Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning’

Why is There Ice on My Air Conditioner?

Monday, June 15th, 2015

As the days warm up, you’re going to start using your air conditioner more and more often. You may notice ice forming on your unit at some point during the summer. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing? Unfortunately, ice on your air conditioner is invariably bad. Let’s take a look at what causes your air conditioner to ice over, and what can happen if the ice is not removed quickly.

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The Vital Role Refrigerant Plays in Your Air Conditioner

Monday, June 1st, 2015

Most people aren’t aware of how their air conditioner works, and strictly speaking, they don’t need to be. The more you know about your air conditioner, however, the better prepared you’ll be to address any problems that might afflict it. With that in mind, let’s take a look at one of the most important parts of your air conditioning system: the refrigerant.

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Air Conditioner Parts: The Compressor

Monday, May 11th, 2015

The most interaction that most homeowners tend to have with their air conditioners is when they adjust the temperature on the thermostat. While this isn’t a bad thing (that’s what the thermostat is there for, after all) it often means that homeowners are unaware of how their air conditioners actually work. Having even a rudimentary knowledge of how your air conditioner operates can be a great help in recognizing when it’s experiencing a problem. With that in mind, let’s examine one of the most important parts of the air conditioner: the compressor.

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How Can I Tell When to Replace My Air Conditioner?

Monday, April 27th, 2015

Summer is coming, and now is the time to ensure that your air conditioning system is ready for the approaching heat. If your air conditioner doesn’t look like it’s going to make it through another summer, you’re going to want to replace it now, before the days start heating up. Can’t tell whether your air conditioner needs replacing or not? No problem. Read through our list to determine whether or not you need a new air conditioner.

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Why You Should Get Your Ducts Repaired Before Summer Starts

Monday, April 20th, 2015

Summer is almost here, and soon you’ll be revving up your air conditioning system on an almost daily basis. While you’ve probably already made certain that your air conditioner is in good condition, and ready to face the hot season, you may not have considered the huge impact that ductwork has on your indoor climate. If you want to get the most out of your air conditioning system this summer, you’re going to want to have your ducts repaired. Read on to find out why.

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Why You Should Schedule Preventive Air Conditioning Maintenance this Spring

Monday, April 13th, 2015

You 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.

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Are Air Conditioning Repairs Still Urgent During the Fall?

Wednesday, September 10th, 2014

When you have a problem with your air conditioning system, you may be tempted to wait for repairs. It’s already fall, and you don’t expect to have to use your air conditioner for much longer. Are air conditioning repairs really still urgent in the fall?

If you put off repairs until spring, you may run into serious problems with your system. Problems with your air conditioner often worsen over time, or a damaged component may eventually affect other components of your unit as well. Even if you only plan on running your air conditioner a few more times this fall, you’ll bring your system one step closer to a sudden breakdown. Let’s look at a couple of examples of problems that can’t wait until the next cooling season.

Low refrigerant is a common problem that often results from a leak. When your system was installed, refrigerant was measured out according to the cooling capacity of your unit. Refrigerant is meant to stay at this level throughout the life of the air conditioner, but corrosion or loose connections may cause it to leak from the system. If you have a refrigerant leak, you may notice reduced cooling power from your system. But low levels also keep other components from working properly. The compressor, for example, is sized to handle a certain load of refrigerant. If you wait for repairs, and you turn on your unit the first day of the cooling season, more refrigerant may have left your system. In this case, your compressor will struggle to turn on and may overheat.

Another problem that can’t wait for repairs is a frozen evaporator coil. This may happen if there is a faulty fan motor, low refrigerant, or even a dirty air filter. Every time you turn on your unit, ice continues to build on the coil, and every time you turn it off, water may leak into your home or damage your unit. It’s important to have a technician find the cause of the frozen coil and check for further damages as soon as possible.

If you have problems with your air conditioning system in Clarksburg, call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing right away. Our experts can get your unit back to normal so you can feel secure running your system on an unseasonably warm fall day. Call us today!

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Fan Motor Problems in Your Air Conditioning System

Thursday, July 10th, 2014

Your air conditioner has many components that must be in good working order to keep you cool all summer long. Parts are likely to fail from time to time, and repairs are a necessary part of owning an air conditioner. One part that may sometimes run into problems is the condenser fan motor. An air conditioning professional can tell you the exact source of the problem with your AC, but there are some signs that the condenser fan motor may be the culprit.

In order to work properly, your air conditioner must be able to remove heat from your home and transfer it outdoors. One of the components used to do this is the condenser coil located in the outdoor unit of a split AC system. A fan blows air over the condenser coil, and the heat from indoors is released into the outside air. If the fan does not run properly due to a motor problem, heat exchange cannot take place.

If anything causes the fan motor to work improperly, it can overheat. Just a small amount of dust can interfere with the motor and cause it to malfunction. If your AC unit does not provide you with cool air, it may mean the fan motor has stopped working.

Another sign that your condenser’s fan motor is not working properly is a buzzing or grinding sound coming from your outside condenser unit. This often indicates that something has interfered with the system or that your motor has worn down and needs replacement.

If you hear loud noises coming from your outdoor unit, turn it off and contact an HVAC professional. Never try to replace a motor on your own. Your AC unit needs a fan motor of a specific size and speed, and a trained professional is the best person to find this part and install it without risking further damage to your AC.

At Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing, our USA Maintenance Plan can help you avoid sudden fan motor problems with maintenance visits twice a year and discounts on all repairs. To learn more about air conditioning services in Rockville, MD, call us today!

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3 Ways to Save on Air Conditioning Costs This Summer

Friday, May 9th, 2014

Utility bills rise during the summer when the air conditioner comes to life: this is something you cannot avoid. But you can avoid a large rise in utility bills with a few basic steps to prevent the air conditioner from draining excess electricity. Too many homeowners fall into simple traps when it comes to AC care and operation that lead to them paying too much each summer to cool their homes.

At Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing, we have years of experience with AC operation and the ways it can waste money. We’d like to share a few tips that will help you avoid higher bills this summer with your air conditioning in Bethesda, MD. Call us for additional help, such as AC maintenance and any necessary repairs.

3 money-saving air conditioning tips for this summer

  1. Schedule your annual tune-up and inspection: A yearly maintenance visit for your AC from an experienced technician is crucial for keeping the system from wasting energy. A spring maintenance session will clean the unit, make adjustments, reduce wear and tear, and spot any repair needs to take care of before summer arrives. Studies have shown that an air conditioner with regular maintenance will retain 95% of its efficiency throughout its service life, while one without maintenance will lose 5% of its efficiency each year.
  2. Steady the thermostat’s setting at a higher, comfortable temperature: Lowering the thermostat to 50°F (often the lowest setting) rarely does you or the AC any good. This low setting will not make the air conditioner cool down your home faster, but instead keep it running longer until it reaches 50°F. As this is an uncomfortable temperature, no matter how hot it is outside, it makes for an unnecessary waste of energy. Keep the thermostat around 72°F—a comfortable temperature for most people—and you can save between 24% and 36% from your bills compared to setting it at 50°F.
  3. Regularly change the air filter: People often neglect to change the air filter for a clean one every month during the summer, which is a leading cause for spikes in cooling bills. The air filter will become clogged after one month and begin to restrict air flow into the AC, forcing it to strain and draw additional electricity. Make sure you keep up with monthly air filter changes so your air conditioner will “breathe” easy.

Start off the summer right with your spring maintenance session. This will not only make sure that your system operates at maximum efficiency; it will also prevent repair issues and breakdowns, granting you peace of mind along with excellent cooling and savings.

Call Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing to sign up for our maintenance plan to take care of your air conditioning in Bethesda, MD. The Tuckers USA Club also grants you a 20% discount on all repairs and a 5-year parts and labor guarantee above the manufacturer’s warranty. There are many other benefits included: call us today to find out more.

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Why Your AC Might Cost More to Run This Summer

Friday, April 11th, 2014

Summer is coming and that means your air conditioning unit will soon be called into service once again. We’re all accustomed to paying more for air conditioning in the summer, when our need is highest and we use the A/C the most often. It doesn’t have to be that way. Air conditioning maintenance conducted in the spring, before the temperatures get too high, can make a big difference in your monthly cooling bills. Otherwise your A/C might cost more to run this summer than necessary.

Among other benefits (like spotting big problems when they’re still small), a maintenance session helps improve the efficiency of your air conditioner. The technician will clean off dust and dust on the interior components, which might otherwise increase friction among moving parts and clog important filters. He’ll also check the refrigerant levels, which need to match the specifications of your air conditioner. Otherwise frost will form on the coils, reducing the A/C’s ability to cool the surrounding air. Other steps include tightening loose fittings and sealing minor leaks, as well as looking for more serious issues in need of repair.

All of that helps improve the efficiency of your air conditioner. Without a maintenance visit, your unit won’t necessarily break down. But it will work harder to do the same job, as moving parts endure more friction, loose components rattle in their housings and a many tiny imperfections pull energy away from the unit’s primary job of cooling your house. You’ll see the cost of that every month when your bills comes: higher than it should be and often disguised by the fact that it’s summer, and you expect to pay more for using your air conditioning system.

For more on why your A/C might cost more to run this summer, or to schedule a maintenance tune-up, the experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing are here to help. We operate in Germantown, MD, air conditioning maintenance is one of our core services, and we’re dedicated to your complete satisfaction every step of the way. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!

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