Everything You Should Know About Heat Pumps
Common Reasons To Call For An Air Conditioning Repair Service
Jessica Jimenez
What are the most common reasons to contact an HVAC contractor for an air conditioning repair? Take a look at the top culprits behind poor cooling, low efficiency, and total system breakdowns.
Refrigerant Issues
Refrigerant is a necessary part of your home's central AC system. Without it, the system can't remove the hot air from your home or keep it cool. The refrigerant is a liquid that draws heat from the air. The AC system changes the liquid into a gas and then moves it from the indoor unit to the outdoor condenser. In the condenser, the system cools the heated gas and turns it back into a liquid. The liquid then moves back into the interior unit and starts the cooling cycle over again.
Given the job that the refrigerant has to do, it's easy to see how a leak could seriously impact the system's ability to effectively cool your home. Without enough refrigerant, your air conditioner will blow warm (not cool) air from the vents. Even though refrigerant is constantly in use, it doesn't disappear over time. That is, it doesn't disappear unless there's a problem. A leak in the line can cause low levels and poor cooling.
Refrigerant replacement is never a DIY air conditioning maintenance job. This is always a repair for a professional. Use of chemical refrigerants and repairs to the line requires specialized knowledge and, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Section 608 certification.
Condensate Drain Issues
Your AC system produces condensation as a part of the normal cooling and dehumidification process. The water formed through the system's use needs to exit the air conditioner somewhere. But it can't just seep out of the central unit. Instead, it needs to make its way through a condensate drain line and into a special pump. The pump releases the water out of the unit, allowing it to drain properly.
If the drain line or pump clogs, the system can't release the moisture. This can force the water back into the air conditioner and trigger a safety switch to trip. When the switch trips, the unit will shut down and will stop cooling your home.
Common causes of condensate drain and pump issues include mechanical failure, wear and tear, or clogs from algae and other debris. Like refrigerant-related issues, condensate clogs and damage also require a professional air conditioning repair service. The HVAC pro can inspect the system, locate the clog, or other issues and either repair the line/pump or replace the necessary parts.
Contact a local air conditioning repair service to learn more.
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Hello. My name is Josiah. I am a 44-year-old married dad of three. I work in the automotive industry and love what I do. Recently, my heating and cooling unit stopped working. I did a lot of research on what type of heating element I should install in my home. I wanted something energy efficient, yet reliable and lasting. After a lot of research, I settled on a heat pump. A heat pump is a great heating and cooling element that many people don't yet know about. I created this blog to help educate other people on heat pumps and answer questions related to it. If you need a new heating or cooling device for your home, I hope my website helps explain to you what a heat pump is and how it can be beneficial.