Is My Air Conditioner Killing Me? This Is The Common Question You Might Have
Many of us can’t live without an air conditioning, especially when summer comes. For some, air conditioning may be a luxury, but for many, it is a necessity. We must aware of the air conditioning system and better able to care for it and use it well.
Unfortunately, your air conditioner may be closer to the end than you might think, especially if you fail to follow a routine air conditioner maintenance schedule. If you notice signs that your air conditioner requires attention, seek the help of air conditioner repair service as soon as possible to minimize disruptions in air conditioning function and home comfort.
As a homeowner, the ability to recognize the signs that you need air conditioner repair is a valuable skill, so you must be responsible for scheduling maintenance check of your air conditioning system.
How to Repair Central Air Conditioners?
Central air conditioners have two separate components: the condenser and the evaporator. The condenser unit is usually located outside the house on a concrete slab. The evaporator coil is mounted in the plenum or main duct junction above the furnace.
Most central air conditioners are connected to a home’s forced-air distribution system. Thus, the same motor, blower, and ductwork used for heating are used to distribute cool air from the air conditioning system. When a central air conditioner is operating, hot air inside the house flows to the furnace through the return-air duct. The hot air is moved by the blower across the cooled evaporator coil in the plenum and is then delivered through ducts to cool the house. When the air conditioner works but the house doesn’t cool, the problem is probably in the distribution system.
Those who mighty qualify include: people over 60, suffer from certain medical conditions, have young children under age four at home, disabled and meet certain income guidelines. Those who have received a free air conditioner during the past few years might also be disqualified. However, check with the program, as each program is different.
A number of federal, state, local and non-profit organizations are giving away free air conditioner to those that qualify. However, the time to act is now as units are often given away on a first come, first serve basis. Plus, the program needs to work with area contractors and recipients to schedule installations of the units before hot weather hits.
The same is true for air conditioning. Remember that:
- HVAC equipment ̶ any equipment, for that matter ̶ will fail.
- Failures are most likely to occur during times of high stress when equipment is most needed.
- Equipment life is best measured in hours of operation, not years of service.
- Repair/service is least available and most expensive during heat waves and cold snaps when equipment failures peak and demand for repairs and services exceeds the available labor; after all, everybody’s equipment seems to fail at the same time
Before the cooling season starts, ask your HVAC provider to:
- Inspect all electrical connections, heat exchangers and drains
- Check refrigerant levels and make sure there are no leaks
- Lubricate moving parts
- Inspect and test thermostats and controls, watching for overheating
- Check for good air flow
Oh, and check the filters. Clogged filters restrict air circulation in your environmental system, reducing efficiency and costing you more in energy expenses. Replacing a dirty filter is like putting money in the bank.
Can your air conditioning make you sick?
In the summer, many of us can’t bear to live without it, but even so, cool air is a modern luxury that sometimes seems to freak people out.
“We had forms of heating for a very long time before we ever had air conditioning,” says Dr. Stan Cox, senior scientist at The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, and author of Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World. Cox points out that as recently as the 1960s, only 12 percent of Americans had some kind of AC in their homes. While the heat was an absolute necessity for people to live in cold climates, Cox says, air conditioning is more of a newcomer on the climate-controlled front. Read more
Don’t wait for hot weather to service AC
The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that brought your business through one of the harshest winters on record also will be required to operate reliably during the upcoming summer cooling season. Consider calling your service firm to arrange service and inspection of your HVAC equipment before the summer heat arrives. Call Berkeys Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical (214) 238-8353 for your home service and repair needs.
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