DC Cheek Heating, Cooling & Plumbing Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

“There Is Ice on My Air Conditioner, What’s Wrong?”

Tuesday, June 1st, 2021
ice-on-coil-of-air-conditioner

First off, we want to compliment you on realizing that something is wrong when you see ice developing anywhere on your air conditioner. Too many homeowners think that ice is part of the cooling process. After all, ice and refrigeration go together, right?

This may seem logical, but in actuality, ice has no part in the air conditioning process. Your air conditioner works by pulling heat out of your home and expelling it outdoors, then putting the air it brings in through a refrigerant process that uses gas and liquid to chill that air.

So that said, what’s going on when you see ice on your air conditioner? Read on to find out!

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Have You Scheduled Your AC Tune-Up Yet?

Monday, May 3rd, 2021
technicians-working-on-air-conditioner

It makes sense that you might hesitate when you hear an HVAC professional recommend a service for your air conditioner that you don’t necessarily need right at this moment. And maintenance is one of those perceived services. What if your air conditioner is working just fine? Is it really worth paying for an extra service?

Well first off, your air conditioner should perform much better than “just fine.” Secondly, you wouldn’t think of skipping maintenance for your car, right? You wouldn’t be able to rely on it very much after all. You’d probably be too nervous to drive it much. We don’t want you to be nervous about using your air conditioner! Especially when summer hits and you need that system on a daily basis.

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Is AC Refrigerant Loss a Big Deal?

Monday, April 26th, 2021
refrigerant-line-behind-ac

You likely already know that refrigerant is a very important component of your central air conditioner. In fact, it’s the component actually responsible for providing cooling to your home.

If you don’t know much more about it than that, it’s okay—that’s what we are here for! We’re here to ensure that you have expert AC services for whatever you need, whenever you need it.

What we’d like to do today is share some information about refrigerant because understanding refrigerant leaks can help you understand why calling our team for AC repairs right away is vital. Fixing refrigerant leaks is an easy job for our team, but the consequences of letting leaks go without repairs can be pretty bad.

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Should You Repair or Replace a Broken AC Compressor?

Monday, April 5th, 2021
compressor

Throughout the lifespan of your air conditioner, there are a variety of issues that can befall it. Most of these issues are a result of good ol’ fashioned wear and tear, and some other issues are caused by a lack of maintenance, manufacturer defect, or some other type of system damage. But considering that you want your air conditioner to work reliably as possible through our warm springs and stifling summers, it makes sense that you want to take care of these needs as effectively as possible.

One potential repair need that’s particularly unpleasant to face is a broken AC compressor. With most cooling system parts, replacement of that part is typically the best choice. But if you have a broken down compressor, the questions turns into whether you should replace just the component, or the entire cooling system. This is because the compressor is actually the most expensive component in your air conditioner. Read on to learn more!

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These Are the Signs to Watch Out for If Your AC Is Struggling

Monday, March 29th, 2021
two-technicians-working-on-outside-ac-unit

When it comes to summertime in the Woodstock area, there’s probably no more important appliance in your home than your central air conditioner. Central cooling is essential to your household’s comfort and quality of life.

Central cooling is also one of those things that should only ever be serviced and installed by a professional. While there are small tasks homeowners can and should do on their own—like changing the air filter to the system to keep it running efficiently—when your air conditioner needs service it’s time to give the pros a call.

It is worth mentioning that the best way to prevent sudden AC repair needs is with routine maintenance. Professional maintenance allows our technicians to thoroughly and comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust components that need it. But even with maintenance, it’s still important to be vigilant and pay attention to the following signs that your cooling system may be in need of professional repairs.

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What Type of AC Installation is Best?

Monday, February 22nd, 2021
two-outdoor-ac-units-sitting-side-by-side

It’s deceptively cold throughout the country right now, however, the fact of the matter is, we’re going to have to start thinking about warmer weather—and if our homes are ready for that warmer weather—very soon. This means that if your air conditioning system was on its last leg last summer, now is the time to consider a replacement.

But there are so many options to choose from when it comes to AC installation! Most homeowners are used to seeing what’s known as the central air conditioner—the AC system that has a single outdoor unit and an indoor unit connected to a series of ducts. Have you heard of the heat pump though? This is very similar in function and setup to the standard central air conditioner, with one important difference. It works as a heater, too! Read on to learn more.

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Beware This Common AC Problem

Monday, September 7th, 2020
refrigerant-line-behind-air-conditioner

Have you been told by a general handyperson that the refrigerant in your air conditioner is low, and that it needs to be refilled? Perhaps they told you that it needs to be refilled —what we in the industry call recharged every year during AC maintenance.

Unfortunately, this is a little misleading. Yes, refrigerant leaks and problems are something we check for during your annual maintenance appointment. But refrigerant should not actually be leaving your system on a regular basis. In fact, your air conditioner is supplied with enough refrigerant during installation to ideally last its entire lifespan, theoretically.

While refrigerant loss is a relatively common AC problem, that does not make it “normal” or a problem you can delay fixing. Read on as we uncover how you can tell if your air conditioner is leaking refrigerant, and why this is such a problem!

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Is It Ever Okay to See Ice On Your AC?

Monday, August 24th, 2020
ice-on-air-conditioning-unit

The short answer to this is “no,” but don’t worry, we will elaborate.

We do understand, after all, why this misconception exists. Since it is an air conditioner’s job to cool the home, it makes sense that ice may be part of the cooling process. But on the contrary, cooling systems don’t use ice at all, and this isn’t an effective way to cool your home.

So then, why is ice forming on your air conditioner? And what can you do about it? Read on as we dive into this.

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AC Myths to Ignore

Monday, August 10th, 2020
woman-with-confused-expression-on-her-face

There are some pretty common AC myths out there—are you believing them? And does it matter?

As for the latter question, yes, it matters. It matters because believing these myths could lead you to use your air conditioner inefficiently. When you use your cooling system inefficiently, you pay more than you should have to in order to keep cool and comfortable in your own home. You don’t want that, right?

Well then read on as we uncover just a few of the most common AC myths out there.

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Frequently Asked Air Conditioning Questions and Their Answers

Monday, June 29th, 2020
air-conditioner-with-clipboard-on-top

Air conditioners are complex pieces of machinery, and it’s natural to have questions about them. Probably the most common question HVAC professionals get about air conditioners is “how much will my AC installation cost?” The short answer to this question is “it depends.”

It depends on the type of air conditioner, the conditions of your home and your current ductwork if you have any, and it depends on your budget, when it comes down to it. While we can’t give you a clear-cut answer to this particular question, there are others that we can directly address. Read on!

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