Before the summer heat hits, get a jump on summer and have your A/C checked now-
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Checking Your A/C Now Saves You Money Later
Sponsored by Berkeys Air Conditioning and Plumbing
Written by Adam Mennega, Service Manager, Berkeys
Many peoplebrdon't realize there may be something wrong with their AC, until the first hotbrday of the year. In my experience, 95% of the time this happens when someonebradded refrigerant the summer before without using a licensed professional, orbrignored some of the common warning signs that could indicate a problem.
Causes of A/C Problems
Refrigerant Leaks
The mostbrcommon choice of refrigerant for residential and commercial air conditioningbrand heating systems is known as R-22 or HCFC-22. Regrettably, R-22 has beenbrclassified as a greenhouse gas that contributes to ozone depletion via leaks inbrplaces like air conditioning systems. Any time you have to add refrigerant tobryour AC it means you will have a refrigerant leak. These leaks are causedbrbecause the indoor evaporator coils are much colder and therefore condensatebrcausing rust and eventually leaks. Inbrorder to find the leak, have a licensedbrtechnician use an electronic leak detector to find where it is and thenbrpresent options on repairing the leak or possibly replacing your AC unit.
You shouldbrnever attempt to add refrigerant yourself! The leaks caused by improperbraddition of refrigerant can vent into your home and replace the air youbrbreathe. This can be detrimental to your health. Always consult a professional.
Because R-22bris going to be phased out over the coming years as part of an agreement to endbrproduction of greenhouse gases, its price has nearly doubled in the last year.brWhile manufacturers of AC systems are now offering equipment that usesbrozone-friendly refrigerants, you may not be ready to, or just don't have the needbrto replace your system. To ease your mind, the EPA has a set of guidelines forbrhomeowners:
· brExisting units using R-22 can continue to bebrserviced with R-22.
· brManufacturers have redesigned air conditioningbrand heating equipment to work with new non-ozone-depleting refrigerants.
As the costbrof R-22 continues to increase, and its availability decreases, you may want tobrconsider replacing your system. Berkeys can help you find an environmentallybrfriendly and cost-effective solution that won't break the bank.
Dirty Condenser Coils
The outsidebrunit for your AC, also called a heat exchanger in some cases, uses a series ofbrcoils to vent hot air to the outside. Over time, these coils can get cloggedbrwith dirt and debris and need to be cleaned at least once a year. As part ofbrour standard AC maintenance we always make sure your AC condenser coils arebrcleaned. You can also do this yourself by spraying the condenser coils withbryour garden hose.
Faulty Blower Motor and Weak Capacitors
The blowerbrmotor on the outside unit is subject to the elements, so it needs to be checkedbrto ensure proper operation. If you hear a grinding noise coming from yourbroutside unit or “ticking”, you should check to see if something may have gottenbrlodged inside. This often happens if there's a tree near the unit or debrisbrfrom the roof falls into it.
Inside yourbrhome, the blower motor helps circulate air through your house. This also has tobrbe maintained and lubricated regularly to ensure proper operation. Rememberbrthat neglecting any moving parts in your HVAC system can cost you over time. Ifbrthe AC system can't cool properly, it will run longer and increase your energybrbills.
Thebrcapacitors in your AC unit are like the starter motor in your car. Over timebrthese will fail causing your AC to start up slowly or even make shrieking orbrsquealing noises. If you smell an electrical burn or something that smells likebra dirty sock (other than the ones your teenage kids leave lying around thebrhouse), turn off your AC and call us immediately.
Frozen or clogged condensate drain
As withbrfurnaces, the condensate drain, functions to release the moisture built up frombrcold air traveling through the inside of your AC system. If this becomesbrclogged, and in some cases even freezes, your AC has to work much harder tobrkeep your home cool and comfortable. A clogged AC drain can also cause anbrunwanted buildup of humidity in your home, which can cause your vents to rustbrand even damage ceilings and walls. If you notice water droplets forming onbryour home's AC vents, you may need to have AC condensate drain checked.
How often should you have your ACbrchecked?
The mantrabrgoes that it's always better sooner rather than later. Getting your AC tuned upbrand maintained now, before the warm temperatures arrive means you have less tobrworry about later and can stay cool and comfortable. The best time is usuallybraround February or March. We all know how quickly it can get hot around here,brso having a day without AC can be devastating. Don't forget that a well-maintainedbrAC can help you save up to 30% annually on your energy bills.
About Berkeys
Berkeys isbran award winning home service company, providing quality plumbing, airbrconditioning, and heating services to homeowners in the Dallas / Fort Worthbrmetroplex for over 35 years.
All of ourbrtechnicians, are background-checked, drug tested and have passed rigorous statebrexaminations and are licensed by the State of Texas; they understand thebrcomplexity of state codes all the way down to local requirements.
Berkeysbrmaintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has led thebrfield in area newspapers' readers' favorite polls.
For morebrinformation visit Berkeys or call 877-BERKEYS.