Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Blog : Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

How Humidity Reduces Your Air Conditioner’s Effectiveness

Tuesday, May 9th, 2017

Air conditioning repair in Alexandria has to handle all kinds of issues, from leaky refrigerant to broken fan motors. Many customers are surprised to learn, however, that humidity plays a factor in how their air conditioning system functions, and thus is an important consideration during many types of repairs. Virginia residents certainly aren’t strangers to humidity – we get pretty muggy here in the summer – but you may not know just how humidity reduces your air conditioner’s effectiveness.

Humidity & Your Air Conditioner

In the first case, humidity plays a large role in our comfort levels. Human beings usually need relative humidity levels to be between 30% and 50% in order to stay comfortable. Why? Those levels allow sweat to evaporate off of our skin, which makes us feel cooler. When humidity levels are too high, there’s too much moisture in the air and your sweat won’t evaporate. That leaves you feeling sweaty and gross, as well as preventing your body from lowering its overall temperature.

Air conditioner help out with that as part of the normal cooling process. Cooling temperatures cause moisture in the air to move from a gaseous to a liquid state. (That’s why dew forms on plants and grass in the early hours of the morning, when temperature are lowest.) As the air conditioner cools the air, it pulls moisture from the air and sends it back into your home. As it runs, that reduces humidity levels and helps you feel more comfortable.

Unfortunately, if humidity levels are high, that means the air conditioner has to work much harder in order to help you feel comfortable. Yes, it can remove the moisture in the air, but doing so costs power and energy, lowering its effectiveness in the process. Depending on the situation, you may wish to invest in a more effective air conditioner, or have a professional install a dehumidifier in your home to help with the problem. For air conditioning repair in Alexandria, call upon the experts at Oasis Heating A/C & Refrigeration, Inc.

We understand how humidity reduces your air conditioner’s effectiveness and we can make informed recommendations that fit your particular needs! Call us today.

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Can I Do Air Conditioning Maintenance on My Own?

Tuesday, May 9th, 2017

The answer to this question is a little bit of “yes” and whole lot of “no.” Let’s start with the “no” part first.

No, You Must Leave Annual AC Maintenance to HVAC Professionals

We cannot exaggerate how important regular air conditioning maintenance is to the performance and longevity of a cooling system. For every year that an AC misses its spring maintenance tune-up and inspection, it will lose around 5% of its energy efficiency and it will also be at an increased risk of suffering from malfunctions or even a complete system breakdown. Regular maintenance will prevent around 85% of repair needs and help a system work for 15 to 20 years without a major loss in efficiency.

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Alexandria, VA Air Conditioning Tip: How Air Conditioning Maintenance Protects Your Comfort and Your AC

Saturday, May 6th, 2017

If you’re on the fence regarding the benefits of an air conditioning maintenance agreement, then we’d like to explain to you how it not only benefits you, but also protects your comfort and that of your AC. While a quality installation is critical to reliable cooling, your new AC will rapidly depreciate if it is not kept in solid working shape with routine maintenance. We’ve broken this down into the 3 major aspects of a professional maintenance visit: inspection, cleaning, and tune-up. Call OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. for Alexandria, VA air conditioning services !

Inspection: Your AC technician has been trained in the science of cooling: how it works, how it doesn’t work, and how the various components and processes cooperate to give you comfort in your home. Because of the system’s complexity, and how hard it works during the cooling season, various parts need to be professionally inspected. Electrical wiring and connections, condensate drain pump, compressor contactors, air filters, fan belts, coils, and refrigerant levels all need to be checked to make sure they’re working properly. This comprehensive system check-up is key to maintaining the effectiveness and efficiency of your AC.
Cleaning: The next step is of course ensuring that the parts of your system are clean. During the inspection process, your tech will have noted any parts that are in need of cleaning, especially the condenser and evaporator coils, the air filter, and the condensate drain pan. Without a clean system, your AC will simply not be able to keep up with the heat and humidity. Dirt, dust, and other debris accumulate within sensitive mechanical parts and this can also lead to premature failure.
Tune-up: The AC tech will check to make sure that all parts of the system are adequately tuned-up. The voltage and amp draw of the compressor need to be checked so that your AC has a steady power supply. Also, if your refrigerant level is low, then your AC may need to be recharged. Low refrigerant can cause energy inefficiency and inadequate cooling.

If you’re still unsure about the protection that a routine maintenance plan can offer your home comfort, then contact an Alexandria, VA air conditioning professional at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. to learn more. Call us today!

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Arlington, VA Air Conditioning Tip: Signs of Condenser Coil Problems

Saturday, April 29th, 2017

Your home air conditioning system is comprised of various components that cooperate to cool the warm indoor air of your home and dissipate the heat into the outdoor air. This heat transfer process works by the radical temperature and pressure fluctuations of a refrigerant that circulates throughout the coils, compressor, and expansion valve. However, like all mechanical systems, your AC is prone to wear and tear and may require professional repair at some point. One such kind of problem concerns the condenser coil, which sits in the weatherized outdoor unit. We’d like to review some signs of condenser coil problems in this post so that you know how to identify problems when they occur. For excellent air conditioning repair services in Arlington, VA, call OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. today!

Inadequate cooling: Your condenser coil works by accepting the high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant from the compressor and dissipating its heat into the outside air. Because thermal energy naturally moves into colder air, the condenser coil circulates the refrigerant as an exhaust fan pulls the much cooler outdoor air through the outdoor unit. Unfortunately, if your condenser coil is full of dust and debris, it won’t be able to dissipate this heat effectively and this can result in adequate cooling.
Warm air: Another effect of a clogged or dirty condenser coil is warm air. If this thermal energy cannot dissipate, the refrigerant will not adequately cool down before reaching the expansion valve, and the result may be warm air blowing your supply ductwork, rather than crisp, cool air. Your condenser coil has to work in tandem with the rest of the components for the refrigerant cycle to operate efficiently and effectively.
Leak: Because of the intricacy of the coils, detecting a leak in your condenser coil can often be next to impossible without the use of professional equipment and techniques. But if you do have a leak, it can lead to all sorts of system imbalances and problems within your AC. If something just isn’t right with your AC and you can’t figure out why, call for a technician, who may be able to test your condenser coil for leaks.

These are just a handful of the signs that may indicate a problem with your condenser coils. For more information, or to schedule a professional air conditioning repair in Arlington, VA, call OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. today!

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Why Won’t My AC Keep My House Cool?

Tuesday, April 25th, 2017

During the warm spring and the hot summer months, you’ll depend a great deal on your air conditioning system to provide comfort for your entire household. But what happens if your air conditioner is running… yet the home doesn’t feel much cooler? This can be a major problem if you have infants and elderly people living in your home. Even if you don’t, it’s an uncomfortable situation that’ll you want rectified as soon as possible.

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Fairfax, VA Air Conditioning Repair Tip: Preventing Damage to Your Outdoor Unit

Saturday, April 22nd, 2017

Whether you have a ductless mini split, or central air system, you need to make sure that all system components are protected from dust and other debris that can impair energy efficiency and functionality. Because it resides outdoors, your compressor/condenser unit is subject to more wear and tear than the indoor components. While it’s weatherized by design, it’s important to prevent any damage whenever possible. For more information about what you can do, or to schedule Fairfax, VA air conditioning repair, call the experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. today!

Your outdoor compressor/condenser needs to stay clean and clear of debris. The compressor and condenser are both located in the outdoor unit, and if there is problems with air flow then they will be unable to dissipate the heat from your home and your air conditioning system will not be able to work effectively.

During the off-season, your outdoor unit may have accumulated various organic debris on its surface. As the vegetation once more becomes prevalent during the springtime, it’s all the more important that you ensure grasses and shrubs do not encroach upon the surface of the outdoor compressor/condenser. Even seemingly minor obstructions can cause significant airflow problems. By keeping your outdoor unit clean and clear, you can prevent damage to the outdoor unit.

For more information about how to keep your AC properly maintained this season, or to schedule Fairfax, VA air conditioning repair, contact the experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. today!

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Arlington, VA Air Conditioning Question: How Is Air Conditioner Capacity Measured?

Saturday, April 15th, 2017

If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, then you may have learned that you’ll need a calculation of your living space in order to assess what size air conditioner you’ll need to cool your home effectively and efficiently. Bigger is not better when it comes to air conditioning. This is a common mistake, and such homeowners will pay for inefficient (and sometimes inadequate) cooling for the next decade as a result.

In this post, we’d like to review the question of how an air conditioner capacity is measured, so that you can stay informed about how your AC works. For more information, or to schedule Arlington, VA air conditioning service, contact the pros at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. today!

Your air conditioner unit uses several measurements to determine its cooling capacity. One such unit is known as the British thermal unit (BTU). It is an international standard, and it is equal to the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1° Fahrenheit. In the world of AC terminology, a BTU stands for the amount of energy required to remove that thermal unit from the room. An associated unit of measurement is the ton. One ton of cooling capacity equals about 12,000 BTUH (BTUs per hour). Thus, if you have a 3-ton unit, it can remove about 36,000 BTUs every hour. The unit of the ton is derived somewhat roughly from how much energy it would require to melt a ton of ice uniformly over the course of 24 hours. Thus, our modern AC jargon is handed down from the days when homeowners used ice to cool their homes.

Remember that only a professional will be able to assess adequately what type of cooling capacity in BTUH and tons you will need to cool your home effectively and efficiently. For more information, or to schedule air conditioning installation in Arlington, VA, call the experts at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. today!

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Arlington, VA Air Conditioning Tip: Energy Saving Ideas for More Efficient Cooling This Summer

Saturday, April 8th, 2017

If you are looking for energy saving ideas to get more efficient cooling for your home this summer, the Arlington, VA air conditioning experts at Oasis Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. can help. In this week’s blog post, we’ll discuss some ways that you can easily save energy and lower your utility bills.

First and foremost, upgrading to a more efficient air conditioning system can save you a lot of money this summer. This will be especially important if you are facing costly repairs. It may be more cost-effective to upgrade your system to an Energy Star model than to keep on repairing failing equipment. However, make sure that your home is ready for a high-efficiency air conditioner. This includes having your ductwork checked for air leaks and insulating or sealing your home.

One of the easiest improvements you can make to save energy is to upgrade to a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat allows you to set the thermostat at different temperatures at different times of the day. You can set back your AC when you are at work and then program the thermostat to turn the air conditioner back on before you get home; this ensures that your home will be nice and cool when you get home and cut down on cooling costs.

Installing a ceiling fan may be another easy way to save energy, since it helps you feel cooler allowing you to turn down your AC. Depending on the size and layout of your home, a ceiling fan may help to circulate the air conditioned air inside your home as well. Attic fans are also useful and can help with ventilation and keeping your home cool without raising utility bills.

If you need air conditioning installation, repair, or maintenance service in Arlington, VA, please give OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. a call today!

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Why is My AC Running but Not Cooling?

Tuesday, April 4th, 2017

If you’re asking the question “why is my AC running but not cooling?” you likely have a significant problem on your hands. The good news is that such a problem is relatively common and can often be fixed by a qualified service tech. Here in Arlington VA, our air conditioning repair experts are ready to help, but you can take the first steps by understanding some of the potential causes of the problem. We’ve listed three of the biggest ones below:

Low refrigerant: Refrigerant is what allows your AC to cool your home, and it needs to stay at certain set levels in order to function like it should. If a leak springs up, it can result in a lower level of cooling. You can spot the signs by checking the evaporator coil for frost. The build-up of ice on the coils acts as a further retardant for cooling your home, since it insulates the refrigerant from the air it’s intended to cool.
Faulty condenser fan: The condenser fan serves a vital function in the air conditioning process. Without it the refrigerant can’t undergo the transition it needs to and the cooling process will be extremely restricted. A trained technician can repair or replace the broken motor.
Electrical connections: An overloaded electrical component could create problems with the air conditioner without necessarily cutting off the flow of air. In order to check on the problem, shut off power to the whole AC unit from your circuit breaker, then turn it all back on again. If the issue persists, call a repair technician to assist.

If you’re asking yourself “Why is my AC running but not cooling?” then call upon the experts at OASIS Heating A/C & Refrigeration Inc. to help. We’re based in Arlington, VA, air conditioning repair services are our specialty, and we can point out the specifics of the problem before conducting thorough and professional repairs. Pick up the phone today and give us a call. You’ll be glad you did!

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Now Is a Great Time to Install a New Air Conditioning System

Tuesday, March 28th, 2017

The temperatures are now starting to warm up as we move into spring. The air conditioning system in your home might not be doing much work yet—maybe an hour here and there during the middle or one of two days out of the week—but its heaviest period of use is coming up… soon!

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