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AC Repair: AC Tune Up Checklist

AC Repair: AC Tune Up Checklist

AC Repair and AC Tune Ups

An air conditioner is such a part of life in the deep South that we take it for granted and know very little about this important building system. The system surrounds us and contributes to the background noise of life. Knowing a little about the heating, ventilation, and AC Repair can be very useful.

Three visible components deserve attention.

  • Various vents can be found in every room, transporting air from the spaces to the central cabinet and back again.
  • A central HVAC cabinet may be located in a closet, attic, garage, or basement.
  • The outdoor portion of the system is generally called the condenser unit, although it completes several functions.

Both the central cabinet and condenser can complete both heating and cooling functions.

AC Repair: Ductwork Details

Sheet metal or plastic ducts circulate pressurized air throughout the home. The ducts should be sealed and insulated for the best results.

  • The blower motor pushes air from the central cabinet to the various spaces of the home. This air may be heated, cooled, or just circulating; it should be both fresh and drier than outdoor summer air.
  • The same blower motor is drawing air from various portions of the home. This ensures that air is circulating, mixing warm and cool air. It also keeps the air pressure balanced.

AC Repair: The Central Cabinet

This structure is often a tall, square assembly, with various important modules.

  • The blower motor spins a fan, pushing air out and pulling air into the central chamber. This chamber is where the air is cooled or heated, depending on the season. During the cooling season, the air is also dehumidified in this same chamber.
  • The air filter cleans the air as it enters the cabinet. Be aware! Even simple filters are very efficient, so make sure to change the filter often—at least every three months.
  • The evaporator coil receives the refrigerant when the pressure is released, dropping the temperature to about 40 degrees. This cools the air and causes moisture to condense on the coil and drip away.
  • The heater is also housed in the central cabinet. The furnace may be natural gas or electric-powered. The blower motor is responsible for moving the warmed air throughout the home during the heating season.

AC Repair: Condenser Unit

This portion of the HVAC system is also complex and full of function.

  • The compressor motor pressurizes refrigerant gas to about 400 psi. This motor is the powerhouse of the whole system and must be maintained properly.
  • The expansion valve is also located here. It releases the gas upon demand. When a gas is pressurized and then suddenly released, the result is immediate cooling of the gas—the source of air conditioning. The evaporator coil is the recipient of the cooled refrigerant gas.
  • The condenser cabinet is a hollow network of tubes and fins designed to disperse heat. The cool refrigerant gas collects heat from indoors and brings it outdoors. This gas must be cooled before it reenters the compressor motor to avoid overheating it.
  • The condenser unit of heat pumps reverses this process and serves to heat the home during the winter. The refrigerant collects heat from the winter air and moves it inside.

AC Repair: The Control Mechanism

The ON/OFF switch is called the thermostat. It is mounted on an interior wall and measures the changes in temperature in the immediate vicinity. When the temperature lowers or rises past the setting, it calls for a heating or cooling cycle until the desired temperature is reached again.

AC Repair Experts are Just a Phone Call Away

Schedule your Katy AC Repair and AC Tune Ups consultation by calling All Cool AC & Heating at 281-238-9292 or contact us via email and let our NATE-certified Katy AC Installation technicians put their experience to work for you.

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7 Katy AC Installation Tips for Homeowners

7 Katy AC Installation Tips for Homeowners

Katy AC Installation Pointers for Homeowners

As summer draws to a close, it is a good time to assess the health of your residential air conditioner. This assessment can determine whether the system is functioning properly, needs repairs, or needs to be replaced. If repairs or a Katy AC Installation are needed, the break between cooling seasons will give adequate time to make the necessary changes.

What should determine whether an air conditioning system will be repaired or replaced? Here are seven indicators to help a homeowner make this decision.

The Age of the System

Mechanical building systems, unfortunately, have a limited useful life. The range for the average HVAC system is between 15 to 20 years; completing annual professional maintenance can add another 5 years to most systems. If several of the indicators on this list are coupled with an aging system, replacement should be a serious consideration.

R-22 Use

Air conditioner and heat pump systems use refrigerant gas of various chemical formulas. Certain formulas have been determined to be harmful to the ozone layer of the earth and have been prohibited from use. R-22 is one of those harmful formulas, and in 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency developed a plan to phase out R-22 use. R-22 is no longer being produced, so the available supply is dwindling. This is making R-22 prohibitively expensive to replace during repairs and recharging. Soon the supply will run out.

Frequent Repairs

An aging system can be expected to need occasional repairs, but when the frequency and expense of repairs increase rapidly, this is a good indication that Katy AC Installation is imminent. Remember to add the cost of repairs—they accumulate quickly.

Poor Efficiency

Each year, an HVAC can be expected to lose efficiency, but after several years, the loss of efficiency becomes noticeable on the utility bill. The improved technology of a new system can make a new HVAC system significantly more efficient—enough to notice on the utility bill.

Poor Performance

The HVAC system is designed to heat, cool, clean, and move the air effectively throughout the home. It also removes moisture from the air. These tasks are accomplished to make the home more comfortable, healthy, and safe. When the system cannot complete these functions to the satisfaction of the family, it is a good indicator that a replacement will need to be made soon.

Poor Air Quality

The air filter is the primary cleaning agent for indoor air, but removing humidity also prevents mold and mildew blooms. Poor performance, resulting in poor indoor air quality, may be indicated by noticeable increases in dust on surfaces or a sticky feel on skin and furniture surfaces. (These indicators can be hazardous to family health, so do not ignore them).

Unusual Smells and Sounds

Normally, the HVAC system anonymously runs in the background of the family schedule with few sensory markers beyond the breeze from supply vents. When the HVAC operation becomes noticeable, with unusual grinding, buzzing, or bumping noises, this is not good. When the air smells musty or has an odd odor, it indicates the system is not functioning properly.

Any one of these indicators is not sufficient information to make a clear determination concerning Katy AC Installation. However, a combination of these indicators and the number of indicators together should be sufficient information to help a homeowner decide.

Katy AC Installation Experts are Just a Phone Call Away

Schedule your Katy AC Installation consultation by calling All Cool AC & Heating at 281-238-9292 or contact us via email and let our NATE-certified Katy AC Installation technicians put their experience to work for you.