Summer 2013

Most common AC repairs in the summer

The summer is a great time to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. However, we all like to come inside and enjoy the cool air from our AC. All the use your air conditioning system gets during the summer can cause it to break down. There are a few common repairs that tend to happen with AC systems. Check out this quick list of a few of them.  If you’re having any problems with your air conditioning system make sure you call your local air conditioning repair contractor immediately.

Air Conditioning Blowing Warm Air

Does your air conditioning system just blow hot air into your home? This problem is, unfortunately, very common. It can sometimes be caused by a bad thermostat in your home that is telling your AC that you don’t need any more cooling. However, the problem can sometimes be much worse. It could be that your AC’s compressor isn’t working well or that the fan motor is broken. All of these issues require the services of a professional air conditioning technician.

Not Enough Cooling

This is another common problem with air conditioning systems: your AC is blowing cool air but not enough of it. This can be frustrating because only certain portions of your home might be getting cool but not the rest. Broken thermostats could be the cause of this issue as well. But in many cases this issue is caused by a clogged air filter or a bad fan motor. If the fan motor is the problem it means that the fan isn’t turning fast enough to push the air through your home. A clogged air filter would be restricting the flow of air into your home.

Unusual Noises

Strange air conditioning noises is a very common issue that homeowners have. When your air conditioning system starts to break down it can sometimes make a new noise. Squealing, gurgling and hissing are all very common noises that homeowners should listen for. Squealing is usually a sign that your fan’s belt is old and needs to be replaced. Hissing indicates a refrigerant leak and gurgling can sometimes indicate that you have low refrigerant in your system.

Clogged Air Filter

Probably the most common cause or air conditioning issues is a clogged air filter. Your air conditioning system likely has an air filter located somewhere near the return air vent. This air filter is there to keep dirt, dust and debris from damaging the moving parts of your AC. If the filter isn’t changed regularly it can get clogged and restrict the flow of air through your air conditioning system. This will lead to a number of different problems including not enough cooling, inefficient operation, increased wear and tear and many other problems.

When you need air conditioning repairs make sure that you call your local contractor. Your air conditioning system is a critical part of your home’s comfort and any services that you need should be handled by a pro.

Cut Your Energy Costs

Modern technology provides many comforts, such as keeping our homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Of course these comforts also come with a price, but there are always ways to conserve energy and lower your utility bills.

If you’re interested in reducing your energy costs, we have some quick tips to help you in the process:

1. Seal Up Your Home

If you have installed a new HVAC system but aren’t feeling the effects, check your door and window frames. Poor insulation is a serious efficiency problem, but it can be improved easily. You can easily seal cracks with some caulk and weather–stripping, or you can upgrade your doors and windows to help reduce air loss.

2. Unplug Your Appliances

This is a common and effective tip that people still tend to ignore. Some electrical appliances are still using energy even when they are turned off. Power strips that cut off the flow of electricity to devices not in use are great, but unless you have a power strip in every outlet you should be unplugging some devices. The time spent doing so is worth the potential savings.

3. Upgrade Your Light Bulbs

The next time you replace a bulb, go for the energy efficient ones. While they may cost more out of pocket, the savings they provide over time will make switching out your bulbs one of the easiest, most effective ways to cut energy costs.

4. Maintain Your Cooling System

Even energy efficient air conditioning systems can lose efficiency if not well–maintained. It’s up to you to make sure that they are running at maximum efficiency. Take advantage of regular maintenance, and don’t let your system work harder than it should. Simply changing your system’s air filters each month will make a difference in maintaining efficiency.

5. Get to Know Your Thermostat

You can turn your heating and cooling system down when there is nobody home, and installing a programmable thermostat will make it easy to set more consistent temperatures at varying times throughout the day.

6. Cut Back on Appliance Use

Cooking dinner or drying your clothes may not use a lot of energy but it does heat up your home. When it’s warm, hang your laundry to dry. Prepare cold salads for dinner. If you really want a hot meal, try a crock pot. The less heat you’re creating, the cooler your home will be, which means less work for your AC system.

When summer comes around, you want to be able to enjoy yourself instead of worrying about energy costs. Use these tips and start saving now.