You don’t necessarily need to know everything about how your air conditioning system works in order to take proper care of it. Most of the maintenance and repairs should be undertaken by professionals anyway. However, there are a few parts of your air conditioner that you should know about in more detail. Specifically, you need to know so that you can recognize when they need repairs. One of these important parts is the compressor. Read on to find out more about what the compressor does, and the signs that indicate a problem with it.
Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category
Why the Compressor Is So Important to Your Air Conditioning System
Monday, June 8th, 2015Why Spring Air Conditioning Maintenance Is So Important
Monday, May 18th, 2015Most people will call for air conditioning repairs as soon as they notice a problem with their systems. That’s all well and good, but prompt repairs aren’t the only way to keep your air conditioner healthy. In fact, they’re arguably not even the best way. Preventive maintenance is a big part of ensuring that your air conditioner has a long and healthy life. It’s so important, in fact, that most manufacturer warranties list it as a requirement for continued protection. Read on to find out more about why air conditioning maintenance is so important, and why you should schedule it this spring.
Why You Should Consider Installing a Zone Control System
Monday, May 11th, 2015Summer is almost here, and that means that people are getting their air conditioners ready for the hot season. While plenty of people know to schedule preventive maintenance and prompt repairs for their air conditioning system, they don’t often think about other ways to improve how their homes are cooled. A central air conditioner isn’t perfect, and it has a number of disadvantages that prevent it from cooling your home as well as it should. Not to worry, though. There is a way to solve for these disadvantages. All you need is a zone control system. Read on to find out more about zone control systems, and why you should consider installing one.
3 Common Summer Air Conditioning Problems
Monday, May 4th, 2015We enjoy mild weather here in Tacoma, WA, but summers can be surprisingly warm. A reliable air conditioning system helps you get through those heat waves comfortably. If it breaks down, you need a repair service to move fast. And while you should never attempt to fix a broken air conditioner yourself, it pays to know what kind of problems your system may experience this summer. That lets you give the technician a better idea of where to look, which can cut down on repair time considerably. Here’s a list of 3 common summer air conditioning problems.
Signs That You Need to Replace Your Air Conditioner
Monday, April 27th, 2015We’re beginning to move into the summer season, and that means using your air conditioner more often for the next few months. The last thing you want is for your air conditioner to die halfway through the summer, leaving you without any cool air until you can find a replacement. If you’re going to replace your air conditioner it’s a good idea to do it now.
How can you tell when it’s time for a new air conditioner? Read on to find out.
3 Signs That Your Air Conditioner Needs Repair
Monday, April 20th, 2015Summer is almost here, and that means it’s time to start getting your air conditioning system ready for the hottest days of the year. Part of that preparation includes conducting any necessary repairs on your system before it has a chance to break down. It’s rather hard to recognize the need for repairs if you don’t know what symptoms to look for, though. With that in mind, have a look at 3 of the common signs that your air conditioner needs repair.
Air Conditioning Repair Issues that You Should Watch for
Friday, April 3rd, 2015Just like any other system, your air conditioner is likely to develop a few problems over the course of its lifetime. No matter how well you take care of it, you’re going to have to call for air conditioner repairs at some point. The important thing is recognizing when you need to call for those repairs, and doing so as quickly as possible. The faster you address repair issues, the better shape your air conditioner will be in. With that in mind, let’s examine some air conditioning repair issues that you should watch out for.
Frozen or Dirty Coils
Your air conditioner makes use of two units in order to operate, one installed inside and one outside. Each unit contains a coil, which is connected to the refrigerant line that runs between them. The inside unit is the evaporator coil, which evaporates refrigerant in order to absorb heat from the air. This causes condensation to form on the coil, which is then drained out of the system. The refrigerant gas then carries the heat to the condenser coil in the outside unit. There, the gas is condensed back into a liquid to release the heat into the outside air. This is how your air conditioner cools the air in your home. When the coils become dirty, however, there are some problems that can occur.
A dirty evaporator coil loses the ability to absorb heat from the air. It keeps evaporating refrigerant, however, which causes the condensation on the coil to freeze before it can drain away. The buildup of ice completely blocks the flow of air to the evaporator coil, and could actually damage it if not removed in time.
Short-Cycling
Short-cycling is a behavior in which a system will rapidly turn itself on and off every few minutes. This is an extremely damaging behavior, one that can increase the chance of a breakdown and drastically shorten the system’s lifespan. In air conditioners, this is often caused by a malfunctioning thermostat or compressor. The thermostat will turn the air conditioner on and off either because of a short, or because it cannot accurately read the temperature in the room. Meanwhile, a malfunctioning compressor will cause irregular pressure in the refrigerant line, resulting in an irregular cycle.
If you think your air conditioning system is in need of repair, call Sound Heating for our quality air conditioning repair service in Bellevue, WA.
Common Fan Problems
Friday, August 15th, 2014There are two fans in your air conditioner, a condenser fan in the outdoor unit and a blower in the evaporator. Each plays an important role in the heat release/cooling process; each also provides air flow in your system. When there is a malfunction with your fans, the effects can be felt system-wide. Many times, the problems can look like something other than fan issues, which is why it’s important to call the professionals at Sound Heating to repair your AC.
What Do the Fans Do?
Each fan helps equally with air flow, but plays different roles in the heat release/cooling process:
- Condenser fan – the condenser fan is part of the outdoor unit. The condenser fan sucks up the heat that gets released by the refrigerant in the condenser coils and blows it out into the air. This helps cool the refrigerant in the condenser coils while also dissipating the heat.
- Indoor blower – the indoor blower blows warm air from indoors over the chilled evaporator coils, and then sends the chilled air into the supply ducts for delivery into your home.
What Types of Problems Occur with Fans?
There are a few common problems we see frequently with fans:
- Motor issues – fan motors can falter due to electrical issues, or burnout, and sometimes require replacement.
- Problems with fan blades – fan blades can become bent or loose. One of the main problems with loose or bent fan blades is that they can bang into other parts of your system as they rotate, causing damage. If you hear banging or clunking noises coming from your fan, call a technician for repair.
- Wiring issues – the wires in and around fan motors can fray, corrode and/or disconnect. This can cause uneven voltage to reach the motor, or a total loss of electricity, resulting in breakdown. The wiring in your fan motors can be complex, so it is best to have a trained professional repair any electrical issues you may experience.
Repair Your Fans Correctly with an Expert
The fans in your system are important to its overall operation, so while no one likes to call for repairs, it’s the smart thing to do. If you are experiencing issues with your fans or anything else, call Sound Heating today and schedule AC repairs in Tacoma with one of our trained technicians.
No Cool Air Coming from Your Air Conditioner
Friday, July 11th, 2014On a hot day in Tacoma, you shouldn’t be stuck with an air conditioner that only blows warm air into your home. While there may be many reasons why your air conditioner fails to blow cool air, some of which are detailed below, a qualified technician can usually identify the issue and offer the repairs you need.
Thermostat Issues
The first place you should always look when your AC is not blowing cool air is the thermostat. Check to make sure the AC is turned on and try lowering the temperature a couple of degrees. There may be a calibration issue, or a sensor may not be able to accurately detect the temperature in your home.
Low Refrigerant
A constant level of refrigerant cycling throughout your system is necessary to keep your home cool. As the refrigerant changes from liquid to gas form, it absorbs the heat from your home, and as it condenses, it dissipates heat outdoors. The refrigerant itself is never supposed to leave your system; if you have low refrigerant levels, it is likely due to a leak somewhere in the refrigerant lines. Only AC technicians are qualified to handle and replace refrigerant, so you should always contact an air conditioning repair service if a leak causes your system to stop cooling.
Frozen or Dirty Coils
The indoor evaporator coil and the outdoor condenser coil are both vital to the refrigeration cycle. The condenser coil is where refrigerant changes from gas to liquid form, giving off heat to the outside air in the process. The evaporator coil is where refrigerant evaporates into a gas, absorbing the heat from the air inside your home. Over time, these coils may become dirty, which can interfere with the cooling capacity of your system. This is why it is necessary to schedule regular maintenance to check for issues such as a dirty coil. Blocked airflow can also cause the evaporator coil to freeze, which could prevent your system from blowing cool air.
Don’t suffer without a working AC any longer than you have to this summer. Call Sound Heating to set up AC service in Tacoma and get your air conditioning system back to normal.
Signs That Air Conditioning Systems Have Low Refrigerant
Friday, May 23rd, 2014Your air conditioner relies on refrigerant to do its job: running through a theoretically closed system that first converts it to a liquid (releasing heat into the outside air) then shifts it back into a gas (pulling heat from the nearby air which can then be blown into your home). The cycle depends on specific amounts of refrigerant (the exact figure depends upon the make and model of your air conditioner), and when leaks spring up, it can create a number of difficulties. There are plenty of services that can fix air conditioning systems in Olympia, and knowledgeable technicians can usually seal the leak before recharging the refrigerant to its proper levels.
Here Are Some Signs That Air Conditioning Systems Have Low Refrigerant
- Ice on the coils. The biggest sign you can detect is the formation of ice on your evaporator coils. The ice represents lost cooling potential that should be going into your home, as well as forming an insulating layer between the remaining refrigerant and the air it’s supposed to cool. Don’t ever scrape the ice off: it won’t do any good and you could damage the coils in the process. Instead, shut off the system and call in a technician to treat the issue.
- Reduced cooling power. Along those lines, if you notice that the air conditioner isn’t providing cool air like it used to – if the air blows warmer or is flat-out hot – then there could be problems with the refrigerant.
- Water puddles. Condensation forms on you air conditioner as it cools the air, and a certain amount is normal. When refrigerant levels run low, however, the system will generate more condensation than it should, resulting in puddles of water around the base of your system.
If you spot the signs that air conditioning systems have low refrigerant, call the professionals at Sound Heating to correct the problem immediately. We handle all kinds of repairs for air conditioning systems in Olympia, and we’ll treat the source of the problem rather than just the symptoms. Summer months are too hot to go without an efficient AC system. Give us a call today and let us keep yours in top shape!