Signs it’s Time to retire your Air Conditioner

Your trusty air conditioner works for you non-stop, but eventually, it will have problems, or maybe even completely break down. In most cases, you can have it up and running again by hiring an HVAC contractor to do some repairs. Nevertheless, there are times when you should know how to give up on it and buy a new one, as constant repairs at that point could be too costly.

Ten Years of Service

Sure, there may be many air conditioners capable of running for much longer than ten years, but its efficiency will already have been significantly reduced. Besides, your ten year old AC might already be outdated, so you should consider upgrading to a more advanced and perhaps more energy-efficient model.

Facts about DIY AC Coil Maintenance

As homeowner, it’s always important that you keep your HVAC system clean and well-maintained. However, you don’t always have to hire a professional for some of the tasks; there are some things that you can clean out on your own, just like your air conditioner’s evaporator and condenser coils, for instance. Here are some facts you should know about these components:

What They Are

Basically, the cooling function of your air conditioning system works on cycles of shifting a substance, called a refrigerant, from gas to liquid and back to gas. The condenser coil turns the heated gas refrigerant liquid, allowing it to pass through the evaporator coil, which in turn transforms it back to gas.

Planning on Buying a new Air Conditioner?

If you think that your old air conditioner is already way past salvage with a few repairs, it might be time to buy a new one. With spring well on its way, the urgency to have a dependable cooling system is only all the more heightened. However, there are a few things you should take into consideration before buying a unit?

Which one?

Manufacturers like Trane have multiple types of ACs available for your purchase, and each one could be a boon or bane for your home, depending on how well you choose based on your needs, that is. For instance, if you want to cool your entire house without expending too much in energy cost, you might want to opt for a central unit, but if you only plan on cooling certain rooms at a time, get a window unit.

Fine-tuning Your Air Conditioning

It's always crucial to check your HVAC system so you know what needs tuning up and repairing. Here are a few things you should take a closer look at in order to maintain an effective and efficient air conditioner:

Air conditioner filters

Routinely inspect filters to ensure that dirt will not block normal airflow and that it will not be carried into other parts of the unit. When dirt reaches the coil, it can impair your equipment's ability to absorb heat and cool your home.

Air conditioner coils

Like filters, coils can also accumulate enough dust and dirt to lower the functionality of your air conditioning unit. Make sure to check your evaporator coil and condenser coil annually. Eliminate any debris blocking proper airflow and prune plants near the unit.

Coil fins and condensate drains

Coil fins can easily bend back and block airflow, while condensate drains can become clogged, making reducing humidity harder. Acquire a fin comb to brush back the fins into their original condition. In turn, pass a stiff wire through drain channels to eliminate debris.

Though it's great to tune up an AC by yourself, you should still hire a professional technician trained to find problems in your unit. An experienced technician can check for the right amount of refrigerant, test for any chemical leaks, inspect electric terminals, and verify control sequences to make sure that everything is in good working condition.

AC Repair Basics You Need To Know

Your air conditioning system has conked out and you're looking at repair websites again. The main problem is that when an AC unit breaks down, it means you haven’t done the necessary maintenance or early repair, which could have prevented the breakdown in time. Here are a few things you need to know about AC maintenance.

Knowing When to Call

It's pretty obvious that you have to call for help when the AC unit becomes completely frazzled. However, did you know that you could have called earlier and saved a lot of money? One of the warning signs for AC repair is a loud noise from the unit. Low airflow and lack of cooling are also valid reasons to call a repair company. You could probably live with these problems, but the longer you delay the call, the greater the chance you'll have to completely replace the unit.

When calling a pro to do repairs, always check their references and license to ensure that they're above board, and that your AC system is in good hands.

Maintenance You Can Do

The above symptoms could have been avoided, too. Always ensure that you have clean air filters. Clogged air filters slow down airflow, leading to less efficiency. You also need to turn off your AC when you are not using it. This may sound basic but plenty of people are tempted to leave it on to maintain room temperature. Long operation hours, however, can lead to breakdowns as well.

Making Sure Your Air Conditioner is in Great Shape

Air conditioners are pretty robust pieces of machinery. However, there are times when they conk out, mainly because of the lack of maintenance. Your air conditioner going into disrepair can be an uncomfortable experience, especially during the long, hot Houston summers.

Air conditioner repair can be pretty expensive, so it would be better to prevent the problem by doing minor maintenance on your air conditioning unit. Here are a few things to check as you give your air conditioner a once over.

The main parts that you yourself can check are the filters and coils. Dirty filters can impede the airflow, which can significantly reduce the efficiency of your unit. Cleaning or replacing these filters can increase your air conditioner's efficiency by a factor of fifteen percent. Central air conditioners usually have filters in the walls and ceilings, while room air conditioners have it inside the grill facing the room.

Coils are the other part that you should be concerned with. The evaporator and condenser coils of an air conditioner accumulate dirt over a period of time. Dirty coils will have difficulty absorbing heat, meaning that you will have hotter air being piped in. A yearly cleaning would make sure they are in top condition.

A professional technician would also be able to check and do more, so hiring them for the job is advised. Maintenance fees are lower than repair fees, after all.

Signs That the Water Heater is Giving Up

It is hard to live each and every single day of the year when a blast of cold water rudely awakens you in the morning. This harrowing thought is one of the biggest reasons why a proper, functional water heater is a necessity for every Houston household.

However, all things break down immediately. Undoubtedly, a machine like a water heater is sure to be worn out fast due to the fact that it deals with an element as powerful as water. As hot water is an important component to a comfortable life, it is important for homeowners to know when it is time to start thinking about having a new water heater installed.

One of the most obvious signs of heater failure is colored water. When brownish water comes out of the faucet, it most likely means that the interior of the tank is already rusting. Obviously, this is dangerous to your health, so replacement is definitely in order.

Another thing that has to be considered is the age of the water heater. If the water heater has outlived its warranties, then it is probably a good time to replace it. Waiting for any signs of trouble is a surefire way to win a month’s worth of horrible baths.

Finally, it is time to consider replacement if the heater is leaking on places it’s not supposed to. It probably means that the heater is about to give in, so a replacement should be in order before flooding occurs.