 Here we are coming out of the cold wet winter and into the warmer spring and summer months of the year. As the days get warmer, naturally we start to use our air conditioning that has been sitting idle during the winter.
How old is my AC unit? When was the last time I had it checked or maintained? These might be some of the questions you ask, especially if you realize it isn’t cooling as it should and now it has gotten very warm in your house. You check your contacts on your phone, pull up your trusted HVAC contractor, call him to check your system and find out its days are almost up! You receive the installation estimate and wonder, how can this cost so much!!!! When we are focusing on the aesthetics and accessories for our homes we are all too ready to spend the additional money on the extras, the best, the top of the line, because let’s face it; it will look so much nicer. No one says, let’s get those Formica counter tops instead of the granite when remodeling their kitchen. So why do we want to do the same with our HVAC? Our HVAC is a work horse in our home. It is constantly keeping us comfortably warm in the winter or nice and cool in the summer. Is it something you’re going to take your friends and neighbors to your basement or back yard to ooh and aah over? Probably not, but if it isn’t doing its job, you and your family and any guests you have will know what is NOT working in your house. Don’t go for bottom basement or even systems that are not American made. Trust me the money you save will become the thorn in your side. With lesser expensive or off-brand units you can run into serious electrical and safety issues. You could even have to replace cheaply made components within the unit, which will cut into your wallet and that money you thought you were saving. Do your homework! Look into the mid and higher grade units. If you don’t have a trusted HVAC technician, ask friends, family, co-workers if they have recommendations. Any reputable heating and air conditioning repair and installation company will give you an estimate for replacement free of charge. Air Comfort Solutions LLC is always happy to come and give you estimate on replacements and to take care of any necessary repairs on equipment that doesn’t need replacing. Call us today! 540-580-3663.
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Check out these common air flow causes;  -Registers and Vents that are blocked: We all want our homes to look nice and have unobstructed walk ways. Making sure your vents and registers aren’t blocked are just as important. Pull furniture away from your vents so your airflow is not compromised. Some older homes have ductwork that was only sized for heat can impede cooling airflow operation. Have a technician check to see if ductwork is sized correctly for "tonnage" of your unit. Original vent openings many times are too small to move cold air. -Dirty Condenser Coil: This coil is located in your outdoor unit; therefore, it is exposed to all the dirt, dust, and elements. If your coil is dirty it can’t do its job, which is to release heat. This causes your unit to work harder and your house to stay warmer during the hot months. Coils should be cleaned on a bi-annual or annual basis. -Blower motor not operating efficiently: The blower fan located in your HVAC system moves the air throughout your ductwork and living space. If not working efficiently, your airflow will be impacted in your home or business. -Clogged Filters: Your filters could need to be replaced monthly. Especially if you have pets. Keeping dust and dirt out of your ducts and equipment is the job of your filter. If it gets overloaded, this will affect the efficiency of your airflow and could cause damage to equipment parts. -Accumulation of dust or obstruction in ductwork: If you aren’t changing your filters, then that dust is accumulating on the sides of your ductwork. Have your ductwork inspected to see if it needs to be cleaned. A build up of dust can impede airflow, especially if your ductwork has been sized too small . Sometimes we don’t realize we have an airflow problem because it has decreased gradually over time. Here are some symptoms you will experience with decreased air flow problems...
Don’t allow these problems to continue. Most can be fixed inexpensively. However, ignoring these as mentioned earlier could result in your compressor failing which can be costly. The heart of your AC is your compressor and if air flow is restricted it puts greater stress on it and therefore decreases the life of the compressor. Regulate Preventative maintenance can help to mitigate many airflow causes. If you are experiencing any of these problems, have your system maintained IMMEDIATELY before any damage occurs to your system that could cause failure. |