New Berlin Air Conditioning | Common Air Conditioning Problems

Common air Conditioning Tips for you.  If you currently need a Air Conditioning Repair.  Feel Free to Contact us.

Air conditioner manufacturers generally make rugged, high quality products. If your air conditioner fails, begin by checking any fuses or circuit breakers. Let the unit cool down for about five minutes before resetting any breakers. If a central air conditioner's compressor stops on a hot day, the high-pressure limit switch may have tripped; reset it by pushing the button, located in the compressor's access panel.

Refrigerant Leaks

If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, either it was undercharged at installation or it leaks. If it leaks, simply adding refrigerant is not a solution. A trained technician should fix any leak, test the repair, and then charge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant. Remember that the performance and efficiency of your air conditioner is greatest when the refrigerant charge exactly matches the manufacturer's specification, and is neither undercharged nor overcharged. Refrigerant leaks can also be harmful to the environment.

Inadequate Maintenance

If you allow filters and air conditioning coils to become dirty, the air conditioner will not work properly, and the compressor or fans are likely to fail prematurely.

Electric Control Failure

The compressor and fan controls can wear out, especially when the air conditioner turns on and off frequently, as is common when a system is oversized. Because corrosion of wire and terminals is also a problem in many systems, electrical connections and contacts should be checked during a professional service call.

Sensor Problems

Room air conditioners feature a thermostat sensor, located behind the control panel, which measures the temperature of air coming into the evaporative coil. If the sensor is knocked out of position, the air conditioner could cycle constantly or behave erratically. The sensor should be near the coil but not touching it; adjust its position by carefully bending the wire that holds it in place.

Drainage Problems

When it's humid outside, check the condensate drain to make sure it isn't clogged and is draining properly. Room air conditioners may not drain properly if not mounted level.

Air Conditioning Troubleshooting New Berlin

Sometimes you don't need to call for repairs on your Air Conditioning system, try these troubleshooting ideas first. 

Is your thermostat set in the "cool" position (or “warm” for winter heat pump operation)?

• If so, is your outdoor air conditioning or heat pump unit running?

• Did the circuit breakers in the circuit breaker box (or electrical panel) trip to the “OFF” position?

• Is the outdoor "disconnect switch" on your outdoor unit in the "ON" position? (The disconnect switch is usually a small metal grey box mounted on a wall near the outdoor unit.)

• Is the blower motor in your furnace or air handler running when your thermostat is activated? (Make sure the furnace switch is in the "ON" position.)

• Have you changed your filter? (A blocked filter can cause your unit to shut down due to lack of proper airflow.)

• Are the air registers (supply or return ducts) plugged?

Air Conditioning New Berlin

Air Conditioning systems will break down and at some time you will need to purchase a new one.  New Berlin customers ask me from time to time "when do I need a new air conditioning system?"  Here is some advice from an article I read. 

One of the most expensive purchases you will ever make for your home is an air-conditioner - whether you are replacing existing equipment or choosing a heating and air-conditioning system for a new home.
Once your AC system is up and running, it could be a decade or more before you replace it. Since you will be living with it for a long time, you want to choose wisely.
If done correctly, a new air-conditioner will result in more comfort year-round, lower energy bills and better air quality -- particularly because of recent improvements in cooling-equipment technology and installation procedures.
Here are basic points to remember during the process:
1. Pick a trusted contractor. Unless you have worked in the HVAC field, you cannot expect to completely understand all the details in air-conditioning; no homeowner can. This creates a situation where you might be taken advantage of, and you need to proceed carefully.
Do pick a contractor based on recommendations from friends or neighbors or a reputable referral network. Don't choose one after talking to a telemarketer or because someone came to your door to make a solicitation. Be suspicious of mailings offering cut-rate prices.
Check on how long the contractor has been in business. Someone who has been around at least five years has a commitment to the job and can typically be counted on to return if you have problems.
HVAC contractors must register with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Get the license number and check it out at azroc.gov under "contractor info & searches."
Then check with the Better Business Bureau to see whether a contractor has been the subject of complaints. Finally, ask each contractor you interview for past customers' names and call a few.
Ask references: Did the contractor do what was promised? Has he or she returned to fix problems that came up after installation? How do the customers like the air-conditioner they chose? What impact have they seen on their utility bills?
2. Take the contractor's advice. Researching online or asking others who have purchased air-conditioners is always good. But be cautious about insisting on a specific brand or size of air-conditioner, especially when recommended by someone living in another state.
Once you choose an installer you trust, ask for suggestions. The contractor may know about options that suit your home better than what you had in mind. A good contractor also knows which manufacturers give the best warranty.
3. Buy an AC that fits your home. Make sure your contractor does research about your house, the microclimate you live in, and the condition and placement of your air ducts. That way, he or she can determine how much air-conditioning you need and whether you need to repair or realign ducts to improve your cooling efficiency.
Be very, very cautious. If a salesperson makes a proposal without visiting your attic to look at your furnace and air handler or without checking the AC in the yard or on the roof, he or she is not doing the necessary homework.
4. Bigger is not always better with air-conditioning. AC experts tell us that for years we have "over-tonned" houses in Arizona by installing air-conditioners too large for the size of the house.
A quick explanation starts with a few definitions: The cooling power of air-conditioners is often described as "tons of refrigeration." A ton of refrigeration is roughly equal to the cooling power of one ton (2,000 pounds) of ice melting in 24 hours. Residential central-AC systems are usually from 1 to 5 tons in capacity.
The industry used to recommend installing 1 ton of refrigeration for every 400 square feet of floor space in your home. But times have changed, and energy efficiency has improved. You can probably go with 20 percent less tonnage than before. You can go down about half a ton in your AC without even noticing it.
Be wary of contractors who recommend increasing tons because of warmer areas in your house. That cannot be solved by increasing the capacity of your air-conditioner.
An oversize AC stops and starts more often; that costs more kilowatt hours and could lead to mechanical breakdowns. Oversize air-conditioners do not run long enough to dehumidify the air. A smaller unit will run longer and perform more efficiently.
Your contractor should perform a heat-load calculation before deciding what size air-conditioner you need. That calculation should consider the size, shape and orientation of your house, insulation, window area, air infiltration, climate, number of residents in the house and their comfort preferences.
5. Change your entire HVAC system. If you replace just the outside AC unit with a condenser and compressor without replacing the furnace and air handler, you might not be happy with your comfort level or energy bills.
Those separate units are designed to work together and need to match in capacity and efficiency. Otherwise, you might not get the benefits of the SEER rating promised by the equipment you buy.
6. Understand the SEER rating. In shopping for a new AC system, be sure it has an Energy Star label. Energy Star products, certified by the Environmental Protection Agency, are at least 20 percent more efficient than air-conditioners that meet minimum federal standards.
An Energy Star AC will have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio ranging from 13 to 21. The higher the SEER, the more efficient and less costly your unit will be to operate. An AC with a rating in the middle will probably work best and pay for itself more quickly than units with the highest ratios and prices.


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/style/hfe/diy/articles/20120611buying-air-conditioner-8-smart-strategies.html#ixzz2Y02S216O

Common Air Conditioning Problems and Fixes New Berlin Air Conditioning

Air conditioning and HVAC units don’t last forever — 12 years is an average lifespan — and the moment they fail is usually when you need them the most. The good news is that not every system malfunction spells total doom.

Warning sign #1: My air conditioning won’t turn on

Possible cause: Often, the most likely culprit is the easiest to remedy: the thermostat isn’t set correctly, or power isn’t reaching the AC unit.

The fix: Check to see that the thermostat is set to AC or “cool,” that the temperature setting is correct, and that the battery is fresh. Second, check the circuit breaker: Could simply be a tripped fuse.


Warning sign #2: I’m not as comfortable as I was last year

The fix: Change the filter. (You should do this as part of regular HVAC maintenance anyway.) Depending on the quality of the filter, the amount of people living in the house, and if there are pets, the filter should be changed every 30-90 days.

Outdoors, make sure there’s at least 24 inches of clearance on the sides and 5 feet on top of the unit. Also, check to make sure there are no obstructions to the home’s cold air returns and registers.

Warning sign #3: My utility bills are abnormally high

Possible cause: A spike in operating costs typically signals inefficient operation. After a dirty filter (warning sign #3), the most likely culprit is a choked condensing coil. Located within the outdoor unit, the coil has countless cooling fins — much like a car radiator — that can accumulate dust and debris.

The fix: Call out a pro for a spring tune-up.


Warning sign #4: Weird noises during startup and operation

Possible cause: Rattling, buzzing, or ticking? The good news is that the cause might be little more than a loose screw. The bad news is that it could be caused by a bum blower motor (indoors) or bent fan blade (outdoors).

The fix: If you’re lucky, a simple tightening here and lubricating there will fix the problem. If not, you might require a new fan motor or fan blade.


Warning sign #5: The AC shuts off before or long after I’m comfortable

Possible cause: Improper placement of the thermostat can wreak havoc on one’s comfort. The unit might be in direct sun, too close to a register, or near a hot oven. Also, a remodel might have you spending more time where the thermostat is not.

The fix: Relocate the thermostat.


Warning sign #6: There’s a puddle of water next to my furnace

Possible cause: During normal operation, the system generates moisture in the form of condensate. That water collects in a pan and flows out a line either into a floor drain or sump basin. An accumulation of water signals a blockage or disconnection of the tube.

The fix: Inspect the tube for crimps, clogs, and disconnections. Also, if the water flows into a sump basin, ensure that the sump pump is in good working order.


Warning sign #7: The air coming out of the registers doesn’t feel as cold as it used to

Possible cause: The refrigerant lines aren’t insulated.

The fix: The outdoor unit is connected to the indoor system by two copper refrigerant lines, which should be covered with an insulating sleeve. Make sure that it is. Also, the system may need its refrigerant re-charged.


Warning sign #8: My AC unit refuses to kick on at all

Possible cause: Burnt-out compressor

The fix: If the compressor fails, the unit won’t run. The only fix for this is a costly replacement of the equipment.

It might be wise to replace your air conditioner if it’s more than 8 years old.