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
A Hissing Sound from Your Air Conditioner: What It Might Mean
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.
Is It Too Late to Bother with Heating Repairs?
April 18th, 2016
It’s spring, and summer is around the corner… but we’re still experiencing cold days here in Plattsburgh and Northwest Vermont. April is never a sure thing when it comes to weather, and you probably know that if you’ve lived here for a year or more. And that means you may still need your heater for a few more weeks before you shift over to the warmer part of the year.
Is a Heat Pump the Right Choice for Your Home?
April 11th, 2016
Though spring is upon us, temperatures are still relatively cool, and you may still be using your heater. Hopefully your heating system has treated you well this season. If you’ve found yourself needing a replacement system however, now could be the best time to shop. Springtime is a great time to purchase a system that can fulfill both your heating and cooling needs, when you aren’t in dire need of either system. A heat pump will fulfill these needs. Is it right for your home though?
Here Are AC Troubles That Maintenance Helps Avoid
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.
Is Your Sump Pump Ready for Spring?
March 28th, 2016
Many homes in Northwest Vermont and Plattsburgh, NY have basements that can suffer from flooding during the spring. Snow melt and rain can add up to large amounts of water getting down into the lower parts of the home, causing damage and leaving behind moisture that can create unpleasant high humidity in the rest of the house. Installing a sump pump is the best way to defend your home from flooding, both major and minor.
Why Small Plumbing Leaks Are Still a Big Deal
March 21st, 2016
Plumbing leaks are never a good sign. They are a nuisance, and most times a sign of a problem that will only grow worse. Leaky faucets, for example, waste a lot more water than you may realize, plus they put undue stress on the environment. A small drip probably doesn’t seem like much to you. However, when you add it up over a period of time, it can be detrimental to your water bill and to the environment. But why are small leaks such a big deal?
As Summer Approaches, It May Be Time to Replace Your AC
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?
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:
How Often Should You Change Your HVAC System’s Air Filter?
February 29th, 2016
We’re not out winter yet, although spring is starting to peek up over the edge of the calendar. Soon it’ll be time to schedule your routine air conditioning maintenance to prepare the system for the higher temperatures of the summer.
