Hey, know what’s a really horrible feeling? Having your air conditioner break down on you in the middle of a heatwave. Want to stop that from happening to you? The best way to guard against it is by scheduling preventive maintenance for your system. Read on to find out more about why it’s so important to schedule a tune-up for your air conditioner this season.
Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning Maintenance’
Make Sure You Have Your Air Conditioner Tuned-Up This Season!
Monday, May 21st, 2018It’s Time for AC Maintenance! (Yes, Already)
Wednesday, February 14th, 2018
Well, it’s that time again everybody. In a few weeks, you’ll be turning off your heater in favor of cranking your air conditioner all the way up. That means that you should be using this time to get your home ready for the coming heat. If you haven’t already scheduled air conditioning maintenance, now is a great time to do it. Let’s have a look at why exactly you should schedule air conditioning maintenance in the first place, and why spring is the best time to do it.
How to Make Your Air Conditioner More Energy Efficient
Monday, July 4th, 2016Reducing energy costs should be on the to-do list of every homeowner. Whether you care passionately about the environment or you just want to cut costs during the most expensive part of the year, there is plenty that you can do. How do you make your air conditioner more energy efficient? Read on for some tips:
How Soon Should I Schedule Air Conditioning Maintenance?
Monday, February 29th, 2016With plenty of chilly days still left in Chevy Chase, MD, your air conditioning is probably the last thing on your mind. However, if you haven’t had a maintenance appointment in the last year, it’s time to schedule one. Air conditioning maintenance is essential to avoiding major AC problems in the future.
Late August Air Conditioning Tips for Homeowners
Monday, August 31st, 2015Today is the last day of August, and while the heat and humidity are still here with us, it’s a great time to take stock of your current air conditioner. Many homeowners concerned about energy efficiency and performance will have had their systems evaluated, cleaned and tuned-up long before the cooling season began, but that doesn’t mean your system is invincible. Indeed, you’ll want to take note of any operational issues that may arise with your central air unit, heat pump or ductless mini split. Let’s take a look at a few tips that you may want to keep in mind when it comes to cooling here in Potomac.
Why You Should Schedule Preventive Air Conditioning Maintenance this Spring
Monday, April 13th, 2015You may have heard it said that if you want to save some money, don’t bother calling a professional about your air conditioner unless you know there’s a problem with it. While this may seem like wise advice, it can actually end up costing you quite a bit more in the long run. Air conditioning systems can develop problems without any visible symptoms, which often come out during times of increased usage and stress.
Air Conditioning Tip: Cutting Down on Cooling Costs
Monday, April 29th, 2013As we approach the heat and humidity of the Bethesda, MD summer months, you need to make sure that your home is ready. Among the various spring projects you envisioned for your spare time around the house, make sure you take a good look at your air conditioning system. You not only need to make sure that it’s working well, but also that it’s energy efficient so that you can cut down on cooling costs whenever possible. We’d like to share with you some ways you can keep you AC energy efficient this summer. For superior Bethesda, MD air conditioning services, call Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating today!
- Clean and replace your air filter: Your air filter is there to ensure that your AC system components do not become filled with dust and debris. However, it must be cleaned and replaced regularly during the cooling season not only in order to protect your mechanical components, but, perhaps just as importantly, to keep the air flowing through your ductwork. If your air filter becomes dirty or clogged, it can reduce energy efficiency and cause your system to burn more electrical energy for the same amount of cooling output.
- Keep it clean and clear: Make sure that all aspects of your system, especially the outdoor unit, are clean and clear of any possible obstruction. Your outdoor compressor/condenser may become overgrown with vegetation or other debris during the off-season.
- Install a programmable thermostat; If you’re still messing around with a manual conventional thermostat, consider upgrading to a digital programmable thermostat. Not only will it be easier to read and sense the temperature more accurately, it will also give you the ability to program your home temperature adjustments automatically. This is not only more convenient, but can actually save you money in the long term.
We hope you found these energy saving tips useful. For comprehensive Bethesda, MD air conditioning services, call Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating today!
Why Get an Extended Warranty on Your AC?
Monday, August 6th, 2012Air conditioning manufacturers tend to offer general warranties on all parts of an air conditioner which they manufacture for one year. Beyond that and the warranty must be purchased through the air conditioning company that installed the air conditioning system. Extended warranties normally cover somewhere in the neighborhood of ten years, and often include labor for work performed during that time. At Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating, we have taken that idea one step further with our industry leading 15 year parts and labor warranty.
Having an extended warranty on an AC system is a form of insurance against something happening which could cost you way more in repairs or replacements than the initial warranty cost was. Some important things to keep in mind are: understanding how the specific warranty works, learning what your part of the deal is, and knowing the terms of coverage. At Tuckers we want you to understand exactly what you are getting with our extended warranty.
Tuckers 15 Year Part and Labor Extended Warranty
Tuckers Air Conditioning has done something ground-breaking. We are the only contractor to offer not only ten years, but a full fifteen year part and labor warranty on air conditioning systems that we install which utilize our annual maintenance plan. Considering that most air conditioning systems last anywhere from 12-15 years this is quite rare in the air conditioning industry. This includes a lifetime unit replacement should a compressor or heat exchanger fail.
Tuckers 5 Year Part and Labor Warranty on Service Repairs
Additionally we offer a 5 year part and labor warranty on service repairs which we perform, which compares to other contractors one year part warranty. We are this confident in our air conditioning technicians and their quality work performing all sorts of air conditioning services such as annual AC maintenance.
In addition to this we offer competitive prices on all of our high quality AC services, and this in conjunction with our two warranty options for clients mean that your new air conditioner is in good hands from day one, and you are set up to have an efficiently operating air conditioning system through its whole life.
Contact Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating and work with a Gaithersburg air conditioning company that really knows how to provide quality air conditioner service to its valued customers through competitive prices, top-notch warranties and skilled work.
Why Air Conditioning Maintenance is Important
Monday, July 2nd, 2012Home maintenance tasks probably aren’t high on your list of priorities. The reason we do them anyway is that they actually save time, work and money down the road.
Air conditioner maintenance is no different. One of the best ways to keep your AC running and your house nice and cool is to have routine maintenance performed on your air conditioning system on a regular basis. This includes keeping the coils clean. How does this help you avoid headaches down the road? Let’s look into that question.
First, you have to understand that those coils are integral to the operation of your air conditioner. They play vital roles in the cooling process, which is the whole purpose of an AC in the first place. So, it behooves you to keep them working optimally.
A dirty coil is one that can’t work efficiently. When a coil is covered by dirt, dust and debris, it can’t readily absorb heat from the ambient air and transmit it away. This means your home isn’t as cool because your air conditioner can’t work as well as it would otherwise be able to.
When the coils are dirty and cooling efficiency is degraded, the AC has to work harder to cool your home. That means more wear and tear to do the same job. This can lead to more frequent repairs and a need to replace the system sooner. Plus, with all the extra work being done by the AC system, you can expect higher utility bills. So, a clean coil is also good for your wallet.
Between the increased comfort, better performance and both long-term and short-term savings, you can see that keeping AC coils clean is an investment that pays dividends over time. Even just the lowered risk of malfunction and the inevitable repair visits that follow make it a chore worth doing. To schedule the annual maintenance visit for your air conditioning system in Gaithersburg, give Tuckers a call at 301-670-0034!
Troubleshooting Thermostat Issues: A Guide From Brinklow
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011If your room temperature in your Brinklow home is too hot or cold, what is the first thing you check? Probably the thermostat. If you are a homeowner, you probably have played around with the setting on a thermostat, much to the chagrin of other occupants who don’t share your same comfort level. And if you try and adjust a thermostat at work – well forget about it. Most companies now have locking thermostats or “false” ones that don’t actually connect to the heating and cooling system.
So if you have a temperature problem, is it really the thermostat that causes it? Maybe yes and maybe no. One physical characteristic to check is the location of the thermostat. If it is in a drafty hallway or near a heat source, it only reads the temperature for that area and other parts of the building are neglected. You will often find more than one thermostat in a home that is tied into more than one furnace or air conditioner.
The older more popular round thermostats are manually controlled and do not adjust to any conditions in the home. They simply control the heating and cooling functions based on a human turning a dial. It’s as simple as that. So if you use this method to adjust the temperatures, blame yourself and not the thermostat. You might want to consider installing a digital, programmable thermostat.
With that in mind, let’s look at some typical ways to troubleshoot a thermostat.
- Check the anticipator, which is a small metal tab on the front of the printed scale. Give it a light push in either direction. It may be stuck.
- Clean the interior of the thermostat housing and clean the contacts (small metal plates)
- Check loose wires or wires that may be corroded.
- Read the thermostat manual (if not available, look online) for other tips such as ensuring there is voltage to the terminals.
If you have checked everything and the thermostat seems to be in working order, look for other things within the heating & cooling system. These include blocked or restricted registers and vents, leaks or cracks in ductwork, and dirty air handling filters.