Everything You Need to Know About Your Air Conditioning Service | Fort Worth, TX
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Air conditioners can provide our homes with cooled air during hot summer months. They keep us comfortable and make our homes even more convenient. How do air conditioners work? What do you need to do to keep your appliance in top shape? This article discusses everything about your AC — how they work, its different components, why you need to maintain them, common AC problems, and how to affordably cool your home during the summer.
Speak with an air conditioning service technician in Fort Worth, TX if you have questions or issues about your air conditioning systems.
How the Air Conditioner Works
There are different types of air conditioners: Central AC systems, portable air conditioners, ductless units, window air conditioners, and heat pumps.
Speak with an air conditioning service technician in Forth, TX if you want to know which air conditioner you should get for your home. We will talk about Central Air Conditioning as this is the most common way to cool a home.
The Central Air Conditioning is integrated with your furnace’s system. It is equipped with an external condenser which expels heat and usually is outside your home; an evaporator coil located above your furnace and responsible for cooling indoor air and finally the air handler that helps in blowing chilled air in your home.
It works by using the fan to draw warm air in through the ductwork. When it reaches the evaporator coil, the heat from the air is removed and cooled down. This heated air is absorbed into the refrigerant and then pumped into the condenser. The latter expels the heated air outside, cooling the refrigerant at the same time, and sends the cooled air into your home.
Advantages of Central Air Conditioning Systems
Room air conditioners or portable air conditioners may keep you cool but they do not circulate in your homes via the air ducts. Central air conditioning systems are the most effective way to circulate cooled air into the different areas of your home. It’s also less noisy compared to window-type ACs that are noisier. If you prefer a quiet home, central air conditioning systems will be beneficial for you. Do make sure that you work only with licensed air conditioning service technicians in Fort Worth, TX in the installation of your central air conditioning to ensure that it works efficiently and to avoid problems down the road.
With centralized air, you get consistent temperatures. A window unit can only cool certain areas of your home, not your entire home. You will need to purchase different air conditioners if you plan to cool all rooms in your home. You won’t have to do this with a centralized system.
Centralized systems are also easier to use compared to regular ACs. You can just use a thermostat that you can access even while away from home. You can control both the heating and cooling of your home with the thermostat.
Speak with an air conditioning service technician if you are planning to install a centralized system for your home.
Common Air Conditioning Problems
You will likely encounter problems with your AC if you fail to do regular maintenance. Some common problems include:
AC is blowing warm air. When this happens, check your thermostat. Someone might have adjusted it. Just make sure it’s still your preferred temperature. You can also check the filters as they might be dirty. It’s recommended that you change them every 2 to 3 months, to ensure they are clean and your system won’t have to work harder. Call an air conditioning service technician in Fort Worth, TX if you are still having problems. There might be a leak in the refrigerant. An AC service technician would know what to do.
AC isn’t evenly cooling all areas of your home. Check the vents whether they are blocked or if they have leaks. This often happens when you do not work with licensed air conditioning service technicians in Fort Worth, TX during installation.
Maintaining Your Air Conditioner
The first thing you need to do is understand how the air conditioner works and what its components are. If possible, speak with an air conditioning service technician so he can better explain to you how everything works. Try to also read the manual to familiarize yourself with the different components of your AC.
It’s best if you know how to properly clean the indoor or the outdoor unit, and the different components of your AC, as well as the filters that you are using. Keep in mind that there are different air filters available for your system and they vary. Some of them need to be replaced while the others just need to be properly cleaned. Get a professional installer for your air conditioning service in Fort Worth so a technician can teach you how to take care of your AC.
Below are some maintenance tips that you can do for your AC. Following these tips ensure that your AC works efficiently and will last longer.
Clean/Replace Air Filters
Some filters can be reused while others need to be replaced. Contact an air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX to know how often you need to replace your filters. It’s recommended that you change or replace it every 2 to 3 months.
Changing the filters ensure that clean air is circulated throughout your home. If you fail to clean or replace your air conditioner filter, your air conditioner will work harder and that will only strain the system. When you fail to clean your filters for the longest time, your home will be filled with dirty air and that is not good for your family especially if there are members who have allergies or other respiratory issues. Regularly replace your filters to avoid problems such as costly air conditioning service repairs and even more costly replacements.
Always Keep it Clean
Like the rest of your appliances, you need to also keep your air conditioners clean. Consider vacuuming the fins of your AC but be careful as they are quite fragile. If you do not know how to properly clean your system, refer to the manufacturer manual or contact an air conditioning service technician in Fort Worth, TX for assistance. Cleaning the AC ensures maximum efficiency and helps extend its lifespan.
Work with Licensed Technician Only
If you are having problems with your air conditioner, do not just call anyone to help you repair it. Always call a licensed air conditioning service technician in Fort Worth, TX to ensure that your system is properly repaired. Also, do not attempt a DIY repair on your AC and relying only on videos or articles. You may encounter a problem while fixing it and you won’t know how to resolve it. The most effective thing you can do is to call an air conditioning service technician in your area.
Keep the Coils Clean
Your AC coils are important as they help the refrigerant to absorb the heat and cool your home. When they are dirty, the amount of heat absorbed is also reduced. Your air conditioning system will then work hard to cool your home. Eventually, it will strain the system and could result in costly air conditioning service repairs in Fort Worth, TX. You can avoid this by regularly cleaning your air conditioning coils along with the other components of your AC. If you do not know how to clean them, always ask for help from an air conditioning service technician in your area.
Check the Condensate Drain
Apart from cleaning the air conditioning coils, you need to also inspect the condenser drains as they can become clogged over time and could affect drainage.
To ensure that your AC works efficiently and to avoid costly air conditioning repairs, make sure that your condensate drain is properly draining the water. Otherwise, call an air conditioning service technician right away so they can thoroughly inspect that.
Schedule Regular Maintenance with a Licensed Technician
As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to take care of all the appliances in your home. While you need to do your part by periodically checking them for any damages, it’s also always best when you have a licensed technician who checks the system. A licensed air conditioning service technician will properly inspect the different components of your AC and whether they are in good working order. If not, the technician will do repairs and may advise you to get replacements.
Regular maintenance is essential so potential problems are resolved ahead of time. Remember that minor problems can turn into costly issues when not addressed right away. You will have peace of mind when you have a licensed technician helping you maintain your air conditioning system.
How to Affordably Cool Your Home in the Summer
As much as possible, you’d want to save on energy cooling costs in the summer. Thankfully, it’s not difficult to keep yourself a little cooler without having to keep lowering the temperature of your AC.
Close the Blinds
Do you know that about 30% of unwanted heat comes from your windows? Windows with open blinds or curtains during extremely hot summers will make your air conditioner work even harder. As a result, it could either lead to costly air conditioning service repairs or it will reduce the lifespan of your system.
You can save about 7% of your energy bills by utilizing shades. As much as possible, use the blinds or the curtains to keep yourself a little cooler. Try to also get yourself some blackout curtains to block sunlight.
Dress for the Summer
When it’s summer, try to also dress for it. Take off that wooly jacket and opt for pastel-colored clothes instead. Also, try to avoid fleece blankets in your bedroom. Instead, use cotton as they are a little cooler. You can even put your blanket in a freezer before using it so it’s a little cooler. This may be a little too much but you can do this if you really want to save energy cost during the summer.
Stay on the First Floor of your Home
Do you know that heat goes up? During the day, avoid staying on the second floor of your home if you want to avoid the heat. Simply staying on the ground floor can somehow help a little. Also, try to focus on your body temperature, not your home. This means that you need to do things that will keep yourself cooler like sipping cold drinks or apply a cold cloth to your wrists or neck. And always be smart about your clothing. Avoid sweaters like the plague during the summer as they will never help at all. You’ll just end up using your AC even more.
If you have questions about how else to save energy cooling costs during the summer, consider speaking with a technician. These professionals know how the air conditioner works and they have effective tips on how to help you save energy.
Open Your Windows at Night
During summer, temperatures usually drop at night. Why not open all your windows so you won’t have to turn on the air conditioner. Doing this can let you save energy every month. Close the blinds during the day and make sure you open them in the evening so the cool night air can fill your home.
Contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth
Do you need an air conditioning service technician in Fort Worth, TX to help you with either AC repair or installation? Do not hesitate to call us — all our technicians are experienced and can get the job done efficiently. Get in touch with us today for an appointment.