AC Repair Round Rock is needed when your air conditioning system experiences hiccups, such as making strange noises or not cooling your home. A professional technician will address whatever is wrong, such as clearing out a clog or straightening bent aluminum cooling fins on the compressor.
Keeping up with routine maintenance service in the spring and fall reduces the need for emergency AC repairs. But even with routine care, wear and tear is inevitable.
Clogged evaporator coils are often the cause of an AC system that’s running, but not producing cold air. This occurs because the evaporator coils are frozen over, and they prevent your AC from absorbing heat from the air. This can lead to poor cooling and even humidity problems throughout your home. To resolve this issue, you’ll need to turn off the unit and remove any ice from the coils. Once the ice has thawed, you can clean the coils and restore their function.
The evaporator coil is housed inside the air handler in your indoor air conditioning unit. As the system works to remove heat from your home’s air, moisture condenses on the evaporator coil and drips down into a drain pan below. Over time, if the drain line is clogged, the water will overflow and promote problems like mold and mildew growth in the air conditioning system.
To prevent clogged evaporator coils, regularly change the air filter and never block supply vents. Closing these vents reduces air flow over the coil, causing it to collect dirt and debris. This can also lead to corrosion of the evaporator coil, which is expensive to repair or replace.
Other signs of a clogged evaporator coil include odd sounds such as bubbling or hissing when the air conditioner is running. This can indicate that there is an issue with the refrigerant lines, and it’s important to address this as quickly as possible so it doesn’t grow into a more expensive problem.
The simplest way to prevent a clogged evaporator is by regularly cleaning the coils. Using a spray can of air conditioning cleaner or water mixed with mild detergent can help break down any buildup. Then, rinse the coils with a hose until they’re completely clean. Be sure to turn off the power to your air conditioning unit before opening it up and looking for the evaporator coil.
If you’ve cleaned the evaporator coil and still have issues with your AC, it’s probably time to call in a professional. They can take a look at your system to identify the source of the issue and fix it correctly.
Compressor Cooling Fins
The air conditioning system’s compressor is the heart of the operation, responsible for circulating refrigerant that absorbs and expels heat from your home. This process takes place within a specific temperature range, and any problems with the compressor can have a major impact on how efficiently your home is cooled. The compressor cooling fins help to dissipate heat from the unit, but they can become clogged with debris. This impedes the ability of the compressor to expel heat, leading to excessive temperatures and eventual damage to the unit.
The cooling fins are designed to maximize the surface area through which heat is transferred. However, the fins can become damaged due to corrosion from salty air or mechanical stress from people walking around the outdoor unit or by falling leaves or other debris. The fins can also become bent, restricting the flow of air over the evaporator coils, which reduces heat transfer efficiency and causes the AC to work harder to cool your home.
Bent air conditioner fins can also cause ice build-up on the coils and cause the system to overheat. This is a serious problem that should be addressed as soon as possible. In some cases, it may be necessary to replace the condenser coil.
Regularly cleaning the air conditioner fins will minimize damage and clogging. A gentle spray of a detergent solution will usually do the trick. Be sure to remove any plant material that grows around the air conditioner before spraying the fins. If you need to clean the fins more thoroughly, a special fin comb can be used to straighten them and restore normal airflow.
A comb like this is available online or at many hardware stores, and it’s usually fairly inexpensive. Before using a fin comb, make sure the power to the air conditioner is disconnected, and then remove the access panel and wire grille to expose the air conditioner coils and cooling fins. Use the comb to carefully straighten the fins, working up and down and following the direction of the metal fins. Be careful not to bend the fins too much or they may be permanently damaged.
Blower Motor
A home’s blower motor is a crucial component of the HVAC system. It helps to circulate air throughout the entire house, maintaining consistent temperatures and removing pollutants and allergens as it does so.
The blower motor can be affected by a variety of issues that require professional repair and replacement parts. For example, rattling and clanking noises from the vents can indicate problems with the blower motor belt or bearings. These can be resolved by replacing or lubricating the parts. Over time, the motor can become overworked if it runs at too high of a speed, leading to excessive amperage and eventual failure.
Similarly, an overheating blower motor can result in overheated or damaged components. These issues can also be exacerbated by moisture buildup, which may damage the motor or lead to electrical short circuits and potential fire hazards. Another common problem with the blower motor is a lack of power to operate, due to a damaged or broken resistor or fan relay. A qualified HVAC technician will be able to inspect and determine the root cause of this issue, which can often be resolved with a simple repair or replacement.
It’s important to have a professional HVAC company like Logan Services provide regular maintenance sessions to ensure your AC blower motor and its fans remain in good condition. They’ll check for signs of debris buildup or blockages and conduct repairs as necessary to elongate the life of your blower motor and improve the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling.
Contactor
A contactor is a control device that allows electricity to flow freely or cuts it off, and it’s a vital component of your AC system. It’s made up of a pair of latching electrical contacts that open and close like a drawbridge to allow power to pass or prevent it from flowing. But over time, the contacts can become worn and get stuck in one position. A broken contactor can lead to problems with your air conditioner, such as a non-functional compressor.
An air conditioning repair technician can identify a bad contactor and recommend an appropriate replacement. However, you can also perform a visual inspection to spot issues before the problem gets out of hand. With the power turned off, look for signs of physical damage on your contactor, such as charring or pitting. These are indicators that the contactor has been damaged by electric arcing and requires immediate replacement.
You might also notice a burning smell from your air conditioning unit. This can be due to foreign objects or pests getting trapped in the mechanism. The burnt smell can also signal that the contactor is overheating, which could pose a fire hazard.
Other signs of a bad contactor include a clicking or chattering noise. This occurs when the contactor continuously tries to engage and disengage, causing energy waste. If you hear this sound, it’s important to call an air conditioning repair specialist right away.
A failed contactor can be caused by a failing coil or electrical connections. The contactor’s coil creates a magnetic field that snaps the contact points together, but this coil can burn out from excessive heat or overuse. It can also fail due to aging or improper maintenance.
A common contactor scam is for a HVAC technician to show homeowners a burned or damaged contactor from another system and falsely claim it belongs to their AC unit. This is an attempt to pressure homeowners into allowing unnecessary repairs, and it’s against BBB guidelines. By understanding the function of a contactor, recognizing common scams, and prioritizing regular maintenance, you can avoid this type of fraudulent activity.