While your air conditioning system can make you feel like you live in an area with a colder climate, the system itself is never supposed to freeze. If you take a look at your air conditioner this summer only to find that the system is icing over, it’s definitely something to be concerned about. In this guide, we’ve detailed the reasons for this issue so that you can take preventive steps and seek the proper professional services for repair.
A/C Designs of St. Augustine, LLC Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning Repair’
Why Is My Air Conditioner Freezing?
Monday, June 29th, 2015Is Your Air Conditioner’s Compressor in Trouble?
Monday, June 1st, 2015When problems occur with your air conditioning system, you may begin to worry that the AC system itself needs replacement. And often, an AC needs replacement because the compressor has gone bad. The compressor is one of the most important—and costly—parts of your air conditioning system, so you want to protect it as much as possible to prevent an air conditioning replacement. In this guide, we’ve got some advice for you to prevent compressor damage, and how to tell if your compressor might be in trouble.
3 Common Air Conditioning Repairs and How to Prevent Them
Monday, May 18th, 2015Air conditioning systems should last for many years—over a decade in most cases—provided that they receive the right amount of attention. The only person you should trust to repair an air conditioner is a skilled professional, but there are some things you can do to prevent the most common AC issues. Take a look!
These Common Habits May Cause Trouble for Your AC
Monday, April 6th, 2015Most homeowners don’t put a lot of thought into the way an air conditioning system works. And why should they have to? You have access to complete home cooling at your fingertips; all you have to do is program the thermostat. But without a basic understanding of how an air conditioner runs, you may end up accidentally forming habits that contribute to the decline of your system over time. You can delay air conditioning repair and make your system run more efficiently for longer by avoiding these common mistakes and calling the experts at AC Designs Inc. as soon as you notice trouble with your unit.
- Setting the thermostat too low. It’s a common belief among homeowners: if you turn the thermostat all the way down to 68 or 70, it will cool the home faster. Unfortunately, this is a false assumption. The refrigeration cycle cannot remove heat from your home any faster. A lower temperature setting will only take longer to reach. And as you dip below an efficient setting, you spend more money and wear down your unit faster.
- Neglecting to change the filter. The air filter in your unit is not only there to improve the air quality. It also protects the AC system from damages. But if it becomes clogged, airflow is blocked over the coil, which could cause it to freeze and lead to additional mechanical problems.
- Running the AC throughout the day. If you run your air conditioning system all day, the parts become worn and are far more susceptible to damage. Take advantage of your programmable thermostat to adjust the settings throughout the day, raise the temperature at peak hours, and keep it off or at an efficient temperature while you’re away.
- Skipping an annual maintenance check. An annual maintenance check can keep your air conditioning system in good condition for the rest of the cooling season. A tune-up includes cleaning, adjusting, and inspecting all of the major components.
Give us a call and check with the friendly technicians at AC Designs Inc. if you have any further questions about operating your AC unit. Our experts are happy to answer your questions and provide air conditioning repair when you need it in the St. Augustine area.
Don’t Wait Too Long for Air Conditioning Repair
Wednesday, March 25th, 2015Spring is here, which means the weather is really heating up. When you have a broken down AC, you want it fixed fast, so many homeowners resort to calling on the help of friends or family members or attempting repairs by themselves. But so many technicians have seen the negative impact a botched repair can have. Often, a faulty air conditioning repair leads to even more repairs later on, as the amateur technician may not have gotten to the real root of the problem.
If you need air conditioning repair in Jacksonville, FL and the surrounding areas, don’t wait to call the highly experienced professionals at AC Designs Inc. We won’t stand for a temporary fix; we’ll make sure to find the source of the problem. But if you wait too long before calling, there may be some undesirable consequences.
If your air conditioner has not yet broken down, you may think it’s okay to wait a while longer before calling a professional. After all, the system may still function to some degree, and it doesn’t seem like so big of a deal if you call in a few weeks. But even in a short course of time, trouble with your air conditioning system can worsen until it is no longer able to run at all.
If this were to happen to you on a particularly hot day, the situation would be far less than ideal. What’s even worse is that this may be more costly than it would be to make the repair early on. As one part begins to encounter trouble, all of the other components work harder and run for longer to make up for the loss. Motors run over time as does the compressor, and this causes multiple parts to wear out, leading to more repairs than you would have needed before.
When you notice that your air conditioner is in trouble, it’s not worth it to wait. Call on the help of the friendly people at AC Designs Inc. for prompt air conditioning repair in Jacksonville, FL.
Electrical Problems and Air Conditioning Repair
Wednesday, March 4th, 2015Today’s air conditioners can run extremely efficiently if you purchase a model with a high efficiency rating and schedule regular maintenance with a technician. That said, air conditioners generally consume more energy than many of the other appliances and fixtures in your home. When an air conditioner is in need of repair, it’s often due to electrical problems.
There are many different components that run via electricity including the blower motor, thermostat and the compressor. Proper maintenance can help to keep electrical problems from occurring, but when a problem does arise, you’ll need the help of a professional technician. Contact the people at AC Designs Inc. for air conditioning repair in Jacksonville, FL.
Some Common Electrical Issues
Here are a few of the most common electrical problems that call for air conditioning repair.
- Improper Voltage – A certain amount of electricity is required in order to operate a large air conditioning system, and without enough power (or with too much) it will not function as it should. The unit may “hard start,” meaning it takes a long time to start up and struggles to provide AC. This may cause the fan to malfunction, which means you cannot get enough airflow over the coils, which may cause the pipes to freeze.
- Blown Capacitor – The capacitor is a small part that stores electricity in order to energize the fan and the compressor. Voltage issues could be the source of your blown capacitor, but it may also be due to a power surge or if the circuitry becomes overheated or worn too much. This is perhaps the most common air conditioning problem, and a technician will usually simply replace the part.
- Faulty Thermostat – Your thermostat wiring may also be at fault for your air conditioning troubles. If your thermostat wiring is in poor condition, you might notice your system short cycling, meaning it turns on, but shuts off before the cooling cycle is complete. Or, it may not turn on at all if the wiring is damaged, and sometimes the best step is to replace the thermostat.
Call AC Designs Inc. for air conditioning repair in Orange Park and Jacksonville FL. Our experts can determine the cause of your electrical trouble and find the proper method of repair.
Common Repairs for Ductless Air Conditioning
Wednesday, September 24th, 2014Ductless air conditioning is one of the best ways to cool a home without the use of ductwork. Some older homes or new room extensions do not have ductwork set up and it may be a hassle to install. Instead of trying to cool your home or room with fans or window air conditioners, you may choose a ductless mini split air conditioner to provide efficient, quiet cooling, and, in many cases, heating as well. But if you’re considering ductless installation, or if you already own one of these systems, you may be concerned about the potential need for air conditioning repair that may go along with it.
Ductless air conditioners work much like central air conditioners, except that air is distributed through individual air handlers in place of ducts. Like traditional AC, refrigerant cycles through an indoor and outdoor unit, undergoing a series of phase changes to remove heat from the air in your home. Because all of the major parts are in place, ductless AC may need the same types of repairs as traditional units. But some repairs may be more common with ductless units. Here are a few reasons you may eventually need to call for air conditioning repair if you own a ductless mini split system.
- Low Refrigerant: Refrigerant is an important component of your air conditioner, and without it you may not feel enough cool air or any at all from some air handlers. If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, it may be due to loose connections, corrosion, or a leak from the compressor, which could indicate major damage.
- Thermostat Trouble: Ductless units may be prone to thermostat trouble because of how the units are controlled. Each air handler is wired to its own thermostat for individual zone control in each area of the home. Usually, each of these also hooks up to a central master thermostat as well, which controls the entire system. If you’re experiencing problems starting one or more units, it may be due to problems with the thermostat wiring.
- Aesthetics: Finally, ductless owners may call for air conditioning repair for aesthetic purposes. Ductless blower units are mounted to the wall or suspended from the ceiling, but faulty installation may lead the units to peel away from the wall.
For air conditioning repair in St. Augustine, FL, call on the dependable experts at AC Designs Inc. today!
How Improper Voltage Leads to Air Conditioning Repair
Wednesday, August 27th, 2014Your air conditioner has so many components that all work together to cool your home, but no part of this system could continue to run without electricity. That’s why it shouldn’t be shocking that one of the most common reasons homeowners call for air conditioning repair is an electrical problem.
Your air conditioner requires a certain amount of voltage in order to trigger the start capacitor that operates the motors and the compressor in your air conditioner. If your system receives too much or too little voltage, however, these components may not work properly. As these motors are responsible for powering the fans that distribute air to your home and help with the conversion of refrigerant from a liquid to a gas and vice versa, improper voltage can cause serious problems for your AC. And a damaged compressor that results from improper voltage may be a costly repair. Here are some of the ways improper voltage may lead to the need for air conditioning repair.
- Hard Starting: One major problem that may be due to improper voltage is “hard starting.” Hard starting can seriously damage your AC’s compressor, the part responsible for increasing the pressure of refrigerant so it can move through the rest of the system.
- No Cooling: If you don’t feel any cool air from the vents in your home whatsoever, it may mean that a capacitor has become worn out due to voltage that is too high, so that your system cannot release heat outdoors or absorb heat from the air in your home.
- Frozen Coil: Furthermore, if improper voltage causes the indoor or outdoor fan motors to malfunction, the indoor coil may freeze as there is not enough warm air blowing over the evaporator.
Electrical problems may be dangerous, and only a certified technician should attempt to handle any electrical component. When you call the technicians at AC Designs Inc. for air conditioning repair in Jacksonville, we’ll check to see whether your AC problems are caused by improper voltage and make any necessary repairs. If you notice any problems with your air conditioner, give us a call today!
Repair or Replace? The Best Option for My Air Conditioner
Tuesday, July 15th, 2014When you’ve had the same air conditioner working to cool down your home for many years, you will eventually reach a decision point regarding it: should you continue to the system it when it malfunctions, or has the time arrive when you should install a new AC?
This is a large decision, but it isn’t one that you need to make on your own. Since you will need a professional eventually—either for the repairs or the replacement—call the experts to help you choose between your options. When you have a technician trained in air conditioning repair in St. Augustine, FL assisting you, you will have a much better chance of making the wisest decision for your long-term comfort and budget plans.
AC Designs Inc. has some advice on how to narrow down the two choices. Here are a few things to consider regarding your aging air conditioning system:
Just How Old is the Air Conditioner?
Make sure you know both the age of your cooling system and the manufacturer’s estimate lifespan for it. If your air conditioner is still a few years under that estimate, then you should probably put repair work as first priority. However, if the AC is already at or above the estimate, then you should consider replacement as the best option—even if the air conditioner is not currently showing signs of a malfunction.
What Are Recent Utility Bills Like?
As an air conditioner ages, it will begin to lose energy efficiency and cost more to run. With proper annual maintenance, this decay will be slow, but it will eventually happen. Look over recent electrical bills and compare them to those from a few years ago. If you notice an increase around 20%, even with regular maintenance, then you should replace the system before it wastes more money.
How Much Repair Work Has the AC Needed Recently?
If the “repair or replace?” question has come up, it’s likely that you have needed to schedule repairs in the recent past. Look over the bills for the last few years for repair work to see how much you have needed to keep the system operating. If the costs exceed $500 per year, then it is not worth continuing to repair the system and you should have a new AC installed.
Even if you already have a good idea what route you wish to take, you need to call in a specialist. Sometimes a technician can find a repair that will restore your AC for another few years; other times, he or she may determine that a system that seems to be working fine outwardly is actually creating a serious energy drain that no amount of repairs can reverse.
AC Designs Inc. will offer you honest opinions about your current central air conditioner. Out NATE-certified technicians will know whether you need a replacement or if air conditioning repair in St. Augustine, FL will keep you cool for a few more years. You can trust to our training and professionalism for all your home comfort needs.