November 2020

5 Common Air Conditioning Problems

Your air conditioning unit is one of the most important devices in your home, at least when it comes to keeping your family comfortable. Unfortunately, the air conditioner is also a device that can develop some fairly common problems. Though there are definitely unique issues that require a great deal of investigation to figure out, most homeowners will be more likely to run into the five common problems discussed below.

The Unit Won’t Turn On

Few things cause as much panic as an air conditioner that won’t turn on. As temperature rise, it can be particularly worrisome to see that you aren’t getting any kind of response from your AC unit at all. The good news, though, is that the most common issues here don’t actually lie in the air conditioner yourself.

The most common cause of this problem is that your thermostat isn’t working. Often times a quick change of batteries or pressing down the right buttons can solve the problem. If this isn’t the case, a tripped circuit breaker might be the culprit. If the basic fixes don’t work, though, you may be looking at the kind of serious problem that only a licensed professional will be able to fix.

Blowing Warm Air

One of the most common, and most immediately frightening, problems most homeowners experience is when their air conditioners start to blow warm air. No matter how low they set the thermostat, the temperature in their home continues to rise and the air that’s blowing from the vents becomes hotter and hotter. Fortunately, the actual cause of this problem tends to be less serious than one might assume.

If your air conditioner is blowing warm air, the most common culprit is probably your filters. If your filters are full of dirt and particulate matter, they’ll interfere with the efficiency of your air conditioner. This, in turn, can cause your air conditioner’s evaporator to freeze up and greatly decrease the efficacy of the unit. The best way to avoid this problem is to switch out your filter regularly.

Water Leaks

All air conditioners experience some degree of leakage. It’s perfectly normal for your air conditioner to start leaking a little bit while it is working or when the evaporating coil starts to melt off ice, but there are other situations in which a leaky air conditioner could be the sign of a bigger problem.

Unusual leaks are often a sign that a drainage pipe is blocked or that your filters are getting too dirty to work. Leakage may also be a sign that you are getting low on coolant or that your air conditioner was improperly installed. This is one problem that’s more of a warning sign than anything else, as it will generally be soon followed by other, more serious problems.

The best way to tell if you’re looking at a real problem with leakage is to be familiar with how your air conditioner usually works. Look at the outdoor part of the unit as it operates to see what kind of water production is normal. It’s only by knowing what the unit should look like when it is operating that you can tell when something has gone wrong.

Strange Noises

Your air conditioner is capable of making a truly astonishing number of noises. While there are certainly very normal noises with which most homeowners will have to come to ignore, there are also noises that can be harbingers of much bigger problems. The type of noise that your air conditioner makes can give you a clue as to what might be going on.

Different types of potential noises include, but are not limited to:

  • Hissing
  • Clicking
  • Thumping
  • Screeching
  • Buzzing

While some of these sounds might be similar to what you hear when your AC unit is functioning normally, they can also have very specific meanings. Hissing, for example, is a sure sign of a refrigerant leak while buzzing might be a sign that their are electrical components that are dying in the unit. Keeping track of changing sounds is a good way to ensure that you know what’s going on in your air conditioner and an even better way to track down potential problems before they get worse.

As a note, it’s entirely possible for your air conditioner to develop a host of new noises as time goes on. You should always keep track of any changes in noise when you notice other problems, as these changes can be a clue that may be used to figure out the problem with your air conditioner.

Sensor Issues

Your air conditioner is a much more sophisticated device than you might imagine. It keeps your rooms cool not just by blowing in cold air, but by monitoring the temperature in your home to make sure that it consistently maintains that temperature. Unfortunately, sensor problems can keep your air conditioner working overtime or, even worse, stop it from cooling down your room at all.

Sensor problems can generally be traced to the unit’s thermostat. If it has been knocked out of place or otherwise damaged, it won’t give the air conditioner the data that it needs to work correctly. If you find yourself dealing with such a problem, you’ll have to figure out whether your thermostat needs to be moved back into place or whether it will need to be replaced with a air conditioning unit.

These problems range from the simple to the devilishly complex, but they’re all common in air conditioner units of all makes and models. It’s a good idea to learn to identify the root causes of each of these issues so that you can prevent them from occurring or at least from getting worse. The great news about most of these problems is that while might not be easy for the average person to fix, they are generally quite easy for professionals to diagnose and solve.

When All Else Fails

When all else fails, and you are still at a loss for what is wrong, your next best bet is to obviously reach out to a Las Vegas air conditioning company to solve what’s wrong with your cooling system. At this point, it’s always correct to call in the experts!

By Juan Hernandez, ago

Air Conditioning Systems Design Standards Increase Indoor Air Quality

One of the major discussions happening worldwide is how to reduce toxic and carbon emissions from the environment. When engaged in the conversation, it’s easy to forget the risks that poor indoor air quality poses to our health. Some of the notable risks include asthma attacks, allergies, the transmission of flu, or elevating vulnerable family members’ dire health situation. House-holds, therefore, rely on the effectiveness of air conditioning systems to shield their health and protect family members.

Air conditioners’ designs and systems depend on the manufacturers’ interests, which may not correspond with superior air quality, as a consumer, its therefore vital to gauge its standards and design geared for better health. Below are some of the system designs that can increase the standards of indoor air quality.

1. Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is already proving effective in construction, automotive, marketing, and other fields. In-effective HVAC systems contribute to a huge power cost without necessarily improving indoor air quality. Smart HVAC systems can automatically detect and adjust the ventilation, humidity, air ducts, and alert home-owners, among other functions.

Below are some of the AI additions on HVAC systems for better air quality.

  • Ventilation Systems: Most air conditioners operate in full capacity in anticipation of either low outdoor temperature or high indoor temperature and vice versa. The effect leads to high energy in-efficiency and frequent human intervention. With AI, the system can automatically detect internal airflow and temperature changes. It’ll then adjust ventilation to either allow more air or activate the cooling system.
  • Air Conditioning Control: In any commercial building, whether restaurant or trading centers, the air conditioner requires constant controls. The exercise is disruption from core functions such as serving customers. Artificial Intelligence can automatically detect raising internal temperatures caused by either huge traffic or other factors. Additionally, the intricate systems change during seasons’ transition won’t be needed for this kind of HVAC.
  • Increased Energy Efficiency: Whether a home-owner or a business person, energy efficiency is the topmost priority to keep operations costs at manageable levels. With the current AI upgrades, the new HVAC systems include either Airside Economizer or Energy Recovery Ventilator. The airside economizer relies on climate changes and automatically send signals to ventilation fans. The simple action bypasses the air conditioning function, which reduces the total energy consumed. Other smart features or signals can reduce the total energy spent further.

The overall impact on these additions is the quick reaction when their quality deteriorates using such inbuilt smart features.

2. Use of UV-Lights Feature

UV (Ultra-Violet Radiation) are harmful sun rays often protected by the ozone layer, reducing potential harm to people. There are several products designed to shield people from such rays, especially doing summer. However, these rays can kill pathogens, microbes, and other contaminants found in the air.

Manufacturers of the HVAC system can utilize UV-rays to improve indoor quality and other measures like particulate filters. Some of the potent areas where UV-light technology is applicable include:

  • Daycare centers
  • Airports
  • Nursing Homes
  • Schools

As an institution, you’d incorporate UV-lights in the filtration coil to clean the internal air. The method eliminates mold, pollen, and any fine dirt particles from being circulated internally. Alternatively, building owners can also install UV light at the upper air ducts adjacent to target rooms. The rays eliminate pathogens and other contaminants in the air duct before its eventual release.

3. Use of Improved Air Cleaners

Traditional air cleaners and filters eliminate dust, debris, and other contaminants from getting into the air conditioner or affecting air quality. UV light and other automatic controls improve the efficiency of the filtration process. Therefore, the additional features can’t take away the need for air cleaners and filters.

One of the advanced air cleaners is the HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters. The designation is a gold standard recognized in European and American markets. Any filter that guarantees filtration of 99.95% of particles such as dust, pollen, and mold qualifies to be HEPA.

To obtain a gold standard for indoor air quality, you should select an HVAC system with an inbuilt HEPA filter. You’d also retrofit your existing air conditioner. The only downside of air filters is the extra strain on HVAC during the air ventilation process.

4. Moisture and Humidity Control

Excess humidity and moisture in a building could either cause wall damage, foundation problems or affect people’s health. High humidity creates the best condition for mold growth, leading to allergies or potential asthmatic attacks. Some of the possible costs associated with humidity problems include reduced productivity, absenteeism in schools, and poor health.

Part of the modern solutions includes a humidity gauge for a zoned air conditioning system. When the gauge detects falling or rising humidity, the HVAC system picks signals and automatically balances the air temperature or increase air circulation. The system is also known as the Variant Refrigerant System that bases its action on a square area’s specific humidity metrics.

5. Caution When Executing Duct Insulation

HVAC systems require insulation to caution against heat and energy loss and reduce possible air duct contamination. The insulation creates a potential risk to the corresponding indoor air quality in those buildings. Ducts insulations include fibrous materials, fish oil, or a degreaser layer, which poses an extra risk of contamination. If the ducts are not well installed, the air conditioning unit is at risk of air contamination. Contamination can arise from the Infiltration of dirt particles or moisture, which forms mold.

Some of the quick solution for this include:

  • Seal off Moisture Sources: Look out for possible water droplet sources like poor plumbing and ventilation openings that may cause moisture problems.
  • Carefully Choose Insulation Materials: When installing the HVAC system, the choice of ventilation material may result in possible contamination. Ensure the material is impervious to both moisture and dust particles.

As you embark on a journey to acquire an air conditioning unit, it’s important to consider aspects that improve indoor air quality. Look out for modern features like smart controls, HEPA filtration, or a zoned air conditioning system. Ultimately, the ideal HVAC system should work towards the health of your family and eliminating potential risks.

By Juan Hernandez, ago