Perhaps the most common emergency service call that HVAC technicians receive during a summer is for an air conditioning system that is only blowing out room-temperature air. This is a malfunction that homeowners notice quickly, and it’s obviously something they will want fixed even quicker.
Red Rock Mechanical, LLC Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category
How Leaking Refrigerant Affects Your Air Conditioning System
Monday, June 8th, 2015
Your Air Conditioning Is Short-Cycling: Here Are 3 Possible Reasons Why
Monday, May 25th, 2015
The term short-cycling describes a condition where a heating or cooling system starts to turn on and off rapidly over an extended period. In an air conditioner, short-cycling consists of the compressor kicking in, but then shutting off only a brief time later before it can complete its full cooling cycle. Not long after, the compressor comes on again and the process repeats.
3 Mistakes You May Make With Your Air Conditioner This Summer
Monday, May 18th, 2015
As summer starts, people all over the country will turn on their air conditioners to keep their homes comfortable during the heat. But many of those people will make basic mistakes with operating and caring for their air conditioning systems that will end up costing them money or even contribute to an early failure for the ACs.
Air Conditioning Question: What Is the Evaporator Coil?
Monday, April 27th, 2015
Most homeowners know very little about how the air conditioner that keeps their house cool works. There’s no problem with this; that’s the reason we have highly trained professionals to take care of any issues an AC might encounter, as well as to handle installation and maintenance work. However, a bit of knowledge can always come in handy, and in this post we are going to shed some light on one of the most crucial components in your home’s cooling system: the evaporator coil.
Some Early Air Conditioning Repairs to Watch for This Spring
Monday, April 13th, 2015
Now that spring is here, air conditioning systems throughout Northwest Vermont and the Plattsburgh, NY area will start to turn on for their long stretch of work during the middle of the year. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you schedule routine maintenance for your air conditioning from a professional HVAC technician. This is necessary to see that the AC works at peak efficiency and to catch potential repair problems so they can be dealt with early.
Ways You Will Benefit from Spring Maintenance for Your Air Conditioning System
Monday, April 6th, 2015
Now that the calendar has officially changed from winter to spring, we can start looking forward to warm weather in the near future. And eventually hot weather. Now, when we still have some of the leftover chills of winter, is the ideal time to arrange for an HVAC technician to come to your home and give your air conditioning system a thorough inspection and tune-up. To schedule this service, you only need to give the team at Red Rock Mechanical a call. We will set up a convenient time for your air conditioning maintenance. We service Burlington, VT and the surrounding areas.
How this AC regular maintenance will help you
Annual air conditioning maintenance isn’t an optional service: it is mandatory if you want to receive a full return in cooling performance from your investment in air conditioning installation. Here are some of the specific benefits you will get from an air conditioner that is regularly maintained by HVAC technicians:
- Longer service lifespan: If an air conditioner doesn’t receive annual inspections and tune-ups, it will likely not even reach half of its manufacturer’s estimated lifespan. But with the right care and attention, your air conditioner will probably exceed that estimate, giving you many years of energy-efficient performance.
- Fewer repairs: Fixing a malfunctioning AC can become costly, especially as it wear downs. Maintenance reduces the effects of wear and tear, and this takes care of approximately 85% of the repairs it may require during its lifetime.
- High energy efficiency: As dust and dirt build up on an air conditioner, and its components start to deteriorate, it will need to work harder to reach the same level of cooling that you normally expect from it. This will mean higher electrical bills. However, an AC that receives yearly maintenance should only experience a 5% drop in efficiency over its entire service life.
- Peace of mind: This is a less concrete benefit, but it may be the most important one. Regular maintenance will significantly reduce the chance that your AC will abruptly break down at the worst time possible.
Contact Red Rock Mechanical today to arrange for your spring air conditioning maintenance. We have NATE-certified technicians to see that you receive the best service possible.
Warning Signs You Need Air Conditioning Replacement
Wednesday, September 10th, 2014
Coming out of a hot summer, air conditioners can sometimes start to malfunction because of the large amount of stress they just endured. Often, a few targeted repairs from experienced technicians will handle the trouble and restore the AC to its best working order.
But there are times when an air conditioning system will start giving signs that it should be shut off for the last time and replaced with a new unit. We’ll look at a few of the ways you can determine that your AC should be retired and a new system installed.
You will want a second option when it comes to the choice to repair or replace. Bring in professionals like those at Red Rock Mechanical to look over your AC and determine if replacement is the best choice. You can also count on professionals to handle either the necessary repairs or installation. Expert installation work should ensure that your air conditioning replacement in Montpelier, VT will give you many future years of cooling.
Watch for these signs of AC replacement
- System age: The best barometer for air conditioner replacement is how old the system is. Check on the manufacturer’s estimated lifespan for the unit (it is either on the cabinet or in the manual). If the AC is at or beyond the estimate, then you should give serious consideration to replacing the unit, even if it still seems to work adequately. The chance of the AC breaking down when you need it or starting to work inefficiently will begin to increase from this point, and often it’s a wise idea to get ahead of the problem and schedule the replacement when it is convenient.
- Too many repairs: There’s a good rule of thumb when it comes to knowing when a repair is no longer worth it: if the repairs during a year are equal to or greater than half the cost of a new system, you should leave the repairs aside and invest in the new system.
- Rising electrical bills: If you keep up with regular maintenance for your air conditioner, it should retain 95% of its efficiency through most of its life. But when age catches up to it, it will begin to rapidly decline in energy-efficiency, and you will see this reflected in your bills. If repairs and regular maintenance do not change the elevation in the bills, you should replace the AC.
- Loud operation: An air conditioner that has ceased working effectively due to age deterioration will begin make loud mechanical sounds while it runs. An occasional odd noise here and there may point toward a repair issue, but if the whole system has become a noise pollution issue, then it’s indicating it should be replaced.
The team at Red Rock Mechanical that handles air conditioning replacement in Montpelier, VT is NATE-certified and can bring you the quality work that will keep your home cooled efficiently and effectively. Put your trust in our 23 years of experience.
Air Conditioning FAQ: What is the Condenser Coil?
Friday, August 22nd, 2014
Your air conditioner has 3 key parts: the condenser, the evaporator and the compressor. Each plays a role in cooling your home, and each part is dependent on the other. The condenser and compressor are housed together in the outside unit while the evaporator resides in the inside unit. There are two sets of coils in your system, one in the condenser, the other in the evaporator, and problems with either set of coils can trigger the need for air conditioning services in Burlington, VT. Coils can be delicate components, so it’s best to call professionals, like the ones at Red Rock Mechanical, for any repair needs.
What Is the Condenser Coil?
The condenser coil is a narrow, serpentine copper tube that is covered with aluminum fins. The coil is part of the condenser unit, which also has a fan.
The main job of the condenser coil is to release heat from your indoors through the refrigerant in your system. In the compressor, the refrigerant is pressurized into a hot, high-pressure gas; this hot, gaseous refrigerant leaves the compressor and flows into the condenser coil. As it flows, the heat is released; as the heat releases, the refrigerant cools enough to change states from gas to liquid. At the end of the condenser coils, the refrigerant is a warm liquid. From here, the refrigerant enters the evaporator and continues the cycle.
Common Problems with Condenser Coils
Condenser coils can suffer from some commonly-seen problems:
- Refrigerant leaks – refrigerant leaks can develop anywhere in your system, including the condenser coils. Refrigerant leaks can be tricky to find, particularly if a leak originates in the coils, so it’s always advisable to call a professional for any refrigerant leak repair.
- Layered dirt and dust – dirt and dust can collect on the coils during normal usage. If the coils aren’t cleaned regularly – approximately once a year – this layer can become thick and insulate the coils. This inhibits the heat release process and can imbalance the entire refrigerant cycle.
Your condenser coils are an important part of the refrigerant cycle in your system; should anything interrupt the coils’ operation, your entire system can malfunction. Red Rock Mechanical has been providing air conditioning services to Burlington, VT properties for almost 25 years. If you are experiencing problems with your air conditioner, call us today and schedule an appointment.
Is Ductless Air Conditioning Right for My Home in Essex, VT?
Thursday, August 7th, 2014
Ducts are no longer a necessity for central air conditioning a home. The development of ductless mini split heat pumps, which were originally installed for commercial use, allows a homeowner to install a central AC without using space-consuming ductwork. Instead of a ventilation system, a ductless mini split uses a series of blowers mounted in different parts of the house. These blowers connect to a single outdoor unit, and they send conditioned air directly into the rooms.
Ductless air conditioning in Essex, VT has a number of benefits. Since these systems are heat pumps, they also work well for heating. The individual blowers allow for zone control of temperatures. And the lack of ducts means there is less dust and dirt contamination in the air.
However, ductless mini splits are not ideal for all homes. Before you commit to installation, call the experts at Red Rock Mechanical. We’ll help you decide if going ductless is the best way to cool and heat your home.
When is going ductless a good choice?
Ductless mini splits are excellent for the following situations:
- New home construction – If you are planning on building a new home, a ductless configuration for your HVAC system is one of the best options available. You’ll save space without the need for ductwork, and you will also have greater design freedom since you no longer need to build around the requirements of a ventilation system.
- Home remodeling – For a large-scale remodeling for your home, you can have the old ductwork taken out and replaced with a ductless system. As with building a new home, this allows you increased freedom for the redesign as well as additional living space.
- Add-on rooms – When you decide to expand your home with an extra room, such as a den, game room, or new bedroom, you won’t have to worry about hooking it up to the current ventilation system or replacing your current air conditioner because it cannot supply enough cool air for the additional space. Instead, you can hook up a separate ductless AC for the room.
- Old and historic homes – If you live in an older home that lacks ducts and does not have the space to install them, then ductless mini split heat pumps will allow you to have central air conditioning rather than needing to rely on inefficient window units.
However, if your home already has an extensive and effective ventilation system and you aren’t planning to remodel, there usually isn’t a reason to install a ductless system. It’s more cost-effective to install a central air conditioner (or heat pump) and hook it up to the pre-existing ductwork.
Whatever type of air conditioner or heat pump you eventually have installed, you can count on the team at Red Rock Mechanical to handle the work. If you think that ductless air conditioning in Essex, VT is right for your home, contact us today.
