Top 8 Questions To Ask Your AC Repair Company | Fort Worth, TX
Many of our customers around Fort Worth, TX, don’t worry much about their air conditioning systems; in fact, most people don’t give them a second thought unless something goes on. After all, what do we expect? We turn them on, they function as they’re supposed to, and we enjoy our cool indoor climate. Even so, over the years, the technicians of One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth have fielded a lot of questions about air conditioning systems and their maintenance and repair needs. As a leading AC repair company for the region, we thought we’d share these questions and their answers as you might need to know at some point in order to ensure the efficient operation of your air conditioning system.
Do I Really Need an AC Unit Tune-Up Every Year?
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth features a myriad of customers in and near Fort Worth, TX, who are meticulous about scheduling their annual AC unit tune-up and inspection. In fact, we have many customers who schedule this annual maintenance the same week each year! We also have customers who are less meticulous about scheduling maintenance and may even skip it for a year or two? Guess which customers need to contact our AC repair company for repairs more often?
It’s really true that routine maintenance that includes a tune-up can save you money in the long run by reducing the necessity for repairs and enhancing the longevity of your AC system. When the technicians from our AC repair company visit your home, we’ll carefully inspect each part of your system to make sure there are no problems, problems that can lead to a breakdown and damage to your system. It’s much cheaper to replace a worn part before it fails than to repair the damage a failed part causes to your system.
So, while you might opt to skip a tune-up some years (though don’t skip the filter changes), it’s really not in your best interest to do so. Talk to our AC repair company, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth about our maintenance services. It doesn’t take long and our rates are affordable. The best time to have your scheduled tune-up is sometime before the summer.
What DIY Maintenance Tips Should I Follow?
As a property owner, you can help maintain your unit with just a few simple but periodic tasks. First, check your outdoor unit from time to time to clear off any debris that may have fallen on it. In fact, you should always give it a look after a storm blows through. Before the summer season begins, you may want to trim any shrubs or tall grass growing near the unit so nothing is blocking its airflow.
Next, check the fins of the unit. After months of inactivity, some of the fins may have become bent. Small twigs or leaves may be caught in the fins. Carefully, straighten out any bent fins and remove all debris. Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to clean the fins and the top of your AC unit.
Another maintenance tip from our AC repair company that many homeowners prefer to tackle is air filter changes. In a dusty region like our area of Fort Worth, TX, filters can get dirty pretty quickly. Although One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth can perform filter changes for you and will always inspect your filter during our maintenance calls, you may opt to perform this task yourself. The filter should be changed a few times a year to ensure that your unit is running as efficiently as possible.
When Should I Replace My Air Conditioning System?
This is one of the most common questions our AC repair company hears from our Fort Worth, TX, customers. First, it’s important to note that our technicians will always provide you with accurate information and an honest assessment of your particular unit. We have no desire to upsell services. As a leading AC repair company, we specialize in both services–AC repairs and AC installations/replacements.
In each instance, our goal is to answer this question in the context of your AC unit. The answer will necessarily vary from customer to customer. For instance, a customer whose unit was improperly installed may be looking at a situation where the unit is constantly breaking down even though it hasn’t reached its suggested lifespan. In those cases, we might recommend replacing the unit.
On the other hand, if an old unit is still functioning very well and has only required minor repairs and has received expert maintenance throughout its lifetime, we might suggest holding off on a replacement. Our AC repair company technicians will provide you with a comprehensive report of your unit’s condition in order to help you make the decision to replace or repair your current AC system.
Should I Buy a Smart Thermostat?
Many people in Fort Worth are installing smart thermostats. Is this simply a new product trend or a trend with staying power? Our AC repair company does recommend installing smart thermostats because of the benefits they offer. A smart thermostat will help you reduce your energy bills without sacrificing your climate control and comfort. You’ll find that you use less energy but your home stays comfortably cool. How so?
Smart thermostats work by getting to know your cooling preferences. Of course, they are also programmable so you can manually make adjustments too. However, the intuitive nature of these smart gadgets makes them standouts among smart devices. After you install your new smart thermostat, it will begin its process of learning your preferences. For instance, if you arrive home at 5 PM each evening and turn down the air so your home is cooler the way you like it, it will make the adjustment before you arrive so that the house is already cooled for you.
When you leave your home in the morning to go to work, the thermostat will turn the temperature up, conserving energy and preventing the unit from having to maintain that lower temperature when you’re not even there to enjoy it. In terms of energy efficiency, a smart thermostat is one of the smartest choices you can make when it comes to energy-efficient home solutions. Our AC repair company definitely recommends them, especially if your current thermostat is malfunctioning and needs replacing.
Why Does My Air Conditioning System Cool Unevenly?
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth experiences many common repair problems when visiting our Fort Worth, TX, customers’ homes. A frequent problem our AC repair company finds is uneven cooling. Why does this happen, especially when each room appears to have vents? Generally, the most common cause of this problem is a leak in your home’s ductwork or insulation. The cool air is escaping before it can reach the duct and cool the room. Our technicians will usually suspect this issue, but that may not be the reason.
Your home may have old windows or cracks around the windows that’s allowing for heat to enter the room and for cool air to quickly dissipate. That can affect one room’s temperature. Our AC repair company always recommends sealing any leaks to prevent this energy transfer that can affect the interior temperature. You should also consider keeping the blinds or shades closed when the sun is at its height. Solar energy can heat up the room quickly.
Also, keep in mind the basic properties of hot and cold air. Heat rises. Cold air sinks. Consequently, it’s not uncommon for our AC company to hear complaints about upper levels feeling hotter than ground floor rooms. Although you can decrease your AC temperature, you might first want to install ceiling fans upstairs; make sure that they are blowing air upwards, pulling that cool air up. During the winter, you’ll reverse the fans so that they blow warm air downward.
Additionally, keep your upper story windows covered. Consider installing solar film to blow UV rays from heating up the rooms. Black-out draperies may also help you keep out the heat. If the problem persists, you should contact our AC repair company to inspect your ducts and make sure there are no blockages or leaks. We’ll get to the cause of the problem and recommend the ideal fix.
Why Are My AC Unit’s Coils Frozen?
Another common repair is when AC coils freeze up. Our AC repair company tackles this problem frequently. Frozen coils are caused by either restricted airflow or because the unit is low on refrigerant. When our technicians visit, we’ll be able to quickly determine what’s causing the coils to freeze up and then provide the needed repair. Sometimes a dirty air filter is the cause of the issue, which is an easy fix. On the other hand, your unit may have developed a refrigerant leak. Let our AC repair company inspect your AC system if this problem occurs. A sign of frozen coils is that your AC system runs but isn’t cooling your house.
What Size Air Conditioner Should I Buy?
This is an important question because only the right-sized unit will do. It’s never advisable to purchase an AC unit that’s too big or too small for your Fort Worth, TX, home or business. Naturally, our AC repair company technicians are happy to recommend the ideal size for your setting. The reason why you want to avoid installing an AC unit that’s too big is that a bigger unit demands more energy, which will increase your energy bills. The right size unit doesn’t require that needless energy expenditure. So, you won’t have to pay inflated energy costs for no reason.
Worse than a unit that’s too big for your house is a unit that’s too small. If you install an air conditioning system that’s too small for the scale of your house, it will have to work much too hard to maintain a cool temperature. It will always be running and that can lead to overheating and costly breakdowns. When your unit breaks down, it can lead to system damage and reduced longevity of the unit. Definitely consult with our AC repair company technicians to get help choosing the right size AC system.
Just for some added information, consider that a ton of air can cool about 400 square feet of your home. If you have a home that is 2,000 square feet, you’d need a system designed to cool 10 tons of air. Never try to reduce your costs on a new system by choosing a smaller unit. It’s crucial to install a unit that’s the right size in order to safely and efficiently cool your home. Having repaired AC units that are too small for the job they’re tasked to do, we can say that the units and the expenses are never pretty.
What Causes an AC Breakdown?
Many things can cause your AC unit to break down. Remember, this is a mechanical and electrical system. If you have a smart thermostat, it’s a digital system too. A broken fan, a refrigerant leak, overheating–these are just a few reasons why you might need to contact our AC repair company to schedule a service call. Rather than trying to troubleshoot or guess what’s wrong with your unit when it won’t turn on or doesn’t adequately cool your home, it is best to contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. Our technicians will quickly troubleshoot the problem and recommend the right solution. If you notice strange sounds or smells or anything else that’s unusual, be sure to contact us right away.
Call our AC repair company, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth, for all of your HVAC needs in Fort Worth, TX. We have a reputation for our fair rates and expert service.