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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.

 

Mesa AC Installation and AC Sales Company Announces Mesa Air Conditioning Buyer’s Guide

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Mesa Air Conditioning, Press Release.

American Cooling and Heating today released hidden bonuses in a new Mesa Air Conditioning Buyer’s Guide disclosing 5 tips to help homeowners reap best performance from a new AC installation.

 “The tips are for everyone, but this 10% Discount On HVAC Maintenance Services* are for regional Mesa Arizona homeowners.”

Today American Cooling and Heating reaches out to Mesa AC installation or Air Conditioning services customers by embedding a 10% discount on all ACH performed HVAC maintenance services within article content designed to help everyone make more informed A/C buying decisions. The primary article covers five important aspects of the cooling equipment buyer-decision:

  1. Unit Sizing
  2. System Efficiency
  3. Hardcopy Quotes
  4. Moisture Management
  5. AND Right-sizing tonnage to SEER.

You don’t have to live in Mesa Arizona to make use of this Mesa Air Conditioning buyer’s guide. However, as a special promotion to Mesa residents, from now until July 9th, 2014 American Cooling and Heating is giving a “10% Discount On HVAC Maintenance Services*” to Mesa, AZ homeowners. So make it happen. The ACH 24/7 HVAC service team is on-call, stocked for repairs, and ready to roll into your neighborhood.

Mesa Air Conditioning From A Reliable Local Company

American Cooling and Heating is licensed, bonded and insured for HVAC installation and services in Phoenix and most other regions of Arizona. Company services include: Expert AC installation/replacement of Carrier, Goodman, Amana, Rheem, Trane, Lennox, Ruud, York, and all major brands and types of Air Conditioning and Heat Pump units. Service areas include: Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, and all surrounding areas in Arizona.

“We sell all brands of air conditioning and heat pumps, and our HVAC service teams can quickly and efficiently perform Air Conditioning and Heat Pump replacement in any service-area home,” Scot Morgan.

From now until July 9th, 2014 American Cooling and Heating is giving a “10% Price Reduction On HVAC Maintenance Services*” to Mesa, AZ residents who own their home. Plus: All AC installation and service work performed by American Cooling and Heating is 100% Workmanship Guaranteed. For more information on Mesa air conditioning pricing and installation, click here.

 

 

*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.

 

 

 

 

Mesa Air Conditioning Buying – 5 Air Conditioning Buying Tips

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in HVAC Sales, Mesa Air Conditioning.

Goodman Air Conditioning On Sale NowMesa Air Conditioning Buyer’s Guide – Getting The Best In A/C Installation As Well As Performance

You don’t have to live in Mesa Arizona to make use of this Mesa Air Conditioning buyer’s guide. However, as a special promotion to Mesa residents, from now until July 9th, 2014 American Cooling and Heating is giving a “10% Discount On HVAC Maintenance Services*” to Mesa, AZ homeowners. So make it happen. The ACH 24/7 HVAC service team is on-call, stocked for repairs, and ready to roll into your neighborhood.

Meantime, the following Air Conditioning and Heat Pump buyer-tips can help every homeowner get the right product for the right price and backed by the right A/C installation team.

Make Quick, Simple, Reliable HVAC Buying Decisions

 

1) Unit Sizing

Avoid HVAC contractors who size units according to floor area alone. It takes about an hour for an A/C technician to match a structure’s cooling needs to the guidelines established by Manual J of the ACCA (Air Conditioner Contractors of America). Measurements must include window space, wall space, and the total area of ceiling space, as well as floor area. All new A/C installation estimates performed by American Cooling and Heating also take into account:

  • Homeowner comments and suggestions
  • The efficiency and effectiveness of the existing attic, crawlspace and wall insulation
  • Number of occupants living in the home
  • Latent cooling load (humidity of the air)Mesa Air Conditioning At ACH
  • Sensible cooling load (best air temperature for your home)
  • The average daily indoor and outdoor temperatures, and shade areas
  • The color of the roof on the home
  • AND more.

 

2) Mesa Air Conditioning System Efficiency

Spend a few dollars more and up the efficiency of your system. New federal regulations demand that all new A/C systems rate 13-SEER or higher. However, the improved Return on Investment (ROI) in energy savings makes it well worth exceeding 13-SEER. Ask your American Cooling and Heating HVAC estimator to point you toward any current ACH “FREE” system upgrade plans. And be sure you stick with ENERGY STAR labeled systems. Saving a penny on a less efficient heat pump or A/C unit is not worth what you loose by stepping out from beneath the ENERGY STAR umbrella of performance commitment.

 

3) Hardcopy Quotes

Springing for the lowest bid can lead to missing paperwork and quoted cooling load calculations that don’t include all of the ACCA “Manual J” configurations. Get everything in writing and get it in advance of paying for the job. Sure some papers may have to wait until after the service is completed for the final signing, but that should not prevent your HVAC contractor from presenting you with up-front copies.

 

4) Moisture Management

Air Conditioning condensers and Heat Pumps are similar in cooling function, but the moisture handling efficiency varies between models. The American Cooling and Heating technical team will suggest an air conditioning system that best suits the regional climate for Mesa, or any other specific area of Arizona.

 

5) Avoid Over-Sizing

Although tonnage and SEER share some points in common, increasing the A/C SEER rating is not the same as increasing the system tonnage. Take care that your Mesa Air Conditioning installation does not include a system that is oversized for your home.

According to Home Energy Saver, better than 1/3 of the installed home air conditioning systems are oversized and less efficient than is to be expected (1). Contractors, they say, often tend to oversize units by as much as 1/2 ton or more. This causes the units to turn on and off more often than necessary, and perform poorly as a dehumidifier. For the homeowner, it means:

  • Higher electric bills
  • AND A reduced level of home comfort.

 

Mesa Air Conditioning From A Reliable Local Company

American Cooling and Heating provides valley-wide air conditioning and heating services for residential, commercial and industrial customers. The company has outlets and offices in various Phoenix metro regions, including outlets for Mesa Air Conditioning installation. ACH installs and services air handlers, furnaces, heat pumps, refrigeration, air conditioning condensing units and other HVAC equipment. Licensed, bonded and insured for HVAC installation and services, ACH carries a standing A+ rating with the Arizona BBB. Products sold, installed and serviced included Amana, Carrier, Goodman, Trane and more.

And remember: From now until July 9th, 2014 American Cooling and Heating is giving a “10% Discount On HVAC Maintenance Services*” to Mesa, AZ residents who own their home. Plus: All HVAC installation and service work performed by American Cooling and Heating is 100% Workmanship Guaranteed. For more information on Mesa Air Conditioning buyer options, click here.

 

 

 

*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.

 

 

 

1) http://www.homeenergysaver.lbl.gov/consumer/help-popup/content/~consumer~nrr~air-conditioner

 

 

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

 

 

HVAC Maintenance and Repair: Tips by Gilbert AZ HVAC Service Center ACH

Written by Rm Harrington on . Posted in Heating, Maintenance.

Gilbert AZ HVAC ServicesEstablishing a simple and doable Gilbert AZ HVAC preventative home maintenance plan ensures that your heating system remains in top shape. Basic heat pump or furnace upkeep demands one to three hours per year in personal effort and routine filter replacements ranging from $40 to $100 in costs.

According to the ten-day forecast from Weather Underground, current Gilbert, AZ nighttime lows ranging between 45°F and 51°F remain in effect. It’s going to get worse and the demand on your home heating system will increase. This means a jump in the cost of staying comfortable on the inside of your home.

But you can reduce the cost for Gilbert AZ HVAC operations and repairs.

The team at American Cooling and Heating recommends a professional inspection at the beginning of spring and at the beginning of fall. Heavy-duty HVAC maintenance and repair involves opening the primary system, inspecting and cleaning the wiring, the mechanisms of the unit and examining the condition of the duct system. It’s usually a bit more than the typical Gilbert homeowner should attempt. But that doesn’t prevent you from practicing basic cooling and heating and preventative home maintenance.

Prolong the life of your Gilbert AZ HVAC system. Apply the following energy efficiency best practices for extended life and better service from your heating and cooling equipment.

Standards for Routine HVAC Maintenance and Repair

Whether heating and cooling with a dual-stage power-efficiency Trane XL20i heat pump or an Amana premium packaged dual-fuel gas and heat pump system, effective preventive home maintenance of your Gilbert AZ HVAC demands certain immediate actions:

  • Buy and install a pleated, high-efficiency air filter
  • Maintain a clear airflow path around your outdoor heat pump or AC system
  • Control the accumulation of grass, leaves or any other loose substances or materials that can hinder the performance of your external units.

Additional energy efficiency best practices include monthly and seasonal maintenance. Upgrading your HVAC filter system to a pleated unit with electrostatic particle management only works if the remains unclogged by pet hair, dust or other obstacles. Inspect the filter monthly. Replace it every ninety days regardless of appearance. Additional seasonal HVAC maintenance and repair practices include:

  • Checking the visible refrigerant lines for damaged insulation
  • Cutting off the water supply to the furnace humidifier during the summer
  • Replacement of the humidifier filter and engaging the water supply during the winter.

Following up on the immediate and the seasonal, make sure your Gilbert AZ HVAC inspection, maintenance and repair program includes annual servicing. Along with scheduling heating and cooling preventive home maintenance from American Cooling and Heating, here are some annual energy efficiency best practices that you can handle yourself:

  • Inspect the balance of the outdoor units to ensure that erosion has not caused the pads to become unleveled
  • Inspect your in-home registers to ensure that they are blocked or closed thus placing unnecessary strain on your heat pump, ac or furnace system
  • Prevent excess buildup of algae and mold by pouring a mixture of bleach and water down the inside condensate drain.

As a final step, replace the battery in your carbon monoxide detector. While you are at it, replace the batteries in your fire alarms. The U.S. Consumer product safety commission reports an estimate of 14,000 CO poisoning incidents during 2009. The average yearly CO poisoning death rate falls on 14 people per year. Don’t be one of the few.

American Cooling and Heating For Reliable Gilbert AZ HVAC Services

ACH provides 24/7 emergency Gilbert AZ HVAC maintenance and repair services. The company installs all major brands of heating and cooling equipment. For more information, click here.

 

 

 

  1. http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/US/AZ/Gilbert.html
  2. http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Research–Statistics/Carbon-Monoxide

 

 

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