Air conditioning Archives - Page 2 of 4

August 11, 2017

Quick AC Tips Before You Call a Service Pro

Some of us depend on central air conditioning so much that at the first time of trouble we’re on the phone asking for help. “Come quick, my AC isn’t working!” Trust us, we get calls like that every day. Not that we’re not grateful, mind you, but many such calls can be avoided – and money saved – when cooler heads prevail.

Got that phone in your hand even now? In that case, we invite you to put it down just long enough to finish reading this blog.

Thermostat Issues

If your AC system were a plane or boat and you were the captain, your place would be at the thermostat, your system’s command center. Keep that in mind the next time the cool air stops flowing since the problem could be as simple as someone accidentally turning the “cool” air off or to “heat”. Or, if the settings seem accurate but temperatures are still soaring, hopefully the only problem is with the thermostat, and no other part of the system.

Condenser Obstructions

For maximum efficiency, your outdoor condenser should be free of leaves, grass, toys, or anything else that can effectively restrict airflow. So, when the cool air heats up, look outdoors to see if a good pruning, etc., can free up your condensing unit to operate as efficiently as it was designed to do so.

Dirty Air Filters

Let’s say you’re faithful as can be in having your AC system professionally cleaned and inspected once a year. Which means, after that, you can just leave everything alone and go on your merry way, right? Wrong! Your AC filter needs to be cleaned or replaced, on average, every two weeks. Otherwise, it will become clogged with dirt, dust, and other debris, and nothing good – including cool, comfortable air – can come from that.

Yes, one of our goals is to help you enjoy cool, comfortable air as affordably as possible all cooling season long. And yet sooner or later, you’re bound to run into a repair problem that requires professional assistance, and whether that time is now or later, Absolute Air is ready and able to provide exactly the right solution, and always with a guaranteed upfront price quote. Contact us today or anytime for the service you need, when you need it.

July 28, 2017

Signs That You May Need Duct Sealing

Duct work is one of the three main components of your home air conditioning system. The other two are the outdoor condensing unit and indoor air handler. The latter two typically share one big thing in common: more often than not, they’re located in the attic.

That means, in turn, that you have to out of your way to see either. This blog is all about encouraging you to do just that. For starters, you should clean or replace your AC filter about every two weeks, there’s one reason to climb those attic stairs.

And now for the other and the main point of this blog: keeping an eye on your ductwork. Your air duct system is probably made of sheet metal (although fiber glass is increasingly being used) and held together by screws. That means it’s a lot like your outdoor gutters, and air ducts and gutters alike are prone to leaks in the joints, fittings, and seams.

While duct leaks aren’t always easy to spot, there are other signs that some amount of separation has occurred causing conditioned air to escape into your attic and outdoors where it does you no good at all.

Here’s what to look out for:

Reduced comfort – If you have to lower the thermostat to enjoy the kind of comfort you’re accustomed to, leaky air ducts are one possible cause.
Increased energy costs – As air escapes through a fitting or seam, more energy is consumed to keep you cool, thus driving up your utility costs.
Poor indoor air quality – Even as conditioned air is escaping to parts unknown, airborne pollutants like dust, dirt, bacteria, mold and mildew are finding their way inside. From there, it’s a short distance to your living spaces and, ultimately, your lungs.
Reduced safety – The fumes from gas furnaces, wood stoves, and other household appliances also can get pulled into your ductwork when not properly sealed. That leads to more health risks and the possibility of a fire.

If “things” just don’t feel right with your air conditioning or forced air heating system, contact Absolute Air so we can accurately diagnose the problem. And that includes inspecting your ductwork for possible air leaks. If that turns out to be the problem, we’ll professionally seal your ducts once you approve our guaranteed upfront price quote.

May 12, 2017

What to Do When Your Air Conditioner Freezes Up!

Imagine you’re having an outdoor cookout in the middle of summer, and two things happen simultaneously, both involving ice. First, you run out of ice to serve your guests, so someone has to dash off to purchase more. But as you’re pulling out of your driveway, something catches an eye. An oddity, if you will. And even though you see it, you don’t believe it. So you put your car in park, get out, and go have a look for yourself.

Sure enough, you’re outdoor central AC unit is caked in ice. If this has happened to you for the very first time, backyard cookout or not, trust the fact it’s not the first time we’ve seen it. More importantly, we know exactly what to do to correct the problem.

Still, this is one you might be able to fix on your own. If your AC unit is still frozen, shut it off and allow it to cool completely. Next, go check out your system’s filter, very likely in your attic since that’s where most air handlers are installed, and the air handler is where you’ll find the filter. If it’s chock full of dirt, dust, and other particles, it immediately needs to be cleaned or replaced. Doing so will once again facilitate the kind of airflow necessary to allow your system to work at peak efficiency without freezing up.

Other than poor airflow, outdoor condensing units can freeze up when operating in cooler temperatures. If that’s happened to your system before, you should consider installing an ambient temperature control that allows the unit to run properly when the temperature drops.

And, when all else fails, we won’t! We’re Absolute Air, your local full-service heating, air conditioning, and electrical service company. When it comes to your central AC system, we repair all makes and models, and every conceivable repair problem, including when it freezes up. Contact us now to learn more or schedule service.

March 23, 2017

5 Benefits of an Annual AC Inspection

By and large, people hate spending money on insurance, even though insurance comes in many different forms. The problem with the traditional kind, however – take auto insurance, for example – is that you can’t touch, see or feel it, but it still costs an arm and a leg. And the only time it does you any good? Right: when something goes wrong.

Then there are other kinds of insurance, such as preventative maintenance for your central air conditioning system. At its core, its purpose is to prevent costly repair problems. But unlike an extended warranty or traditional insurance policy, AC preventative maintenance is a process undertaken inside and outside your home by the skilled, experienced, and licensed HVAC technicians here at Absolute Air.

In addition to preventing repair problems, our preventative maintenance service can deliver these key benefits:

Longer system lifespan
Cleaner indoor air
Reduced indoor humidity
Added safety for your family

That’s a lot of value for a very affordable service. Come to think of it, we see it as the most value-rich AC service we offer.

Still not convinced? Well, let’s say you recently purchased a new AC system, one that’s still under warranty. Failure to have preventative maintenance performed by a qualified HVAC technician could nullify that warranty, an important type of insurance in its own right.

So, for all the right reasons, we invite you to contact Absolute Air today to schedule our AC preventative maintenance service. It’s the best you to – you guessed it – ensure a summer’s worth of cool, comfortable indoor conditions.

August 16, 2016

How to Stay Cool During a Power Outage

blog When you think about the prospect of a summer outage and how to prepare should one occur, one can easily get overwhelmed with thoughts of how long will it last? Should we pack up and find a place to stay or tough it out at home? What about the food – will it spoil and how long does that take? And on and on it goes.

Well, another byproduct of a summer power outage is losing our air conditioning. How long it might last is anyone’s guess. But isn’t better to prepare in advance for an extended power outage than no power outage at all?

So, from your friends at Absolute Air, here are some effective ways to keep cool should you lose your AC – however temporarily – for any reason at all, including a system breakdown:

Sleeping: If you are without power, simply hang your sheets and blankets in the coolest part of the house until bedtime. Allowing air to circulate around the sheets will keep them cool, so hang them up in the basement, a closet, or even in the shade of a tree until bedtime.

Stay hydrated: Drinking a glass of water can keep your body cool for up to an hour. Be sure to drink even if you aren’t thirsty, and remember that the body loses a lot of water through sweating. Other ways to cool off are with a sprinkler, misting fan, or putting your feet in cold water.

Change your diet: Eat spicy food when the AC is off – are we crazy? Not at all. Because doing wo will make you perspire, and perspiration helps you cool off. In times of no AC, you’ll also want to load up on fruits and vegetables which are natural sources of water and electrolytes.

Cool the house: Keep the house cool by keeping the shades closed, lights off, and cook on the grill, with a crockpot, or enjoy take out. Anything to keep from adding heat to your home!

Circulate the air: Let’s say your AC is down because of a repair issue, and not a power outage. What other means do you have of cooling your house? How about a cold air return system which pulls the air from the cool basement into the house? An attic fan also can quickly pull the hot air up through the house, pulling in cooler air behind it. If the electricity is temporarily out you can still move air the old fashion way. No, not by having the kids fan you! Hot air rises, so opening the top half of the windows can vent out the warm air forcing the cool air from other parts of the house to replace it.

Doesn’t sound like much fun, does it? Well, while we certainly hope you’re never without central air, sooner or later it’s bound to happen. And when it does for reasons other than a power outage, you can count on Absolute Air to restore your cool, comfortable air promptly and reliably. Just like always.

August 9, 2016

How to Reduce Stress on Your AC System

At least in one very important way, you and your AC system are a lot alike: the less stress you’re under, the better and more productively you’re likely to perform.

And while you may be looking for some tips on personal stress relief, that’s a blog for another time. Today, we’d like to offer you several useful and effective tips for reducing stress on your AC system so it will last longer and serve you better with fewer repair problems along the way:

Keep your home as dark as possible and practical during AC system operation. By doing so, you’re lessening the amount of heat it has to disperse.

The less you use your stove and oven during the summer months, the less stress on your AC system.

Shore up any gaps in your insulation, caulking and weather stripping so cool air isn’t allowed to escape, and hot outdoor air isn’t allowed to enter.

When running your dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, always run a full load. That reduces the amount of time you’ll use these appliances, and that means less internal heat.

If you’ve been thinking about painting or siding the outside of your home, think “light colors”. Darker colors attract more sun and heat.

Install one or more ceiling fans to push the cool air back down, thus enabling you to stay cool at higher thermostat settings.

Invest in one or more programmable thermostats, especially if your house is empty for long periods of time during the day. That way your home will be nice and cool when you return without wasting gobs of energy while you’re away.

Another great way to minimize the stress on your AC system is with annual preventative maintenance, a specialty of the house here at Absolute Air. At your request, we’ll come out and perform our multi-point tune-up and inspection to ensure its more effective operation while also helping you enjoy reduced electricity bills and a safer home environment.

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Category: Air conditioning