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Why are AC Capacitors So Important?

A recent survey showed about 24,000 homes in the Valley of the Sun without air conditioning. It’s hard to imagine surviving sizzling hot summers without being able to cool down indoors. But even if you have an HVAC system, there’s always a chance of a breakdown that can leave you without cooling. This is because your AC unit has a large number of wires, components, and circuits. Normal system wear and tear can eventually lead to parts breaking down, but a unit that hasn’t been serviced on a regular basis is especially prone to failures. And capacitors are one of the leading causes of breakdowns. Let’s take a look at why capacitors are vital to your air conditioning unit and some common failures.

What Are Capacitors

Capacitors are essential to the electric motors in your air conditioner and they’re the most common part that fails. Capacitors are a small oval, square, or cylindrical shaped device inside the AC unit. The primary job of a capacitor is to produce a bolt of electricity to start or run the compressor, blower motor, or fan motor.

Why Capacitors Fail

The number one cause of capacitor failure is from overheating. A quick visual inspection will immediately show a swollen or burst capacitor. A capacitor can overheat from four main reasons:

  1. Compressors require more energy as they age, and this additional energy can overwork a capacitor.
  2. A capacitor that runs for an extended period of time due to a heat wave.
  3. Improperly charged refrigerant level in the AC unit.
  4. Power surges or lightning strikes can damage a capacitor.

What Occurs When a Capacitor Stops Working

Here are some symptoms you may notice when a capacitor goes bad:

  • The fan on the outdoor condenser unit is not spinning.
  • The air conditioning unit is very hot.
  • The AC starts and stops often.
  • The AC unit breaker has tripped in the breaker panel.

If you notice your home is warmer or cooler than the set thermostat temperature, this can be a sign of capacitor failure. Also, if you have a faulty capacitor, you may notice a clicking sound upon start up or a loud hum if the motor can’t get going. Both sounds mean you should call your local HVAC technician for servicing.

Call Bruce’s for HVAC Electrical Issues

If you’re aware of any warning signs with your AC, you’ll want to contact your professionals at Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating. Electrical problems including capacitor issues can result in entire system breakdowns if left unfixed. Call Bruce’s today at 480-968-5652 to schedule an appointment. We’re ready to help 24/7, including weekends and holidays.

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Important HVAC Terms to Understand

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In the Valley of the Sun, your HVAC system is key for maintaining indoor comfort. Knowing cooling and heating basics can be helpful when you want to understand how things work allowing you to recognize, diagnose, and fix simple issues more easily. Plus, you can more effectively communicate with your local HVAC professionals when needed.

Here’s a list of some common HVAC terms homeowners should know:

Air Handler

The air handler looks like a large metal box and is located inside your house. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil that’s responsible for adding or absorbing heat.

Compressor

This component is known as the heart of an air conditioner or heat pump. It pumps refrigerant through your system to circulate coolant throughout your home.

Condensing Unit

The condensing unit sits outside of your house and it’s the part that most looks like an AC unit. This component holds the refrigerant gas that’s passed into the evaporator coils used to cool the air.

Ductwork

Ductwork is the network of channels and pipes connected to the HVAC system that distribute cool and hot air throughout your home.

Furnace

The furnace is one of the largest single parts of an HVAC system. It’s usually installed in an attic or a closet. The furnace doesn’t actually create heat. It pushes hot or cold air through the ductwork into the rest of your house.

Heat Pump

A heat pump is an HVAC unit that heats or cools by moving heat. For heat, the pump removes heat from outdoor air and circulates it inside through your house’s air ducts. The heat pump reverses this process when it’s used for air conditioning.

SEER

The Season Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) measures the energy efficiency of your air conditioning unit or heat pump. Higher SEER ratings mean lower energy costs to run the unit.

Split System (Zoned)

A split system zoned is a type of HVAC system that allows for controlling the temperature in different rooms in your house. It’s usually a ductless system with small units in each room delivering hot or cold air.

Call Bruce’s

The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is one of the most important parts of any home. If you need HVAC repairs, system maintenance, or if you’d like professional advice on replacing your HVAC system, contact Bruce’s today at 480-968-5652 to schedule an appointment. Since 1972, our expert technicians have been providing the highest quality products and services to homeowners in the Valley of the Sun. We’re available seven days a week including evenings and holidays.

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HVAC Tips to Get Ready for Labor Day

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For Americans, Labor Day means taking time off work, the start of football season, the traditional end of summer, swimming, backyard barbecues, and spending quality time with friends and family. With Labor Day weekend here, we’ve gathered a few helpful HVAC tips to help you get started on your list.

Thermostat

You may be tempted after the long, hot summer to drop the thermostat lower than 65 degrees to feel the chill on Labor Day. Don’t do it. Lowering the thermostat this low can actually result in the unit freezing up. The AC condenser or evaporator coils may freeze up and stop functioning properly. Even if the coils don’t freeze up, the additional strain on the HVAC system will result in a massive impact to your energy bill. Keeping the thermostat in the mid- to high-70s is the most energy efficient setting to keep everyone cool.

Air Filter

When’s the last time you checked and replaced the air filter? This easy DIY fix can decrease your air conditioner’s power usage by five to 15 percent. If you neglect to check and replace the filter at least monthly in the Valley of the Sun, the air filter will become clogged with dust and dirt. This makes it difficult for your AC unit to pull cool, clean air into your home. The AC unit will cycle on and off more than it should. This cycling uses more power running at a lower capacity for a longer period of time causing more hot and cold spots throughout the house.

Ceiling Fans

Running your ceiling fans in occupied rooms helps to keep you and your family cooler. Ceiling fans help keep the cool air flowing with a steady breeze. They help avoid frequent thermostat temperature adjustments which can strain the AC unit and make you feel like it’s one to four degrees cooler indoors than it actually is.

Call Us

The last thing you want is for your AC to break down on Labor Day. If you have any HVAC concerns, call us to schedule an appointment. Your comfort is our business. You can rely on Bruce’s experienced technicians to take care of any issues that you may have on Labor Day or any day of the year. Emergency services are available on the Labor Day holiday by calling Bruce’s at 480-968-5652. Enjoy the long Labor Day holiday weekend!

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American Standard HVAC Replacement Options

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Tired of warm nights, escalating energy bills, and unexpected repair costs? It may be time to replace your HVAC system. Did you know that Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating is a certified American Standard HVAC dealer, providing industry-leading, affordable, and long-lasting systems for your cooling and heating needs? And with the passage of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, there’s an opportunity to save even more on specific products. Here’s how some of American Standard’s products can be a good fit for your home.

HVAC Systems

Here are five reasons to consider replacing your HVAC system.

  1. Your HVAC system is over 10 years old.
  2. You’d like to lower your monthly energy bills with a more energy efficient model.
  3. Your home’s indoor air quality has been deteriorating.
  4. You’re ready to take advantage of new federal tax credits, financial incentives, and potential rebates.

Beginning in 2023, HVAC system efficiency measures were increased for air conditioning units. What that means for you is systems manufactured this year are at least 30% more energy efficient than models from five or ten years ago. By replacing your outdated HVAC system with a new silver, gold, or platinum American Standard unit, you’ll be saving thousands of kilowatt hours of energy over the lifetime of the AC unit and prevent tens of thousands of pounds of greenhouse gas emissions according to Energystar.gov. Plus, the federal government offers a tax credit on the purchase and installation of a new American Standard air conditioner.

Heat Pumps

A new heat pump may be the solution for your home if you’re replacing or upgrading all or part of your HVAC system. Heat pumps are like a combination of an air conditioning unit and a furnace. They’re extremely energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Bruce’s offers a number of American Standard heat pumps to match your requirements, and heat pumps are eligible for new federal tax credits.

Ductless HVAC Systems

A ductless HVAC system can be a great solution if you’re adding on another bedroom or an office. When you add on an addition, you’re increasing the workload on the entire system if you add ductwork. Ductless systems are more efficient because you’re able to control the temperature in just one room instead of the entire house. When the room doesn’t need to be cooled, that part of the ductless system can be turned off requiring less energy.

Ready to learn more about why American Standard air conditioners and heat pumps are a smart energy-efficient home investment? Call your local Bruce’s experts today at 480-968-5652 to schedule an appointment. We’re your cooling and heating professionals—serving the entire greater Phoenix area.

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Six Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality During Monsoon Season

Summertime brings particular air quality issues for Arizona homeowners. Monsoon thunderstorm season brings extreme heat and high humidity levels which can create challenges for your HVAC system and indoor air quality. With windows and doors shut and the air conditioner on for comfort, indoor air quality can decline to unhealthy levels.

Here are six ways to maintain your home’s indoor air quality during monsoon season and beyond:

  1. Replace Air Filters

    The first line of defense to keep indoor air quality high is your AC air filter. During the summer monsoon thunderstorm season, haboobs (dust storms) can form generating huge amounts of dust and debris which can quickly overload your HVAC system. This excess dust and debris eventually get trapped in your air filters and ductwork. By getting in the habit of regularly replacing air filters, you can minimize much of the contaminants from entering your inside air. Ideally, filters should be replaced at least every 30 days during the summer months.

  2. Keep Indoor Dust Levels Down

    For family members with respiratory issues such as allergies, asthma, and COPD, summer dust storms can be very problematic. The American Lung Association recommends a regular schedule of dusting and vacuuming to help keep indoor dust levels down.

  3. Use Localized Ventilation

    Turn on range hoods and exhaust fans when cooking or showering to reduce indoor humidity levels. Using ceiling fans and portable fans can be useful to reduce heat levels in nearby rooms.

  4. Keep Out Mold and Mildew

    Fix any leaky indoor plumbing which can contribute to the growth of mold and mildew and decreased air quality. Regularly check and clean areas in your bathrooms where standing water or excess humidity may reside resulting in mold and mildew.

  5. Add Indoor Plants

    Adding more indoor plants can help clean indoor air of carbon dioxide. Plants can even reduce formaldehyde, benzene, and VOC toxins.

  6. Whole-House Air Purifier

    Your experienced air conditioning technicians at Bruce’s can provide you with an evaluation of your house’s air to let you know what particulates are circulating indoors. In some cases, a whole-house air purifier may be a wise decision to reduce your home’s air of dust mites, spores, mildew, fungus, bacteria, and other contaminants.

By incorporating these ways to improve your indoor air quality, you’ll be able to breathe a little easier during the hot months of summer. Call your professionals at Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating today at 480-968-5652 to schedule your appointment.