keeps you cool in hot weather conditions. It is hard to imagine how one can survive even for a few hours without an air conditioner in hot and humid weather. Air conditioners are designed to keep your home cool even on the hottest of summer days. However, there is a limit on the amount of load the air conditioner can handle. The task of an air conditioner becomes extremely difficult when there is an increase in heat gain. What Is Heat Gain? Heat gain refers to the increase in temperature of an area. There are various factors in the environment and inside homes that can cause heat gain. Sun, heat-producing appliances, poor insulation in a home’s floors, ceilings, attic, and walls can cause heat gain. Heat gain causes the air conditioner to work harder to achieve the thermostat settings, and in turn, results in an increase in utility bills. Worse still, it may affect the performance of the air conditioner, resulting in breakdowns and the need for air conditioner repairs. St. Louis HVAC experts share some ways in which you can reduce the heat gain in your home and lower the strain on your air...

View Article

Read More

When the Air Conditioner Breaks Down

July 23, 2014

There are several steps you can take to keep your air conditioner in good shape. If your air conditioner breaks down suddenly, you should immediately call up your HVAC company. Before you do this, find the model and serial number on both the outdoor and indoor units of your air conditioner. These details are generally found on a sticker at the back of the unit. Provide these details to the HVAC technicians when you make an appointment for an air conditioner repair. It is better to get a quote from the HVAC company for your air conditioner repairs. Check if your system still has a warranty. This can help you save thousands of dollars on repair costs. You can also look for rebates, coupons, and tax rebates to save some money. How To Keep the Heat at Bay When the Air Conditioner Is Broken Close your windows during the day – During the day you can avoid the heat by keeping the windows closed. You can use blinds, shades, and drapes to keep the hot sunlight from entering your home. Use fans wisely – Despite being highly useful during the summer, ceiling fans do not actually help in cooling your room. Ceiling fans create a breeze by moving...

View Article

Read More