Tag: hvac contractor

The #1 A/C Repairman: When It Comes Time To Buy A New Air Conditioner For Your Home

An Expert AC Repairman Decides It Is Time For A New Residential Air Conditioner

Trying to stay comfortable during the heat of the summer is practically impossible without an air conditioner. This is especially true in parts of the country like Texas where the combination of high temperatures and excessive humidity can make it miserable outside. As one of Houston’s leading air-conditioning providers, we are committed to helping our customers stay cool. Whether that means helping them select the right air conditioner for their home or keeping their current equipment in tip-top shape, our qualified technicians can help. From dealing with repairs and maintenance to replacing existing air-conditioning systems, we have the knowledge and experience to do the job right. When you hire an AC repairman from our company, you can be sure that your home’s air conditioning system will keep you cool all summer long.

Deciding If You Need A New Air Conditioner

Air-conditioning units usually are quite expensive. Because of that, it is important to make sure that you really need a new unit before you invest your money. If you are experiencing problems with your current unit, it can be hard to decide when the time is right to upgrade to a new model.

Save Money In The Long Run

Even though a new air conditioner is a major expense, it may wind up saving you money in the long run. If your current unit is malfunctioning, you may find yourself continually paying to have it repaired. In this case, buying a new unit could eliminate those repair expenses. Oftentimes, it makes more sense to upgrade to a new model rather than paying to repair the same unit over and over again. You may even find that the cost of a new unit is less than you would have paid for repairs. This is one situation where it makes a lot more sense to buy a new air conditioner rather than struggling along with an older unit that keeps breaking down. If you want to hire an AC repairman, ask if they offer financing.

Lower Your Energy Bills

Another way that a new air-conditioning unit can help you save is by lowering your energy bills. Modern air conditioners are far more energy-efficient than those of the past. When you install one of these newer units in your home, you may find that your monthly cooling costs drop significantly. In fact, your new air conditioner may even be able to pay for itself over time through the money that you save on your utility bills.

No Need To Go Without Air Conditioning

Anyone who has ever spent a summer in Texas can tell you that summers are hot. If your air-conditioning unit breaks down during the heat of summer, it could be a while before you can get it repaired. In the meantime, you may find yourself without air conditioning. This can be a miserable situation. When you have a brand-new air-conditioning unit, however, the chances of it breaking down are far slimmer. That means that you don’t have to worry about dealing with an extremely hot house while you wait to have your unit repaired.

A Smarter Solution

In many cases, the smartest solution is to buy a new air conditioner rather than continuing to struggle with an older unit. If you are thinking about upgrading, contact us today. One of our technicians can come to your home and evaluate its layout. Based on their findings, they can then help you find the perfect air conditioner for your needs.

Check our blog for related content, Call today or contact AC Man Houston for more.

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.

When To Know You’re In Need of AC Repair in Houston

4 Telltale Signs That Your Air Conditioner Could Be In Trouble

Within the state of Texas, we are all used to endless heat and temperatures getting to an unimaginable peak in the middle of the summer. When this happens, it is crucial that you have an air conditioning system that is efficiently operating and fully functional.

Have you had your system checked within the last year or six months? If so, and you have a heat pump, your cooling system will have a decent chance of surviving throughout the season without a drop in efficiency or many issues. However, there is little that even professional maintenance can help to avoid some issues calling for professional HVAC contractors Houston TX area. This is why you need to know what to look for when there may be signs that your system is in trouble:

AC Man Houston | AC Problems in Houston1. Funny Noises

By now, you probably have a good idea of what your air conditioning system sounds like each day when it is on. There will be a regular cycle where the compressor turns on and then shuts down, and you also have the fans humming. What you need to look for is any sort of unusual noise amidst the regular sounds.

Unfamiliar or strange sounds can be an indication that something is going on inside your cooling system. For example, a clanging or clattering can mean that the mechanical elements are loose. Any hissing can mean that the refrigerant is leaking or coming out of the system. With any screeching or grinding noise, it could be telling you that the motor is wearing down and it could potentially burn out and then render your cooling system completely useless.

2. Short-Cycling

This is a process where the compressor will shut off and then come back on quickly. Listen to the compressor, and if you hear it going on and off around every 15 minutes, it is best that you contact HVAC contractors Houston TX, because it is likely something is wrong.

There could be several causes for your air conditioner short-cycling. There could be an air filter that is clogged, so be sure that you change it out every one to three months as needed. It could also be the loss of refrigerant, a miscalibrated thermostat, or you could have an air conditioner that was not properly sized when it was installed.

3. Uneven Cooling

This may be a sign of air conditioner trouble that is less noticeable than others. When you have one or more rooms in your home that are not getting the same cooling level, you need to have it checked because the chances are good that something is wrong. There could also be issues with the windows needing weatherstripping or problems with inadequate insulation.

There could also be breaches in your ductwork, where conditioned and cooled air is leaking into other unoccupied spaces instead of getting into the rooms that require it. Another cause could be that the AC system is not getting cooling power due to refrigerant loss. Our qualified HVAC technicians are able to check everything out and find out what the source of the issue is.

4. Foul Smells

When your air conditioner comes on for the first time after being through the winter season, you can expect some dusty smells. This is completely normal, as this is only the dust that has built up in the ducts throughout the slower season and into the beginning of the spring.

This odor should completely go away in just an hour or so, meaning that if it goes on the past that, it is very likely that the motor could be overheating and starting to burn out. There could also be an indication that there is some sort of electrical problem, so you need to shut the air conditioner off and call our HVAC contractors Houston TX for an inspection and repair as soon as possible.

Whenever you want quality air conditioning service you can count on, simply call our professional HVAC contractors Houston TX area today!

You’re Not The Only Thing Overheating This Summer in Houston

Causes Of Burning Smell From An Air Conditioner

Unlike other places in the United States, Texas is the one place that no one can survive without air conditioning. The weather here is almost always hot and humid, which makes homes and offices extremely hot and uncomfortable with the AC turned off. It is due to this reason that most people ensure their air conditioning maintained regularly to avoid HVAC emergencies. Having a certified Houston HVAC expert work on your air conditioner is the only best way to ensure it remains functional all year round.

With the AC system working all day every day, many people report of a burning smell coming from their air conditions. Although this may be due to the system being overworked, it would be best to have the unit checked immediately.

Some of the common causes of odd smells from cooling systems include:

Musty Odor

AC Man Houston | AC Repair Houston TexasA musty smell may be as a result of a clogged condensate line in the cooling unit, or due to mildew growing in the ductwork. Some of this may be due to the accumulation of water in the drip pan allowing mold to grow.  Should the pan be misaligned in a way, then the drain line gets clogged from the stagnating water. While some AC systems will turn off automatically to prevent further damage, the excess water may short out electricals inside. Having the problem addressed, however, eliminates the problem.

Burning Smells

Always turn off the air conditioner should you detect a burning smell from the system. Both electric and gas powered AC systems need an electric igniter to start.  Should the system be faulty, the igniter can cause an electrical fire which could spread pretty fast especially with the hot and humid air flowing. If certain that there’s a burning smell coming from the system, turn the system off immediately then call a Houston HVAC repair technician immediately. The technician should be able to diagnose the problem and handle the repairs easily.

Getting to know your air conditioner and some of the potential causes of burning smells in HVAC appliances include:

a. A failing motor:

Dust buildup and lack of adequate lubrication on the same is one of the factors that cause the motor to fail and the burning smell. Since the motor has to drive fans in the system, continued use of the same causes significant stress that creates the burning smell. The technician can either repair/clean the motor or replace it altogether.

b. Clogged air filter:

An AC’s air filter works in an almost similar way as your car’s air filter. Its main job is to protect components inside from dust, dirt, and other debris. With this component working all the time, these particles and mostly dust start building up making it hard for the system to get enough air. Charred particles of the filtered out particles add an acrid smell to the air vents, thus the burning smell. Replacing the air filters at least once every 3 months can, however, prevent this from happening.

In Conclusion

Hiring an HVAC contractor in Houston to take care of your AC system is the best way to ensure your system remains in tip top condition. Contact AC Man Houston today for a quote.