Professional Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning Repair’

Why Your Air Conditioning Systems Has Ice on It

Friday, April 3rd, 2015

Air conditioners are a type of refrigeration system: using the action of a compressor to circulate refrigerant, they remove heat from one location to lower the temperature, and then exhaust the heat elsewhere. You may, at some point, notice ice developing along the inside of your air conditioner. Considering the chilled air coming from the system, this might seem like a normal side-effect of how an AC operates.

However, as we’ll explain below, the development of ice on an air conditioner isn’t something you want to happen. But please don’t try to solve the problem by scraping the ice off. This won’t work! Instead, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning and we’ll help you with the necessary air conditioning repair in Hammond, LA that will restore your system. We are on call 24 hours a day for your convenience.

The Reasons Ice May Develop on Your Air Conditioner

  • Low refrigerant: If the refrigerant lines in your air conditioner develop a leak and permit refrigerant to escape, it will often cause the evaporator coils to ice up. The reason this occurs is that the lower amount of refrigerant in the coils can no longer absorb enough heat to warm itself above freezing. The coils will remain cold and cause water moisture along them to turn to ice. This will further slow heat absorption, causing more ice to grow… and eventually you’ll have a solid block of ice over the AC coils and a system that won’t work at all. Repair technicians will need to seal the refrigerant leaks and restore the proper refrigerant charge for the air conditioner to work again.
  • Dirt and grime along the coils: If contamination has entered the air conditioner’s indoor cabinet, it can cause the coils to become dirty. This will limit their ability to absorb heat through evaporation, and the coils will start to freeze water vapor along their length. You must have professionals detach the coils, defrost them, then clean them.
  • Clogged air filter: An air filter that is too congested with dust and debris to allow sufficient warm air to enter the AC cabinet will cause the evaporator coils to stay too cold. Make sure that you change the filter once a month during the summer season when the air conditioner runs to avoid this problem.

At the first sign of ice on your AC, call for repairs. Our technicians at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning are ready around the clock to provide you with the professional air conditioning repair service in Hammond, LA that will find why the ice is appearing and fix it.

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Hissing Sounds from Your Air Conditioning: What They Mean

Monday, June 16th, 2014

An air conditioner, when operating normally, makes a predictable series of sounds: fans whirring, the compressor humming, and the occasional sound of condensate drainage. When another sound interrupts this pattern, it usually indicates that the AC needs to have professionals look into it and see if it requires repairs. Grinding and groaning sounds can point toward motors undergoing excess stress, clanging that a fan belt has come loose or a fan blade is bent, and clicking that a capacitor is about to fail.

In this post, we’ll address one sound in particular. It isn’t as loud and noticeable as some of the others, but it can warn of a problem as bad if not worse. When you hear a hissing noise from either cabinet of your AC, it means you probably have refrigerant escaping… and that requires professionals to perform air conditioning repair in Hammond, LA on the double, before your cooling system sustains serious damage that may even lead to requiring a replacement. Look to A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for the work you need, when you need it.

The Problems of Leaking Refrigerant

The refrigerant (sometimes called “Freon”) inside an AC is responsible for carrying out heat exchange. To do this properly, it must remain at a set level, known as a “charge,” that is balanced for a specific air conditioner. Refrigerant does not dissipate under normal circumstances, but the charge can start to drop if the AC develops leaks.

When the charge lowers, the air conditioner will start to lose its ability to absorb heat along the evaporator coil. The refrigerant in the coil will remain cold, and this will trigger the condensate moisture along the coil to freeze. The presence of ice will further restrict heat absorption, and even more ice will develop, leading to a cycle that will eventually conclude with a solid block of ice across the coil and a complete end of the cooling cycle.

Even more worrisome: a drop in refrigerant charge will cause an imbalance inside the air conditioner that will damage the components. The compressor—the most vital piece of machinery in an AC—can overheat and burn out due to a lowered refrigerant charge. A burnt-out compressor will have to be replaced, or even the whole air conditioner with it… the most expensive “repair” of all.

You do not want leaking refrigerant to continue for any longer than necessary. At the first hissing noise, or the moment after you spot ice forming along the evaporator coil, call for professional air conditioning repair in Hammond, LA. A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning is available 24 hours a day to bring you the skilled work that will keep your AC cooling your home all summer long.

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3 Common Problems with Air Conditioner Fans

Monday, June 16th, 2014

Fans are an important part of your air conditioner’s system, particularly for the air flow and heat release process. Like other independent components of your air conditioning system, the fans can encounter problems, too, potentially leading to other issues with your system. Issues with your fans can have their own set of warning signs, something we’ve seen many times with air conditioning repairs in Covington. To help you pinpoint whether or not have an issue with one of your air conditioning system’s fans, our A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning experts have put together some information for you on your AC’s fans.

Signs of Potential Fan Problems

Fans can be noisy when something is on the fritz. A couple of typical noises to look for might be:

  • A clunking sound – which can indicate a loose or bent fan blade hitting or banging the inside of your outdoor unit
  • A screeching sound – which can indicate a worn-out fan belt

Another symptom can come in the form of performance:

  • Decrease in air flow coming into your property
  • Warm air blowing into your property

Lastly you may have a problem with a fan if your air conditioner develops ice.

3 Most Common Fan Problems

Fans have several components, including wiring. Here are 3 of the more common problem areas when it comes to your air conditioner’s fans:

Motor Issues

Motors turn the fans’ blades, so if the motor of a fan is faulty, the fan won’t turn as needed. The fans’ motors are electric, and can fail due to burn out, overheating or problems with internal wiring. Typically this can be fixed by replacing the motor.

Electrical Problems

As we touched on above, each fan has its own motor; each motor is tied to your system’s electricity, but it also has wiring within it to make the motor run. Over time, wires can fray, become loose or disconnect; these things can cause the motor to run unevenly or not at all, possibly putting strain on your whole air conditioning system.

Problems with the Fan Blades

The blades on your fans are metal and can bend or break, particularly on the outdoor unit; they can also come loose from operation. If a blade is bent, it can hit other components around it as it spins, potentially causing damage. Loose and broken fan blades can be quite hazardous to your system, too, particularly if they disengage from the fan itself. Depending on what kind of shape they are in, bent, broken or loose fan blades may need to be replaced.

Don’t Ignore Fan Problems

The fans in your system are key components in the air flow and heat release/cooling process of your AC; if one of the fans is malfunctioning, it can cause a potentially bigger problem in your air conditioner down the road. Think you may have a fan problem? Call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning to help you with your air conditioning repair in Covington.

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Signs of Compressor Problems in Your Air Conditioner

Thursday, June 5th, 2014

The core of an air conditioning system is the compressor. Although all the components in an AC are important for its operation, the compressor performs the function that sets in motion the cooling action of the whole system. Without it, an AC is nothing more than a large fan.

Compressor problems are therefore some of the most serious that can occur to an AC, and when they start you need to move fast to have the issues repaired. If professional repair technicians catch the problems in time, they can usually save the compressor. If the compressor burns out, however, it often means that the whole air conditioner must be replaced.

How can you tell there are compressor problems in your AC? Here’s a list of some of the warning signs. Call immediately for repairs for your air conditioner in Metairie, LA when these start up. You can reach A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning any time of the day or night for these emergency repairs.

Groaning, grinding sounds

These sounds are indicators of some type of mechanical difficulty occurring inside the air conditioner, often with one of the motors. If these sounds come from the outdoor condenser cabinet—where the compressor is housed—there is a high chance that they come from the motor that runs the compressor. Have the motor either repaired or replaced before it stops running the compressor. The mechanical fault could be in the compressor itself, and this needs immediate attention.

Lowered cooling power

The compressor is what provides energy to the refrigerant, turning the chemical blend into a high-temperature, high-pressure gas to start the heat exchange cycle. If the compressor starts to fail, the cooling power of the AC will also begin to fail. If you notice a drop in cooling even though the fans seem to be working fine, you need technicians to look into the issue right away.

Hard starting

“Hard starting” is a condition where the compressor experiences trouble starting the heat exchange cycle when it receives the signal from the thermostat to turn on. The compressor will stutter as it starts up, then come on for a short time before prematurely shutting off again. This is probably due to electrical issues with the capacitors, but it will place strain on the compressor that could lead to serious damage. Technicians can attach a “hard start kit” to overcome this problem, or they may change the capacitors.

As we stated above, compressor troubles are nothing to ignore or take lightly. Call for the most skilled technicians you can find when you suspect a malfunctioning compressor.

At A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning in Metairie, LA, we aim for 100% satisfaction on every job, and we can help to protect your compressor and your valuable summer cooling.

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How You Can Tell You Need Air Conditioning Repairs

Thursday, May 15th, 2014

Before the summer arrives, have any lingering air conditioning repairs taken care of. It’s likely that you’ve already needed to turn on your AC for a few days, so take some time to pay attention to its operation and look for any indications of faults or malfunctions. If you do notice anything amiss—as we’ll go over in a moment—don’t hesitate: call for professional technicians to come to your home and remedy the problem.

Keep A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning in mind when you need air conditioning repair service in Kenner, LA. We have 24-hour emergency service to make sure you have your cool house restored to you in no time.

Signs It’s Time to Call for Air Conditioning Repairs

The clearest warning sign you can receive from your AC that it has operational problems is when it starts making strange noises. If the air conditioner makes grinding and stuttering sounds when it starts up, then it is “hard starting,” which could point to a number of issues in the motors or the compressor. Clicking sounds indicate capacitors about to fail. If you hear a hissing sound, like escaping gas, then you have a refrigerant leak and need to call for repairs to seal the leak and recharge the lost refrigerant as soon as possible.

Should you detect a loss in cooling power or a drop in airflow coming from the vents, the air conditioning could be experiencing major problems. Although you may feel tempted to let these problems go and hope they’ll get better, they won’t. You could have dirty coils, blocked airflow, broken fans, burnt-out motors… all of which will require professional repairs.

An indication of repair needs that some people often overlook appears on utility bills. As you get your first bills for the air conditioning season, compare them to the bills from the same time the previous year. If you see a surprising rise in costs, it might come from an air conditioning system that is running with a malfunction. Call for technicians to investigate and find out what’s wrong. Some repair problems are difficult to detect at first, but with knowledgeable HVAC specialists on the job, it will soon be fixed.

Schedule Maintenance As Well

Even if nothing seems wrong with your air conditioner this spring, you will still need to make a call to a trustworthy HVAC company to arrange for a maintenance visit. A tune-up and inspection will catch any repair problems that might otherwise escape your notice and give you time to have them repaired.

A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning offers a quality maintenance program to help you get ready for summer. Along with the inspection and tune-up for your AC, you’ll also receive a 10% discount on parts and labor and priority scheduling for your air conditioning repairs in Kenner, LA.

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Warning Signs That You May Need Air Conditioning Repairs

Tuesday, May 6th, 2014

Spring is the perfect time to repair your air conditioner, especially if it seems like something may be off. As the property owner, you know your system best – have you heard or seen something that doesn’t seem normal? Not sure what you are hearing or seeing? Every system provides warnings when things are headed south, so let this list from A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning help you identify some of the warning signs that your air conditioner may be in need of repair. Call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for quality air conditioning repair service in Metairie, LA.

Here’s a List for Potential Warning Signs

Strange Sounds

There are normal sounds your air conditioning system makes – such as a steady hum -when the unit is running. Other sounds, like clunking, banging, squealing or screeching, are not typical sounds and may indicate a problem. If you hear such sounds, call specialist to inspect it as soon as possible.

Thermostat Issues

Your home should cool evenly. If you experience one room being much colder or hotter than another, you may have an issue with your thermostat; the same goes for excessive cycling of your system. Your thermostat helps run you AC efficiently. If it’s off, you may start to see that in the form of higher energy bills. Don’t let your thermostat cost you money – call an air conditioning repair technician to check the problem.

Low Air Flow

Does the air flow seem light? Several potential problems can cause a decrease in air flow, from debris in the air ducts to a problematic compressor. Because a number of things can cause decreased air flow, it’s best to let a professional technician determine what is causing the problem.

Unpleasant Smell

The air from your air conditioner should be fresh. If you notice an odor when the system comes on, such as mold or mildew, it’s time for a professional inspection and cleaning. Left alone, these smells will continue to circulate through your property, delivering to your indoor spaces both the odor and the microbes causing it.

Total Lack of Cool Air

If you turn your system on and get nothing but warm air, you may have a problem with your compressor. Compressors are an important part of your system and require professional training for repairs. Warm air can be indicative of other problems as well, so make sure a trained specialist handles the repair work.

Schedule an Appointment for Air Conditioning Repair Service with A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning

Your air conditioning system is an important part of your home’s overall value; if you have a warning sign it may not be running properly, don’t ignore it. Call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning to schedule air conditioning repair service in Metairie today. We can handle any repairs you’re A/C system may need.

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Air Conditioning Issues to Treat Before Summer

Monday, March 31st, 2014

We are starting to emerge into full spring weather now, with the temperatures climbing up from the 50s and into the 70s. Summer is around the corner, and before you know it you’ll have your air conditioner humming away and keeping you cool.

Or will you…? What if your air conditioning isn’t fortified for the big summer heat? If your air conditioning was struggling or showing signs of malfunctions the last time it was running, then now is the time to attend to any repair needs to make sure that your AC won’t break down in summer and leave you sweating on a hot day, waiting for emergency repairs. Do a test run on your system now and see if anything seems wrong. If something feels amiss, get a jump on repairs right away.

For fast and effective air conditioning repair service in Metairie, LA, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning.

Here are some issues you should contact us about:

  • Strange clicking sounds from the cabinet: Clicking noises usually indicate trouble with the start capacitor, the device that sends an electric charge to the motors to catalyze them. This clicking sound means the AC is “hard starting” and draining more power as it comes on. Have a technician replace the failing capacitor before it fizzles completely.
  • Water leaking: During the time the air conditioner was on vacation, the condensate drain could have become plugged with mold or other obstructions. When the condensate drain is blocked, it will quickly cause the condensate pan to overflow as water drips from the condenser coils. Call for repairs to clear and then reconnect the drain line.
  • Icing on the indoor coils: If you notice any frost developing along the indoor coils, it isn’t just an effect of cool air. It can mean that the air conditioner has lost refrigerant or the coils are excessively dirty. Repair technicians can track down and seal the leak, then recharge the refrigerant, or remove the coil to clean it. (Do not scrape off the ice; this will do no good.)

Have maintenance done as well

Spring is when you should schedule your yearly maintenance visit from an HVAC professional to make sure your air conditioner is running in top condition. This is the best way to catch repair issues before they grow more serious. Your technician will identify what needs to be done and can sometimes perform the repairs on the spot.

A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning has 24-hour emergency service available when you need air conditioning repair in Metairie, LA. Look into our maintenance program as well to help armor your AC for the summer.

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