Professional Heating & Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Potential Problems with Your Outdoor Air Conditioning Unit

Tuesday, July 8th, 2014

Most home air conditioners are “split” systems, which means that they consist of an indoor and outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil that removes the heat from your house, and the blower fan to distribute the cooled air. The outdoor unit is often known as the condensers, and it contains the condenser coil, a fan, and the compressor.

The outdoor unit is built sturdy to withstand weather conditions, but sometimes it can suffer from repair needs that will require you call for work from Hammond, LA air conditioning professionals. You can trust to the technicians at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning, and they are available to help you 24 hours a day.

Some Issues You May Experience With the Condenser

  • Damage to the fan: The fan inside the condenser is responsible for drawing air across the refrigerant coil and causing it to release its heat to the outdoors. The fan also vents that heat out of the top of the condenser. Debris can sometimes enter the condenser and cause damage to the fan, leading to bent blades or a broken fan belt, and this will hamper the proper cooling operation of the system and could cause serious mechanical damage inside the condenser. Call for repairs as soon as you hear odd noises from the outdoor cabinet.
  • Compressor “seizing”: The compressor it the most important component in an AC: if it fails, there is no air conditioning—period. The compressor works in the fashion of a piston motor, and dust and dirt along the moving parts or a loss of lubrication can cause the compressor to become “tight,” and eventually seize up and stop working. This might even lead to compressor burnout, which is one of the most expensive repairs for an air conditioner possible. At the first side of the compressor encountering difficulties, call for professional repairs.
  • Leaking refrigerant: Refrigerant runs through the whole AC system, but leaks along the line are most likely to occur in the condenser, where the line connects to the compressor. Loss of refrigerant will cause the AC to lose its conditioning power, and the change in pressure throughout the cooling system will cause severe damage and lead to the compressor overheating. At the first sign of refrigerant loss (hissing sounds, ice on the evaporator coil, a drop in cooling), bring in trained technicians.

At A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning, we take pride in how we deliver the quality service that customers would expect from a large company, but with the personal attention of a small business. Whatever issues you may encounter with your air conditioning system, you can trust our experienced and friendly staff to solve the troubles. Call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for professional Hammond air conditioning service.

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3 Causes of Strange Noises with Your Air Conditioning

Thursday, June 26th, 2014

When you hear a sound coming from your AC, never ignore it – it most likely signals the development of a problem with your air conditioning system in Hammond. There are a lot of different reasons why and how your air conditioner can start making strange noises, but there are a few types of repairs that are fairly easy to identify simply by listening:

  • Hissing – a hissing sound can be indicative of two possible things: a refrigerant leak inside the air conditioning system or a leak coming from the compressor. Both will need to be repaired, preferably by a trained professional, as both these types of repairs typically get worse over time and may cause damage to your system.
  • Clunking or banging – a clunking or banging noise can indicate that something has come loose somewhere in the system, and many times this can be the fan or components of the fan, such as a fan blade. It’s important to repair a loose component quickly as it can cause damage to other parts of your air conditioner, particularly if it is hitting something during operation.
  • Screeching/Screaming sound – a screeching or screaming sound can be a big warning sign that the pressure inside your compressor is too high. This can be a dangerous situation, and requires that you turn off your air conditioner immediately and have it checked by a trained professional.

Normal Noises

There are normal operational noises that your air conditioner will make, so it’s good to know what these sounds are:

  • Whirring – as your AC begins a new cycle, you may hear it whirr; this is most likely from the fan beginning to spin and is not an issue.
  • Popping sound – every now and then you may hear a popping sound come through your air ducts; this is probably the metalwork in the ducts either expanding or contracting from the temperature
  • Thump at shut-off – when your air conditioner cycles down, it may create a small thumping noise; this is normal with many systems. If, however, you hear a number of thumps or consistent thumping, it may be time for a specialist to take a look.

Is Your AC Making Strange Noises? Give Us a Call

As the owner of your air conditioning system, you know what sounds normal and what doesn’t, and unfortunately, most strange noises coming from your air conditioner usually mean there’s a problem that needs to be fixed. Don’t ignore an abnormal noise coming from your AC, even if it still seems to be working fine. As soon as you start to hear something “off” with your air conditioning, call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning and schedule air conditioning service in Hammond with one of our experts to take a look.

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What Does a Technician Do During an Air Conditioning Maintenance Call?

Monday, June 23rd, 2014

Regular maintenance for your air conditioning system should be scheduled once per year. The best time to have the work done is during the spring before the summer heat and work crunch arrives—but it’s never too late to get started, and during the early summer is still a find time to have a skilled technician come to your home and inspect your AC, clean it, and provide the necessary adjustments and tune-ups that will make sure it works at top level for another year.

If you aren’t enrolled in a program for air conditioning maintenance in Hammond, LA yet, call up A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning today. Our maintenance program will handle all your AC’s needs (and your heater’s as well for the winter) and provide other excellent benefits.

What You Can Expect During Air Conditioning Maintenance

A maintenance session for an air conditioner consists of a checklist of inspections and adjustments that cover all aspects of a cooling system. If the technician finds a specific issue that need works, he or she will either take care of it or arrange a repair session if it is too large to handle during maintenance.

Here are some of the basic steps that occur on each visit:

  • Check refrigerant level and pressure: The technician will see that your AC has sufficient refrigerant and that it is at the correct pressure so it will not damage the other components.
  • Electrical tests: To ensure that the system is not in danger of electrical malfunctions (the most common cause of AC repairs), the technician will check the volts and amps. This part of maintenance will also involve tightening electrical connections if necessary.
  • Clean the indoor and outdoor coils: To see that the air conditioner can properly absorb and release heat, the technician will clean any dirt, dust, and grime from the two coils.
  • Lubricate motors and other moving parts: This step is necessary to reduce the level of stress in the motors and other components that can lead to inefficient AC performance and eventual repair needs. The technician will pay specific attention to the compressor motor and moving parts, which are essential for cooling performance and which are expensive to replace should they fail.
  • Clear condensate lines: The condensate pans move the excess moisture from condensation, and the technicians will see that these lines are clear and no blockage is occurring.
  • Thermostat calibration: The thermostat must read the temperatures correctly in order to run the AC effectively. The technician will handle any recalibration needed in the unit.

There are more steps than this, but these are the major checks and adjustments that a professional will take care of to see that you have an AC working in its best shape.

A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning offers air conditioning maintenance in Hammond, LA that comes with a 10% discount on parts and labor, 24-hour emergency service, priority customer scheduling, and $30 off service call charges. Make us your choice for AC service this summer and every summer after.

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Hissing Sounds from Your Air Conditioning: What They Mean

Monday, June 16th, 2014

An air conditioner, when operating normally, makes a predictable series of sounds: fans whirring, the compressor humming, and the occasional sound of condensate drainage. When another sound interrupts this pattern, it usually indicates that the AC needs to have professionals look into it and see if it requires repairs. Grinding and groaning sounds can point toward motors undergoing excess stress, clanging that a fan belt has come loose or a fan blade is bent, and clicking that a capacitor is about to fail.

In this post, we’ll address one sound in particular. It isn’t as loud and noticeable as some of the others, but it can warn of a problem as bad if not worse. When you hear a hissing noise from either cabinet of your AC, it means you probably have refrigerant escaping… and that requires professionals to perform air conditioning repair in Hammond, LA on the double, before your cooling system sustains serious damage that may even lead to requiring a replacement. Look to A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for the work you need, when you need it.

The Problems of Leaking Refrigerant

The refrigerant (sometimes called “Freon”) inside an AC is responsible for carrying out heat exchange. To do this properly, it must remain at a set level, known as a “charge,” that is balanced for a specific air conditioner. Refrigerant does not dissipate under normal circumstances, but the charge can start to drop if the AC develops leaks.

When the charge lowers, the air conditioner will start to lose its ability to absorb heat along the evaporator coil. The refrigerant in the coil will remain cold, and this will trigger the condensate moisture along the coil to freeze. The presence of ice will further restrict heat absorption, and even more ice will develop, leading to a cycle that will eventually conclude with a solid block of ice across the coil and a complete end of the cooling cycle.

Even more worrisome: a drop in refrigerant charge will cause an imbalance inside the air conditioner that will damage the components. The compressor—the most vital piece of machinery in an AC—can overheat and burn out due to a lowered refrigerant charge. A burnt-out compressor will have to be replaced, or even the whole air conditioner with it… the most expensive “repair” of all.

You do not want leaking refrigerant to continue for any longer than necessary. At the first hissing noise, or the moment after you spot ice forming along the evaporator coil, call for professional air conditioning repair in Hammond, LA. A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning is available 24 hours a day to bring you the skilled work that will keep your AC cooling your home all summer long.

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3 Common Problems with Air Conditioner Fans

Monday, June 16th, 2014

Fans are an important part of your air conditioner’s system, particularly for the air flow and heat release process. Like other independent components of your air conditioning system, the fans can encounter problems, too, potentially leading to other issues with your system. Issues with your fans can have their own set of warning signs, something we’ve seen many times with air conditioning repairs in Covington. To help you pinpoint whether or not have an issue with one of your air conditioning system’s fans, our A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning experts have put together some information for you on your AC’s fans.

Signs of Potential Fan Problems

Fans can be noisy when something is on the fritz. A couple of typical noises to look for might be:

  • A clunking sound – which can indicate a loose or bent fan blade hitting or banging the inside of your outdoor unit
  • A screeching sound – which can indicate a worn-out fan belt

Another symptom can come in the form of performance:

  • Decrease in air flow coming into your property
  • Warm air blowing into your property

Lastly you may have a problem with a fan if your air conditioner develops ice.

3 Most Common Fan Problems

Fans have several components, including wiring. Here are 3 of the more common problem areas when it comes to your air conditioner’s fans:

Motor Issues

Motors turn the fans’ blades, so if the motor of a fan is faulty, the fan won’t turn as needed. The fans’ motors are electric, and can fail due to burn out, overheating or problems with internal wiring. Typically this can be fixed by replacing the motor.

Electrical Problems

As we touched on above, each fan has its own motor; each motor is tied to your system’s electricity, but it also has wiring within it to make the motor run. Over time, wires can fray, become loose or disconnect; these things can cause the motor to run unevenly or not at all, possibly putting strain on your whole air conditioning system.

Problems with the Fan Blades

The blades on your fans are metal and can bend or break, particularly on the outdoor unit; they can also come loose from operation. If a blade is bent, it can hit other components around it as it spins, potentially causing damage. Loose and broken fan blades can be quite hazardous to your system, too, particularly if they disengage from the fan itself. Depending on what kind of shape they are in, bent, broken or loose fan blades may need to be replaced.

Don’t Ignore Fan Problems

The fans in your system are key components in the air flow and heat release/cooling process of your AC; if one of the fans is malfunctioning, it can cause a potentially bigger problem in your air conditioner down the road. Think you may have a fan problem? Call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning to help you with your air conditioning repair in Covington.

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Why Should I Consider Installing A Dehumidifier?

Monday, June 9th, 2014

Louisiana is known for muggy summers, and anybody who has lived here for a year or more knows how unpleasant the weather can become when the humidity climbs over 60%. An air conditioning system can offer some relief from humidity, since the action of evaporation that ACs use to extract heat from the air also draws in moisture. However, this is not the primary function of air conditioning systems, and for the high humidity of Louisiana, they are rarely up to the task of providing relief from damp days. (Anything above 60% humidity is too much for an air conditioner to handle.)

This is why we at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning recommend that when you have air conditioning installation in Hammond, LA, you also add a dehumidifier to the system. There are many advantages to this choice beyond achieving superior comfort during the summer.

Adding a Dehumidifier?

A dedicated dehumidifier works something like a small air conditioner. A fan draws in humid air and then passes it through coils cooled with refrigerant, and the evaporation pulls moisture from the air along with the heat. The moisture drips into a reservoir, and a reheater restores the air to its initial temperature (this way a dehumidifier will not make the air from your AC too cold). The reservoir in most dehumidifiers removes the excess water through a drain. A humidistat gives you control over the amount of moisture the dehumidifier removes from the air.

Aside from making you feel more comfortable (the less moisture in the air, the easier it is for your body to lose heat through perspiration), a dehumidifier will help you save money because you will no longer need to run the AC as often.

Lowering the humidity in a house has a beneficial effect on health: high humidity is linked to respiratory troubles, and it also encourages the growth of mold and mildew that will have a negative impact on the air you breathe.

High levels of moisture will cause damage to furnishings, walls, and floors, so a dehumidifier will also do the job of protecting your home.

Look For Professional Installation

You should always have professionals for your air conditioning installation in Hammond, LA. Make sure you retain them to perform the dehumidifier installation as well. A dehumidifier must be sized correctly to work with your AC and neither dry out your home too much or leave it too damp.

A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning has indoor air quality specialists who are ready to help you find the right system for your new AC installation. We also handle repair and maintenance to keep your new dehumidifier and air conditioner working in prime condition for many years.

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Signs of Compressor Problems in Your Air Conditioner

Thursday, June 5th, 2014

The core of an air conditioning system is the compressor. Although all the components in an AC are important for its operation, the compressor performs the function that sets in motion the cooling action of the whole system. Without it, an AC is nothing more than a large fan.

Compressor problems are therefore some of the most serious that can occur to an AC, and when they start you need to move fast to have the issues repaired. If professional repair technicians catch the problems in time, they can usually save the compressor. If the compressor burns out, however, it often means that the whole air conditioner must be replaced.

How can you tell there are compressor problems in your AC? Here’s a list of some of the warning signs. Call immediately for repairs for your air conditioner in Metairie, LA when these start up. You can reach A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning any time of the day or night for these emergency repairs.

Groaning, grinding sounds

These sounds are indicators of some type of mechanical difficulty occurring inside the air conditioner, often with one of the motors. If these sounds come from the outdoor condenser cabinet—where the compressor is housed—there is a high chance that they come from the motor that runs the compressor. Have the motor either repaired or replaced before it stops running the compressor. The mechanical fault could be in the compressor itself, and this needs immediate attention.

Lowered cooling power

The compressor is what provides energy to the refrigerant, turning the chemical blend into a high-temperature, high-pressure gas to start the heat exchange cycle. If the compressor starts to fail, the cooling power of the AC will also begin to fail. If you notice a drop in cooling even though the fans seem to be working fine, you need technicians to look into the issue right away.

Hard starting

“Hard starting” is a condition where the compressor experiences trouble starting the heat exchange cycle when it receives the signal from the thermostat to turn on. The compressor will stutter as it starts up, then come on for a short time before prematurely shutting off again. This is probably due to electrical issues with the capacitors, but it will place strain on the compressor that could lead to serious damage. Technicians can attach a “hard start kit” to overcome this problem, or they may change the capacitors.

As we stated above, compressor troubles are nothing to ignore or take lightly. Call for the most skilled technicians you can find when you suspect a malfunctioning compressor.

At A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning in Metairie, LA, we aim for 100% satisfaction on every job, and we can help to protect your compressor and your valuable summer cooling.

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Ways to Keep Your Air Conditioning Reliable This Summer

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

When the summer heat starts, your air conditioning will become as important to your daily comfort as your indoor plumbing and hot water. The same way that you expect water to come from a tap when you turn the handle, you expect your air conditioning to supply cooled air whenever it comes on. There are ways you can make you air conditioning as reliable as your home plumbing, and we’ll look at some of the important precautionary steps for this summer.

Just as you should always turn to professional plumbers for your pipes, you should always turn to professional AC technicians when you have trouble keeping cool. You can reach skilled experts at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning 24-hours a day when you need assistance with air conditioning in Metairie, LA.

Tips for Making Sure Your AC Keeps Working Well This Summer

  • Schedule Annual Maintenance: Air conditioners need to have a regular maintenance inspection and tune-up once a year, and if at all possible you should take care of it before the heavy summer heat arrives. This is the best way to shield your air conditioning from malfunctions, break downs, and inefficient performance. Maintenance does not take long with a skilled technician on the job, and the service pays back in years of reliable air conditioning.
  • Change The Air Filter Once A Month: One of the simplest mistakes that homeowners make with ACs—and perhaps the most common—is to neglect to change the air filter regularly during the cooling season. The air filter protects the interior of the AC from particles pulled in through the return vents. But should it become clogged, it will turn into a hindrance that cuts off air flow and forces the AC to overwork. Eventually, this may even cause icing across the coils, one of the worst problems an air conditioner can face. But if you change the filter once a month during the summer (or as long as you regularly use the AC) you should have few problems from it.
  • Avoid Overstressing The System: The more you run an air conditioner, the faster it wears down and risks repair needs. You can lower your AC use without sacrificing quality: instead of keeping the system turned down as low as possible, bump it up about 8°F (72°F is comfortable for most people). This change not only means an AC that isn’t running unnecessarily to reach a low temperature, it will also mean savings.

Start with AC maintenance right now with a call to A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. Our professional tune-up will ready your air conditioning system in Metairie, LA for the challenges of summer. Our skilled and experienced staff looks forward to helping your home stay cool.

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How You Can Tell You Need Air Conditioning Repairs

Thursday, May 15th, 2014

Before the summer arrives, have any lingering air conditioning repairs taken care of. It’s likely that you’ve already needed to turn on your AC for a few days, so take some time to pay attention to its operation and look for any indications of faults or malfunctions. If you do notice anything amiss as we’ll go over in a moment don’t hesitate: call for professional technicians to come to your home and remedy the problem. Here are five common signs your AC needs repair that you should watch for early.

Keep A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning in mind when you need air conditioning repair service in Kenner, LA. We have 24-hour emergency service to make sure you have your cool house restored to you in no time. Learn what happens if you ignore AC repairs and why early service matters.

Signs It’s Time to Call for Air Conditioning Repairs

The clearest warning sign you can receive from your AC that it has operational problems is when it starts making strange noises. If the air conditioner makes grinding and stuttering sounds when it starts up, then it is “hard starting,” which could point to a number of issues in the motors or the compressor. Clicking sounds indicate capacitors about to fail. If you hear a hissing sound, like escaping gas, then you have a refrigerant leak and need to call for repairs to seal the leak and recharge the lost refrigerant as soon as possible.

Should you detect a loss in cooling power or a drop in airflow coming from the vents, the air conditioning could be experiencing major problems. Although you may feel tempted to let these problems go and hope they’ll get better, they won’t. You could have dirty coils, blocked airflow, broken fans, burnt-out motors… all of which will require professional repairs.

An indication of repair needs that some people often overlook appears on utility bills. As you get your first bills for the air conditioning season, compare them to the bills from the same time the previous year. If you see a surprising rise in costs, it might come from an air conditioning system that is running with a malfunction. Call for technicians to investigate and find out what’s wrong. Some repair problems are difficult to detect at first, but with knowledgeable HVAC specialists on the job, it will soon be fixed.

Schedule Maintenance As Well

Even if nothing seems wrong with your air conditioner this spring, you will still need to make a call to a trustworthy HVAC company to arrange for a maintenance visit. A tune-up and inspection will catch any repair problems that might otherwise escape your notice and give you time to have them repaired.

A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning offers a quality maintenance program to help you get ready for summer. Along with the inspection and tune-up for your AC, you’ll also receive a 10% discount on parts and labor and priority scheduling for your air conditioning repairs in Kenner, LA. Discover how maintenance reduces future AC repairs while boosting long-term efficiency.

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Warning Signs That You May Need Air Conditioning Repairs

Tuesday, May 6th, 2014

Spring is the perfect time to repair your air conditioner, especially if it seems like something may be off. As the property owner, you know your system best – have you heard or seen something that doesn’t seem normal? Not sure what you are hearing or seeing? Every system provides warnings when things are headed south, so let this list from A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning help you identify some of the warning signs that your air conditioner may be in need of repair. See more on how to recognize AC repair signs. Call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for quality air conditioning repair service in Metairie, LA.

Top Warning Signs Your AC Needs Repairs

Strange Sounds

There are normal sounds your air conditioning system makes – such as a steady hum -when the unit is running. Other sounds, like clunking, banging, squealing or screeching, are not typical sounds and may indicate a problem. If you hear such sounds, call specialist to inspect it as soon as possible. Learn more about odd AC noises and what they mean.

Thermostat Issues

Your home should cool evenly. If you experience one room being much colder or hotter than another, you may have an issue with your thermostat; the same goes for excessive cycling of your system. Your thermostat helps run you AC efficiently. If it’s off, you may start to see that in the form of higher energy bills. Don’t let your thermostat cost you money – call an air conditioning repair technician to check the problem.

Low Air Flow

Does the air flow seem light? Several potential problems can cause a decrease in air flow, from debris in the air ducts to a problematic compressor. Because a number of things can cause decreased air flow, it’s best to let a professional technician determine what is causing the problem. One common culprit is ice buildup on AC coils, which often signals bigger issues.

Unpleasant Smell

The air from your air conditioner should be fresh. If you notice an odor when the system comes on, such as mold or mildew, it’s time for a professional inspection and cleaning. Left alone, these smells will continue to circulate through your property, delivering to your indoor spaces both the odor and the microbes causing it.

Total Lack of Cool Air

If you turn your system on and get nothing but warm air, you may have a problem with your compressor. Compressors are an important part of your system and require professional training for repairs. Warm air can be indicative of other problems as well, so make sure a trained specialist handles the repair work.

Book AC Repair Services with A-Professional Today

Your air conditioning system is an important part of your home’s overall value; if you have a warning sign it may not be running properly, don’t ignore it. Call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning to schedule air conditioning repair service in Metairie today. We can handle any repairs you’re A/C system may need.

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