Air Conditioning Condensation - Can It Damage Your Home?

Clogged condensate lines are one of the most serious issues air conditioning repairmen deal with. They don't just stop your AC system from working they can actually cause damage to your home.

Any Los Angeles air conditioning contractor will tell you that our air is brimming with water; 65% average humidity. All that water is processed by your air conditioner and becomes condensation.

You know how a cold drink on a hot day creates condensation on the outside of the glass? The same thing happens when warm air from your home comes in contact with your evaporator coil. Condensation is created. A properly installed heating and cooling system is designed to deal with all the excess water produced, and there is a LOT of water at times! Proper systems are equipped with a drain pan and pipe running either to the ground outside your house or maybe into a rain gutter on the roof.  If this drain line is clogged, you can be facing some potentially serious issues.

When my company installs an AC system we take an extra step to give my customers a warning if their condensate drain is clogged. We place the secondary drain outlet over a window or in a similarly noticeable place. When the homeowner sees water dripping they call for service. This way the problem can be remedied BEFORE it causes damage to your home.

Should I get the Extended Labor Warranty for Home Air Conditioning?

Installing central air conditioning in Los Angeles is an investment that pays back in increased home value and comfortable, healthy indoor air. But that value can quickly disapate if your system is not properly maintained.

Studio City air conditioning installers show perfect work

Quality name brand Air Conditioning equipment usually comes with a 10-12 year manufacturers warranty. But what Jay Leno says about cars holds true for AC equipment, "In the old days parts were expensive and labor was cheap. Now it's just the opposite: Labor's expensive and parts are affordable."

We offer an extended labor warranty with every air conditioning installation Kilowatt performs. Some homeowners want it some don't. I have seen it work out well in both instances. It's an investment. I recommend the labor warranty if you are going to keep your home.

Either way, whether you accept the labor warranty or not, homeowners should definitely sign up for a professional maintenance program. I am adamant with my customers that investing in maintenance is imperative. Regular documented maintenance is needed to preserve the manufacturers warranty on your air conditioning equipment. AC maintenance extends the life of your equipment and keeps the indoor air quality safe and healthy for you and your family.

Home Air Conditioner Stopped Blowing

If your air conditioner stops working and has no air flow the problem may be a frozen coil. 


What should you do if you’re air conditioner freezes?
1  Turn the air conditioning off at the thermostat.
2  Check your filter. If the filter is filthy, throw it away and proceed to Step #4.
3  If not, you’ve probably got an issue that is going to require a trained AC professional. 
4  Switch the Fan to the “On” position at the thermostat (leave the air conditioner turned to “Off”).  This will help move more air across the frozen coil so it will thaw faster.
5  Now you can head to the store to get another filter. 
6  When you get back home, visually inspect the outdoor copper lines and the indoor coil for ice.  It can take a couple of hours for all that ice to thaw, so you may need to give it a little more time.
7  Put the new filter in, and turn the AC back on.
8  Keep a close eye on the system.  If ice reappears, turn the air conditioner off and call a professional.  If the system doesn’t start to cool the house down, turn the AC off and call your air conditioning repairman.

Is your Old Central Air Conditioner Worth Fixing?

The heat wave that has hit Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley this summer has had many homeowners calling AC repair companies to find out whether it still makes sense to repair their older central air conditioners or if replacement is a better option.

After the unit reaches a certain age several factors can make it more sensible to replace the central AC rather than continually invest in costly repairs.

Repair or Replace Factors For Homeowners

• Age of the Central AC and Heating Unit - Is your central Air conditioner older than 10 years? Depending on the brand and the quality of the installation 10 years can be the point at which equipment may start breaking down and requiring higher repair bills each season.
• Higher Energy Bills in Summer - It won't come as a surprise to hear that your old Air conditioner is not much of an energy saver. By upgrading to a higher efficiency air conditioner or heat pump system you can expect to save approximately 40% in energy costs.
• R22 Refrigerant is Leaking - Refrigerant is a toxic substance controlled by the EPA. It's expensive and reoccurring leaks are an indication that major repairs are needed.
• Cost of Repairs - In Los Angeles, the San Fernando valley and Beverly Hills Air Conditioning repairs are not cheap! If the cost of repair is more than $750 you are 1/4 of the way to a replacement AC unit. Remember you don't always have to replace the entire system. You can replace the AC only.
• Frequency of Repairs - Even when AC repair costs are minimal, say $150 per repair, if you are having your central AC several times per year it may be time to consider a replacement unit.

A good central air conditioning contractor will help you decide what is best for you and for your home. It's always a good idea to get 3 different prices for replacing your central air conditioning and many San Fernando Valley air conditioning contractor will give a free estimate.

Stay Cool For Less This Summer

What you can do NOW to avoid costly air conditioning problems

There’s GOLD in them there air conditioning systems!

“Gold?” you ask. “Are there air conditioner thieves about?”
 

“Relax,” I say. “Settle down.” I’m not talking suburban pirates—no need to bolt your compressor to the ground or build bunkers around your ventilation ducts. I’m talking about the safe, shiny gold of savings.

The treasure in your AC system will leak out if you don’t lock it down—it’s up to you to guard it. Good property managers know how to mine the savings from their AC systems: regularly scheduled maintenance by qualified service technicians.

You’ve probably heard the old homeowner riddle:

When is SPENDING money also SAVING money?

When you spend it on AC maintenance!

Cars need oil changes, gardens need weeding, and AC systems need tune-ups. Now is the perfect time to schedule a preventive checkup—before summer hits. If your equipment hasn’t had regular maintenance, odds are you’ll be blowing a lot of hot air soon. 

Proper maintenance prevents problems and saves money.

Every AC repairman knows that the number one cause of cooling system failure is a lack of regular maintenance. And every manufacturer, utility company, and consumer protection group—even the Environmental Protection Association— recommends regular service of your HVAC system, no matter how old the system is.

Benefits of servicing your HVAC system:

• SAFETY – Inspection of electrical and chemical connections, exhaust systems, and drains which can become clogged with mold or algae.
• FEWER REPAIRS – A professional technician nips problems in the bud before they need costly repairs.
• SERVICE SAVINGS – If repairs are needed, most AC contractors offer a discount to their maintenance customers.
• WARRANTY PAYOUTS – Manufacturers currently offer 12-year warranties on their equipment, as long as regular maintenance has been performed.
• ENERGY SAVINGS – A dirty filter can increase energy costs by 50% and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.
• EXTENDED EQUIPMENT LIFE – Many properly maintained air conditioning systems run for 30 years or more.
• PRIORITY CUSTOMER STATUS – Most air conditioning contractors give priority to customers who commit to a maintenance program. When it's 110 degrees and the phones are ringing off the hook, maintenance customers are taken care of first.

There is no better way to protect your investment in heating and air conditioning than regular system maintenance.

Maintenance Checklist

What should you expect from your spring and fall checkups? An air conditioning service technician should take all of the following steps:

• Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system will keep you comfortable when you are home and save energy while you are away.
• Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
• Lubricate all moving parts. Operating motors with insufficient lubrication causes friction and uses more electricity.
• Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A clogged drain can cause water damage in your house, affect indoor humidity levels, and cause mold to grow.
• Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the equipment’s starting cycle to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.
• Clean the evaporator and the condenser’s air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce a system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
• Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient.
• Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15%.
• Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this.

Most responsible air conditioning companies use a checklist that they will be happy to show you.

If you protect your AC system, it will protect you. Schedule an air conditioner maintenance appointment before it’s too late!

How To Avoid Unnecessary AC Service Calls

Sure  you love your Los Angeles Air Conditioning service company, but here  are some helpful hints to assist you in avoiding unnecessary costs for  service and repairs of your heating and air conditioning equipment:

• Clean or change your filter frequently. We recommend checking it at least every four weeks in our climate.
• Do  not set your thermostat lower in the cooling mode than is comfortable.  The average resident is comfortable at a setting of 78 to 80 degrees.  For every degree that you lower your thermostat below 78 degrees, you  increase your electricity consumption by 2% to 5%.
• In  the summer, setting the fan to the "on" position will allow the indoor  fan to run continuously, thus providing continuous circulation of air  between cycles. This continuous circulation can allow many users to set their thermostat 1 or 2 degrees higher, while still remaining  comfortable.
• Use fans to circulate air and make you feel cooler at a higher temperature  setting. Be sure to turn the fan off when the room will be unoccupied.
• If  you have a routine schedule each day get a programmable  thermostat. It will save you money by offsetting the temperature in the  house when no one is home.
• Do  not turn off your air conditioner during the day when you are away. It is much more cost effective to raise the temperature to 82 or 83  degrees. This will use less energy and still allow for the air  conditioner to recover when you lower the thermostat to your desired comfort level when you return home in the evening.
• Keep all windows and doors closed.
• Close draperies on the sunny side of the house to block the sun’s summer rays.
• Verify that your attic space is well ventilated to decrease the heat build up. We recommend an attic fan, they really help!
• Wash  the outside coil of your air conditioner with a garden hose once a year  in order to keep it at top performance. Clean away debris, leaves and  shrubbery for free flow of air through the coil fins.
• Do  not close off more than 20% of the registers in the home. This can  cause high resistance in the ductwork system. The result may be  unnecessary heat build-up in the furnace in the winter. In the summer  the reduction in air-flow can cause icing up on the cooling coil, higher  humidity levels, and can lead to possible compressor damage.
• In the cooling season, don’t run kitchen and bath exhaust fans longer than necessary.
• Do  not place lamps, TV sets or other heat-producing devices beneath a  wall-mounted thermostat. Rising heat from the equipment may cause the  air conditioning system to over-cool your house, thinking that it is  warmer than it actually is.
• Never store anything combustible near your gas furnace.
• If you have a gas furnace, make sure that flue connections and venting are always unobstructed.If you smell natural gas, call the local gas company at once.
• If you have a power outage or brown out, turn off your air conditioner immediately. This may save the components from damage.
• If  your system is 10 years or older, consider the benefits of replacing it  with a more efficient system that consumes less electricity.
• Have  your heating and cooling system serviced each season to keep it in  tip-top shape. You can avoid costly repairs and unnecessary down time when you need your system the most.

 Still need a technician? Your service call is worth the money!