Offering A Quality Air Conditioning Service | Irving, TX
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One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas has been serving the city of Irving, TX. since 1988. We understand how vital it is to have a working air conditioner during the hot summer months. Your air conditioner is likely to be on most of the day, especially when temperatures reach over 100 degrees and that is when it is most likely to need an air conditioning service.
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas serving Irving, TX is committed to your safety and will offer the very best air conditioning service to the people of Irving, TX. Whatever your problem is you can rely on us to help you out.
How Does an Air Conditioner Work?
Working knowledge of air conditioners can help understand why things can go wrong and what you need to do to avoid an air conditioning service or repair.
The major components in an air conditioner consist of the evaporator coils, compressor, condenser, and cooling fins. These components are connected by copper tubing that contains the coolant. A fan extracts the warm air inside your home and blows it over the evaporator coils. Inside the coils is a cold liquid coolant that absorbs the heat from the warm air, and the now cool air is blown back into your home.
The cold liquid coolant is now changed into a warm low-pressure gas after it absorbs the heat. The compressor squeezes the warm coolant, so it becomes a hotter gas at a higher pressure. The pressure difference between the higher and lower regions allows the coolant to flow around the copper tubing.
The hot coolant now passes outside your home to where the condenser and cooling fins are located. These components allow the heat from the hot gas to be transferred to the outside air. Another fan blows the outside air over the cooling fins and aids this process. Once the heat is removed from the hot gas it changes back into a cold coolant and continues back to the evaporator coils to repeat the cycle. In this way, the warm air and humidity inside your home are removed from the outside.
Signs That You Need an Air Conditioning Service in Irving, TX
As you can see there are many components in an air conditioner that could break down needing an air conditioning repair service. We at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas would highly recommend that you have an annual air conditioning service from one of our NATE-certified technicians.
When times are hard It may be tempting to skip that air conditioning service to save some money, but that would be a false economy. An air conditioning service can often run into hundreds of dollars, together with all the inconvenience of trying to find someone to fix it. Without a regular air conditioning service, you will increase the chance of needing an expensive repair. Ignoring the following signs could be putting your air conditioner at risk:
- You see frost and ice on the evaporator coil
- There is dirt and moss on the condenser and cooling fins
- You have higher than expected energy bills
- The humidity in your home is increasing
- The AC will not turn on
- Strange smells coming from the unit
- Strange noises coming from the unit
- The pooling of water around the unit
You See Frost and Ice on the Evaporator Coils is a Red Flag You Need an Air Conditioning Service in Arlington, TX.
Frost and ice can form on the evaporator coils for several reasons.
Reduced airflow across the coils – To work efficiently a constant supply of warm air needs to be blown across the evaporator coils. Several factors can contribute to restricting the airflow. The first can be a faulty fan, if it not working properly the fan will be unable to provide the level of airflow needed.
The second reason is dirty air filters, and this too will reduce airflow. Replacing or cleaning the air filters is a task that you can do yourself but is part of an air conditioning service from One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas serving Irving, TX. But we encourage you to do it yourself as the more often you do it the less chance there is of frost and ice forming on the coils. In addition, the air quality in your home will improve, improving the environment is beneficial for those suffering from chronic breathing problems like asthma and bronchitis.
Reduced levels of coolant in the evaporator coils – each air conditioner will need an optimal level of coolant in it. The coolant absorbs the heat from the warm air blown over the coil. If there is a leak the coolant levels will fall, and less heat will be absorbed. Without enough warm air the coil will start to freeze, and less cool air will be blown back into your Irving home.
Dirty evaporator coils – not replacing or cleaning the air filters regularly will allow more dirt and pollen to enter your home. It will also deposit a dirt layer on the evaporator coils. This layer will reduce the rate at which heat is transferred between the warm air and coolant inside the coil. This will not only allow frost and ice to form on the coils but will reduce the cooling effect of the air conditioner.
The frost and ice itself – as the thickness of the frost and ice increases so will its insulating effect further reducing the heat transfer and cooling effect. If you ignore the frost and ice forming, you run the risk that the evaporator coil will freeze. If it does then you need to turn the air conditioner off to allow the coils to thaw.
Your air conditioner could be out of action for up to 24 hours. If the evaporator freezes too often you increase the chance that it breaks down and will need a repair. All these issues will be addressed during an air conditioning service from One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas.
There Is Dirt and Moss on the Condenser and Cooling Fins
Your condenser and cooling fins are usually located outside your home and are exposed to the elements. They will be covered with dirt or grime, and this is a problem that is worst in cities with high air pollution. It is also probable that moss and weed could grow on the condenser and cooling fins. All these materials will need to be removed by regular cleaning.
This is because the condenser and cooling fins transfer the heat from your home to the outside air, the dirt layer will act as an insulator and reduce this rate of transfer. Another fan blows the outside air over the condenser and cooling fins, any weeds or moss growing will block this flow of air and reduce the heat transfer.
The direct result of all this is that less heat is removed from the coolant, so the coolant is warmer when it returns to the evaporator coil. This means that less heat can be taken from the warm air inside your home. This cleaning is something you can do yourself or as part of an air conditioning service from One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas.
You Have Higher Than Expected Energy Bills
Each component in your air conditioner needs to work efficiently to get the maximum cooling effect. Any component that is faulty for any reason will have a knock-on effect on the others. For example, as the evaporator coils start to freeze, the other components such as the compressor will start to work harder to compensate.
They will attempt to keep the temperature in your home at the level you have set. As they work harder, they will use more energy, and this will cause your energy bills to rise. A further problem with harder working components is that they will get hotter. This makes them more likely to overheat and need a repair. An air conditioning service will ensure that each component is running safely.
The Humidity in Your Home Is Increasing
One of the main jobs that the air conditioner does is to remove the moisture from the warm air and so reduce humidity levels. As we have seen any problems with coolant levels, fans, or air filters will impact the amount of heat absorbed from the warm air. It is a fact that warm air carries more moisture than cold air. The warmer the air blown back into your home the more moisture it will hold and the more humid the air will feel.
The AC Will Not Turn On
If your air conditioner will not turn on, it does not mean there is a major problem with the air conditioner. The cause could be a simple blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. Replacing the fuse or resetting the circuit breaker could solve the problem and you will not need to waste money on an unnecessary callout. If the air conditioner still has not worked after you have reset the circuit breaker, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas and we can send one of our technicians around to help.
Strange Smells Coming From the Unit
One of the jobs undertaken during an air conditioning service is that the insides of your air conditioner are given a good spring clean. Any dust that has settled on an overheated component could give off a burning smell. So could any loose solder or bad electrical connections. A burning smell is not a sign you should ignore as it points to an increased risk of a fire.
Strange Noises Coming From the Unit
The fans can be the source of any strange noises that come from your air conditioner. A loud clunking sound could be because of a loose or bent blade striking the inside of your air conditioner.
A worn-out fan belt or bearings could be the source of any piercing screeching sounds. If you’re concerned about any strange noises coming from your air conditioner you should call us straight away. These noises mean that damage is being inflicted on your air conditioner.
Pooling of Water Around the Unit
Have you ever wondered where all the moisture goes after it has been removed from the warm air in your room? The answer is simple, it is first deposited in a drain pan inside your air conditioner and later passes through the AC drain line to outside your home. This moisture could encourage the growth of moss and algae in the drain pan and the AC drain line. This could block them both so that no water is able to leave.
The drain pan will overflow, and water will be deposited inside the air conditioner and on the floor. Any water inside the air condition could cause a short circuit and need repair. It is important to clean the drain pan and drain line to avoid this happening and this is performed during a regular air conditioning service. Without a place to go, the moisture will increase the humidity levels in your home and any moldy smell could be due to the mold in the drain pan and AC drain line.
The AC drain line could also be blocked by leaves and dirt outside, it could even freeze on a very cold day. One outcome is that the air conditioner could shut down, and before you call for an expensive repair it may be worth checking outside to see if the AC drain line is free of debris.
What Else Is Done During an Air Conditioning Service?
Air ducts are checked for damage during an air conditioning service, up to 30 percent of your air conditioner’s energy output can be lost through gaps in the ductwork. Thermostats are also checked during an air conditioning service, a badly calibrated thermostat will allow your home to be hotter or cooler than it need be, increasing your energy bills. Fans are also checked to see if they are blowing enough air over the evaporator coils and cooling fins.
One Hour the Best Reliable Air Conditioning Service Company in Irving, TX
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas understands how unbearable and dangerous life can become for families in Irving, TX when your unit breaks down on a very hot day. Your family’s safety is our top priority, and we will always have somebody available 24/7 to deal quickly with your emergency call!