Tag: heater maintenance

Katy TX A/C Repair: Learn How To Clean The Air Conditioning Evaporator Coils

Katy TX Air Conditioning Repair: A Guide On How To Properly Clean Evaporator Coils

Regular preventive maintenance is essential in making sure your air conditioner continues to work properly. You should have maintenance performed at least once per year before the cooling season begins. Season maintenance should be performed by a professional air conditioning repair Katy TX company. Tasks that should be performed include system adjustment and testing, component replacements, minor repairs, air filter changes, and cleaning condenser coils and evaporator.

The Basics Of Cleaning A/C Evaporator Coils

Check and clean the evaporator coils as needed. Monthly cleaning might be required if the coils tend to easily collect debris and dirt. Otherwise, you might need to clean them out every three months or so during the cooling season or yearly as part of your regular preventative maintenance. AC Man of Houston offers maintenance services for commercial properties.

Gaining Access To Clean The A/C Evaporator Coils

There should be an access to the indoor air handling unit that you can remove in order to get to the evaporator coil. Check your owner’s manual if necessary to find the evaporator coil and access panel. On the thermostat, turn your air conditioner off. To get the access loose, remove the screws or another type of fasteners. Set the screws and panel aside where you won’t separate or lose them. Check out our residential services by clicking here.

Using Compressed Air To Clean The A/C Evaporator Coils

  1. You can use compressed air to remove light accumulations of materials such as dirt by blowing them off of the evaporator coil.
  2. Direct the compressed air over the coil. Move in the opposite direction of regular air flow from the cleanest to the dirtiest side.
  3. For pieces that are more stubborn, take the air nozzle and please near the bottom part of the debris. If high-pressure air is being used, direct it either through the fins directly or at a 90-degree angle. That will prevent the fins from getting damaged.
  4. Maintain consistent airflow over the coil. That will dislodge the buildup without it being further forced into the fins which will make it harder to remove.
  5. Avoid blowing debris, dirt, and dust into the living spaces of your home or into your ductwork system. Wear eye protection so that material is kept out of your eyes. Use a shop vacuum, if necessary, to collect the material as it is being dislodged.

Using A Brush To Clean The A/C Evaporator Coils

Brush cleaning is a very effective way to remove minor dirt accumulations from the evaporator coils. It enables you to avoid having to use chemicals or liquid and provides you with greater control in terms of the amount of pressure applied to the fins and coils.

  • Apply your brush to the evaporator coils to sweep away dirt accumulation.
  • Use the brush to scrub and break lose materials that are harder to remove.
  • Avoid using a hard-bristle brush or wire brush since the might damage the fins.

Using Commercial Cleaners To Clean The A/C Evaporator Coils

There are several commercial cleaning brands that you can use to clean evaporator coils. A majority of them are foaming kinds that break down and then drain into the drainage system of the unit. Consult with a reputable local HVAC contractor for recommendations on the best clean to use for your specific situation.

Using Water And Mild Detergents To Clean Your A/C Evaporator Coils

Instead of using a commercial cleaner, warm water and a mild detergent can be used for cleaning the coils.

  • Mix a simple detergent and warm water into a spray bottle, garden sprayer or hand sprayer.
  • Apply the detergent and water solution to your evaporator coils.
  • Let the solution soak in for a few minutes to that it can soak in and also loosen debris.
  • Use a brush or soft close to wipe away loose material.

Learn more about AC Man of Houston and our air conditioning repair Katy tx services by checking out our blog, contacting us for questions or concerns or calling us for immediate assistance.

The #1 AC Repair Company In Houston Shows You How To Turn Off The Power To Your Air Conditioning System

Top-Rated AC Repair Company: How to Shut Off the Power to Your Air Conditioner

When you are repairing your air conditioner or installing a new unit, you must turn off the power to the unit. Turning off the power not only protects you from getting shocked, but it also protects the equipment from power surges that can damage the unit. Before turning off the power, you need to turn off the heating and cooling system by turning off the thermostat. If you are considering changing out your thermostat to a new Nest thermostat, you will want to ensure that the power is completely off for your thermostat and your heating and cooling system. If you are unsure how to install a new thermostat, install a new heating and cooling unit or repair your existing system, an AC repair company can help.

Switches That Control The Cooling And Heating System

You will need to determine which switches control the heating and cooling system in your house. Most of the time, these are found in your breaker box or fuse box; however, many units will have a separate breaker box located outside next to your heating and cooling system. It is important to know that if you have a split heating and cooling system, there may be a switch, fuse or breaker for the heating system and a separate switch, fuse or breaker for the cooling system.

Breaker Box

Most of the time your breaker box will be labeled. If your breaker box is labeled, you can flip the breakers for your heating and cooling system. If your breaker box is not labeled, you can either try to find the breakers that control your heating and cooling system or simply shut off the main breaker. If you opt to shut off the main breaker, you should be aware that it will turn off all power to your home. If you shut off only the breakers to your heating and cooling system, verify that all power to the heating and cooling system is turned off by attempting to turn on the heat setting, the cool setting and the fan of the system by using your thermostat.

Switches May Look Like A Breaker Box

Certain heating and cooling systems will not have a breaker in the breaker box. Instead, it will have a separate small breaker box located near the heating and cooling system. These stand-alone switches may look like a breaker box, or they can look like a light switch. If there is a switch similar to a light switch near your heating and cooling system that does not control a light, switch it off to ensure power to your heating and cooling system is off. Once you have installed your new Nest thermostat, you will need to turn the power back on. If you shut off the main breaker to your house, you will need to reset all of your electronic devices and clocks. If you are in need of AC repair company services for your residential property, click here.

The Five Installation Steps to Follow After Installing a New Thermostat

  • Step 1 – Turn off your heating and cooling system at the thermostat. Slide the lever to the off position. Doing this will prevent your thermostat from turning on when you turn the circuit breaker on.
  • Step 2 – Go to your circuit breaker box. Your circuit breaker box can be in several locations, such as the garage, the basement, your laundry room, in a closet or on the exterior of your home.
  • Step 3 – Reset the circuit breaker for your heating and air system. Find the breakers that are marked heating and cooling and move them to the on position. If the breaker is in the neutral position, you will need to turn the breaker off and then back on.
  • Step 4 -Wait 30 minutes. Your heating and air system must have time to reset the internal circuit breaker.
  • Step 5- Turn the thermostat to cool and begin enjoying your new Nest thermostat. If your breaker trips when you turn your thermostat on, you may have another issue. Try resetting the circuit breaker. Call for immediate assistance. If this does not work, contact your local AC repair company.

How To Tell If Your Heater Is In Need Of Maintenance Or Repair

Is Your Heater Making These Noises? You May Need Professional Repairs!

Loud, strange noises suddenly coming from your heater can be incredibly worrying. Without fail, hearing something of that nature means that some sort of problem has presented itself. In some cases, you may be able to resolve the matter yourself, but otherwise, you’ll need the aid of an HVAC repair expert.

To determine whether you need heater repair in Houston, follow along with the guide on common furnace problems below:

AC Man Houston | AC Noises in Houston TX1 – Whistling

Whistling furnaces are most commonly associated with duct problems. Your furnace needs sufficient airflow at all times. If your ducts aren’t doing the job, you may need to replace them with larger models.

Before doing so, however, you need to check for any gaps in the ductwork. Duct gaps – particularly where the duct actually joins the furnace – are another common cause for furnace whistling. You should also make sure you don’t have a clogged filter, especially if the problem seems to have developed out of nowhere. A quick, simple test is to simply remove the filter to see if the whistling ceases.

2 – Rattling

Rattling is often a result of a loose duct. You should try reinforcing them with duct tape or extra screws. You can even try adding rubber pads or cork material under the furnace. If you need help lifting it up, a pry bar from your local hardware store will do the trick.

3 – Bouncing

If it sounds as if your furnace is bouncing, you likely have worn bearings. Naturally, you’ll need to replace them. In this instance, your best bet is to work with an HVAC professional.

4 – Banging

Banging sounds that seem to startup as soon as the furnace comes on are generally related to a number of potential issues. Check to see if you can determine exactly where the sound is coming from. If the ducts seem to be the issue, this is likely due to fluctuation that happens when the pressure inside them changes. Check for weak spots and screw on an additional piece of metal for more support.

On the other hand, you could also be looking at a possible problem with your gas-ignition. In this scenario, you might hear something that sounds like a small explosion when the furnace ignites. If you notice that the flame seems to change or doors shaking on the furnace, that’s generally a tell-tale sign. Of course, an issue of that level needs to be handled by a professional.

5 – Squeaking

Squeaking sounds coming from the furnace usually signify that the metal panning or ducts aren’t secure. You can repair this quite easily yourself. Simply reinforce, rehang, or replace the affected parts.

If you aren’t confident that you can fix a problem with your furnace yourself, that’s potentially for the best. You should always play it safe and work with a specialist to be sure that the job is done. When it comes to the local heater repair in Houston in particular, you can always rely upon AC Man Houston in particular. Feel free to get in touch with us by calling (713) 460-2653 or contacting us anytime you have a question or concern!

Keeping Up With Your Heater During the Summer

Winter May Be Over, But That Doesn’t Mean You Can Neglect Your Furnace

When winter winds down and temperatures start to rise, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you can forget about your heating system. At the beginning of the spring, cold weather and heater repairs are the last things on your mind.

As it turns out, however, putting off repairs until the following winter is generally a bad idea. The longer problems are allowed to fester, the worse they are likely to become. Also, don’t forget that your heater and air conditioner share the same ductwork. Any problems caused by your heater could affect your air conditioner as well. When it comes to heater repair Houston, homeowners are wise to take quick action.

Common Signs Of Trouble

Usually, heaters give off some pretty clear signals when they start experiencing problems. Although these problems may be hard to spot on your own, our expert technicians can quickly identify any underlying issues that need to be resolved. Catching these problems as early as possible can help keep the cost of repairs down by preventing more extensive damage from occurring. Keep your eyes peeled for any of the following signs of trouble:

  • AC Man Houston | Heater Maintenance During Houston SummerUnexplained noises coming from your heater. If your heating system suddenly starts making unusual noises such as squealing or banging, it could be a sign that there is something wrong.
  • Uneven or insufficient heating. If it seems like your heater isn’t providing as much heat as it used to or if certain parts of your house seem colder than they should be, there could be an issue that needs to be addressed.
  • Higher power bills. If you haven’t changed your heating habits but your power bills have gone up, there could be a problem that is causing your heater to run more often than necessary.
  • A yellow-tinted flame. If you have a gas furnace, keep an eye on the pilot light. It should look blue. If it takes on a yellow tinge, you should contact a repair specialist.
  • An unexplained loss of power. If you can’t get your heater to start at all or if it shuts off at strange times, there is most likely something wrong with it that needs to be addressed right away.

Common Causes Of Heater Problems

There are a lot of things that can go wrong with a typical heater. Some problems are easy to fix whereas others are more involved. Thermostat-related problems are one of the most common issues that homeowners experience. The good thing about a faulty thermostat is that it is usually inexpensive to repair or replace. The bad thing about it, however, is that it can also affect your air conditioning system. That is why it is important to get it fixed as quickly as possible.

There are a lot of other issues that can cause your heater to malfunction. In some cases, openings in your air ducts could be allowing heated air to escape. In other cases, the filters may have become blocked or the system may be experiencing a mechanical problem that prevents it from functioning the way that it should. The key is to get any problems addressed right away by calling in an HVAC specialist.

Even if it is incredibly nice outside, it is still important to take care of any heater repairs. Just because the heating season is coming to an end doesn’t mean that you can let things go until next year. By taking care of the repairs now, your heating system will be ready to use as soon as temperatures start to fall again in the autumn. Not only that but you can rest easy knowing that whatever problem you are experiencing won’t affect your central air-conditioning system as well.

Your best bet is to be proactive and take care of any problems the minute that you notice them. Reach out to us today by calling and our knowledgeable experts will be more than happy to help.