Serving All Of Oregon
This blog post could easily be titled A Lesson on How Refrigerant Works.
Because that’s what we’re here to talk about–a common refrigerant myth that far too many homeowners believe, and a myth that could be costing you hundreds in repairs. Read on as we give you a quick rundown of what refrigerant actually is, what myth surrounds it, and why this all matters!
Air conditioning repair is one of those services that you hope you never need, but know that inevitably, you will. And it’s not a service you want to wait on scheduling when you need it.
And here we are, in the time of the year that air conditioners suffer the most because of all the work they go through in the summer time. Trust us when we say, the longer you wait to have your air conditioner repaired, the more of a possibility there is that you’ll shorten the lifespan of your AC.
Of course, in order to get repairs done right away, you have to know the signs that you even need repairs, right? Well, read on! Below, we’ve uncovered some of the most common AC repair needs that homeowners face each summer, and the signs that it’s time for you to call an HVAC pro.
We’ll start off by saying, we totally get it. The temptation to install your own air conditioner is strong—especially when it will cost you less, right?
But unless it’s a window AC unit or a portable air conditioning system, we really do urge you to reconsider. The fact of the matter is, there are intricate steps involved that can be missed if the installation is not done by a professional, which can lead to catastrophic problems such as refrigerant leaks, inefficient operation, or even a compressor failure.
Overall, AC systems are highly complex, and require trained and experienced professionals to work with. Of course, if you’re shopping for an air conditioner in June, chances are you want to get one before summer starts in earnest. Rushing into a large investment such as this can leave you sacrificing your comfort and efficiency, however. Read on as we outline just why AC installation is not a DIY project.
Here at Comfort Flow, our goal is to help our customers be as comfortable as possible, while doing so efficiently. In our last blog post, we cited some methods to do just this. One of the ideas we shared was in regards to good thermostat placement. A thermostat placed directly where sunlight hits, or in a secluded and cool area of your home, will not help your cooling efficiency.
In addition to thermostat placement, you’d do well to consider your thermostat settings. When you understand the best way to set an program your thermostat, you’ll be able to use your air conditioner in a way that will save you money on your cooling bills, while still keeping your household comfortable.
Link back to last blog post—refer to proper thermostat placement but also how thermostat settings play a role. Read on to learn more!
Summertime is right around the corner, and while it doesn’t get as boiling hot here as it does in other parts of the country, we certainly do get some good use out of our air conditioners. Therefore, don’t you want yours to work as efficiently as possible? Boosting and maintaining AC efficiency is the only way to make sure your energy bills don’t skyrocket this year.
Of course, our #1 efficiency tip for homeowners is always to make sure they’re keeping up on their professional maintenance appointments, otherwise known as tune-ups. During a tune-up, our technicians thoroughly clean your system inside and out, inspect it and check if anything needs adjustment, and look for areas that may need repairs so you can get that on your schedule right away. If you haven’t scheduled your annual AC maintenance session yet this year, it’s not too late! Give us a call today.
In the meantime, read on for some more great tips on boosting AC efficiency.
Temperatures tend to stay pretty cool in our area, but if you’ve lived here for very long you know we can be surprised by some fairly hot days in the summertime! Is your air conditioner ready for this change in the weather?
Now is the best time of the year to schedule your air conditioner’s annual maintenance session—or biannual, if you have a year-round heat pump system.
There are a few maintenance tasks you can complete on your own, like swapping out your air filter every 1-3 months and clearing away any obstructions around the outdoor unit. But a full inspection that includes adjusting and cleaning the interior of your air conditioner should be left to the pros.
It may not seem like it now, but summer really is right around the corner. Warmer temperatures can and have snuck up on us—is your air conditioner ready? If you’re unsure, it’s time to check and see if your cooling system is, in fact, ready to get you through another warm season.
Maintenance and timely repairs, of course, are key to ensuring this is the case. But what if you have an older system? If your air conditioner is 10-15 years old and you’ve practically run it into the ground, chances are you’ll do better with a replacement rather than a repair.
Unsure? Read on to discover a few methods to determine if you’re in need of an AC replacement.
When you envision your air conditioning system, you probably think about the single, large outdoor unit, and network of ducts, in addition to the indoor unit. But your central air conditioner is so much more than just these three parts. Think about it—you have your thermostat, you have electrical components, you have refrigerant, your air filter, the blower fan, and most importantly, the compressor!
When it comes to heating and cooling your home, wouldn’t it be great if there was an effective way to do so from just one system? Well, there is! A ductless system, also called a ductless mini-split or a ductless heat pump, is becoming the preferred option for a number of homeowners throughout the communities we serve, and for good reason.
They’re great for keeping your home warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer. So, if you’re looking to replace your air conditioner and your heater isn’t doing so hot either, consider going ductless!
With the way technology is advancing, there may be a time in the not too far off future that air conditioners will have some component that allows them to self-diagnose when something is wrong, and alert us via an app on our own. It’s really not too far-fetched of an idea when you think about it. But alas, it’s simply not a reality yet.
In the meantime, we have to rely on our senses to detect when something is amiss with our cooling systems. If you feel a drop in cooling power, or see an unexplained spike in your energy bills, this can indicate a problem. Or you may see that your circuit breakers for the system’s indoor and outdoor units are constantly tripping.
Another very common indicator that something is wrong with an air conditioner is the presence of strange noises. And by strange noises, we mean anything out of the ordinary humming or faint clicking you hear as your cooling system operates. So, what sort of noises should you listen for, and what do they mean?
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