Heat gain in your Central Arizona home is the result of solar radiation hitting your home’s roof, walls and windows. Heat gain can cause your home to heat up dramatically during the day, raising your energy costs and lowering your comfort level. Here are five tips for preventing heat gain from taxing your cooling system this summer. READ MORE »
Preventing Heat Gain in Your Tempe Home: Your Foolproof Strategy
May23rd
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
Most Common Air Conditioning Problems
May22nd
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
At Wolff Mechanical Inc. we are able to help you with all your Scottsdale Air Conditioning repair services. There are multiple problems you can face involving an air conditioning system. At Wolff Mechanical Inc. we provide quality air conditioning service and repair. Have you ever wondered what the most common issues are that people face with their air conditioning units? Today we would like to share the most common air conditioning problems people come across. This helpful information may help you troubleshoot a problem in the future. If you are able to pinpoint the issue you are having, we can have it up an running again quicker if we know what we need to fix on your air conditioning system before we arrive at your home or office. Here are the most common air conditioning problems.
Most Common Air Conditioning Problems
One of the most common air conditioning problems is improper operation. If your air conditioner is on, be sure to close your home’s windows and outside doors. For room air conditioners, isolate the room or a group of connected rooms as much as possible from the rest of your home.
Other common problems with existing air conditioners result from faulty installation, poor service procedures, and inadequate maintenance. Improper installation of a central air conditioner can result in leaky ducts and low airflow. Many times, the refrigerant charge (the amount of refrigerant in the system) does not match the manufacturer’s specifications. If proper refrigerant charging is not performed during installation, the performance and efficiency of the unit is impaired. Unqualified service technicians often fail to find refrigerant charging problems or even worsen existing problems by adding refrigerant to a system that is already full. Learn what to ask for when hiring a technician to maintain your air conditioner.
Air conditioner manufacturers generally make rugged, high quality products. If your air conditioner fails, begin by checking any fuses or circuit breakers. Let the unit cool down for about five minutes before resetting any breakers. If a central air conditioner’s compressor stops on a hot day, the high-pressure limit switch may have tripped; reset it by pushing the button, located in the compressor’s access panel.
REFRIGERANT LEAKS
If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, either it was undercharged at installation or it leaks. If it leaks, simply adding refrigerant is not a solution. A trained technician should fix any leak, test the repair, and then charge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant. Remember that the performance and efficiency of your air conditioner is greatest when the refrigerant charge exactly matches the manufacturer’s specification, and is neither undercharged nor overcharged. Refrigerant leaks can also be harmful to the environment.
INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE
If you allow filters and air conditioning coils to become dirty, the air conditioner will not work properly, and the compressor or fans are likely to fail prematurely.
ELECTRIC CONTROL FAILURE
The compressor and fan controls can wear out, especially when the air conditioner turns on and off frequently, as is common when a system is oversized. Because corrosion of wire and terminals is also a problem in many systems, electrical connections and contacts should be checked during a professional service call.
SENSOR PROBLEMS
Room air conditioners feature a thermostat sensor, located behind the control panel, which measures the temperature of air coming into the evaporative coil. If the sensor is knocked out of position, the air conditioner could cycle constantly or behave erratically. The sensor should be near the coil but not touching it; adjust its position by carefully bending the wire that holds it in place.
DRAINAGE PROBLEMS
When it’s humid outside, check the condensate drain to make sure it isn’t clogged and is draining properly. Room air conditioners may not drain properly if not mounted level.
To read the full article click here: Most Common Air Conditioning Problems
Your New Air Conditioner Should Feature These 5 Components
May21st
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
Selecting a new air conditioner for your central Arizona home doesn’t need to be a difficult ordeal. The problem is that you have a whole slew of models and capabilities to choose from. To make it easier for you, here are five components worth considering if you’re in the market for a new air conditioner: READ MORE »
Opting for a Zoning System Drives Home Comfort Up
May16th
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
While you may have thought programmable thermostats were the height of home comfort, just wait until you install a new zoning system. This system accomplishes two goals: home comfort at every (literal) level and energy conservation. Here’s how: READ MORE »
Cleaning the Evaporator
May15th
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
At Wolff Mechanical, we work hard to help with all your Scottsdale air conditioning repair needs. Today we would like to provide some routine cleaning maintenance tips for your at home air conditioning system. With summer around the corner it is important to keep the AC unit clean and running smoothly, so you do not melt this summer from the extreme Arizona heat.
Cleaning the Evaporator
The evaporator for the central air system is located directly above the furnace in the plenum. The evaporator may not be accessible, but if it is, you should clean it once a year. If the plenum has foil-wrapped insulation at its front, you can clean the evaporator; if the plenum is a sealed sheet metal box, do not attempt to open it. Here’s how to clean an accessible evaporator:
Step 1: Remove foil-wrapped insulation at front of plenum; it’s probably taped in place. Remove tape carefully, because you’ll have to replace it later. Behind insulation is access plate, which is held in place by several screws. Remove screws and lift off plate.
Step 2: Clean entire underside of evaporator unit with stiff brush. A large hand mirror can help you see what you’re doing. If you can’t reach all the way back to clean entire area, slide evaporator out a little. Evaporator can be slid out even if it has rigid pipes connected to it, but be careful not to bend pipes.
Step 3: Clean tray below evaporator unit. This tray carries condensation away from evaporator. Pour 1 tablespoon of household bleach into weep hole in tray to prevent fungus growth. In extremely humid weather, check condensate drain and pan every other day. If there’s much moisture in pan, weep hole from pan to drain line may be clogged. Open weep hole with piece of wire.
Step 4: Put unit back into place, reinstall plate, and tape insulation back over it.
Step 5: Turn back on air conditioner, and check for air leaks. Seal any leaks with duct tape.
To read more click here: How to clean the evaporator
Installing a New Air Conditioner? Procedures Your Technician Should Follow
May14th
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
You hope that the technician installing a new air conditioner in your home is knowledgeable, thorough and committed to installing the best product in your home, but it helps to know what procedures they should be following during this process. The last thing you want in the middle of an Arizona summer is an air conditioner that stops working due to improper installation. READ MORE »
What Professional Heat Pump Maintenance Looks Like
May9th
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
Central Arizona homeowners rely on their heat pump systems to stay cool and comfortable, and heat pumps rely on professional heat pump maintenance to reach peak cooling performance and efficiency. Beat the summer rush and heat by scheduling professional maintenance this spring season, and you can relax with lower cooling bills. READ MORE »
Troubleshooting Tips
May8th
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
At Wolff Mechanical, we work hard to help with all your Scottsdale air conditioning repair needs. Today we wanted to provide some troubleshooting advice for home maintenance. There are always certain solutions to every problem related to the air conditioning unit that may be solved without calling a technician to repair the system. Below we have listed possible solutions to help if the air conditioner does not turn on or if you seem to be facing a cooling issue with the air conditioning vents. If these problems are not solved with the troubleshooting tips below, call us at Wolff Mechanical and we will gladly send someone to the home to fix these two issues!
PROBLEM: Air Conditioning System Will Not Turn On
Possible Causes:
If you cannot get the air conditioning system to activate at all, then the most common causes lie with a blown circuit breaker or fuse, improperly set or faulty thermostat or an internal switch being off.
Possible Solutions:
- Ensure the thermostat itself is in the “Cool” position and not set to “Off” or “Heat.”
- Ensure the thermostat is calling for cooling by making sure the thermostat is set below the current room temperature.
- Check that the 240 volt circuit breaker (double breaker) controlling the air conditioning compressor / condensing unit and the 120 volt circuit breaker controlling the furnace blower or separate air handler, are in the “on” positions. If a circuit breaker has popped or a fuse is blown, then reset the circuit breaker or replace the fuse. If you reset the breaker or replace the fuse and they fail again, stop and call an air conditioning service technician as you may have a more serious problem.
- Check that all switches in and around the air conditioner are set to the “on” position including the external safety switch which is usually on an outside wall next to the condensing unit.
- Check the condensate overflow tray (if your unit has one) for excessive water. Sometimes this tray is installed in remote air handlers using condensate collection instead of a condensate drain. When using a tray, there may be a sensor switch that turns the unit off when water collects in the tray.
- Check to make sure the blower door on the air handler is securely closed.
PROBLEM: Poor Air Flow from Cooling Vents in Rooms
Possible Causes:
Usually poor air flow results from a dirty air filter or ductwork that has become blocked, crimped or even disconnected.
Possible Solutions:
- Confirm air filter is clean. If dirty, clean or replace the air filter.
- Visually inspect all ductwork to make sure it has not become disconnected or crimped. This includes ductwork that may be in difficult to reach attic, basement or crawl spaces. Repair or connect as needed.
- Check register dampers on vents in the rooms to make sure they are set to an open position.
To read the full article click here: Repairing a Central Air Conditioning System
How Does an Electronic Air Cleaner Work? By Charging Particles
May7th
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
Do you suffer from allergic reactions? If so, an electronic air cleaner could help you a great deal. An electronic air cleaner works in conjunction with your furnace or air conditioner to remove small particles of dirt that may be transported through your system and into your home. READ MORE »
Thinking About Using Solar Power In Your Phoenix Valley Home? This is How it Works
May2nd
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
2013
Written by Wolff Mechanical
Of all the places in the U.S., using solar power in the Phoenix area makes the most sense. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the desert Southwest receives solar concentrations of 6.5 to 7.0 kilowatts per meter squared each day. A square meter is equivalent to 10.7 feet, so the solar potential in our region is exceptional. READ MORE »
