How To Prevent A Call To An AC Repair Company | Plano, TX
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One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas know how hot and humid it can get in Plano, TX, and your safety is our top priority. In summer temperatures can reach over one hundred degrees with humidity levels to match. Without a working air conditioner, living conditions can soon get very challenging. This is when you need a reliable AC repair company to come and fix your air conditioner quickly.
AC units are normally reliable, but now and then something goes wrong, so you must avoid these common mistakes to help prevent calling for an AC repair company.
Have Your Air Conditioner Regularly Serviced
Nearly ninety percent of homes in the United States have an air conditioner system. The best thing you can do to prevent calling an AC repair company is to have an annual service. The service will ensure that all the components are working properly and if not, allow you the chance to have them corrected. A lot of people skip the annual service to save money, but this is a false economy. Your unit will run more efficiently after the service and reduce your energy bills, so the service will have paid for itself in a brief period of time. Without the service, your unit is more likely to break down leading to an expensive repair bill.
Do It Yourself Work and Repairs
There are some simple jobs that you can do yourself, but more complex problems need to get addressed by a trained technician. Replacing dirty air filters is a more straightforward task than topping up cooling levels. A professional technician from One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas has many years of experience and all the right tools to do the job. An inexperienced DIYer is more likely to make a mess of things and cause extensive damage to the air conditioner. In the end, you have not saved money at all, now you need to pay an expensive bill from an AC repair company. Another advantage in hiring a professional technician from us is that they have insurance so they are covered should anything go wrong while on the job.
Change the Air Filters Regularly
The air filters perform an important task in removing any dust, dirt, or other debris from the air in your home and protecting the air conditioner from damage. They need to be cleaned or replaced regularly, and this is a task you can learn to do yourself. This is because a dirty air filter will restrict the flow of warm air from inside your home over the evaporator coils. The coolant in the coils absorbs the heat from the warm and removes the humidity as well. Without enough warm air, the evaporator coils will start to freeze over. The result is higher energy bills as the coils and other components have to work harder. Harder working components are more likely to break down, needing a visit from the top AC repair company in Plano, TX, One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas.
Clean the Condenser and Cooling Fins Regularly
The condenser and cooling fins allow the heat absorbed by the coolant to be transferred to the outside. As they are located outside your home they will get covered in a layer of dirt and grime. This layer reduces the rate at which heat is transferred from the coolant, which can cause the condenser to overheat and break down, requiring a visit from an AC repair company. Moss and weeds can also grow on the condenser and cooling fins, and this too can restrict the heat transfer. Cleaning the condenser and fins is a job that most people can do, but if you are unable or frightened of causing damage this task can be part of a service offered by One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas.
Keep the AC Drain Line Clear
The excess moisture from humid warm air is removed when the air is cooled. Warmer air contains more moisture than cooler air, and as the air cools it condenses into water and is deposited into the drain pan. The water then flows through the AC drain line to the outside. The moisture can encourage the growth of mold and algae in the drain pan and AC drain line and these need to be cleaned during a service to prevent a blockage. Any blockage will result in water overflowing the drain pan into your air conditioner, this could cause a short-circuit requiring a visit from an AC repair company.
Another cause of blockages is dirt and leaves outside covering the AC drain line, this could cause your unit to shut down. If your unit does shut down it may be worth checking whether they are the source of the problem. Keeping the drain clear of debris is a simple job that you can do regularly.
Set the Thermostat Correctly
An incorrectly set thermostat will cost you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. This is because many people set their thermostats at too low a temperature in the mistaken belief that their homes will cool quicker. Setting the thermostat at a low temperature will mean the air conditioner will run for a longer period of time, increasing your energy bills, and increasing the wear and tear on the components. You are more likely to suffer a breakdown as a result, needing a visit from an AC repair company.
It may also be worth checking the position of your thermostats. One placed near open windows or doors will record the incorrect temperature, forcing your air conditioner to work harder. The same is true for a thermostat placed in direct sunlight. You also want to consider replacing older dial-type thermostats with new programmable ones as these are more accurate and do not need to be recalibrated as often.
A Trusted AC Repair Company
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas has been serving the people of Plano, TX for many years. We realize how important it is to offer a speedy AC repair service during a hot Texas summer and that is why we have technicians available 24/7 ready to help you.