Have you already arranged for an air conditioning maintenance visit from a professional HVAC technician? If you have, that’s great: you’ll have the best preparation possible for the coming summer, as well as a system that will operate at its peak efficiency level.
Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category
A Hissing Sound from Your Air Conditioner: What It Might Mean
Monday, April 25th, 2016
We are getting closer and closer to the time when you’ll need your air conditioning system working steadily to provide your family with pleasant indoor temperatures. As the cooling system starts its regular operation for the middle of the year, make sure that you pay close attention to unusual sounds coming from the cabinets. This is one of the ways that a refrigeration device like an AC warns that something is wrong with it that requires the attention of professionals.
One of the common warning sounds from an air conditioner is a hissing, like gas escaping. We’ll look into what this might mean.
Brief hissing sounds
Your air conditioner will sometimes make hissing sounds as part of its regular operation. The expansion valve, which lowers the pressure of the refrigerant gas as it moves from the condenser coil, creates brief a hissing that lasts only a few seconds. If you hear periodic hissing and don’t notice other signs of problems with the AC (a drop in cooling capacity, ice along the evaporator coil) it’s usually nothing to worry about.
Sustained hissing sounds
This, however, is something to worry about. There are a number of different causes for continuous hissing noises coming from an air conditioner. The most common is that holes have opened along the copper refrigerant line, allowing the high pressure refrigerant gas to leak out. Loss of refrigerant will not only lower the cooling power of the AC, it can cause damage elsewhere to the system as the pressure levels decline. The leak could also be in the compressor valve, which is designed to control the pressure levels of the refrigerant.
Worst of all is when the hissing sound is due to a malfunction in the compressor itself: the pressure levels inside it are rising too high. Permanent damage to the compressor is one of the most expensive repairs that an air conditioner may need, so get on the phone right away to have professionals look into the problem and prevent it from getting worse.
Need air conditioning repairs? Call Red Rock Mechanical LLC in Burlington, VT.
Here Are AC Troubles That Maintenance Helps Avoid
Monday, April 4th, 2016
For any quality HVAC contractor, spring is the season of air conditioning maintenance. It’s certainly the time when everyone here at Red Rock Mechanical recommends our customers schedule their annual inspection and tune-up to get their cooling systems prepped for the hot weather ahead.
As Summer Approaches, It May Be Time to Replace Your AC
Monday, March 14th, 2016
It may be hard to imagine with the chilly, rainy weather we’ve had in recent weeks, but spring is well on its way to Plattsburgh, NY. Before we know it, warm weather will be here. When that time comes, you’ll definitely want to make sure you have a properly functioning air conditioner. This is especially true if your system is 10-15 years old. However there are some additional signs you should watch out for, which we’ve highlighted below.
Is It Too Early for Air Conditioning Maintenance?
Monday, March 7th, 2016
Spring is almost here, and we probably have a month or two of unpredictable weather to look forward to. Your heating system probably won’t be heading off into its summer hibernation for a stretch, and the air conditioner will start to turn on during short stretches during April. Although you still won’t need to steadily run the AC until the real summer heat starts, right now is definitely a good time to think about arranging for its annual maintenance service. March is not too early to have this job done. In fact, it’s ideal in many ways, and here’s why:
Reasons the Motors in Your Air Conditioning Aren’t Running
Monday, August 31st, 2015
The electrical power that runs your air conditioner goes to a set of motors that are responsible for operating the fans and the compressor—essential components for the AC to do its job. The motors undergo the largest amount of stress of any part of an air conditioner during the summer, and you may run into trouble with them this late in the season. Regular maintenance will help keep the motors in the best condition, but you can’t avoid all troubles that might arise. Below are two reasons that one of more of the motors in your air conditioner might stop working.
Watch Out for These Late Season Air Conditioning Problems!
Monday, August 17th, 2015
August is often a rough month when it comes to air conditioning. The hot weather still hasn’t let up, but the poor AC has already experienced a few months of steady work keeping the home cooled down. This is the time when an air conditioning system is most likely to encounter malfunctions as the wear and tear catch up with it.
Nothing Beats a Burlington Summer Like a Brand New Air Conditioner
Monday, July 27th, 2015
For many of us here in the Burlington area, summer is the best time of the year. It’s a time of barbecues, fishing, hiking and swimming, but on those especially humid days, it can also be one of discomfort. If your AC is no longer up to the task of providing cool air to your home, then it may be time to look for something new. There are several signs to look for and several new system options available. How cool do you want to be?
Reasons That Your Thermostat Screen Has Gone Blank
Monday, July 20th, 2015
The thermostat is an essential part of your home’s HVAC system. Without it, you have no way to change the temperature in the house or even turn your air conditioning and heating system on and off. If you use a digital thermostat (and you should; they are far more precise and effective than older manual models), a problem you might encounter at one point is discovering that thermostat screen has gone blank, and pushing the buttons does nothing to change it and it won’t turn the HVAC system on or off.
Why Your Air Conditioner Can Develop Refrigerant Leaks
Monday, July 13th, 2015
We’ve talked before on this blog about refrigerant (a.k.a. “Freon”) leaks in your air conditioning. This is a serious problems for an AC, because the system should have the same amount of refrigerant for its entire service life. It’s an unfortunately prevalent myth that an air conditioner uses up refrigerant as it works and needs to be “topped off.”
