Summer weather has arrived in Tampa Bay. This is when air conditioning systems become central to people’s home lives. We can almost guarantee you’ve started to run your AC, and it’ll soon be an almost daily companion inside your home.
Assuming an AC will work as you need it, summer after summer, with no issues will eventually lead to grief. You might be putting too much strain on your air conditioning system already without knowing it. We’re here to help! Below we’ve listed ways homeowners can put their ACs under unnecessary strain that will lead to high bills, repairs, and an early system replacement. If you’re doing any of the below, change your ways this summer.
While many homeowners recognize the importance of an optimally functioning air conditioning (AC) system, many cannot distinguish between maintenance, repair, and replacement services. Each of these processes requires a different approach, and understanding these differences can be vital not only for extending the life of your AC system but for saving you money and time.
Spring has only just arrived, and we’re already looking at higher temperatures and regular use of your air conditioner. That’s only going to get worse as spring turns to summer, and soon enough, we’ll be running our air conditioners every day just to keep comfortable in the heat.
“Does it just need more Freon?” is a question we hear quite frequently from our customers when the air conditioner is not working quite right. Yes, sometimes an air conditioner does need more refrigerant (the generic name for the chemical blend in your air conditioner). However, it’s usually much more than that, requiring sealing or a refrigerant leak—or a different problem altogether.
When an air conditioner won’t work properly, people often assume what they know to be common air conditioning problems. They may ask us, “Does it just need more refrigerant?” Or, “Is the thermostat broken?” We should let you know, before we move on, that while refrigerant leaks are common, simply refilling the refrigerant is rarely a solution. You must seal the leaks, too.
Did you know that the first air conditioner built in 1902 was actually designed to dehumidify? The fact that it could cool the air was only a secondary consideration, as Willis Carrier simply needed a system that could help with humidity problems at a printing company.
Leaks around the home are often a big deal. If you notice a roof leak in the middle of a rainstorm, you might go running to the neighbor’s house to borrow a tarp and frantically search through the phone book for an available roofer. When a leak springs from a pipe, you put down buckets and call a plumber as soon as you can. These leaks can do a lot of damage, no question, but it’s easy to catch them early on.