If you plan to run your air conditioning system this season (and let’s face it; it is very difficult to get by without it) air conditioning maintenance is a must. Many homeowners decide not to schedule maintenance every year, and still others are not even aware of this vital service. But without it, your air conditioner may run into trouble at some point in the season, and you may notice that your energy bills get worse and worse.
Professional Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning’
Do You Need an Air Conditioning Maintenance Visit?
Monday, April 20th, 20153 Things You Should Know about Air Conditioning Replacement
Monday, April 6th, 2015Finding a new air conditioner can be a stressful experience, but a lot less so if you have the right technicians to work with you. A quality air conditioning technician will help you find the most efficient system for your money, and make sure that everything is secure and operating properly.
Sooner is better than later
If at all possible, replace your air conditioning system before it breaks down. Of course, it’s difficult to determine if your air conditioning system is on the verge of breaking down. But if you find yourself making frequent repairs for a unit that is over ten years old, early AC replacement may simply be more cost-effective. Sometimes, it is more expensive to remove a broken-down system than it is to replace a working one, especially if it’s early enough in the season that replacement is not urgent. Scheduling replacement early allows you time to choose an efficient system that will help you to save money later on.
A unit that is too big or too small may cause a lot of trouble
If your air conditioning system is not the correct size for the layout of your home, there are a number of problems you could encounter. An undersized system won’t get the job done, but it may run for a long time to try to condition the home, using up energy and failing sooner than its expected lifespan. And if it’s too large, an air conditioner may start and stop frequently, wearing down the components. But installer beware: the existing system needing replacement may not be the proper size, so the home should be reassessed before any installation.
Refrigerant must be measured out precisely upon installation
Adding refrigerant to an air conditioning system is not as simple as you might guess. You must have the right amount of refrigerant for the size of your unit, or else your home may not cool down quickly enough. What’s worse is that you may encounter compressor damage or a frozen coil, among other issues. Professionals can determine just how much refrigerant is necessary, and they have the proper certifications to handle it.
Professional installation is key to efficiency and proper performance. Call the professional technicians at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for air conditioning replacement in Hammond, LA.
Upgrades You Can Make to Your Air Conditioning System
Friday, September 12th, 2014Your air conditioning system is quite a feat of engineering: it removes the heat and humidity from your home and returns cool air that makes your home dry and comfortable. Today’s air conditioners are very energy efficient, but you can still upgrade your AC to make it perform better. As we’ll explain below, an upgrade can help improve indoor air quality or remove excess humidity from your home, depending on the type of upgrade you choose. But without professional installation, you may not gain any benefit from an upgrade, which is why it’s important to hire trained experts, like the ones at A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning.
Types of Upgrades Available for Your System
There are a number of ways you can upgrade your existing air conditioner. Here are few examples of the kinds of products we have at A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning:
Dehumidifiers
It’s no secret that Louisiana gets hot and sticky. Prolonged periods of excess humidity can put a lot of stress on your air conditioner as it works to remove excess humidity; this can result in higher energy bills and prematurely age your AC. Adding a whole-home humidifier can take the stress off your air conditioner, because it removes the excess humidity from the air before it enters your system. With less work to do, your air conditioner uses less energy and no longer operates under stressful conditions.
Zone Control System
A zone control system offers you temperature control over different zones in your home. The zones are established by you and operate independently from one another, allowing for different temperatures to be set for each zone; you can also turn off air conditioning to an unused or unoccupied zone. A zone control system consists of motorized dampers that are installed into the supply ducts of your system. Each damper is connected to a main control panel and thermostats for the zones are connected to the control panel as well. Zone control systems help improve energy efficiency and comfort levels.
Air Cleaners
Having healthy indoor air is part of your overall comfort. While your air conditioner comes with a standard filter, this filter’s job isn’t to help improve indoor air quality; it’s to block dirt, dust and debris from entering your system. To truly clean your air, you’ll want to consider the installation of a whole-home air cleaner. There are a number of air cleaning products on the market, so the best way to choose one that fits best in your home is to work with a trained professional.
Upgrades to your air conditioning can improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality and your overall comfort. Think an upgrade might help you? Call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning today and schedule AC service in Hammond, LA with one of our experts.
Some Repairs Your AC May Need for the End of Summer
Friday, August 15th, 2014By the middle of August, your air conditioner has most likely been running full-time for the past several months. You may have noticed some slight changes in its performance, which is natural, given the amount of work it’s done. It is easy to push off repairs until next year, but it is better for both you and your air conditioner to take care of repairs now. A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to help you with any repairs you may need.
End-of-Summer Repairs
It’s common for certain types of problems to develop when your air conditioner has been running full-time over the summer months. Here are some examples:
- Refrigerant leaks – refrigerant leaks can develop in various places in your system, including the coils. Typical signs of low refrigerant levels are: a decrease in cooling power, no cool air at all and/or icing on your evaporator coils. Low refrigerant is a problem that doesn’t go away and usually gets worse over time, so it’s important to have leaks inspected and repaired.
- Worn components – frayed wires, worn fan belts and loose motor mounts are small issues that can turn into big problems if not addressed. Faulty wiring can lead to uneven voltage disbursement; worn fan belts can slow or stop the turning of a fan, and loose motor mounts can bang around and potentially cause damage to other parts of your system.
- Compressor issues – the compressor operates under a high level of pressure in order to pressurize the refrigerant. It has its own motor so, after running all summer, you can encounter issues with the motor. There are also two valves at either end of the compressor, and if either valve should malfunction, the operation of the compressor can be compromised.
Don’t Wait to Schedule Repair Work
It is tempting to wait until next year to fix any problems that may be developing, especially if your air conditioner appears operate well. Many times, though, small, ignored issues can become big problems. Put yourself and your AC ahead by scheduling air conditioning repair services in Mandeville with A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. Call us today!
3 Reasons to Install a Heat Pump
Friday, August 8th, 2014It’s the dog days of summer: temperatures in the 90s, coupled with Louisiana humidity. This is the time of year when you count on your air conditioner, but if your system is over 10 years old, requires costly repairs, or is losing efficiency, it may be time to consider replacing your air conditioner in Covington.
There are a lot of choices when it comes to installing a new air conditioning system, and one you may want to consider is a heat pump. Heat pump technology isn’t new, but it is quickly becoming a popular choice among homeowners because of its benefits. A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning specializes in heat pump installation, repair and replacement, so we know very well how a heat pump can benefit you and your home.
What Is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump is a device that transfers heat from one location to another. When cooling, the heat pump moves the warm air from your home to the outside, and when heating, the heat pumps pulls in the heat energy surrounding it, and moves it into your home. Heat pumps use a small amount of electricity to work, but nothing compared to electric heat or the electricity needed for a fossil fuel-based system.
What Are the Benefits of a Heat Pump?
Heat pumps have become popular for a few good reasons:
- You get both heating and cooling from a heat pump – heat pumps are a 2-in-1 device thanks to a component called a reversal switch. By simply turning the switch, your system will either cool or heat as needed.
- Save on energy bills – heat pumps use a very small amount of electricity to operate and no fossil fuels whatsoever. If you’ve been paying for natural gas or oil to heat your home, or expend a great deal of money on electricity to run your AC during the summer, you may see some great savings from installing a heat pump.
- Longevity – the average lifespan of a heat pump is 20 years, while the average lifespan of an air conditioning system is 10-12 years. An 8-10 year difference in lifespan can be a huge cost savings for your household.
Heat pumps can be a great choice for your air conditioning. Call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning today and schedule air conditioning service in Covington with one of our experts to see if a heat pump is a good fit for your home.
What is ENERGY STAR and Why is it Important for my Air Conditioning?
Wednesday, July 30th, 2014You may have noticed the ENERGY STAR label printed on many products purchased for your home. Not every system gets this distinctive mark, however, so you may not be sure whether it is necessary to look for when purchasing a new air conditioning system. Finding an ENERGY STAR qualified system can help you save money and protect the environment, so we’ve put together a guide to this government-backed certification.
ENERGY STAR Qualified Products Help Protect the Environment
The ENERGY STAR label lets you know that you’ve chosen a system that is efficient enough to receive the approval of the US Environmental Protection Agency. In order to receive this distinguished label, air conditioners must meet a series of conditions including significantly low energy consumption. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants released into the air by home appliances, so ensuring that this label is present on your AC lets you know you’ve done something to benefit the earth.
ENERGY STAR Products Can Save You Money without Reduced Performance
ENERGY STAR air conditioners help you save a lot of money every month on your energy bills since many are over 15% more efficient than conventional models. And even though it seems as though an AC that costs less to run would not have the same features of other systems, ENERGY STAR labeled air conditioners must offer the performance and cooling power that customers want to earn the approval of the EPA.
ENERGY STAR Products Still Require Maintenance
Some people may think that installing an energy-efficient product is enough to maintain efficiency throughout the life of the system. However, any air conditioner needs maintenance to restore efficiency and keep costs low. If you choose an ENERGY STAR qualified product, you should continue to clean the air filter and schedule maintenance once a year.
Check the EnergyGuide label attached to all air conditioning systems in the U.S. to determine whether an air conditioner will save you money every month and help the environment. For air conditioning services in Hammond, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning today!
Potential Problems with Your Outdoor Air Conditioning Unit
Tuesday, July 8th, 2014Most home air conditioners are “split” systems, which means that they consist of an indoor and outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil that removes the heat from your house, and the blower fan to distribute the cooled air. The outdoor unit is often known as the condensers, and it contains the condenser coil, a fan, and the compressor.
The outdoor unit is built sturdy to withstand weather conditions, but sometimes it can suffer from repair needs that will require you call for work from Hammond, LA air conditioning professionals. You can trust to the technicians at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning, and they are available to help you 24 hours a day.
Some Issues You May Experience With the Condenser
- Damage to the fan: The fan inside the condenser is responsible for drawing air across the refrigerant coil and causing it to release its heat to the outdoors. The fan also vents that heat out of the top of the condenser. Debris can sometimes enter the condenser and cause damage to the fan, leading to bent blades or a broken fan belt, and this will hamper the proper cooling operation of the system and could cause serious mechanical damage inside the condenser. Call for repairs as soon as you hear odd noises from the outdoor cabinet.
- Compressor “seizing”: The compressor it the most important component in an AC: if it fails, there is no air conditioning—period. The compressor works in the fashion of a piston motor, and dust and dirt along the moving parts or a loss of lubrication can cause the compressor to become “tight,” and eventually seize up and stop working. This might even lead to compressor burnout, which is one of the most expensive repairs for an air conditioner possible. At the first side of the compressor encountering difficulties, call for professional repairs.
- Leaking refrigerant: Refrigerant runs through the whole AC system, but leaks along the line are most likely to occur in the condenser, where the line connects to the compressor. Loss of refrigerant will cause the AC to lose its conditioning power, and the change in pressure throughout the cooling system will cause severe damage and lead to the compressor overheating. At the first sign of refrigerant loss (hissing sounds, ice on the evaporator coil, a drop in cooling), bring in trained technicians.
At A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning, we take pride in how we deliver the quality service that customers would expect from a large company, but with the personal attention of a small business. Whatever issues you may encounter with your air conditioning system, you can trust our experienced and friendly staff to solve the troubles. Call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for professional Hammond air conditioning service.
3 Causes of Strange Noises with Your Air Conditioning
Thursday, June 26th, 2014When you hear a sound coming from your AC, never ignore it – it most likely signals the development of a problem with your air conditioning system in Hammond. There are a lot of different reasons why and how your air conditioner can start making strange noises, but there are a few types of repairs that are fairly easy to identify simply by listening:
- Hissing – a hissing sound can be indicative of two possible things: a refrigerant leak inside the air conditioning system or a leak coming from the compressor. Both will need to be repaired, preferably by a trained professional, as both these types of repairs typically get worse over time and may cause damage to your system.
- Clunking or banging – a clunking or banging noise can indicate that something has come loose somewhere in the system, and many times this can be the fan or components of the fan, such as a fan blade. It’s important to repair a loose component quickly as it can cause damage to other parts of your air conditioner, particularly if it is hitting something during operation.
- Screeching/Screaming sound – a screeching or screaming sound can be a big warning sign that the pressure inside your compressor is too high. This can be a dangerous situation, and requires that you turn off your air conditioner immediately and have it checked by a trained professional.
Normal Noises
There are normal operational noises that your air conditioner will make, so it’s good to know what these sounds are:
- Whirring – as your AC begins a new cycle, you may hear it whirr; this is most likely from the fan beginning to spin and is not an issue.
- Popping sound – every now and then you may hear a popping sound come through your air ducts; this is probably the metalwork in the ducts either expanding or contracting from the temperature
- Thump at shut-off – when your air conditioner cycles down, it may create a small thumping noise; this is normal with many systems. If, however, you hear a number of thumps or consistent thumping, it may be time for a specialist to take a look.
Is Your AC Making Strange Noises? Give Us a Call
As the owner of your air conditioning system, you know what sounds normal and what doesn’t, and unfortunately, most strange noises coming from your air conditioner usually mean there’s a problem that needs to be fixed. Don’t ignore an abnormal noise coming from your AC, even if it still seems to be working fine. As soon as you start to hear something “off” with your air conditioning, call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning and schedule air conditioning service in Hammond with one of our experts to take a look.
Air Conditioning Tips for the Coming Summer
Wednesday, April 30th, 2014Louisiana summers are hot and humid, and home air conditioners are necessary to make the season pleasant. But you cannot just switch on your air conditioning when the heat arrives and expect the system to work its best. You can end up wasting money on power bills, running into numerous repairs, and receiving less effective cooling. You don’t have to spend a few hours a day working with your AC to get the proper cooling level from it, but you can take a few steps and change some habits to improve its performance during the summer. We’ll share some valuable AC tips for the upcoming season.
Whenever you need to have professional HVAC technician service for your air conditioning system in Kenner, LA, call on the team at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We have technicians ready to help you 24 hours a day so you won’t have to sweat out a broken AC for long.
Tips for Better Air Conditioning Operation This Summer
- Schedule a maintenance session: You should never miss an annual maintenance visit for your cooling system. Regular attention from an HVAC professional will keep an air conditioner working and free from unnecessary stress. This will stop your electrical bills from rising, fend off repairs, prevent a sudden breakdown, and generally extend the air conditioner’s service life. Although we advise maintenance during the spring, it’s never too late to schedule it.
- Stay away from the lowest setting on the thermostat: How low does your thermostat go? Likely around 60°F, and that is rarely the level of cooling anybody requires, no matter the heat outside. If you put your thermostat on the lowest setting, it will force the system to work longer (no, it won’t cool down your house any faster), drain energy, and put extra pressure on the components. All this for a temperature that most people won’t even find comfortable. By raising the thermostat up to 72°F, you will have the right comfort level and save between 24% and 36% off your energy bills. (Each degree higher is a 2–3% savings.)
- Change the air filter monthly: The air filter protects the AC from debris that enters the return vents. During regular operation, the filter will become clogged with dust, lint, hair, and other pollutants. This is enough to cause the air conditioner to strain due to low airflow, and it may also lead to icing along the coils. Change the filter once a month to keep the system efficient. (You should also change it during the off-season, but once every three months is usually sufficient when the AC isn’t running regularly.)
Start Off With Maintenance
There’s still time this spring to jump ahead of the weather and have regular maintenance done. Contact A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning and ask about our regular maintenance program, which also includes a 10% discount on parts and labor, plus priority scheduling. We’ll help keep your air conditioning in Kenner, LA healthy all summer long.