10 Things You Should Know About AC Repair | Air Conditioner in Plano, TX
Air conditioners are a type of heat exchanging device that transfer energy from one place to another, usually the interior of your home to the outside environment. This is a gargantuan task for a normal air conditioner because it is essentially working against the heat output of the entire outside world.
Before air conditioners were invented, people used to cool themselves with large chunks of ice. This rudimentary method of cooling seldom got the job done, and was obviously inconvenient because it not only required lots of space, the trade off for all the cooling was the condensed water.
Liquid water is also a feature of modern air conditioner’s, but its impact can be minimized by rerouting fluid flow to a convenient location using.
Below are 10 things you should know about your air conditioner.
Changing Air Filters
An air conditioner that is not cooling your room is the most inconvenient problem. A common solution is to change the filter and clean the condenser. If these two solutions do not rectify the problem, it is time to get air conditioner services in Plano, TX.
Air Filters Protect Evaporator Coils
Your air conditioner must always have a filter which is commonly located inside the unit. The filter is your air conditioner’s first line of defense and it goes without saying, that it is of utmost importance to clean it frequently. If you don’t clean the air filter properly, the dust particles eventually find their way to the evaporator coils.
Your Air Conditioner Plays a Role in Health
Many homeowners don’t know that their air conditioners have an impact on their health as well.
This is very true for air conditioners that are either outdated or haven’t undergone regular maintenance from professional air conditioning services in Plano, TX. The most common culprit is dirty air ducts that have visible mold growth and dust buildup.
The inside of your AC’s unit produces condensation, fostering the ideal conditions for mold to develop. If left to their own devices, this mold begins spreading to other areas of your house. A common sign that your house has become affected with mold is when you start picking up the scent of dirty sock odor in your rooms.
Leakage from Ducts
If your air conditioner isn’t performing as it should, your unit could be affected by duct leakage. This fairly common problem is underestimated, but doing so can often result in a 40% spike in your electricity bills. Normal cooling operations start costing a lot of money to you. A common solution is to make sure that outside ducts are well insulated. Most expert air conditioning services in Plano, TX agree that your air conditioner restores half of its cooling capacity if the leaks get taken care of.
Cleaning Coils
Coils are thin pieces of metals that most homeowners cannot clean. This is because they require knowledge and specific equipment to clean them. The coils play a pivotal role in cooling your room by helping with condensation for cooling. Their ability to cool gets affected by dust particles, so make sure you get regular maintenance by air conditioning services in Plano, TX.
Energy Efficiency Rating of your Unit
Modern air conditioners come with an energy efficiency rating (EER) to help users judge how the unit works in their specific conditions. If you live in drier climates, it is important to inspect the indoor evaporator coil, making sure it has higher airflow. If you live in humid climates, make sure your unit has lower airflow.
But take caution because if the air flow gets too low, it might end up freezing the evaporator coils, making performance worse than before and damaging the compressor. Experts air conditioning services in Plano, TX recommend that homeowners purchase equipment with a rating of 13 SEER.
Frost on Pipes
If you notice frost on outdoor and indoor pipes, it means that your AC unit has frozen. The buildup of ice will hurt its ability to cool properly. An easy fix is to turn off the air conditioner and allow the system to thaw. Depending on the amount of ice buildup, it can take several hours for the unit to thaw. Our experts recommend a downtime of at least 2 hours before the root problem gets resolved. If this doesn’t solve the problem, it’s time to call for professional air conditioning services in Plano, TX.
Make Use of Timers
Using timers is an efficient means of saving energy, making sure that your unit is not cooling an empty home. Most modern units already have a programmable thermostat built-in, which means they automatically adjust the temperatures of the unit when you’re gone. If you don’t have one, you can easily buy one for an inexpensive price.
Changing the Filters
The filter collects dust particles in your room to prevent them from getting inside the unit. As the filter starts collecting more dust particles, the unit finds it increasingly difficult to cool the room because of reduced air flow. Most homeowners try to circumvent the issue by removing their older air filters without replacing them. This is not safe for the evaporator coils because dust particles will get unrestricted access to them. It is a lot cheaper in the long run to swap out the old filter for a new one.
Checking for Nests on Outdoor Units
Animals and other pests find it convenient to make their nests on the inside surfaces of outdoor air conditioning units. It is obvious that there will come a time when these animals start compromising the cooling capacity of your AC unit. If you suspect that squirrels and birds have created nests inside your AC unit, look for signs of twigs and similar nesting material. Find them and carefully remove them.
At the end of the day, it is more efficient to have a professional air conditioning service in Plano, TX handle this for you. At One Hour Heating and Air, we have highly trained professionals who will ensure you get the best performance out of your air conditioner. Click here to learn more.