Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning Repair’

Common Summer Air Conditioning Repair Problems in Tustin

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

This summer you’re probably going to be running your air conditioning quite a bit in order to stay cool. All the use that your AC equipment gets could cause it to break down. If you need air conditioning repair in Tustin, make sure that you call Saddle Back Plumbing, Inc. We know how important it is for you to stay comfortable during the summer heat, which is why we put together a quick explanation of the most common problems that you could face with your air conditioner.

Do You Need Air Conditioning Repair in Tustin?

As you start to use your air conditioning system more and more this summer, keep an eye out for the following issues that could happen with your AC system. If you start to notice these or other problems developing with your air conditioner, just call the Tustin air conditioning repair experts at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc.

  • Not enough cooling – When you turn on your air conditioner, does it blow warm air or not enough cool air? This is a common problem that is very frustrating for homeowners. It could be caused by a broken thermostat, but it could also be something more serious like the fan motor or the compressor motor. The Tustin air conditioning repair professionals at Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. can help.
  • New noises – Has your air conditioning system started to make a squealing noise or a hissing noise? These are both common issues that we get called in for frequently. Squealing is usually indicative of an old fan belt, while hissing is caused by a refrigerant leak.
  • The air filter – Before you start running your air conditioner every day this summer, make sure that you change the air filter. Your AC has an air filter that keeps dirt, dust and insects from getting into the moving parts on the inside. If that air filter isn’t changed regularly and it gets clogged, it could cause huge problems for your AC including insufficient cooling, more repairs and reduced efficiency.

For all of your air conditioning repair in Tustin, call Saddleback Plumbing, Inc. today.

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Laguna Hills Air Conditioning: How to Protect Your AC during High Winds

Monday, March 4th, 2013

We’ve had an unusual winter here in Southern California which included some very high winds the last couple of weeks. At Saddleback Plumbing we provide complete air conditioning repair service in Laguna Hills, CA and the entire Orange County area. We thought it would be helpful if we put together a quick list of some of the ways that you can protect your air conditioning system during high winds. We know how important it is to have a good AC system here in Southern California. Call your Laguna Hills air conditioning contractor if you need any kind of AC repairs.

Common Air Conditioning Repairs Caused by High Winds

When the wind picks up there are a few common problems that it can cause for your air conditioning system. One of the main problems, obviously, would be if a branch or tree fell onto your air conditioning unit. If the tree is big enough there really isn’t anything that you can do to protect against that.

Another common problem is dust, dirt or leaves getting into your air conditioning system. For your outdoor condensing unit, that type of debris can build up and cause the fan motor, fan blades or fan belt to work improperly. That dust can also attach itself to the condensing coils inside which might reduce its efficiency.

How to Protect Your Air Conditioning System

Probably the best thing that you can do during high wind situations is to put a cover over your air conditioning system. This will protect it from small branches and, especially, from dirt and dust.

Benefits of Laguna Hills CA Air Conditioning Maintenance

Even though dirt and dust can get into your AC unit during high winds, they can also work their way in over the course of time. During regular air conditioner maintenance visits, your Laguna Hills air conditioning technician will be able to clean out your condensing coils and lubricate the fan motor bearings. This will likely reduce the possibility that the dust and dirt will cause any problems for your AC system.

Call the air conditioning experts at Saddleback Plumbing for any air conditioning repair in Laguna Hills, CA. Contact Saddleback Plumbing today!

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Laguna Hills Air Conditioning FAQ: AC Services Available

Monday, January 21st, 2013

If you live in Southern California then you know how critical a good air conditioning system is to your comfort. We enjoy wonderful weather all year long but on those hot days you need an efficient AC system to cool your home. There are so many different options available for cooling your home. At Saddleback, we provide complete air conditioning services throughout the Laguna Hills, CA area. We thought it would be helpful if we put together some of the options that are available to homeowners in the Laguna Hills area.

Air Conditioning Maintenance in Laguna Hill, CA

We’re all looking to reduce the amount of energy that we use in our lives. One of the best ways to increase the efficiency of your home’s  air conditioning system is to get it regularly maintained by a professional Laguna Hills air conditioning contractor.

Over time, and with continued use, your AC system will begin to wear out. This is just a natural part of your equipment’s life-cycle. But during regular maintenance visits, your air conditioning technician will look specifically for problems or issues that might be causing your AC unit to work harder. This can include dirty fan bearings, worn out fan belt, dirty cooling coils or leaking refrigerant. Your technician will clean any dirty parts, lubricate the moving parts and replace any parts that are worn down.

Ductless Mini Split Systems in Laguna Hills, CA

One type of heating system that is gaining popularity among many homeowners in the Laguna Hills area is the ductless mini split system. As their name implies, ductless mini split systems heat and cool your home without the use of cumbersome ducts. In this type of system, each room has their own unit that is mounted on the wall. Installation of these wall units is as easy as drilling a 3-inch hole in the wall to allow for electrical and refrigerant lines. Outside, a condensing unit provides for the exhaustion of heat.

Ductless mini split systems are terrific for old home renovations in Laguna Hills that don’t have room for ducts. They are also highly efficient and allow you to control the temperature in each room.

Zone Control Systems in Laguna Hills, CA

Finally, another great air conditioning service that we offer at Saddleback, is zone control systems. Zone control systems are a way for homeowners to potentially reduce the amount of energy that they use in their homes. If you have a traditional AC system, then you have to cool your entire home every time you turn on your AC. However, zone control systems allow you to target your cooling to just the rooms that you’re using. This saves you energy of having to cool your whole home when you’re just using one or two rooms.

If you need any kind of air conditioning repair just contact Saddleback today!

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AC Question: What Causes Evaporator Coils to Freeze?

Monday, July 9th, 2012

When warm temperatures arrive it is important that your Orange County cooling system is performing at peak levels. Not only do you want your home to be cool and comfortable, but you want your system to be working efficiently. One of the most common problems with cooling systems is the freezing of AC or evaporator coils. There are many factors that can lead to this problem, and eliminating these factors will ensure that your air conditioning system is up to the task of keeping you comfortable during the hottest times of the year.

First things first, it is important that your AC system be turned off if you develop a frozen evaporator coil. Prolonged operation in conjunction with a frozen coil can cause serious, unnecessary damage to you system’s compressor. Don’t let a relatively small problem become a bigger one.

Restricted air flow across the evaporator coil is a very likely cause of its freezing. If the temperature is allowed to drop below freezing, the humidity and condensation that it is evaporating will freeze up. Maintaining proper air flow is a priority. Your air filters should be replaced if dirty and the evaporator coil’s intake must be free of blockages. Also check to make sure that multiple service registers in your home are not closed or blocked off. If cooled air has no outlet it can freeze up your evaporator coil.

Check your blower motor. If it is not running your evaporator coil is very likely to freeze up. Insufficient refrigerant in your system can also be responsible. If your systems refrigerant is low, call in an HVAC technician to recharge your system and to check for any potential refrigerant leaks. If you’re running your air conditioning system when the temperature outside is low, there will not be sufficient pressure to push the refrigerant through the evaporator and the coil will freeze.

The only way to sure of what is causing your evaporator coil to freeze is by having an Orange County AC specialist investigate the problem. Don’t get stuck in the heat when warm weather arrives. Call Saddleback and get your home’s cooling system back on track.

 

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What Can You Do Yourself if Your Central AC Unit Does Not Work? When Should You Call a Lake Forest AC Professional?

Monday, June 18th, 2012

If your Lake Forest air conditioning system suddenly stops working or is not keeping your house as cool as you think it should, the chances are good that you will have to call in a professional to make the necessary repairs and get you back on track. However, there are a few things you can do on your own before you make that call to ensure that this really is something you cannot take care of on your own.

While it may seem obvious, the first thing you should check is the thermostat to make sure that it is set to a temperature that will trigger the air conditioning to come on. If your thermostat for some reason is set too high, then the air conditioner will not receive the signal to start cooling the house. This is an easy fix, of course, and you will be back up and running in no time.

If the thermostat is indeed set where it should be, the next thing to check is the air filter. Most people with central air conditioning know that they should change the filter once every month or so, but this seldom actually happens.

If it has been a while since your air filter was changed, there is a good chance that it is clogged and therefore blocking air from circulating from the air conditioner through the rest of the house. This is an easy enough fix, as all you need to do is replace the current air filter and your system should be able to pick up right where it left of. However, if the blocked air filter has also caused ice to form behind it, you may have to wait for a couple of hours until the ice has a chance to thaw.

Next, you will want to check and make sure that the air conditioning system is actually getting power. Look to see if any of the breakers are tripped or if there may have been a current interruption for any other reason that is within your power to fix. If this is the case, though, it is a good idea to turn the air conditioning system off before you attempt to restore the power.

If none of these measures are able to get your air conditioning system up and running again, you should not hesitate to call a Lake Forest air conditioning professional. Many air conditioning repairs are quite basic, but they still need to be performed by a licensed professional. Contact Saddleback Plumbing today if your air conditioner needs service!

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Steps to Take When Your HVAC System Breaks Down

Friday, September 30th, 2011

Imagine this – it’s a sweltering summer day. The only place you want to be is on the couch in your Tustin home with the cool air conditioned air being blown across your face. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Now, imagine what happens when that cool conditioned air stops flowing.

A breakdown in your HVAC system is the absolute last thing you want to experience on a day where the mercury dings 90+ but it can happen, and the only way to ensure things don’t get out of hand is to take the following steps.

  1. Check Common Problems –While the system itself could be broken, make sure there are no other issues involved. Frequently, the electricity supply can be interrupted by a power surge or a tripped breaker. In both cases, you can usually get the system back online by yourself. However, you should call an electrician to inspect it as soon as possible.
  2. Does it Turn On – If the air conditioning system turns on and simply doesn’t provide enough cooling for your home, it is likely a problem in the unit. In this case, check other common problems. Clogged filters can severely reduce efficiency and if the system freezes over, it may stop providing enough cooling.
  3. Still Not Working? – If the system refuses to turn on and there are not clear problems that you can fix yourself, it’s time to call a professional. A professional HVAC contractor should be available almost any day of the week for emergency calls like this. Of course, in the middle of a heat wave or cold snap, it’s very likely that they may be booked up for a couple days. To avoid this happening, have routine maintenance done as often as recommended to avoid the possibility of being without cooling or heating indefinitely.

A good HVAC system is the only thing standing between you and discomfort, or worse, danger to your health. Don’t let the system go into such disrepair that you can’t use it at all.

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Warning Signs: When to Call for an Air Conditioning Service in Fountain Valley

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

The last thing you want is to be without an air conditioner during the hottest days of the year, especially in Fountain Valley. Ideally you would never have to call for service to repair your air conditioning system, but just like anything else, your air conditioner will break down once in a while. However, you can dramatically reduce the inconvenience and cost of emergency air conditioning repairs if you are able to spot the warning signs of a problem before it shuts down your system completely.

For instance, all air conditioners make noise, but if your air conditioning system is suddenly making much more noise than it used to, chances are that something in there is not working properly. Calling for repairs when you notice this sudden increase in noise from your system will greatly increase the chances that the repair will be relatively minor and that you will not have to go without air conditioning when you need it most.

Also, it is a good idea to call for service if your air conditioning system does not seem to be doing as good a job as it used to when it comes to cooling your home evenly and effectively. Uneven cooling is a good sign that something is not working right within your system. And even if your air conditioner continues to work, it will probably be using up more energy than necessary for a less than ideal end result.

Along these same lines, a noticeable increase in humidity in all or part of your home is another good indication that something is wrong with your air conditioning system. Air conditioners both cool and dehumidify the air, so if yours stops removing humidity properly, you need to find out why.

In fact, even if you do not notice any difference in the way that your air conditioner is performing, you can still spot a problem if you keep a close eye on your energy bill. If you see a sudden increase in the amount of your bill because of the amount of energy that your air conditioning system is using, it is a good sign that something is not working right.

It may be tempting to put off calling for repairs, particularly if your air conditioner is still able to keep your house comfortable. However, it will likely be much cheaper and more convenient to have the repairs done early rather than waiting until the unit breaks down entirely.

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