Ask the AC Guy

I’ve noticed that there’s a pan underneath my AC unit that has about a 1/2 of rusty water in it. Is that something that I should worry about?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:30:17 +0000

The pan beneath your unit is called the drip pan. On humid days it is normal for a certain amount of water condensation to build up in your AC system. This condensation drips into the drip pan and is carried out of your home through the condensate line. The condensate line can become clogged with dirt or algae. If this happens the water has no where to go and, as time goes by, the drip pan will begin to rust. If the clog is not cleared, the drip pan will eventually overflow causing water damage in your home. Another consequence of the condensate line being clogged is that the water that sits in the pan will eventually rust the pan to the point that it requires replacement. If the condensate line is clogged, it’s likely that some moisture will still be able to get past the clog. You may notice rust stains under where the condensate line exits your home. If this is the case it’s a good idea to have your AC unit inspected before the problem gets worse and causes serious damage. Some Air Conditioning Systems have an in-line switch that will turn the AC off if the drain line becomes clogged, avoiding an overflow and potential water damage in your home. If your system stops working or you notice a large amount of rust in the drip pan or rust stains where the drain line exits your home, you should have the system inspected by a qualified AC technician. If it’s a clogged drain line, clearing the clog should get you back up and running. A check of the drain lines and drip pan is included in our $39.00 AC Check-Up SUMMER SPECIAL.

Have you checked your Air Conditioner ducts lately?

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:17:00 +0000

If your like most people, the answer is probably “No”. Most of us don’t give much thought to the duct work in our attics. But ignoring it can be costly. As your home ages so do the joints in your AC duct system. The adhesive on the tape that is used to connect duct work can become brittle and break apart. Homeowners, workers, even “critters” bumping into the ducts can also create openings in the seams. When the seams in your duct system fail it allows air from your attic into the system. This can cause a variety of problems, the first and foremost being allowing hot air into the air that your AC is trying to cool. We’ve all experienced the heat in a attic on a hot summer day. When leaky duct work allows this heat into the airflow it can dramatically increase your energy bills. Another effect of duct leaks is the introduction of dust into the system. Depending on where the leak is, this could either clog the coils or increase the amount of indoor pollution being introduced into your living area by drawing outside area into the system while bypassing the systems filters. Another area of concern are the joints between the duct work and the air vents that direct air into each room. A defective joint at this location can cause moisture to build up resulting in mold growth. It’s a good idea to have your duct work checked every year or so, especially if you notice a higher than normal amount of dust in your home or dark deposits around your air vents.

Routine Air Conditioning Maintenance

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:02:19 +0000

Well, it looks like we’ve put another winter behind us which means that warmer weather is right around the corner. This is the perfect time to schedule an AC check up. Most people know that, to keep their cars in top running condition, they need to perform regular maintenance. You wouldn’t think of letting your car go for years without an oil change. Like your car, you Air Conditioning system needs regular maintenance to ensure that it gives you many years of uninterrupted service. Unfortunately, many people overlook routine maintenance on their ACs waiting instead for their equipment to develop a problem before having a technician look at it. And, like your car, this can be a very costly mistake. Once your AC fails, you could be looking at thousands of dollars in repair bills. Fortunately, routine maintenance on your system is very affordable and can help you to avoid these costly repairs by eliminating many of the major causes of AC system failure.

Some of the common causes of AC failure are:

Dirty Coils:
When the coils in you AC become clogged with dust and debris the air can’t flow over them and your AC won’t function properly. If you continue to run your AC with clogged coils, not only will your system have to work harder to cool your home (resulting in higher electric bills) but the additional strain on other parts of the system can cause them to fail resulting in an expensive repair bill.

Low Freon:
Your AC system relies on a coolant, usually Freon, to cool your home. If the coolant level is low the system will either not cool efficiently causing it to work harder and raising your electric bill or it will not cool at all. Additionally, low Freon levels can cause your system to “freeze up” which can ultimately destroy the compressor.

Pitted Contacts:
The electrical connections in your system can become “pitted” over time which can result in your system not functioning at all or in functioning inefficiently, increasing the electrical energy (and your bill) needed to cool your home.

Weak Capacitors:
Over time electrical components in your system called “capacitors” can become weak causing your system to use more electricity.

Weak Electrical Connections:
The electrical connections in your AC system expand and contract due to heating through use. Since the connections are often made of dissimilar materials, such as copper and aluminum, the connections expand and contract at different rates which, over time, will cause them to become loose. These loose connections can result in inefficient operation and can even result in a short circuit creating a fire hazard.

Clogged Drain Lines:
As your Air Conditioner operates, water condenses on the coils and drips down into the drip pan. With normal operation the water flows out of the drip pan through drain lines and is carried safely out of your home. It is common for algae to build up in the drain lines over time. If this build up is not cleared, the drain lines will become completely clogged and fill the drip pan. Standing water in the drip pan will cause it to rust requiring the replacement of the drip pan or worse, the water will overflow the drip pan causing water damage in your home.

Air Leaks:
The duct work connections in your system can develop leaks over time which will result in warm air from your attic being drawn into the AC system. This will not only lower the efficiency of your Air Conditioner but it also results in unfiltered air being drawn in to the system which can clog critical components.

Air Solutions Air Conditioning & Heating offers a $49.00 16pt AC check where we check where we check the crucial components of your system to help give you the piece of mind that your system will continue to run uninterrupted for many years to come. If you have your system checked regularly and we do find a problem, chances are we will have caught the problem early enough to avoid expensive major repairs. Will will only be offering this special for a limited time so contact us today to schedule your AC Check-Up.

Announcement: New Product!

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:18:19 +0000

Air Solutions Air Conditioning & Heating is excited to announce a new product that we are offering to our customers, the activTek INDUCT 2000 “Air Scrubber”. The “Air Scrubber” is designed to eliminate Indoor Air Quality risks by reducing pet and cooking odors, air pollutants, VOCs (chemical odors), smoke, mold, bacteria, and viruses. The “Air Scrubber” uses specialized UV germicidal light waves (the same technology used by the medical industry) along with a proprietary catalytic process that creates enviro-scrubbing molecules of Oxygen and Hydrogen (just like nature’s outdoor “enviro-scrubbers”) to reduce and kill airborne germs, dust and odors 24/7. A University of Cincinnati study states the the activTek Air Scrubber can reduce approximately 90% of airborne micro organisms. It even cleans surfaces, including carpets and bedding. Call us today at 713-367-2038 to find out more!

I need to replace my AC filter and I’m wondering which kind of filter you recommend. I assume that the higher the MERV rating the better?

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:50:13 +0000

Not necessarily. In fact, we recommend the very inexpensive fiberglass filters. Here’s why; Your AC system cools by passing air over the Evaporator Coil. If the evaporator coil gets clogged with dust the air can’t pass over it and your AC will stop cooling. Your AC’s air filters are designed to capture any dust that could clog the coils before it enters the system. The problem with filters that have a very high MERV rating is that they do too good of a job. A filter with a high MERV rating captures more (and smaller) particles than one with a low rating which means that, as it works, the air flow through your system will rapidly diminish. Insufficient air flow will not only negatively impact the system’s ability to cool but it can also cause your outside system to “freeze up” which can ultimately lead to a compressor failure and a costly repair. Another down side of the high MERV rating filters is that, as they become clogged, your system may draw air in through loose seams and cracks in the duct work introducing damaging dust particles to the Evaporator Coil. The fiberglass filters will effectively remove the larger dust particles and prevent them from clogging the Evaporator Coil while allowing for sufficient air flow for your system to work at peak efficiency. Using low MERV rated filters, if you change your filters regularly and have your system inspected a least once a year (we recommend twice yearly) your AC system will give you years of uninterrupted service. Air Solutions Air Conditioning and Heating offers an affordable “AC Tune-up” which includes an Evaporator Coil check. Make sure to check our “Specials” page for current discounts.

How often should I change my AC filter?

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:14:48 +0000

There are many factors that contribute to how often you’ll need to change your filters. Geographic location, how many people live in the home, pets, lifestyle and numerous other factors will have an impact on the amount of dust and indoor air pollution in your home and, consequently, the lifespan of your AC filters. Another factor that will impact your filter’s useful life it the type of filter you use. A filter with a higher MERV rating will capture more dust particles and as a result will need to be changed more often. A good rule of thumb is to visually inspect your filters a least once every 30 days. If the filters appear to be clogged or the airflow appears to be restricted it’s time to change them.