When you look at the headline of this post, you might wonder if we’ve gone a touch crazy. Temperatures are dropping and it’s already December! Why would you need to worry about preparing the air conditioning system for this kind of weather?
Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Blog : Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category
How to Prepare Your AC for the Winter
Tuesday, December 12th, 2017Fall Is Here… Is It Time to Replace That Old Air Conditioner?
Thursday, September 21st, 2017Now that we are moving into fall, we can expect to experience some relief from the very hot summer weather. The cold of winter still lies some distance away, and our air conditioners may need to do some more work until then, but it’s a good time to start thinking about whether your AC is in good enough shape to keep working for another few years… or if now is the ideal time to take advantage of the slower fall season and have it replaced.
Tripped Breakers and Air Conditioning Repair in Arlington, VA
Saturday, September 9th, 2017You expect your air conditioning to work hard for you in Virginia, where the warm and muggy weather can make it extremely uncomfortable inside your home without cooled air circulating through it. When your air conditioner stops working, it can be as serious a problem as having your electricity go out. Indeed, electrical issues and air conditioning problems are closely linked: a malfunctioning AC can cause blown fuses. If turning on your air conditioner causes a tripped circuit breaker, your unit probably needs immediate professional check-up and repair.
One possible cause of a tripped circuit breaker is the compressor in your AC. The compressor requires the most energy to run of any part of your air conditioning system. If your compressor is a “hard starter,” it may overload circuits and trip a breaker. To fix the problem requires fixing the wiring in the compressor or even getting a replacement. An expert can come to your home to diagnose the electrical trouble with the compressor and provide the necessary repairs to get your air conditioning working again without causing a blown fuse.
Another reason for your AC tripping a circuit breaker is problems in the capacitor. This cylindrical device does the job of transmitting voltage to the condenser to keep it operating. Broken wiring can cause the capacitor to malfunction and send a power surge that causes the tripper breaker. A professional can perform electrical tests on the capacitor to determine what steps to take to get it running properly again.
Don’t delay calling in an expert when problems like tripped circuit breakers start occurring each time you switch on your AC. Simply trying to “wait out” the trouble won’t fix anything—an air conditioner is not a self-repairing device, and it needs attention from a highly-trained HVAC professional. For Arlington, VA air conditioning repair, OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. is an excellent and dependable resource. Our NATE-certified technicians can determine the repairs you require and provide the necessary work. With 24-hour emergency service in Arlington, we can help you fight the Virginia heat without breaking a sweat. Contact us today!
Watch Out for Air Conditioning Drain Clogs!
Thursday, September 7th, 2017As your air conditioning system works to keep your home cool, it also collects water droplets along its evaporator coil. This is a normal part of how air conditioning works: as the evaporator coil absorbs heat from the indoor air, it also absorbs water moisture. In a place like Alexandria, which often suffers from high humidity, this can add up to a great deal of water collecting across the coil. But the AC has a way to deal with this: the water drips from the coil and collects in a shallow pan (the condensate pan) below. Then a pump draws the water down a drain line and out of the house.
The Role of Refrigerant in Your Air Conditioner
Tuesday, August 29th, 2017A common misunderstanding that people often have regarding air conditioning systems is that ice is used at some point in the process of cooling the air. This is why it’s easy to ignore the formation of ice along the evaporator coil—which is actually a sign of a major malfunction in the system that needs to be addressed.
Getting More Out of Your Air Conditioning in Arlington, VA
Tuesday, August 29th, 2017When it comes to air conditioning, Arlington, VA residents know the value of reliability. Our hot, muggy days make cool comfortable air a necessity, and most of us prefer to get that air without breaking the bank in high monthly bills. You can do that by upgrading your older air conditioning to a new one, or you can do it by getting more out of your existing model. A trained expert can help you out.
Efficiency is the watchword in lowering your monthly energy bills without cutting down on the cool air you’re accustomed to. And efficiency starts with regular cleaning and maintenance. When dust and dirt build up on individual components, it affects their ability to function. Dust on the evaporator coils will impact its cooling ability, while build-up in the condensate drain can lead to water overflow in the pan. Wear and tear can take their toll as well, with old components struggling to perform their functions or flat-out breaking down in some cases. If you have a refrigerant leak, low refrigerant levels will cause issues with the cooling cycle. A regular maintenance plan can keep the unit clean and spot any potential problems before they become too large to handle without a serious service call.
You can help identify sources of trouble while they’re still small by noticing any changes in the performance of your air conditioning unit. If you sense that the air flow has dropped, if the air conditioner unit seems to stay on for longer periods of time, if the air isn’t as cool as it once was, or if you hear any unusual noises coming from the air conditioner, it may be time to call in a professional.
In particular, look for unusual spike in your monthly electric bill: as sure a sign as any that there could be an issue with your AC. If you live in Arlington, VA or any of the surrounding communities, call on the experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Inc.
Does Frayed Wiring Necessitate Air Conditioning Repair in Alexandria, VA?
Monday, August 21st, 2017Frayed wiring can be a concern no matter where it appears, and usually requires the services of a trained professional to address. Have no doubts: frayed wiring definitely necessitates air conditioning repair, usually sooner rather than later.
A frayed wire can result from many conditions, ranging from normal wear and tear to friction created by a faulty connection. In the most benign cases, it can interfere with power to one of more components in the HVAC unit. In more serious cases, the frayed wire can result in a complete short, cutting power to the air conditioner entirely. The breaker switches in your home may cut off electrical power automatically in such cases to prevent further damage (or an electrical fire). The components of many air conditioning units carry emergency shut-off switches, which do much the same thing in the event of a major short.
It can be difficult to diagnose this type of problem, but a technician can usually do it by testing the wiring systematically and/or checking the component involved to see that it’s functioning effectively. If frayed wiring is the cause, he should be able to replace it with new wiring, and secure that it in place so that it doesn’t cause any further issues. Only a professional service tech should attempt such repairs; electricity is nothing to play around with. And the longer a frayed wiring is left in place, the greater the chance of a short, or of additional damage being caused.
You can call upon a trained Alexandria, VA air conditioning specialist to handle the issue instead of a general electrician. HVAC technicians understand the specific components involved, and can insure that the problem is not a part of the unit itself instead of just the wire. A general electrician can only deal with the wire itself. The experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Inc. can help you with any air conditioning repair in Alexandria, VA. Call us today and set up an appointment.
As Summer Winds Down, Watch for These Potential Air Conditioning Problems
Thursday, August 17th, 2017Problems with Your Air Conditioner’s Compressor
Tuesday, August 15th, 2017The end of summer is a period when you’ll still be running your air conditioner steadily but also have to deal with the immense amount of strain from the many months it’s been working. This is when you’re most likely to encounter AC malfunctions. The component in your air conditioner that has the highest chance of needing repair work is the compressor, which is at the core of the AC’s operation. Without the compressor, you don’t have a working air conditioner—period.
Three Ways in Which Your Air Conditioning Installation in Arlington, VA Can Make it or Break it
Monday, August 14th, 2017In Arlington, VA, we need our air conditioning systems to hold back the heat and humidity of summer. A reliable air conditioning system can keep your home a comfortable temperature no mate how high the mercury rises outside. That begins with the air conditioning installation process. A professionally installed AC unit will provide reliable, efficient service from the get-go. One that is poorly installed, on the other hand, will develop problems sooner rather than later. What should you look for when the time comes to install a new air conditioning? Here are three ways in which the process can make it or break it.
- Placement: Placement of all aspects of a new air conditioning unit plays a key role in how efficiently it functions. A good installation expert will make sure the unit is placed where it has sufficient space and where nothing will block the airflow. He’ll ensure that its noise doesn’t carry such that it distracts you or your neighbors, and that the unit it is easy to access for service. He’ll won’t place ductwork in unconditioned spaces unless it is necessary, and he will set up the thermostat in a place that accurately gauges the temperature (i.e. away from windows, warm spots or other sources of heat).
- Materials: Proper air conditioning installation uses top-notch materials to secure and fit the unit. Ducts, for instance, will be well-insulated if they’re placed in the attic, and sealed with duct mastic.
- The Right Contractor: This is the simplest and yet perhaps the most important aspect of air conditioning installation. Does the technician double-check his work? Does he make sure all the bolts are secure, the fittings are in place, and the seals tight and well-maintained? Does he verify the level of refrigerant and ensure that it’s right for your model? Does he turn the AC on when he’s done and verify the air flow rate? A good professional will ensure that his work is done right the first time. The wrong contractor who might be operating as quickly as possible is apt to ignore some of those steps, which will increase wear-and-tear on you unit and create problems later on.
For top-notch air conditioning installation in Arlington, VA, contact the experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. We do the job right the first time, every time, and pride ourselves on professional work. Call us today to set up an appointment.
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