The official start of fall is September 22, and that’s why we’ve already started to recommend our customers schedule their seasonal heating maintenance. Right now is a great time to get on our work calendar for a tune-up and inspection of your furnace or other residential heater. This way you’ll head into the cooler weather with confidence that the heating system will work as it should, with low chance of malfunctions and high chance of saving you money on energy bills.
Oasis Heating, A/C & Refrigeration Blog
We Answer Some Questions about Heating Maintenance
September 12th, 2017Tripped Breakers and Air Conditioning Repair in Arlington, VA
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!
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.
Why You Need to Remember to Schedule Heating Maintenance This Fall
September 5th, 2017There are a little more than two weeks left in the summer, and even though the average temperature during the day is still hot, it won’t be long before the cooler weather sets in. It’s time to start planning ahead for fall and winter with heating maintenance. September is a good time to arrange an inspection and tune-up for your home’s heating system, since that gives you plenty of time to beat out the cold weather and schedule any repairs the heater may need.
Benefits of Water Heater Maintenance in Arlington, VA
September 3rd, 2017If you own a water heater in Arlington, VA, you may rarely think about how much stress is put on your unit every day. But you use this important home convenience to take hot showers, wash your dishes, do your laundry, clean your floors, and even to wash your hands. If your water heater ever runs into problems, you may be without hot water in the middle of one of these tasks. So to keep your system vital and efficient, the technicians at OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc. recommend that you service your system as often as possible. And this doesn’t only mean calling for repairs. Water heater maintenance is a service that can keep your system from failing prematurely, and may even make your unit run more efficiently. We’ve detailed these benefits in the following guide.
- Increased Efficiency: Regular water heater maintenance can actually save you some money. Storage tank water heaters consume a lot of energy as water must stay heated at all times so that you’ll have a supply on hand when you need it. But it may cost you even more to run if there is a leak or if a part is dirty or worn, problems that may be caught during a routine maintenance visit.
- Longer Lifespan: While water heaters are designed to last for many years, without proper maintenance something as simple as a rusted through anode rod may cause your water heater to fail suddenly when you need it most. Maintenance may give you a few more good years with your water heater before it needs replacement.
- Fewer Repairs: Finally, scheduling water heater maintenance now means that a repair need may be caught early on. If your water heater suddenly stops working in the middle of a hot shower, you’re probably already somewhat annoyed, and a repair call is just another inconvenience. A maintenance technician can catch problems early on, so you won’t have to deal with sudden repairs.
OASIS Heating, A/C & Refrigeration, Inc., can make sure your water heater is running as smoothly as possible before we leave your home. For a longer lasting, more efficient unit, give us a call today!
What Causes Leaks in My Water Heater?
August 31st, 2017If a water heater receives regular maintenance as well as repairs whenever they are required, it should serve a home for many years with a steady and sufficient supply of hot water. But eventually a water heater will run into problems, and one of the more common is water leaking from the tank or other connection points. The moment you see water pooling around the base of your water heater, call for a technician. The system will either need to be repaired, or in some cases, replaced entirely.
The Role of Refrigerant in Your Air Conditioner
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
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.
Are Maintenance Contracts Worth the Money?
August 24th, 2017One of the questions we hear frequently from customers is if a maintenance contract for their HVAC system is actually worth the expenditure. The simple answer is, “absolutely!” But of course, there’s more to explain. We’ll tell you exactly how a maintenance contract will end up saving your money.
Does Frayed Wiring Necessitate Air Conditioning Repair in Alexandria, VA?
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.
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