The Importance of Air Conditioning Service | Fort Worth, TX
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Air Conditioning and Your Home
No matter how hot the summers are in Fort Worth, TX, your air conditioner keeps your home cool and your family comfortable. If your unit is not working correctly, you need to call a professional air conditioning service. If your unit is older or not efficient, there are energy-saving models available. Professional air conditioning service technicians will make certain your home remains comfortable despite the outside temperature.
Air Conditioning Service and Repair
When your air conditioner is not working, your home can feel like a desert. You can either call for an air conditioning service or make an investment in a new model. A professional technician will take the time to explain your options and make recommendations. If the repair cost is more than 50 percent of the value of your unit or your unit is over 10 years old, the recommendation is replacing your unit.
Common Reasons for Air Conditioning Service
When you turn on your air conditioner and nothing happens, it is incredibly frustrating. You should call for a professional air conditioning service if you are experiencing any of the following issues.
- Your air conditioner is making strange sounds
- Your air conditioner turns on, but there is no cold air
- Your unit only runs for a few minutes before shutting off
- You notice a smoky odor when you turn on your unit
- Your air conditioner will not turn on
If you are experiencing a lot of issues with your unit or your air conditioner is over 10 years old, you may need a replacement installed. There is a wide selection of efficient models available to cool your home, decrease your utility bills and save energy. Once the air conditioning service professional establishes you need a new unit, they will make certain the correct size is installed. This will keep your home comfortable while controlling your energy usage.
Most Common Causes of Air Conditioner Malfunctions
The best way to keep your air conditioner running is by making certain your filter is clean. Once your unit has cooled the air, it goes through your filter prior to entering your home. The filter prevents contaminants such as bacteria and dirt from entering your home. As time passes, your filter will become dirty and clogged due to the contaminants. This results in compromised air quality and may damage your unit. The cold air remains inside of your air conditioner longer and decreases your unit’s internal temperature. This may lead to ice building up on the coils. Your unit will wear out faster because it is working harder. You should change your filter once per month.
Your air conditioner measures air temperature through a thermostat sensor. As your unit pulls in air, it passes the sensor. The temperature is read by your sensor then compared to the temperature on your thermostat. If the temperature does not match, the sensor tells your air conditioner to cool the air. If your sensor is malfunctioning, your unit will not function correctly. Your unit may stop running or the desired temperature may be misinterpreted resulting in your unit running more or less than it should. A sensor malfunction places additional stress on your unit. This may cause a breakdown or shorten the life of your air conditioner.
Your air conditioner cools your home by cycling refrigerant. When your unit turns on, hot air is pulled inside of your air conditioner. As the refrigerant passes your unit’s evaporator coils, it is converted into gas. This enables the heat in your air to be absorbed by the refrigerant. This cools the air prior to being sent back into your home. Your unit is unable to operate properly without refrigerant. It is not normal for your air conditioner to lose refrigerant. If your unit is low on refrigerant, there is most likely a leak in your unit. This can lead to serious issues including breaking or damaging your entire system.
As your unit cools the air, moisture forms due to the condensation of water molecules in the air. The condensation builds up on your unit’s evaporator coils. There is a tray under your cols to catch the moisture. The condensation is then sent to a drain line for transfer to your home’s sewer line. If anything goes wrong with this process, the result is a drainage problem. If your tray moves or becomes cracked, the condensation will not be sent where it should. If your drain line becomes blocked, the condensation can overflow into your air conditioning system. This can lead to the development of algae or mold in your unit. Moisture can enter your home resulting in humidity.
An air conditioning service professional has been trained to look for and repair all of these issues. This will keep your home cool and help increase the life of your air conditioner.
Working with an Air Conditioning Service Professional
Whether you need a new unit or are having your air conditioner repaired, it is important to work with a Fort Worth, TX professional. This will ensure you receive the best possible service. Attempting to repair the unit yourself can result in expensive mistakes or render your air condition inoperable. There are a variety of air conditioning services available including maintenance, repair, and replacement.
The Average Life of an Air Conditioning System
The average unit will last between 10 and 12 years. If you take proper care of your unit, your air conditioner may last longer. Due to the weather in Fort Worth TX, you unit has to work harder to keep your home cool. The higher fuel costs and outdated energy efficiency cause many homeowners to have their unit replaced after 10 years or when the air conditioner has frequent breakdowns. If you are cooling your home using window units, an HVAC system offers additional energy efficiency in addition to an evener temperature throughout your home.
The installation of a new unit includes the evaporative blower and compressor mechanical components, grilles and ductwork. An air conditioning service professional will explain the best options for your home. Having your system repaired or replaced is easy and affordable. You will be provided with all of the most recent information regarding programs to save you money on your energy costs for cooling your home.
The Benefits of Air Conditioning Service Maintenance
Air conditioning service maintenance in Fort Worth, TX will help your unit perform more efficiently. Routine maintenance can help your air conditioner maintain as much as 95 percent of the initial performance and operating efficiency. This will provide you with numerous benefits including:
Improved Energy Efficiency: Regular air conditioning service maintenance helps your unit run more efficiently. Your system will work harder and less efficiently due to issues including dirty condenser coils or a clogged air filter. Not only will this result in a more expensive electric bill, but your unit will be leaving a bigger carbon footprint on the environment. Routine maintenance will save you money on your energy bill every month.
Lower Costs for Overall Repair: The majority of people in Fort Worth, TX have experienced an air conditioner that seems to be working great, only to stop working at the worst possible time with absolutely no notice. Unfortunately, the result is often an expensive emergency repair due to an issue that could have been prevented. Air conditioning service maintenance can manage or sometimes eliminate the need for a repair.
Extending the Life of Your Air Conditioner: Regular maintenance service can extend the life of your unit. There is no such thing as an air conditioner that will last forever, but when you have your unit properly cared for by a professional, you can make certain your system will last for as long as possible. All that is necessary to cause undesirable stress on your unit is one malfunctioning or faulty part. The sooner you have the issue repaired, the more efficient your unit will become.
Improved Air Quality: If you are not sure if your air conditioner is keeping your air clean, take a good look at your filter. Unless you have been replacing your filter every month, you will most likely see a lot of dust and dirt on your filter. When an excess of dust has accumulated, your air conditioner will be unable to purify and clean the air in your home properly. This will damage your air quality.
A professional air conditioning service technician will check your unit for worn down or damaged parts requiring replacement. The life of the parts of your air conditioner will be extended so you will not need to have them replaced as often. The professional will make certain your filter is working correctly. This decreases internal issues due to a build-up of debris and dust and ensures everyone in your home is breathing much cleaner air. How often you need air conditioning service is dependent on how often you use your air conditioning, the age, and the model. For optimal performance, you should have your unit serviced twice each year.
The Steps for an Air Conditioning Tune-Up
When you have a professional technician inspect your air conditioning system, specific steps such as cleaning will be performed. This includes:
Thermostat: Your thermostat will be calibrated to ensure it is working correctly and properly installed. Your thermostat should not be near any heat sources including heat-producing appliances and light bulbs.
Lubricating Moving Parts: The moving parts will be lubricated to make certain friction is not causing any of the parts to become damaged. If your unit does not have enough lubrication, the parts will break down sooner. This means your unit will need to be repaired more often.
Electrical Connections are Checked and Tightened: The electrical connections are checked to ensure they are performing safely. When your electrical connections are checked and tightened, potential electrical hazards can be eliminated. This will help increase the lifespan of your unit.
Checking the Condensate Drain Line: The condensate line needs to be checked and cleared to ensure liquid condensate is being drained properly. If there is a clog in your line, the result can be an issue with wetness and moisture or water leaks. The cleaning will also remove any bacteria or mold around the unit’s drain line. Your condensate drain pan is checked for cracks. Any leaking drain lines will be replaced or repaired.
Cleaning or Changing Your Air Filter: This will make certain your air filter is clean and working correctly. If there is a better filter for your unit, the technician will provide the details. As already stated previously, you should be changing your filter every month.
Checking Your System Controls: This makes certain your air conditioner is operating safely and cycling correctly. The technician will make certain your unit is starting, shutting off and operating correctly.
The Safety and Tune-Up Inspection
A safety and tune-up inspection are important for the proper functioning of your air conditioning unit. This includes all of the following:
Blower Motor: The voltage and amperage are measured for correct operation
Bearing: Bearings are inspected for lubricate and wear
Refrigerant: Operating pressure is monitored
Thermostat: The thermostat is leveled, calibrated and tested
Fan Blade: Inspected
Indoor Coil: Inspected
Contactors: Tested and inspected for pitted or burned contacts
Air Filter: Cleaned or replaced
Condensate Drain: Treated with anti-algae and flushed
Condenser Coil: Inspected
Ductwork: Inspected for energy loss
Safety Devices: Inspected for correct operation
Capacitors: Inspected and tested
Service Valves: Inspected for correct operation
Electrical Disconnect Box: Inspected for safe installation and proper rating
Condenser Coil: Cleaned and debris removed
Electrical Wiring: Connections are inspected and tightened
Electrical: Checked for exposed wiring
Temperature Differential: Measured for the temperature of supply-return
Compressor: Monitored and measured for wiring connections, volt draw, and amperage
If you are experiencing any issues with your air conditioning unit or require maintenance, do not wait until the problem worsens. Contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth as soon as possible.