Raleigh Summer Air Conditioner Inspection Tips
It’s that time of the year! The temperatures are reaching near boiling point in some places, and we’re definitely ready to take our air conditioners out of retirement. For some, their air conditioner hasn’t been turned on since last summer. That means they haven’t been inspected through the winter’s potential damaging weather. Prior to turning on your air conditioner for the summer, you’ll want to have a Raleigh air conditioner inspection before turning on this system. This will guarantee that your HVAC system works efficiently and correctly, without doing any further damage.
Visual Inspection
Before turning on your air conditioner, do a cursory examination of the outside unit (aka the compressor). If you have a wall/window air conditioner, do the same. Take a brief visual air conditioner inspection to see if there is any blatant physical damage to the unit. Look for obstructions caused be vegetation overgrowth. Any obstructions can prevent your system from working correctly or at peak efficiency. Also, make sure there are no nests that have been settled in on your equipment. Search for any significantly flattened aluminum fins. If they’re minimally flattened you should be okay. However, anything more than that and you’ll want to call in a technician to service your unit. Lastly, check for damaged power cables. If cables are damaged, you’ll want to replace them completely, rather than repair them. Air conditioners require a lot of power to run properly, and a damaged cord/cable can overheat and cause further damage.
Clean The Unit and Filters
Outdoor air conditioners can be cleaned with a hose and some detergent. Many people make the mistake of using a pressure washer to accomplish this; however, using a pressure washer may cause damage to certain sensitive pieces of equipment and it could also cause water to get in areas where it shouldn’t. Window units can be wiped down manually. You can use a vacuum with a brush tool to remove excess dust and dirt. Clean or replace the filters for your indoor unit. If there is a musty smell upon turning on the unit, you can use a small amount of Lysol on the metal coils to remedy the issue.
Check The Sound
During the air conditioner inspection listen for any rattling or grinding sounds. The unit should sound exactly like it did the previous year. Sometimes you may hear a slight whistle or squeak that goes away quickly. This can be caused by rust on the shaft of the fan motor. If you notice a rattling or grinding noise, or you the whistling and squeaking happen to go on for an extended period of time, you should call in a professional technician to service your air conditioning unit.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6458969
If you are looking for a professional Raleigh ac repair contractor for your home or business, please call 919-662-4094 or complete our online request form.
|
|
|
|
 |
Holly Springs Tips for Reducing Your Heating and Air Bills
During the height of winter and summer, power bills reach their peak as well due to people constantly heating or cooling their Holly Springs home. The cooled or heated air can leak through cracks along window and door frames and poorly maintained units can cause unnecessary energy to be used to cool or heat your home. However, there are many things you can do to reduce the cost of your energy bill every month. your professionals Holly Springs HVAC contractor can assist you be ensuring that your system is working properly.
First and foremost, sealing your house properly will reduce heating and cooling costs for those extreme temperatures. Investing in caulk and weather-stripping to fill gaps, is essential for saving money and energy inside your home. A home that’s properly insulated and sealed improves energy efficiency by up to 20% year-round. Keep in mind; Insulation Materials are also eligible for the 30% energy efficiency federal tax credit, up to $1,500 for all improvements combined.
Another important means of saving on heating and cooling your home is to make sure your HVAC unit is running properly. Leaking ducts, clogged air filters, and other poorly maintained components of your unit can really make a difference on your energy costs at the end of the month. Fine-tuning your equipment can reduce energy efficiency by up to 20%. It is recommended to hire a certified technician once a year to inspect your home’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system for optimized efficiency.
The size of your air-conditioning unit is important for saving money on your power bill as well. Consumers in the market for a new room or window unit should consider the proper size needed to achieve efficient heating and cooling. A unit that is too small won’t cool or heat the space properly and with a unit too big, it wastes energy and is inefficient at reducing humidity.
Most air-conditioning installations today come with programmable thermostats. These thermostats are typically digital and offer settings for times and temperatures, which allows you set a different temperature for when you’re away for work or vacation and reduces the need to continually run your system when not present. Almost all older units can have digital thermostats installed. Giving the air conditioner a break during the work day and allowing higher temperatures at those times could cut $180 from the average household’s electric bill a year according to Energy Star.
Investing in a new energy-efficient unit can cut long-term bills and be cheaper upfront, too. Through the end of 2010, qualifying central air conditioners were eligible for a federal tax credit of 30% of the cost, including installation, up to a total of $1,500 for all projects. Certain states also have rebates available under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment. Act. Florida homes, for example, can get up to $3,350 back on a qualifying central air conditioner in tax credits and energy-saving rebates.
Making small life changes can make a huge difference as well. For example, avoid doing chores during the hottest peak hours in the summer, the more heat that is generated, the harder the air conditioner must work to keep things cool. That means limiting the use of heat-generating appliances such as the oven, dishwasher, and clothes dryer during the daytime hours when temperatures are hottest, swapping incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs, and closing the blinds are also good ideas.
There are a lot of things that you can do to reduce the energy costs on your next bill. Fixing leaky ducts, setting thermostats, and having an all around knowledge of the energy being used to heat and cool your home is essential for saving money throughout the year. Have a certified HVAC technician check your home and get started on saving money.
| Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Legros |
If you are looking for a professional Holly Springs air conditioning contractor for your home or business, please call 919-662-4094 or complete our online request form.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Raleigh Air Conditioning Repairs
As summer approaches in Raleigh, many people will start to use their air conditioners. And many have the chance to need servicing and maintenance. Most problems are caused my lacking proper air conditioning maintenance and cleaning. Just as a car needs its oil changed all HVAC units need to be properly maintained. A clean and maintained ac unit and filter helps to increase longevity and air flow; therefore minimizing the possibility of clogged air filters choking the system.
Other common issues requiring air conditioning repair are faulty cooling, water collections under the unit, and rattling sounds when the unit is shutting down. Whatever the problem may be, you should always contact your local Raleigh Air Conditioning repair professional. The small problem you think you have could actually be the result of a larger, unseen issue. An expert HVAC contractor can also diagnose possible future problem areas, saving you money in the end. And also get you on an ever-important maintenance plan.
Since summer is approaching, it is best to contact your Raleigh HVAC specialist before you fire up your air conditioning unit. Have Dunsten Aire give it a good check-up to make sure you’re going to have a reliable unit providing you with constant cool air and lower energy bills.
|
|
|
|
|
|
