Tag Archives: Repair or Replace?

Stay Cozy All Year With Preventative Fall And Winter HVAC Check-Ups

Stay Cozy All Year With Preventative Fall And Winter HVAC Check-UpsWith the mild winters in Arizona, you may not think about having your heating and air conditioning system professionally inspected and maintained until spring, when it’s already warming up. To guarantee your family’s comfort throughout the most severe seasons, the best times to have a professional inspection and maintenance are fall and winter.

Don’t Wait For An HVAC Disaster

According to a 2015 Emerson survey, the most common reason homeowners replace their HVAC system is a major breakdown. Most people wait until a system is completely non-functional and beyond repair to get a new one. However, the most common time for an heating and air conditioning system to break down in Arizona is in the heat of summer.

Arizona residents don’t want to be stranded without air conditioning in such high temperatures. With proper professional maintenance in the fall or winter, a professional technician can tell you if your system will need to be replaced soon. With this information, you can schedule a convenient time to have your technician replace your system. You wouldn’t want to go without the comfort of your HVAC system during the summer. At such a busy time, it can take days for a technician to make it out to your home.

If your system does need replacing in the fall or winter, you will have time to research and speak with your technician about your specific needs. What size, efficiency rating, and features does your home require?

What Maintenance Does My HVAC System Need?

According to ENERGY STAR®, a typical professional system maintenance should include the following:

  • Checking the thermostat settings – Make sure your thermostat is programmed to give you the perfect temperature when you are home and save money when you are away.
  • Tightening the electrical connections – A professional should also measure the voltage and current on all the motors in your system to keep your system working safely.
  • Lubricating the moving parts – Un-lubricated moving parts cause friction in your motors, which increases wear and tear, and reduces the efficiency and lifespan of your system.
  • Checking the controls on the system – Does your system start, operate, and then shut-off correctly?
  • Checking gas or oil connections, your gas pressure, and burner – A gas or oil leak can be dangerous. A dirty heat exchange or heater causes your system to operate inefficiently.
  • Inspecting, cleaning, and changing your air filters – This one doesn’t require a professional, you should do this yourself often. Check your owner’s manual for additional information.

Having your HVAC system professionally inspected in the fall or winter offers you the time and ability to choose the right system for your needs. If your system fails in the summer, as most do, you will likely be tempted to find the first available technician with a replacement – and that’s not always the best option. Targeted inspections during fall or winter mean greater peace of mind and a more comfortable home. Contact us today to schedule a visit.

4 Reasons Why Water Could Be Leaking From Your AC

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4 Reasons AC Leaks WaterDuring the summer months one of the most frequent calls we get is:

“There’s water leaking from my AC.”

This common issue has a variety of causes. Most of them can be resolved without too much fuss, but more importantly, they can be prevented with regularly-scheduled maintenance.

The following are four reasons that your AC could be leaking.

4 Reasons Your AC Could Be Leaking Water

Your AC will naturally pull water vapor from the air as it condenses on the evaporator coil, which is the part of your AC unit that makes the air cold. From there the water will drip off and fall onto the aptly-named drip pan and then through a PVC drain pipe to the outside somewhere. Naturally, during the start of the summer as temperatures and humidity rise, you will start to use your AC more, which will pull more water from the humid air and exacerbate any existing issues with leakage.

1. Clogged Drain Lines And Drip Pans

The first and most common reason why your AC unit will leak water is a clogged drain line. Dust, dirt, mold, insects, insulation, or anything else that can make its way into the line can lead to it being clogged. The pan can only hold so much water and then it will overflow. When you have regularly scheduled preventative maintenance performed, the technicians will generally blow the drain line out to prevent that. They will also add special acid tablets to the drain pan that will help stop any clogs from forming in the line. The pan itself must also be installed on a slope towards the drain plug so that the water will flow that way. If it’s not, then water can easily overflow. It is possible that the pan could have rusted through as well, which clearly would cause leaks.

2. Installation Issues

The line itself can also be the cause of the issue if the PVC wasn’t cemented together when it was installed. Another improper ac installation cause is not having a p-trap or air vent installed on the drain line, which will allow the water to drain in the negative pressure created when the unit is running. If those weren’t installed the water will be pulled back into the pan until it overflows. (Caveat being that not all systems need to have a p-trap or air vent installed on the line.)

3. Ice Formation

Another reason why your AC unit will leak is from the formation and melting of ice on the components, which can happen for several reasons. The first is a low charge pressure. When the pressure is low the temperature inside the evaporator coil can actually drop in temperature and cause the humidity pulled from the air to freeze on the coil and then drip off later onto the walls or ceiling.

4. Low Air Flow

The fourth reason is the low air flow. Not having enough air flowing over the evaporator coil can cause ice to form, like the above reason. This can be problematic for an AC unit because forming ice insulates the coil from the air blowing over it, causing it to stay cold, and causes more ice to form – creating a cycle. Things like dirty filters are the most common cause of this (so change your filters regularly), less common issues are fan related.

Have A Leak Or Need Preventative Maintenance? Call The Air Conditioning Experts Today!

The good news about a residential and commercial air conditioning leaking water is that most of the time it can be fixed without too much fuss. However, you can avoid an emergency call simply by having regularly scheduled maintenance performed. Now that monsoon season is here and the humidity has increased, air conditioning leakage is more common. So before the next big storm hits the valley, and you need AC repair, give us a call now or click on the button below to learn more about our maintenance services, which could prevent this issue from happening. One of our expert air conditioning technicians will effectively and quickly service your unit.

Learn More About Our Maintenance Services

Should I Replace or Repair My Equipment? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself

Repair or Replace - 5 Questions to Ask Yourself - BrucesAC.comIf your heating or cooling unit is not functioning properly, you may have asked yourself “should I replace or repair my equipment?” Before deciding to repair or replace your heating or cooling unit, there are a few questions you should ask yourself.

By answering these questions, you will be able to determine what the best course of action is.


 
 

Questions To Ask Yourself To Determine If You Should Replace Or Repair Your Equipment

 

1. Age Of Your Unit

Older units can be difficult to acquire replacement parts for repairs. As manufacturers design and market newer more energy efficient models, they begin to phase out older models and their parts. If your home has an older unit that needs repairs, it may be more cost effective to replace the unit rather than searching for much needed parts.

2. Efficiency Of Unit

If your air conditioner or heater is older than 10-15 years the best idea is to usually replace the entire unit rather than attempting to have it repaired. Many people choose to replace older units before repairs are even needed. This is due to the inefficiency of the overall unit. While your heating and cooling unit may seem to be working fine, chances are it is not functioning to its full potential. A newer unit will heat and cool your home while using less overall energy.

3. Overall Condition Of Unit

While an older unit may warrant replacement, you should always consider the condition of the existing unit. In many case, your unit may only need to be fine-tuned or cleaned up. Not every issue within your heating and cooling system requires parts to be replaced. Having a heating and cooling specialist that can repair and fine-tune your older unit, like us here at Bruce’s AC, may save you money in the long run.

4. How Often Is Your Unit Running?

Is this the home you live in all year or a vacation home that is used only on occasion? If your unit is beginning to show signs of trouble but is not used all the time, you may be able to have it repaired and buy yourself some time. If you rely on your heating and cooling unit on a regular basis, you may find that replacing it is a more convenient option. This will help you to avoid the air conditioner going out on the hottest day of the year.

5. How Long Do You Plan To Stay In Your Home?

Whether or not you are planning on staying in your home for many more years is a big factor in deciding whether to repair or replace your heating and cooling units. If you are planning on moving soon, you can save money by having the unit repaired. If you are looking at residing in the home for many more years, a replacement will be a better option as you won’t have to worry about a possible failure down the road.
 

Need A Repair Or Replacement Or Not Sure? Call Us Now – We Are Here To Help!

 

How Much Could A New Air Conditioner Really Save You?

How Much Could A New Air Conditioner Really Save YouLet’s face it. New air conditioners are not inexpensive. In fact, they can be one of the most costly purchases that you’ll make as a homeowner. However, in Arizona, air conditioning isn’t just a luxury, it’s an absolute necessity. Thus, you want to make sure you choose the right unit for your home and understand the cost savings of a new unit which will help offset the price you will pay for it.

When you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, you will be presented with various SEER rating options. SEER stands for “seasonal energy efficiency rating,” and this rating can tell you a lot about how much you’ll be paying on your monthly electricity bill. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient your system will be. This will translate into lower energy consumption and obviously lower monthly bills.

Currently, the government has mandated that all new air conditioners have to be rated at least a 13 SEER. However, the older units that many of us have are rated at 8 to 12 SEER. The most efficient units are 17 or higher.

How Much Will You Save Each Month?

So, let’s consider you spend $100 on air conditioning each month with an old 8 SEER unit. If you purchase a new 13 SEER unit, you can expect to save $38 each month. If you choose to purchase a higher efficiency unit with a SEER rating of 15, you will save nearly $50 a month. The most efficient units will save you well over half of what you’re spending each month with the old unit. Yes, this can really add up – especially here in Arizona where we run our air conditioners for most of the year. In fact, you can expect that the cost savings will substantially offset the investment you’ve made into a new air conditioner in just a few years. Let’s not forget, there are also typically utility and manufacturer rebates to save even more!

Get A Quote On A New Air Conditioner In Phoenix Area?

At Bruce’s, we can provide you a FREE, detailed quote on a new air conditioning unit. We carry the top brands and offer the best installation services in the industry. Call us today to get started and start saving now. Investments that pay for themselves over time, can’t go wrong with that right?