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Arizona Air Conditioning Mold Prevention – Minimize AC Mold Growth

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Purification, Arizona Air Conditioning Installation.

Air Conditioning Mold – Critical Growth Requirements

Air Conditioning molds and mildew are classified as fungi. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, extensive mold contamination can trigger allergic reactions, asthma episodes, infections and various other respiratory complications (1). Mold and mildew are also capable of causing serious structural damage to your home. Affected floor joists and other exposed timbers can rot, warp or crack due to moisture that tends to cultivate fungi growth.

Current reports from the FSEC Education Center define and identify nearly 100,000 species of fungi (2). But don’t panic. Fungi in general are ubiquitous to our environment. As such, humans are constantly exposed to the associated risk. Yet for healthy humans with a normally functional immune system, serious complications caused by exposure to common fungi are uncommon. However… Children, the elderly, and people who already suffer from asthmatic or allergic conditions may experience serious complications when exposed to excessive growth of fungi.

A/C Mold – Critical Growth Requirements

Whether in your heating and cooling system or due to some other source of accumulated moisture, mold growth springs forth when the following four components come together:

TIP! Standing water around your air handler unit can cause mold accumulation and expansion. If the problem persists, contact your ACH Arizona heating and cooling service center.
  1. Mold spores are available
  2. Food for the spores is available
  3. Environmental temperatures suit spore growth
  4. And moisture accumulates.

Fungi spores range in size from 3 to 40 microns – compare to the size of human hair, which ranges from 100-150 microns. Because mold spores are ubiquitous, there is no cost-effective method for complete elimination of the colonies. Any time all three of the other components for growth are available, the food supply can consist of nearly any organic substance.

Because mold grows best in temperatures that are comfortable to humans, the battle to eliminate spores is even more complicated. Yet even temperatures near to freezing cannot deter the growth of certain molds. However, one component of the growth requirement can often be controlled by human initiative. You defensive actions can help regulate the presence of moisture that accumulates in your Arizona home and Arizona air conditioning system.

Various species of fungi may respond to different levels of moisture, but the majority of mold species require relative humidity levels of 70% or better. Thus air conditioning mold prevent involves controlling where and how cool air is disbursed. On the good side: Human beings typically prefer an environment that is far below the 70% moisture threshold. Key point in air conditioning mold prevention: Reducing the availability of moisture is the best strategy for removing and killing active mold growth colonies.

3 Practices That Aid In Your Air Conditioning Mold Prevention Efforts

•Arizona Air Conditioning Operation: Keep the fan system set on AUTO. When an A/C blower runs without ceasing, the moisture that accumulates on the cooling evaporator ends up blowing back into your home. Relative humidity increases. Dehumidification decreases. Moisture accumulates. If, when even in AUTO, your HVAC blower motor continues to run long after the compressor has shut down, contact your Arizona A/C service center. A qualified tech can often disable this feature.

TIP! When water condenses on your air conditioner, it drips into a pan and drains into the external environment. If this drain gets clogged, your home can accumulate mold-inducing moisture.

•Arizona Air Conditioning Selection: When options permit, or when necessity demands that you purchase a new Arizona home air conditioning system, choose equipment that makes us of a variable speed air handler. Demand optional features designed so that you can set the unit to a mode designed for enhanced moisture removal.

• Arizona Air Conditioner Sizing: Right-size your cooling equipment. Oversizing results in poor humidity management. Short on-cycles hinder moisture removal. For more information on A/C sizing and efficiency, read: Energy Efficient Central Air Conditioning.

 

 

 

 

1) http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/oeh/children/indoorair/mold/index.php

2) http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/buildings/basics/moldgrowth.htm

Air Conditioning Capacitor – Detect and Repair AC Capacitor

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Capacitor.

Common A/C Repair – Replacing Your Air Conditioning Capacitor

Air conditioning capacitor problems are easy to detect, test and repair. However, replacing your Heat Pump or AC capacitor is also a risky task. Capacitors store power, and even though the breakers to the heating and cooling unit are tripped and the flow of electric current through the system is disabled, a capacitor retains the power to light up your world. Two rules for dealing with A/C capacitors or any other electric motor starting capacitor:

  1. Disconnect the unit power source
  2. Discharge the capacitor.

Working with electricity can be detrimental to your health. Before touching anything inside the cover of your heating and cooling equipment, know exactly what you are doing.

TIP! Get your HVAC unit serviced yearly. During service the technician will check the motor and refill the system fluids.

Coming into simultaneous contact with two of the terminals on an air conditioning capacitor makes for dangerous discharge of electricity. Furthermore: trashing a capacitor that has not been properly discharged creates a fire hazard. Likewise, avoid placing a charged capacitor on dry grass, paper or any other combustible materials. To discharge the stored current from within an A/C or heat pump capacitor, disengage the power source and then use an insulated screwdriver to short across the terminals of the capacitor (figure 1).

Air Conditioning Capacitor Discharge 

Hot Day In Arizona – What To Do When The Air Conditioning Capacitor Quits

 When your A/C stops working, even summer fun becomes a drag. It’s hot, sweaty and nasty inside and out. Furthermore, HVAC repairs can get rather expensive. This article may help you get cool while also saving a few dollars on the repair costs. But remember: Messing with electric components is risky. Take care that you fully understand this guide and the associated warnings.

 Checking The A/C or Heat Pump Capacitor Multimeter Style

 Capacitors store electric charge and are used to maintain voltage supply and/or boost torque during device startup. HVAC systems use capacitors for both purposes. By sight and sound alone, you can make several good guesses concerning the condition of your air conditioning capacitor. However, for the final test, technicians use a multimeter (image 2). If you do know how to use a multimeter or a voltmeter, give up now and call your Arizona Air Conditioning service center. You are likely already in over your head.

 To run a multimeter test on your HVAC capacitor: Multimeter- Testing A/C Capacitor

  1. Disconnect the unit power source
  2. Discharge the capacitor
  3. Mark for location and then disconnect the wires from the capacitor’s terminals
  4. Place the leads from the multimeter on the terminals, one to each terminal
  5. The reading should be within six percent of the rating for that make and model of capacitor.

Checking The HP or A/C Capacitor Using Sight And Sound

TIP! If there’s a clicking in your HVAC unit, check for any sort of obstructions immediately. This may be because debris is restricting the movement of the fan blades.

Ok. Perhaps you aren’t ready to actually repair capacitor on your HVAC equipment, but you still want to get an idea of the problem. That’s good. It helps you make an informed price comparison. To check your unit via sight and sound, just stand near the condensing unit and listen for a humming sound while noticing if the fan is spinning or not spinning. Hum without spin likely means air conditioning capacitor problems.

A Capacitor Test That Does Not Require Use of a Multimeter

Since the A/C capacitor is designed to boost power during the system startup, it makes sense that you can provide the necessary assistance. The process is simple. If the outside A/C condensing unit is humming but the fan is not responding, you need to give the fan a kick-start. Find a long stick that will slip through the fan guard. Use something that will bend or break should the fan start turning before you get it out of the way. Now, slide the tool through the fan guard and then gently nudge one of the fan blades. It things crank up and keep going, place bets on the problem being a bad A/C start capacitor.

Bad Capacitor Sight Test Two

If you have already removed the service panel from your condensing unit, do a visual inspection of the capacitor. If the top of the component is swollen out, the capacitor is likely blown.

Choosing The Correct Replacement Component

TIP! Consider an annual service agreement for technicians to regularly inspect your AC unit. Schedule brief inspections for the winter to make sure nothing is obviously wrong.

Two points: Record both the voltage rating and the micro-farads (μF) of your current capacitor. Brand name doesn’t matter and neither (within reasonable limits) does shape and size. The existing A/C capacitor mounting brackets are typically flexible enough to accommodate various sizes and shapes. Even the component voltage voltage rating has some room for upward adjustment. However, the micro-farads (μF) must be an exact match from old to new.

As to pricing, Arizona residential HVAC units are reasonably sized and the capacitor is typically fairly cheap. For example: Pricing for the average Amana, Goodman, Rheem or Trane residential air conditioning capacitor will come in at $35.00 or less. But if all this seems a mite confusing or if messing with electrical components goes against your grain, Arizona-based American Cooling and Heating is ready, 24/7, to service your home or office HVAC equipment. And ACH prices are more than reasonable.

 

AC Repair In AZ

Air Conditioning Troubleshooting In Arizona – Resolving Common AC Problems

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in AC Repair, Air Conditioning.

Air Conditioning Troubleshooting For The Arizona Home Handyman

Air conditioning troubleshooting can sometimes be very simple, but if your problem dips into the core of HVAC functionality, consider hiring out the task to a licensed Arizona A/C professional. Basic air conditioning repairs are rather inexpensive; and if the problem requires extensive heating and cooling equipment replacement, you won’t waste money on guesswork solutions.

However, the Arizona homArizona Air Conditioning Troubleshootinge handyman can resolve some common heating and cooling problems without need of equipment expertise. You start by recognizing that various HVAC failures often link to the same type of system malfunction. This A/C troubleshooting tip sheet addresses the simplistic side of heating and cooling troubleshooting and repair.

Air Conditioning Troubleshooting of Basic Cold Air Issues

When home A/C systems fail to deliver cold air, Arizona homeowners get excited. This country is no place for faulty air conditioning equipment. So let’s look at the basic problems that can keep your cooling system from delivering cool air. The list is divided into two categories:

  1. Inside the House
  2. AND Outside the House.
TIP! If your home gets hot in the Arizona summer temperatures and you’d like to reduce the demand on your air conditioning equipment,  consider installing an insulated metal roof system. It reflects the heat right back up into the sky, allowing your home to gain less heat on sunny days.

A/C Troubleshooting Inside the House

1) Clogged filter

A clogged air filter is simple to fix, yet remains a common in-home heating and cooling complication. Although most homeowners can easily change the heating and cooling filter system, they often tend to neglect simple filter maintenance. Yet a clogged air conditioning filter chokes the airflow through the condenser fins associated with the inside furnace. When your system cannot “breath,” the coil freezes over. To prevent filter clogging, clean or replace your system filter at least once a month.

If a dirty filter causes your unit to freeze up, replace or clean the filter and then thaw the unit by powering down for several hours or until the ice melts. Tip it. Remember: A/C equipment does not cool the home but rather it removes the heated air from inside the home. When your air conditioning system pulls the steamy Arizona air out of your home, it sifts that air through the coolant-filled condenser fins, resulting in hot air displaced by cold air.

TIP! The best Arizona HVAC contractors provide a number for emergency services that are available to call 24 hours of the day.  Don’t get caught without help during a weekend heatwave.

2. Clogged Condenser Fins

On the slightly more complex side of air conditioning troubleshooting, the inside condenser fins can also become clogged with debris. This is typically due to inadequate care of the filter system, but can also be a direct result of a passing Arizona dust storm and an improperly sealed home. Regardless of the cause, cleaning the condenser fins becomes a necessary repair process. Although some homeowners have been known to use a toothbrush as a cleaning tool, specially designed “fin brushes” will do a better job with less risk of damage to the fins.

3. Low Coolant

Low A/C coolant implies significant equipment problems. To check the coolant level, pickup a set of pressure gauges and measure setting according to the documentation of your unit. However, if you are tempted to do some backdoor buying to recharge your leaky unit, don’t go there. First off: Your air conditioning system is designed as a self-contained cooling system. This means that leaks are not normal. Second, to buy and work with A/C coolant legally, you need an EPA license. So call your local Arizona A/C Repair center. The cost for repairing the leak and recharging the system will vary, but here is a basic price guideline:

  • $ 50 – Typical HVAC home service call* (Often applied to the cost of system repair)
  • $120 – Typical flat-price covering first 3 pounds of coolant*
  • $ 50 – Base price per pound for anything over 3 pounds*

Variable expenses include the time involved for tracking down and repairing the leak as well as the cost of replacement parts. For example: A new evaporator coil can start around $350*, and the repair can get rather expensive. Yet it only takes a few years of yearly freon cap-offs to exceed the price of a permanent repair. So why be uncomfortable when a repair is the best way to handle any form of air conditioning coolant leak?

TIP! If you are buying a new HVAC unit, make sure that the one you choose fits your home. American Cooling and Heating will inspect your home and your duct work before they install a new unit.

4. Condenser Fan Motor

If all else is set correctly, including the inside thermostat, yet the inside unit fails to come on, check the condenser fan motor. Some problems are as simple as loose wires. But even if the wire connections are burned, the average Arizona home handyman can handle the repair.

 

Air Conditioning Troubleshooting Outside Your Home

1. Lack of Power

Before checking any other possibilities, ensure that power is reaching your outside A/C condensing unit. Start by checking the breakers both at the mains and at the breaker box located adjacent to your outside system. In the event that a breaker is melted, fused or reveals a loose wire, call an electrician. Even if you can replace a breaker on your own, home and personal safety demands that you uncover the cause of the failure.

2. Faulty Contactor

When standing near your outside air conditioning equipment, do you hear a loud buzzing noise. If so, consider replacing the unit contactor. The process is as follows:

  1. Cut power to the system
  2. Remove the cover panel located on the backside of the condensing unit
  3. Restore power and locate, without touching any components, the source of the buzzing noise (Typically the contactor has the appearance of a piston enclosed in a box)
  4. Turn the power back off
  5. Use an Ohm-meter to ensure that the flow of electricity has ceased
  6. Remove the contractor
  7. Mark the wire leads and then disconnect
  8. Install a new contactor
  9. Reconnect the wires
  10. Re-assemble the cover
  11. Restore system power.
TIP! Before hiring any HVAC company to install, maintain or repair your Arizona home unit, ask for evidence of insurance.

3. Outside Condenser Fan

For safety purposes, it might be better if you hire a local A/C service professional to service your outside unit. The process of determining the functionality of your outside condenser fan is beyond the scope of this article. However, assuming that you have the electrical expertise to test the fan, replacement, if necessary, is very simple. Just:

  1. Disable power to the system
  2. Remove the top component of the outside A/C housing
  3. Label the wires attached to the system fan, and then disconnect the fan
  4. Clean the connections
  5. Re-assemble the unit replacing the faulty fan with a new fan f. Restore power.
TIP! For top deals on Arizona air conditioning installation and equipment, contact American Cooling and Heating.  And remember, Air Conditioning Troubleshooting is sometimes simple and sometimes difficult.

 

 

* All prices are based upon 2014 industry averages and may vary from region to region.

 

Disclaimer:

  1. Maintenance must be performed by an authorized American Cooling and Heating HVAC technician.
  2. The contents in this article reflect accumulated data from various sources. ACH cannot and does not accept any legal responsibility to any person in respect of anything or the consequences of any reader responses, actions or lack of actions associated with reliance upon the whole or any part of this article and its content. All trademarks, logos, and associated content displayed are the property of their respective owners.

 

Rheem Air Conditioning – Offering Copeland® Compliant Scroll® Compressor Air Conditioning Solutions

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Air Conditioning, Copeland Scroll Compressors.

rheem-air-conditioning-heat-pump-condensing-unitsRheem Air Conditioning Division and the 1994 Adoption of Copeland® Compliant Scroll® Compressor Technology

The Rheem Air Conditioning Division operates from three facilities in the United States, all ISO 9000 certified and all in the lower states of the nation. Shipping throughout North American and other world regions, the full line of commercial and residential Rheem heating and cooling products come out of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Greenville, Alabama and Milledgeville, Georgia. The Rheem Manufacturing distribution network includes more than 15,000 locations throughout the world. Brand labels applied to Rheem heating and cooling products include: Rheem, Ruud and WeatherKing. The company currently employees approximately 3,500 direct workers.

Designed to ensure customer satisfaction, Rheem air conditioning products are designed to meet or exceed industry standards. And Rheem, as a company, is always seeking to grow and improve their product lines. For years, the Rheem Manufacturing Company A/C division has been making bold headlines in the realm of air conditioning technology. In December of 1998, the company released a press release declaring installation of over three million Copeland® Compliant Scroll® Compressors. Today, Rheem includes the Copeland as a standard component of every Rheem-crafted residential condensing unit.

Identified among the quietest, most durable condensing compressors on the market, Scroll compressors enhance home comfort for millions of Americans and residents throughout the world. According to William Lux, Rheem Vice President Marketing, “Compliant Scroll Compressors use an advanced orbiting technology that eliminates the need for pistons and valves found in old-fashioned reciprocating compressors,” (1). Mr Lux addresses the Copland Scroll as the “…most efficient compressor technology ever invented.” And we all know that efficient performance reduces the demand for HVAC maintenance calls.

It was in 1987 when Copeland first introduced the Compliant Scroll Compressors. By 1988, the Rheem air conditioning division accepted the performance tests and began installing the advanced Copeland compressors into residential heating and cooling equipment. The product was extremely successful, and in 1994 Rheem Manufacturing adopted an “all-scroll” initiative. The “Scroll Inside™” label is now a registered trademark of Rheem Manufacturing Company.Copeland Scroll Compressor

Simplicity is the core of the product’s success. Scroll technology incorporates two scroll-shaped elements that work to compress refrigerant gas in a reliable and continuous fashion. Gas entering from the outside of the scroll is regulated in a series of sealed crescent-shaped pockets that are form when the orbiting element contacts the stationary scroll. The process continues and the pockets grow progressively smaller as they near the center of the compressing cycle. The gas is continuously compressed right up to the moment of discharge.

According to the Copleland Director of Air Conditioning Marketing, Brandy Powell, the patented Copeland compliance process functions on a concept wherein two scroll components interact to consecutively achieve radial and axial compliance for best efficiency and durability. The advantages are as follows:

  • Minimized Gas Leakage – Applied centrifugal force enables the technology to achieve continuous flank contact, which assures maximum effective performance with minimum gas leakage.
  • Improved Reliability – Applied radial compliance between components enables the process to effectively, reliably and durably separate the presence of debris and/or liquid refrigerant.
  • Elimination of Tip Seals – By enabling the scroll to maintain continuous contact during all normal processes, applied axial compliance reduces leakage without need for tip seals.
  • Wear In Performance – Both the axial and the radial elements of the compliance process enable the scroll components to “wear in” as opposed to wearing out.

 

Rheem Air Conditioning Technology Always On The Move

Just because it was way back in 1994 when Rheem first adopted the all-inclusive Copeland® Compliant Scroll® Compressor Technology program, don’t think the company isn’t daily state-of-the-art. Here are just a few simple headlines to help you keep perspective (2):

* July 31, 2013 – Under the Rheem and the Ruud brands, the Rheem Air Conditioning division debuts a new gas furnace line capable of delivering efficiencies that exceed 98 percent AFUE.

* December 4, 2013 – Rheem expands heating, cooling and pool/spa product options and services by acquiring Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG) and the associated refrigeration equipment technological opportunities.

* February 26, 2014 – U.S. Senator Shelby visits local Rheem water Heating Manufacturing Facility. Finding ways to enhance the community job market and the environment remains a priority with the Rheem air conditioning division.

 

Maintenance Services: 10-Percent Discount On All ACH Maintenance Services

Even the best HVAC equipment in the world requires maintenance. As your Rheem air conditioning system ages, components fail and efficiency tumbles. American Cooling and Heating is here to offer you 24/7 A/C installation, services, repairs and maintenance. If you haven’t yet taken care of your equipment, now is the time to take advantage of our

10-Percent Discount On All American Cooling and Heating Maintenance Services.

Offer good from now to June 13, 2014.

We also provide:

  • Installation on all major brands of heating and cooling equipment
  • Support based on your individual needs
  • Custom ductwork
  • Oil to gas conversions
  • Free estimates
  • AND more.

For more information on Rheem air conditioning, click here.

 

Disclaimer: This article and its content do not constitute legal, financial, technical, or medical advice. While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that this document is correct at the time of publication, the company and its employees and agents disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect of anything or the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done in reliance upon the whole or any part of this article and its content. All trademarks, logos, and associated content displayed are the property of their respective owners. 

1)      http://yaunco.com/ycreport/may99noframe/scroll.html

2)      http://www.rheem.com/products/heating_and_cooling/news

 

 

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