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Air Conditioning Repair - Air Conditioning Questions
1.70How often do air conditioning units need to be charged with freon?
Q.We have been having terrible problems with our central air conditioning unit. Our house is about 8 years old and we have a zone system (separate heating and cooling thermostats for upstairs and downstairs). For the past 2 years the unit is not cooling the house properly (heating works fine). We had the dampers replaced 2 years ago and I know the dampers are fine. We have had several repair technicians look at the unit. They always recharge the unit with more Freon (3 times in 1 summer) after claiming to fix a leak. This past weekend again a repair person claimed that we had an internal leak in the unit. He said that he had plugged the leak and then he charged the unit with Freon. Not only did this not work (our house continued to get hotter from 73F to 85F while AC was running all day) the pipe coming from the unit outside our house was all frozen over with ice (all the way to where the insulation started).
Any suggestions or help will be appreciated. Thank you.
A.A system only needs to be charged once, when it is installed. If it gets a leak, the leak must be repaired, and verified that it is repaired with a vacuum test. It is a laborious process, and some homeowners would rather just juice up the machine each year than spend the funds to get it repaired.
Some units have leaks that can never be identified. There are lots of fittings, small bends in the coils, and hundreds of feet of tubing that need to be traced with an accurate tool. Many Tech's don't have access to this tool, and rely on soap bubbles to identify leaks.
Contact the manufacturer of your unit, and have them recommend a competent company in your area. If it is the company that you've been using, explain that they have not fixed the unit. For very hard to find leaks, there is a product available that can be added to the refrigerant similar to "Stop Leak" for your auto radiator. This product is rather spendy, about the same price as five pounds of refrigerant, but if you are charging your unit each season, it would be worth the investment.
Contact the company that "repaired" the leak last time, and ask how the technician verified that the leak was repaired, and how he verified that the charge was correct.
1.30About how much does a furnace /air conditioning cost to replace?
Q.Our airconditioner has been leaking and leaving huge puddles of water on the floor from a hose attached to the back of it. The hose leads to a plastic drain pipe in the wall but its too high up and i THINK the water that is collected in this hose backs up and spills al over the floor. We just bought a BRAND NEW water heater and i dont want it rusting out but it will if i dont fix the air conditioner or set the water heater on bricks. Anyone know why its leaking and a inexpensive way to fix this? The hose is not clogged up either. I was wondering if a replacement air conditioning/heater (its combined) will cost us around 6,000 or more? Or will it be easier to fix whatevers wrong? ANY suggestions on what to look for in the back of of it or inside of it that can possibly be the cause to the air conditioning leaking and flooding the little room out. The heater works great. The air works too it just leaks when we run it.
A.The water from the air conditioner is condensation. It is normal for the water to be produced. It comes from the moisture in the air. The hose is for it to drain away. It is gravity fed, so you need to run the hose downward to a drain. It will not run upward. Find a way to drain it downward, and your water leak is solved.
1.00Anyone know of a good, yet reasonably priced air-conditioning repair service in Dallas?
Q.I think my AC unit is shot. I suspect the repair to be major, so cost is pretty important to me. Can anyone recommend a dependable repairman or repair service that won't gouge me? Thanks!!
A.Independent HVAC
steve baser
214-724-1862
1.00No website on Air Conditioner Servicing (& Maintenance) ?
Q.Does anyone know a good website that teach me step by step how to service ( and do commonly needed replacement) my single room (Window /wall mounted) Air Conditioner.
Googled website almost all only show companys that do air cond repair.
I want this as new hobby !
T H A N K S !!
A.Try starting here: http://www.hometips.com/cs-protected/guides/centairfix.html
Google diy air conditioner repair.
gl
1.00How much to have the ducts cleaned and mold removed?
Q.I just moved into a new home that had never had the ducts cleaned. The house is a ranch with gas forced air heat on one zone with about 9 vents. I found this company on a coupon for $45 which included unlimited vents and a couple access holes. When the company began their work they found mold and the price skyrocketed from $45 to $1400. Does this sound like a screw job or is that price accurate for mold removal and duct cleaning?
A.Mold removal/remediation is entirely different from air duct cleaning. However, it is not uncommon to find mold in your air ducts. That is why we recommend the Electro Breeze Duct Mount UV kit at http://www.allergy-relief-air-purifier.com/air-conditioning-filters.html. This unit will eliminate mold and bacteria from your indoor air and keep your air conditioning coils clean from mold.
You must consider that to remove the mold from your air ducts, the air duct cleaning company is entering into a potentially dangerous situation for their employees. This requires expensive equipment and a person with the skills to do the remediation properly. Now that they have knocked the mold loose, you will need the high efficiency filtration and ultra-violet light of the Electro Breeze DMUV kit to kill and capture the mold spores in your indoor air. I hope this helps.
1.00How do you clean the air ducts in a car?
Q.My car is getting older and I've noticed the air coming from the air conditioning ducts and air vents smells musty, dusty, and dirty. Is there a way I can clean the ducts and vents? Also, is this something I can get done at an auto detailer?
A.The answer to your 2nd question first. Maybe?! Some detailers will only clean/restore what they can reach, although there are some who might go the extra mile. The problem is, they don't want to be responsible for destroying your dash vents to get at the ducts.
When I worked in a body shop, we simply used compressed air through the vents to blow out the dust and dirt accumulated while the car sat inside being worked on.......some people even put pieces of air freshner directly in the vents to sweeten the smell afterwards.
1.00How can I find a good air duct cleaner in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Q.My doctor told me I need to get my air duct cleaned, but I keep hearing all kinds of horror stories about air duct cleaners. Does anyone knows of a good air duct cleaner near San Francisco?
A.Here are some Union companies that do duct cleaning. They all do good work.
Atlas Heating and AC
Oakland, CA
510-893-1343
Advanced Solutions Heating and Air Conditioning
San Mateo, CA
650-347-4828
Bell Products
Napa, CA
707-255-1811
1.00How can I fix my air conditioning?
Q.I have central air in my apartment and for the most part it works but lately it has not been cooling down the apartment. Any ideas on how I can fix this? Thank you.
A.How old is the unit and when was the last time it had a freon charge? Unless it has leaks, the ac unit should be checked and recharged once a year. If everything is working, but it is not really putting out cold air, usually an indication of a recharge needed. To verify everything is working: Set the thermostat to Auto, Cool and about 75 degrees. If air is coming out of the vents, the air handler (inside unit) is working ok. Next, go to the outside unit and see if the fan is turning and the compressor is running. (fan by sight; compressor by sound). If okay, all components are working as they should and the unit probably needs a recharging.
More Air Conditioning Questions
Repair
You can expect new air conditioners to give you trouble free service, but if you have an older unit, you are likely to have the need for air conditioner repairs more often. If you find that your air conditioner problems are increasing steadily, it may be time to buy yourself a new unit. AC repairs can be expensive, and the money that you spend on repairing an old model can easily be converted into buying a brand new, more energy efficient appliance. Most air conditioner problems are rooted in improper installation, or irregular or non existent maintenance. For instance, if the refrigerant is under charged or not charged according to the specifications laid out in the manufacturer's manual, then you may begin to notice leaks. If you find that your room temperature drops below the temperature that's set on your thermostat, it's usually the result of faulty calibration of the thermostat. The importance of getting your AC installed by a qualified professional cannot be underestimated.
Air conditioner problems also frequently occur due to insufficient HVAC maintenance. Cleaning your air filter is something that should be done at least once or twice during the peak season, and more often, if you have pets at home, or if your air conditioner is used constantly. Cleaning air filters is a simple task. Just remove the protective grill, and clean the condenser fins with a vacuum brush or soft cloth. Dust or debris that accumulates on the filter can disrupt the flow of air, and affect the efficiency of your air conditioner. These dust particles can also travel through the evaporated coil, affecting the heat absorbing capacity of the coil. Other common air conditioner problems are associated with improper usage. For instance, if you have an oversized air conditioner that turns on and off frequently, it can affect the compressor leading to the need for AC compressor repairs. If the air conditioner does not turn on as soon as you switch it on, the thermostat may be set to above the current room temperature. There could also be a trip in the breakage or a blown fuse.
AC repairs tend to be complex procedures, and because your air conditioner is an expensive piece of equipment, it's best not to get experimental with repairs. A central air conditioning troubleshooting technician will be able to conduct all kinds of repairs related to your unit, including AC compressor repairs, AC duct and motor repairs and other central air conditioner repair sources.
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we have a split air conditioning system that needs to be replaced with indoor fan motor and move the outside unit into the ground. It's a soleus split AC and we ordered the part. is this something that you can service ??
Tess O
Central air unit blows cool bit not as cold as it use to. Just moved in three months ago was blowing fine until recently. Don't know any history on unit.
Our contractor partners happily serve the following suburbs and zip codes: Alameda, Albany, Ashland, Baumberg, Bay Farm Island, Berkeley, Ca, Canyon, Castro Valley, E Bay Mun Util D, Eastmont, Eastport, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Elmhurst, Emerywille, Fairview, Giant, Glorietta, Hayward, Kaiser Services, Kennsington, Lafayette, Moraga, Mulford Gardens, Naval Supply Center, Oak Land, Oaklamd, Oakland Intrntl Service Ctr, Oaland, Okland Californa, Orinda, Philatelic Center, Piedmont, Piedmontxxx, Pleasanton, Point Richmond, Rheem, Richmond, Russell City, Safeway Stores, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, San Pablo, San Ramon, Valle Vista, 94601, 94602, 94603, 94604, 94605, 94606, 94607, 94609, 94610, 94611, 94612, 94613, 94614, 94615, 94617, 94618, 94619, 94621, 94622, 94623, 94624, 94625, 94649, 94659, 94660, 94661, 94666
You can expect new air conditioners to give you trouble free service, but if you have an older unit, you are likely to have the need for air conditioner repairs more often. If you find that your air conditioner problems are increasing steadily, it may be time to buy yourself a new unit. AC repairs can be expensive, and the money that you spend on repairing an old model can easily be converted into buying a brand new, more energy efficient appliance. Most air conditioner problems are rooted in improper installation, or irregular or non existent maintenance. For instance, if the refrigerant is under charged or not charged according to the specifications laid out in the manufacturer's manual, then you may begin to notice leaks. If you find that your room temperature drops below the temperature that's set on your thermostat, it's usually the result of faulty calibration of the thermostat. The importance of getting your AC installed by a qualified professional cannot be underestimated.
Air conditioner problems also frequently occur due to insufficient HVAC maintenance. Cleaning your air filter is something that should be done at least once or twice during the peak season, and more often, if you have pets at home, or if your air conditioner is used constantly. Cleaning air filters is a simple task. Just remove the protective grill, and clean the condenser fins with a vacuum brush or soft cloth. Dust or debris that accumulates on the filter can disrupt the flow of air, and affect the efficiency of your air conditioner. These dust particles can also travel through the evaporated coil, affecting the heat absorbing capacity of the coil. Other common air conditioner problems are associated with improper usage. For instance, if you have an oversized air conditioner that turns on and off frequently, it can affect the compressor leading to the need for AC compressor repairs. If the air conditioner does not turn on as soon as you switch it on, the thermostat may be set to above the current room temperature. There could also be a trip in the breakage or a blown fuse.