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

3 Signs You Need Air Conditioning Repair

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014

It can be difficult to tell if something is seriously wrong with your air conditioner. If something is not quite right but doesn’t seem like an emergency, you may feel as though you can put off air conditioning repair until a later time. However, this is a dangerous way of thinking. If you put off air conditioning repair for too long, you may run into other problems, or you may lose cool air entirely right in the middle of summer.

So when should you call for AC repair? As soon as you run into a problem! We’ve put together a list of three of the most common reasons you might need to call for air conditioning repair.

  • Loud Noises: Don’t assume that the strange noises coming from your AC unit are normal. There are a number of moving parts in your air conditioner that may make noise when they are not working properly. If your fan motor runs into problems, you may hear a grinding noise. A hissing noise could indicate leaking refrigerant. Loose or bent parts in your outdoor condenser unit may begin to make a banging or clanking sound.
  • Not Enough Cool Air: Your air conditioner may lose cooling power for many reasons. Even if the temperature is still bearable, an AC that doesn’t cool properly drives up your energy bills, and it can cause serious damage to other components of your system. The first place to check is the air filter as a dirty filter may block airflow. However, loss of cooling power may also indicate low refrigerant or damage to the compressor.
  • High Energy Bills: High energy bills should be reason enough to have someone look at your air conditioner. All air conditioners lose efficiency over time, but a significant increase indicates a big problem. If your system is running up your bills, you may have serious problems with some important parts of your AC, such as the compressor or evaporator coil.

The consequences of a damaged AC are not worth delaying repairs. For air conditioning repair in Stowe, VT, contact the experts at Red Rock Mechanical.

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Increase Efficiency with a New Air Conditioner

Thursday, July 10th, 2014

Efficiency is important when it comes to the large appliances in your home. Efficiency can translate directly into dollars saved, so when appliances like your whole-home air conditioner aren’t working efficiently, you can lose money; this can be especially true for air conditioners that are 10+ years old. Just as a new car can be more efficient than an older one, so, too, can a new air conditioner. If you are thinking of investing in a new air conditioning installation for your Williston, VT property, let our Red Rock Mechanical experts give you a few reasons how this can increase your system’s efficiency.

SEER Numbers

Before we talk about specific ways a new AC can be more efficient than your older one, we want to talk about SEER numbers.

SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency rating, and it tells consumers how energy efficient a specific model is on a scale from 1 to 20. In 2006, the federal law regarding SEER was upgraded from a minimum SEER of 10 to 13. This meant that starting in 2006, all air conditioners had to be manufactured with a minimum SEER of 13. Therefore, if you have an air conditioner that is 8+ years old, it is likely that your AC is not as energy efficient as it could be.

Increasing Efficiency with a New AC

As we outlined above, air conditioners made and purchased before 2006 had a lower required energy efficiency number. Here are some other ways a new air conditioning system can help increase your overall energy efficiency:

  • Less repair work – if you experience a high level of malfunctions and/or breakdowns that require multiple repairs, not only are you paying service fees but your AC is most likely not running well, either. This inefficiency results in additional monetary loss.
  • Better overall operating efficiency – not only is the minimum requirement for a new air conditioner more stringent, but advances in technology have also made today’s air conditioners more efficient – some as much as 60% than ACs from just a decade ago.
  • Better fit for your home – as air conditioners age, their ability to cool your home can decrease with time; this can result in warm and cold spots that can occur throughout your home. To compensate for the shortfall in cooling properly, your air conditioner may start to cycle more frequently, or for longer periods of time. Either of these scenarios mean more energy is used – energy you have to pay for. With a new system that can handle your home’s cooling load, you won’t have to worry about extra energy usage.

Is Your AC Ready to Handle the Heat?

Choosing to move ahead with a new air conditioning installation in Williston, VT is something that requires consideration and calculation, and we are here to help. Call Red Rock Mechanical today and schedule an appointment to meet with one of our installation experts.

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What are the Basic Stages of the Air Conditioning Cycle?

Friday, June 20th, 2014

Your air conditioner is one of the staples of your home, especially now with temperatures rising and summer hitting us with everything it’s got. We all depend on reliable air conditioning systems to keep our homes and businesses comfortable. And when problems arise with your air conditioning in Montpelier, VT, there are qualified repair companies to help you. But how much of the process of air conditioning do you understand? What are the basic stages of the air conditioning cycle? The more you know about that, the more you can understand what happens when repairs are needed.

Air conditioning systems are all based around the same basic system: a closed loop which cycles refrigerant gas through a series of valves and coils. The cycle begins when the gas enters a condenser coil, which subjects it to an enormous amount of heat and pressure. It then moves to a series of compression valves, which bleed the heat out of the gas, reverting it to liquid form. (The heat is then pushed out of the system via a vent, which is why this part of the cycle usually takes place in the outdoor portion of the unit.) It remains under a great deal of pressure, however, which plays a key role in the second half of the cycle.

The liquid moves from the coils to a second valve, an expansion valve, which squirts a set amount of the liquid into a series of evaporator coils. (It functions rather like an aerosol can in this capacity.) Released from the pressure, the refrigerant turns back into a gas: pulling heat from the nearby air in the process. A fan then blows the cooled air through the ducts in your home. The refrigerant gas then returns to the condenser valve to start the cycle anew.

For more on the basic stages of the air conditioning cycle, or to schedule an appointment for AC installations or repair, call upon the experts at Red Rock Mechanical. We treat any issue related to air conditioning in Montpelier, VT, and throughout the surrounding communities. Contact us today for a consultation session. You’ll be glad you did!

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3 Common Condenser Problems with Your Air Conditioning System

Friday, June 6th, 2014

The condenser is the outdoor unit of a split air conditioning system. Where the indoor unit, the evaporator, handles removing the heat from your home, the condenser does the job of releasing the heat to the outside. The condenser also contains the most powerful and important component for air conditioning operation: the compressor, which puts the refrigerant under pressure in order to change it into a high pressure, high temperature gas and start it off on the heat exchange cycle. The condenser also contains a fan to draw air across the condenser coil to allow for the release of heat.

If any issues start inside the condenser, it will threaten the cooling power of the whole system. If you suspect condenser trouble, don’t open the cabinet. Instead, put in a call to a local professional HVAC repair service.

Finding fast, quality air conditioning repair in Burlington, VT is simple: you only have to call up the team at Red Rock Mechanical. We have over 23 years of experience with heating, cooling, and plumbing, and we are ready to assist you 24-hours a day with emergency service.

3 Condenser Problems We Often See:

  • Damaged fan: An issue with the condenser is that it is outside, and therefore at the mercy of the elements. Although designed to withstand a great deal of punishment, condensers can still suffer from problems due to debris like rocks, gravel, leaves, sticks, and even tree branches getting through the grill and causing injury to the fan. The fan is a precision instrument that is carefully balanced, and should it receive damage that bends its blades, it will start to strike the casing. This will not only lead to a broken fan, it will damage other parts of the condenser. Fan troubles always require professional repairs.
  • Hard starting compressor: Issues with the compressor are among the most serious for an air conditioner. If the compressor burns out from too much stress and lack of repair work, it usually means the entire AC needs replacement. A compressor can begin to “hard start” (stutter as it comes on, then turn off early) because of electrical malfunctions, a failing motor, bad capacitors, or mechanical stress. When this happens, call for technicians to investigate right away.
  • Refrigerant line leaks: The refrigerant that runs through an AC must remain at the same level (charge) at all times. The only way the charge will drop is through leaking occurring, which can sometimes happen in the connections to the compressor or from the compressor itself. If you notice ice appearing anywhere on the system, it may mean a loss of refrigerant, and this needs skilled repair work right away.

Trust to Red Rock Mechanical for the air conditioning repair in Burlington, VT necessary to protect the condenser from failure. We are a small, family-owned business dedicated to bringing a personal touch to all our professional work. Give us a call today to schedule your next service appointment with us.

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3 Things to Consider Before Installing Ductless Air Conditioning

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

Ductless mini split heat pumps entered the residential air conditioning market after years of providing businesses with an effective alternative to standard central ACs. More and more consumers have chosen to have ductless systems installed because of the advantages they offer. Without ducts, these systems take up far less space in a home and do not adversely affect indoor air quality because of dirt and dust contamination. Because ductless heat pumps work through multiple indoor blower units, they also allow homeowners to control temperatures in separate parts of the house, and that means energy savings thanks to no longer needing to cool down unused rooms.

However, before you decide on installing ductless air conditioning in Burlington, VT, you should ask yourself a few questions. Don’t worry if you don’t have the answers at the moment; you can always rely on skilled installers, like those at Red Rock Mechanical, to assist you with making the best choice.

1. Is ductless the ideal fit for your home?

Ductless mini split heat pumps are best for new home construction and for older homes without sufficient room for a ventilation system. However, if you live in home that already has ducts, the advantages of going ductless may seem a bit reduced unless you plan for major renovations. Despite the many benefits that ductless air conditioning can provide, factors can outweigh them and make a standard system a better option. Talk with HVAC installers to find out if a ductless system matches your home’s requirements and your budget.

2. How many indoor blower units do you need?

Some small homes may only need one blower to effectively cool them down. Others will need multiples installed in the rooms. Depending on your comfort needs, the number of rooms that rarely need conditioning, and the layout of your house, you will need to adjust the number of blowers up and down accordingly. Professional installers are an important resource to help you figure out the right number of blowers that will give you the comfort and energy savings you want from a ductless air conditioning installation.

3. Will the system work well for heating?

Keep in mind that installing a ductless mini split heat pump means that you are also making an investment in heating your home during the winter; a heat pump can move heat either inside or outside a home. Heat pumps work at the same level of cooling power as an air conditioner of equal size, but can have difficulty with efficient heating during extreme lows. In some cases, you may need to have a back-up second heater in your house to make sure the heat pump can manage the winters you might experience.

Our team at Red Rock Mechanical is ready to help you with selecting and installing ductless air conditioning in Burlington, VT. We have over 20 years of experience helping people keep their homes comfortable year round. You can trust us with your important HVAC system installation. Contact us today to schedule an installation appointment.

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Cut Down on Air Conditioning Bills This Summer

Friday, May 9th, 2014

Here in Stowe, VT air conditioning systems see a surprising amount of use. While our winters are cold, snowy and long, our summers carry their share of heat and humidity, and without a good air conditioning system, you’re liable to start longing for the cold far more often than you should. We’re used to paying higher energy costs in the summer to cover extended air conditioning use, which can cover up a fair amount of wasted money. Besides more obvious solutions like dressing in lightweight clothes and setting your thermostat slightly higher than you normally would, here are a few quick tips to cut down on air conditioning bills this summer.

  • Schedule a maintenance session from a qualified technician.
    Maintenance sessions are a little like a tune-up for your car. The technician cleans off dust and dirt that can cause friction, tightens loose fittings that might make components rattle in their housings and replaces clogged filters to help the air flow smoothly. As a result, the air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to do its job and your energy bills will go down.
  • Seal up those leaks and cracks.
    Look for spots under your door where air could escape, or similar spots on imperfectly sealed window. They could let hot air in or cause cool air to escape, raising your energy bills in the process. You can seal those spots with weather stripping, and a qualified technician can help you spot other parts of your home that can be made more energy efficient.
  • Consider a smart thermostat.
    If you have an older thermostat, look into replacing it with an upgraded model: something that lets you turn the air on and off remotely with a phone app, or even just one with a timer that you can set. Turning the air on ten minutes before you get home uses much less energy than just letting it run all day, and the house won’t feel any less comfortable when you arrive.

For more ways to cut down on air conditioning bills this summer, or to schedule a maintenance or repair session, the experts at Red Rock Mechanical are ready to help. For residents of Stowe VT, air conditioning service is vital to surviving the summer. Contact us today and let us make sure it’s ready for the job!

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Cold Climate Heat Pumps: How They Work

Friday, April 18th, 2014

If you’ve done some research into heat pumps, you probably already know about their major advantages: air conditioning and heating power in one unit, low cost heating, and space-saving. But you may have also come across one of their disadvantages: inefficient heating power in extreme cold temperatures.

It’s true that a heat pump will begin to lose efficiency in heating mode when the outdoor temperature falls below freezing. A heat pump must remove heat from the outdoor air and bring it into a home; although there is always some heat available in the outdoor air, no matter how low the temperature drops, it becomes harder for a heat pump to extract it once it dips below the economic balance point, a temperature usually around freezing (it varies due to humidity).

We definitely recommend heat pumps for people when it comes to cooling, since these systems work ideally at this task no matter the outdoor heat. But in Vermont, sub-freezing weather in winter is the reality. Because of this, we suggest homeowners look into cold climate heat pumps (CCHPs) so they can still take advantage of the benefits of a heat pump, but without sacrificing comfort. Contact Red Rock Mechanical and our staff of experts on heating repair and air conditioning maintenance in Burlington, VT today to find out more.

How Cold Climate Heat Pumps Beat The Freeze…And Save Money

Cold climate heat pumps (CCHPs) are also known as dual fuel hybrids because they combine the heat pump with a second backup heater that uses a different fuel source. You can have the heat pump and the back-up installed at the same time, or technicians can use your existing oil or propane-powered heating system and hook the heat pump to it. CCHPs come in both central and ductless models, so you can have one easily installed without existing ductwork in your home. Professionals can retrofit a home with a ductless system in less than a day.

CCHPs, when professionally installed, delivery three times more heat energy than they consume in electrical power. This is because heat pumps do not generate heat, but instead move it, a less energy-draining operation. In the case of extreme cold weather, the back-up system activates to assist the heat pump when it goes below the economic balance point. With the aid from the oil or propane-heater, CCHPs can deal with temperatures down to sub-zero without suffering efficiency loss.

A study by Efficiency Vermont has shown the difference in costs: A household that uses 850 gallons of heating oil per year (at $4 a gallon) would pay $3,400 for a year of heating. But with a CCHP installed, the same household would use only 170 gallons of oil, plus 7300 kWh of electricity at $.015 per kWh, for a total of $680 (oil) + $1100 (electric) = $1,780 for a year of heating…a savings of $1,620 per year.

Call Red Rock Mechanical today to ask about installation of a cold climate heap pump for your house. We’ll help you determine if one of these systems will work for you. Keep in mind, heat pumps also work as ACs, and you can call us for air conditioning maintenance in Burlington, VT to take care of all aspects of your heat pump.

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Why Replace Your AC in the Fall

Wednesday, August 28th, 2013

Summer time is air conditioning time in places like Plattsburgh, NY, with high temperatures and humidity the norm. We need quality air conditioning systems to keep our homes cool and comfortable when the mercury starts to rise, and with regular maintenance, you can expect your AC unit to last for many years. Sooner or later, however, everything wears out and eventually you’ll need to consider replacing your existing air conditioning unit with a new one. When you do it’s probably a good idea to think about doing it in the fall rather than any other time of year.

The best reason is the most obvious. You don’t want to go without air conditioning in the height of summer when even a few hours turns your home into a sauna. As the temperature drops to more comfortable levels, a trained technician can begin installation without worrying about a sudden heat wave. On the flipside, completing installation before the first snow arrives makes the process infinitely easier, leaving you with a unit all ready to go by the time spring rolls around.

On a more subtle level, fall makes a good time to schedule a maintenance session: after the busy period of summer has ended and with plenty of time to budget and plan for any necessary repairs. Installing the unit in the fall makes it easier to set up maintenance at the same time each year. (You can schedule similar maintenance calls in the spring before the temperatures really warm up.)

When you decide to replace your AC, make sure you contact a company that will give you good money for your dollar. Proper installation is vital to an efficient system, delaying the kind of loose bolts, leaky parts and ill-fitting components that lead to further wear and tear. The fall gives you plenty of time to contemplate your options and select the company that’s right for you. Red Rock Mechanical LLC can install new air conditioning units in Plattsburgh, NY and throughout the surrounding communities. Contact us today to set up a consultation. Our experts will replace your AC with complete dedication to your total satisfaction.

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Caring for Your Air Conditioning System in Burlington, VT as the Off Season Approaches

Monday, August 19th, 2013

Air conditioning systems keep us cool during the hot summer months. But as warm as our summers are, our winters are equally cold, and your air conditioning unit probably won’t see much use once the leaves begin to turn. As the off-season approaches, you can take a few steps to care for your air conditioning system and make sure it’s ready to go again the next time summer rolls around.

  • Maintenance: Like any other mechanical device, the air conditioning system requires routine maintenance in order to function at its best. Filters need to be changed, coils need to be cleaned, leaks need to be sealed, and worn parts need to be replaced with new ones. In the course of doing so, an expert may spot signs of more serious problems down the road, and help the homeowner take steps to address it before it results in a major repair bill. The autumn months are an excellent time to do this, since it won’t impact the cooling of your home and you have plenty of time to schedule a service call.
  • Gardening: It sounds a little strange, but the early autumn is a good time to trim back some of the verge that may be encroaching in your air conditioning system. Trees and shrubs that are too close to the unit’s vents should be trimmed back, and weeds around the unit should be pulled. If there are leaves or twigs in the vents at all, you should scoop them up and remove them.
  • Thermostat: Most people keep their thermostats at a certain level during the summer months. At the end of the season, you should reset it to a higher temperature, which will lower your bills while still keeping your home comfortable. You should also keep the shorter daylight hours in mind: if you set your thermostat to a different temperature starting in the evening hours, you may want to start setting it at an earlier time now that autumn is coming.

The air conditioning experts at Red Rock Mechanical can help you care for your system as the off season approaches, either by performing a routine maintenance call or enacting something more significant when the temperatures are mild. Call us today to make an appointment.

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Why Schedule Routine Air Conditioning Maintenance in Burlington, VT?

Monday, August 12th, 2013

Nothing lasts without a little upkeep every now and then. We take our cars in for routine servicing, and our homes and yards need regular attention as well. The same is true of your air conditioning system. Preventative maintenance from a trained professional can keep it running efficiently for years, while reducing the chances of more expensive service bills in the future.

Dirt and dust can affect an air conditioning unit more than most devices if left untreated. Components like the evaporator coils will struggle to do their job if they’re caked in dirt. Air filters can become clogged with dust and particles if they’re not routinely changed out, while drain lines and similar components can become clogged over time. Such problems tend to grow worse as the clogs and dirt lead to more serious malfunctions.

A routine maintenance schedule can address those issues: keeping the components clean and tightening loose fittings that might further reduce your system’s efficiency. That way, small problems won’t give way to bigger ones, and your air conditioning unit will function at a higher efficiency. Indeed, a qualified service technician will be able to spot warning signs of potential trouble before it arrives, and find a comparatively easy solution that avoids trouble in the future.

Routine air conditioning maintenance saves you money. It usually costs less to prevent a problem than to solve it once it arrives, and a regular maintenance schedule will help keep your monthly energy bills down, since the AC system won’t have to work so hard to keep your household cool.

In Burlington, VT, you can call on the experts at Red Rock Mechanical to set up a regular air conditioning maintenance schedule. We’ve been in business for over 20 years and remain dedicated to your complete satisfaction. When the temperature rises and you need a cool, comfortable place to come home to, we can make sure that your system is running like it should. Contact us today to make an appointment for Burlington, VT air conditioning service.

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