Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning’

More about the Benefits of an AC Maintenance Program

Tuesday, May 16th, 2017

air-conditioner-money-saverWe often talk about preventive maintenance for HVAC systems during the spring and fall. These are the seasons when we experience milder weather, and that is an ideal time to have HVAC equipment worked on, repaired, or replaced. It gets a house ready in time for weather extremes and takes advantage of a generally slower time for heating and cooling professionals so it’s easier to schedule an appointment that’s convenient for you.

We’re in the second half of spring, and if you haven’t thought much about maintaining your air conditioning system in Plattsburgh, NY—even if you’ve already had it running for a couple of days—it’s not too late to have it done!

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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.

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How to Change the Air Filter in Your Air Conditioning System

Monday, July 6th, 2015

Annual professional maintenance for your air conditioning system is vital for its long-term performance and short-term energy savings. But there is an important maintenance step you must take on your own during the summer, or as long as your AC needs to run on a regular basis: cleaning out the air filter once a month. (In the case of an AC that uses permanent filters, the filter will need to be replaced.)

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Where Is the Air Filter on My Air Conditioning System?

Monday, June 29th, 2015

If you are reading this, it’s probably because you know that it’s important for the operation of your air conditioning system to change or clean its air filter once a month during the summer. Without this regular attention, the filter will become clogged and start to impair the AC, leading to higher bills and possibly repair needs.

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Why Is No Cool Air Coming from My Air Conditioner?

Monday, June 15th, 2015

Perhaps the most common emergency service call that HVAC technicians receive during a summer is for an air conditioning system that is only blowing out room-temperature air. This is a malfunction that homeowners notice quickly, and it’s obviously something they will want fixed even quicker.

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3 Mistakes You May Make With Your Air Conditioner This Summer

Monday, May 18th, 2015

As summer starts, people all over the country will turn on their air conditioners to keep their homes comfortable during the heat. But many of those people will make basic mistakes with operating and caring for their air conditioning systems that will end up costing them money or even contribute to an early failure for the ACs.

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3 Reasons to Install a Heat Pump for Your Air Conditioning

Monday, April 20th, 2015

Are you looking for a new air conditioning system to install before the summer heat arrives? One option that you should put on your list is a heat pump. A heat pump takes the basic operation of an air conditioning system and changes it so that it can also switch the direction it moves heat and brings heat indoors.

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Ways You Will Benefit from Spring Maintenance for Your Air Conditioning System

Monday, April 6th, 2015

Now that the calendar has officially changed from winter to spring, we can start looking forward to warm weather in the near future. And eventually hot weather. Now, when we still have some of the leftover chills of winter, is the ideal time to arrange for an HVAC technician to come to your home and give your air conditioning system a thorough inspection and tune-up. To schedule this service, you only need to give the team at Red Rock Mechanical a call. We will set up a convenient time for your air conditioning maintenance. We service Burlington, VT and the surrounding areas.

How this AC regular maintenance will help you

Annual air conditioning maintenance isn’t an optional service: it is mandatory if you want to receive a full return in cooling performance from your investment in air conditioning installation. Here are some of the specific benefits you will get from an air conditioner that is regularly maintained by HVAC technicians:

  • Longer service lifespan: If an air conditioner doesn’t receive annual inspections and tune-ups, it will likely not even reach half of its manufacturer’s estimated lifespan. But with the right care and attention, your air conditioner will probably exceed that estimate, giving you many years of energy-efficient performance.
  • Fewer repairs: Fixing a malfunctioning AC can become costly, especially as it wear downs. Maintenance reduces the effects of wear and tear, and this takes care of approximately 85% of the repairs it may require during its lifetime.
  • High energy efficiency: As dust and dirt build up on an air conditioner, and its components start to deteriorate, it will need to work harder to reach the same level of cooling that you normally expect from it. This will mean higher electrical bills. However, an AC that receives yearly maintenance should only experience a 5% drop in efficiency over its entire service life.
  • Peace of mind: This is a less concrete benefit, but it may be the most important one. Regular maintenance will significantly reduce the chance that your AC will abruptly break down at the worst time possible.

Contact Red Rock Mechanical today to arrange for your spring air conditioning maintenance. We have NATE-certified technicians to see that you receive the best service possible.

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What are the Basic Stages of the Air Conditioning Cycle?

Friday, June 20th, 2014

Your air conditioner is one of the staples of your home, especially now with temperatures rising and summer hitting us with everything it’s got. We all depend on reliable air conditioning systems to keep our homes and businesses comfortable. And when problems arise with your air conditioning in Montpelier, VT, there are qualified repair companies to help you. But how much of the process of air conditioning do you understand? What are the basic stages of the air conditioning cycle? The more you know about that, the more you can understand what happens when repairs are needed.

Air conditioning systems are all based around the same basic system: a closed loop which cycles refrigerant gas through a series of valves and coils. The cycle begins when the gas enters a condenser coil, which subjects it to an enormous amount of heat and pressure. It then moves to a series of compression valves, which bleed the heat out of the gas, reverting it to liquid form. (The heat is then pushed out of the system via a vent, which is why this part of the cycle usually takes place in the outdoor portion of the unit.) It remains under a great deal of pressure, however, which plays a key role in the second half of the cycle.

The liquid moves from the coils to a second valve, an expansion valve, which squirts a set amount of the liquid into a series of evaporator coils. (It functions rather like an aerosol can in this capacity.) Released from the pressure, the refrigerant turns back into a gas: pulling heat from the nearby air in the process. A fan then blows the cooled air through the ducts in your home. The refrigerant gas then returns to the condenser valve to start the cycle anew.

For more on the basic stages of the air conditioning cycle, or to schedule an appointment for AC installations or repair, call upon the experts at Red Rock Mechanical. We treat any issue related to air conditioning in Montpelier, VT, and throughout the surrounding communities. Contact us today for a consultation session. You’ll be glad you did!

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Cut Down on Air Conditioning Bills This Summer

Friday, May 9th, 2014

Here in Stowe, VT air conditioning systems see a surprising amount of use. While our winters are cold, snowy and long, our summers carry their share of heat and humidity, and without a good air conditioning system, you’re liable to start longing for the cold far more often than you should. We’re used to paying higher energy costs in the summer to cover extended air conditioning use, which can cover up a fair amount of wasted money. Besides more obvious solutions like dressing in lightweight clothes and setting your thermostat slightly higher than you normally would, here are a few quick tips to cut down on air conditioning bills this summer.

  • Schedule a maintenance session from a qualified technician.
    Maintenance sessions are a little like a tune-up for your car. The technician cleans off dust and dirt that can cause friction, tightens loose fittings that might make components rattle in their housings and replaces clogged filters to help the air flow smoothly. As a result, the air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to do its job and your energy bills will go down.
  • Seal up those leaks and cracks.
    Look for spots under your door where air could escape, or similar spots on imperfectly sealed window. They could let hot air in or cause cool air to escape, raising your energy bills in the process. You can seal those spots with weather stripping, and a qualified technician can help you spot other parts of your home that can be made more energy efficient.
  • Consider a smart thermostat.
    If you have an older thermostat, look into replacing it with an upgraded model: something that lets you turn the air on and off remotely with a phone app, or even just one with a timer that you can set. Turning the air on ten minutes before you get home uses much less energy than just letting it run all day, and the house won’t feel any less comfortable when you arrive.

For more ways to cut down on air conditioning bills this summer, or to schedule a maintenance or repair session, the experts at Red Rock Mechanical are ready to help. For residents of Stowe VT, air conditioning service is vital to surviving the summer. Contact us today and let us make sure it’s ready for the job!

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