Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Recognizing Signs of Trouble with Your Air Conditioning in Montpelier, VT

Wednesday, August 7th, 2013

When it comes to your air conditioning, the sooner you can spot a potential problem, the better the chances of dealing with it before it becomes a much larger problem. Problems can arise through lack of use that only become apparent months after they’ve first appeared. Recognizing signs of trouble with your air conditioning will go a long way towards addressing them in a timely fashion, saving you the cost of a big repair.

Signs of trouble can vary widely, but a few of the most common ones can be found below:

  • Higher bills: The first and most obvious sign of an AC problem comes with your monthly electric bill. If you see a spike in the costs and haven’t altered your electrical use habits, it could signal an air conditioning system that is laboring to keep your home cool.
  • No cool air: If your air conditioning is blowing air, but none of it seems to be cool air, it may signal lowered refrigerant levels. (A professional technician can safely recharge the refrigerant for you.) It might also signal a dirty air filter, which you can replace with a clean one fairly easily.
  • Low air flow: Low air flow usually indicates a blockage in the system somewhere, requiring a professional cleaning to fix. It might also indicate a damaged or leaking vent, which would also prevent air from circulating your home.
  • No power: If the AC refuses to turn on at all, it could be a sign of serious trouble. Many air conditioning systems have automatic switch-off features when a particular component gets damaged. They’re intended to prevent any further damage to the system. It may also indicate something much simpler, like a thermostat set too high or an electrical problem elsewhere in the house.
  • Unusual noises: Broken or damaged components within the air conditioning system may create a buzzing or rattling noise. You might also hear a hum or a whistle if air is escaping through leaks in the system, or a grinding noise if broken components are scraping against each other.

Regardless of the exact symptom, you should call in a professional once you recognize signs of trouble. Red Rock Mechanical handles air conditioning issues in Montpelier, VT, including maintenance and replacement projects. Contact us today to see about solving your AC problem. 

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Why Is It Important to Have Your AC Cleaned? A Plattsburgh, NY Air Conditioning Question

Thursday, August 1st, 2013

An air conditioning unit keeps your Plattsburgh, NY home cool and comfortable in the heat of the summer. However, routine maintenance for our AC doesn’t enter our minds much; instead, we wait for the AC system to malfunction before calling in a technician. Why is it important to have you AC cleaned and maintained if nothing’s wrong with it? In fact, cleaning your air conditioning unit may be one of the most practical decisions you ever make. Some of the biggest reasons are listed below.

  • Effectiveness: Dirty coils and air filters slow down the air flow and reduce the cooling power of your air conditioning system. The system must thus work harder to cool your home, which will drive up your monthly energy bills. A regular cleaning keeps your system functioning the way it should while lowering the costs of running it.
  • Longevity: Beyond keeping your air conditioning functioning in the short term, a regular cleaning schedule will help extend the life of your system. Dust, build-up and general wear and tear take their toll, and as your AC unit gets older, the cost and frequency of upkeep will continue to grow. Preventative maintenance undertaken by a trained expert can keep you air conditioning system running longer without repairs, and extend its life by a considerable amount of time.
  • Small problems, not big ones: If you have your AC cleaned on a routine basis, the technician is more likely to spot signs of potential trouble: the state of the coils and other components, the presence of leaks, and so on. He can then sit down and discuss potential solutions with you, which usually cost much less than simply ignoring the issue and waiting for it to cause more serious trouble in the future.

If you’re looking for a technician to have your AC cleaned, contact Red Rock Mechanical to set up an appointment. Our trained Plattsburgh, NY air conditioning specialists can perform regular maintenance services, keeping your system clean and saving you money in future costs.

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How To Keep Your Air Conditioning Running Efficiently in Burlington, VT

Monday, July 22nd, 2013

You rely on your air conditioning system in order to stay comfortable throughout the hot summer months. If you’re like most homeowners, then you want to make sure that your AC works as efficiently and consistently as possible. Here at Red Rock Mechanical, we offer complete air conditioning services in Burlington, VT. We wanted to put together a quick list of some of the things that you can do to keep your AC working well.

As your air conditioning system operates it will develop small problems. Without the intervention of a professional air conditioning company, those problems will just continue to get worse and eventually cause you actual repairs. Here are a few things that you can do to make sure that doesn’t happen:

  • Regular Maintenance – One of the best things that you can do for the effectiveness and efficiency of your AC system is to get it regularly inspected, maintained and tuned up. During regular visits, your AC technicians will thoroughly inspect every component of your air conditioner. This will allow them to find any of the small problems that could be developing and fix them before they turn into full-blown repair. Not only can this increase efficiency, but it will also reduce the need for repairs, extend the life of your AC and also increase the comfort of your home.
  • Change the air filter – Your air conditioning system has an air filter in it that protects the moving parts from dust and debris. A clogged air filter is one of the most common causes of air conditioning repairs. If the air filter gets clogged it will restrict the flow of air through the system and cause wear and tear on components and decreased efficiency.

If you need any kind of Burlington, VT air conditioning services like repair, installation or maintenance, make sure that you call the friendly experts at Red Rock Mechanical.

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Burlington, VT Air Conditioning Guide: How to Tell if Your AC is Overloaded

Tuesday, July 16th, 2013

When the summer months start, it’s nice to come home to a cool, comfortable house as a respite from all the heat. A good air conditioning unit can provide years of service while keeping the worst excesses of the heat at bay. But while you’re enjoying those low temperatures, your air conditioning may be working far harder than it should to bring them to you. An overworked air conditioner is far more likely to break down than an AC with a manageable workload: costing you a great deal in repair bills or even forcing you to buy a new air conditioner if the problem gets bad enough. So how can you tell if your AC is overloaded? Here’s a few signs to point the way:

  • Higher bills: We all expect a little increase in summer energy bills, but if you see a sharp spike with no apparent change in your energy use, your air conditioning may be laboring to keep your house cool.
  • Constant running: When the temperature in your home hits the number on your thermostat, the AC shuts off, then turns back on again when it starts to rise. An AC under stress may never shut off, however, or only shut off for brief periods during the day. (Which in turn may lead to higher bills as discussed above).
  • The circuit breakers trip: In some cases, an overworked air conditioner can trip the circuit breakers in your home, cutting off electricity. If the circuit breaker trips every time you turn on the AC, it might be time to consider other options.

The most common cause of an overloaded AC is simply installing a system that is too small for your home. Air conditioners measure their cooling ability in BTUs (British thermal units) per hour, with a certain amount needed to cool a certain space. If your air conditioning doesn’t have the capacity to cool your entire household, it’s going to work too hard and run the risk of a breakdown. An overloaded AC can also be caused by neglecting maintenance, or when certain components start to fail and put extra strain on the rest of the system.

The hard working Burlington, VT air conditioning professionals at Red Rock Mechanical can help take the pressure off of an overworked AC, either by cleaning and tuning it to improve its efficiency or installing a new one to better suit your needs. We offer a one-year warranty on all our labor, and stand by our commitment to professional, high quality workmanship. If your AC is overloaded, give us a call and set up an appointment. After all, the summer is no time to overwork your system… especially when the comfort of your home depends on it.

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