How To Prevent An Expensive Air Conditioning Repair Problem | San Antonio, TX
Anybody who lives in this part of Texas knows how hot and humid it gets during the summer. With temperatures reaching over one hundred degrees it is no surprise that our AC units are left on for long periods. This constant use increases the chance of a breakdown and the need for an air conditioning repair. A breakdown puts people’s health at risk, and very soon, living conditions inside your home become unbearable.
Temperatures and humidity will rise rapidly, and air quantity will soon deteriorate. Winters too can be cold, so the furnace must be working efficiently to keep us warm. It is just as well that the people of San Antonio, TX can depend on bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio.
AC units are normally very reliable, but occasionally something goes wrong, and you need an air conditioning repair. These repairs can be an unnecessary and expensive burden on a family budget, but there are some steps you can take to lessen the chance you need to call for an air conditioning company.
Have It Regularly Maintained
This is by far the best thing you can do for your AC unit. Annual maintenance in the early spring will ensure that everything is running smoothly and that any detects are put right before the long summer season starts. After the service, you should notice that your energy bills will be lower, as your unit is more energy-efficient. You will also gain extra peace of mind knowing that there is less chance it will break down and need an air conditioning repair.
You Can Change the Air Filters Yourself
By changing the air filters regularly, you can improve the air quality in your home. The air filters remove any dirt and dust from the air, protecting the unit from damage. The filters are replaced or cleaned during the annual maintenance, but if you can, you should do this more often as they become dirty.
Dirty air filters will limit the amount of warm air blown over the evaporator coils. This in turn means that the coolant inside the coils will not absorb as much heat from the warm air and results in less cool air blown back into your home.
Without enough heat, the evaporator coils could even start to freeze over. As the coils slowly freeze, they become less efficient and work harder to compensate. Other components in the air conditioner, such as the compressor, will also work harder, and this increases the amount of energy they use, leading to higher utility bills. There is a greater risk that the components will overheat and burn out, resulting in an air conditioning repair.
If you have an HVAC, air filters are also required on the furnace part. As they get dirty the airflow into the combustion chamber will be restricted and the heating effect will be reduced. On average, air filters should be changed every three months, but if you have pets, you may need to replace yours sooner.
Cleaning the Condenser and Cooling Fins Regularly
The coolant which has absorbed the heat from the warm air travels outside your home and passes through the condenser and cooling fins. The coolant now loses the heat gained by transferring it to the outside air. As the condenser and cooling fins are located outside, they are often covered with a layer of dirt and grime. This layer of dirt and grime will act as an insulating material reducing the rate at which heat is transferred. This problem can be made worse by moss and weeds growing on the condenser and cooling fins.
These materials are removed during regular maintenance from bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio, but this is a job that you could do yourself. If you did, you would notice an improvement in performance as the cooling effect will increase. There is also less chance that the condenser will overheat needing an air conditioning repair.
Keep the AC Drain Line Free from Debris
As the warm air is cooled, the moisture condenses into water and is deposited into the drain pan, and then flows outside through the AC drain line. The presence of moisture encourages the growth of mold and algae in the drain pan and AC drain line and could result in a blockage.
Unless they are cleaned the water will overflow the drain pan into your unit and cause an electrical short-circuit requiring a visit from an Air conditioning repair company to fix. It is possible to clean the drain pan and line yourself, but most will wait until the service for this to happen.
The AC drain line could be blocked by dirt and leaves covering the drain. Removing this debris is a job you can do yourself as part of a general clean-up of your yard. Any blockages could result in the unit shutting down, but before you call for an AC repair, first check for any debris around the drain.
Check Your Thermostats
You may be wasting hundreds of dollars each year due to an incorrectly set or uncalibrated thermostat. Many people program or set their thermostats at too low a temperature in the belief that this will cool their homes quicker. This is incorrect, all that is going to happen is that your unit will be running for a longer period of time, driving up your energy bills.
It will also increase the wear and tear on your unit, increasing the likelihood that a component will break down and need replacing during an air conditioning repair. If you have older dial-type thermostats, you may want to have them replaced with new programmable ones. These are more accurate and do not need to be recalibrated as often as the old-style ones.
A Trusted Air Conditioning Repair Company
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain + HVAC of San Antonio has been serving the people of San Antonio, TX for many years. We realize how important it is to offer a speedy air conditioning repair service during a hot Texas summer and that is why we have technicians available 24/7 ready to help you.
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