Archive for June, 2012

Phoenix Air Conditioning Guide: Causes of AC Short Cycling

Monday, June 25th, 2012

Air conditioning short cycling is a common problem wherein an air conditioning unit will have either short run times or short off times.  This type of quick movement back and forth between being on and off–or rather starting and stopping rapidly–can be detrimental to the overall life of an AC unit, and is also not energy efficient.

AC short cycling can have many causes, and many fixes.  Below are the main causes for your Phoenix air conditioning short cycling, which can be checked, diagnosed, and fixed quite easily.

  • AC Refrigerant Leak:  There could be a refrigerant leak somewhere within the AC unit.  A temporary fix might be to add refrigerant and recharge the air conditioning unit, but long-term, a Phoenix air conditioning specialist will need to be contacted in order to find and fix the leak properly, ensuring excess money is not paid to continually add an unnecessary amount of refrigerant.
  • AC Coil Icing: This means that the evaporator coil or cooling coil has become encrusted with ice or frost and is causing the unit to malfunction by turning on and off in short bursts.  Turning off the unit completely and letting the ice melt, then checking and replacing dirty filters can oftentimes fix this problem.
  • AC is Oversized:  The amount of power needed (or the BTUs needed) to cool a space is directly proportional to the size of the space or room which is being cooled.
    • If AC short cycling has been a constant problem since day one of an AC system installation, it is entirely possible that the A/C unit is too large for the space which it is cooling.  This could mean contacting an HVAC technician to have the unit analyzed and a new, smaller unit put in.
    • If A/C short cycling is a relatively new problem, some possible causes could be: closing or opening doors which previously were not closed or opened frequently, or the addition of partitions within rooms which effectively makes the room size smaller.  This could mean simply adjusting the thermostat, or the blower fan to a lower speed to compensate for the change, or opening interior doors to increase the size of the space which is being cooled by the AC unit.
  • AC Control Board Problem:  While less likely, the problem could be in a control board or control switch which has been damaged, thus causing erratic and rapid starting and stopping cycles.  In this case an air conditioning technician would need to be contacted in order to replace the broken control switch.
  • AC Compressor Damage or Start-Up Issues:  Some AC systems have hard-starting compressors which take time to re-pressurize properly after shutting down.  If the AC system is being turned on or off manually on a frequent basis, the compressor might have a hard time restarting because the high pressure which had built up on the previous on-cycle had not had a chance to come down to normal levels again.  An easy way to diagnose this problem is if after leaving the AC unit shut off for thirty minutes, the unit works properly after being turned on again.  To help this compressor issue, an HVAC service technician can add a starter capacitor to the AC unit.

These and other AC short cycling causes can be checked, diagnosed, and fixed quite easily by an experienced HVAC professional, so call Cool Touch Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing & Electrical if you are having any problems with your Phoenix air conditioning system!

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16 Year Parts & Labor Warranty With $1000 CASH BACK

Friday, June 22nd, 2012

Cool Touch is currently offering an EXTRAORDINARY deal when you purchase a new 18 SEER Air Conditioning System. You will receive a 16 year Parts and Labor Warranty and $1000 CASH BACK among a laundry list of other perks. Check out all the details here. Act fast, because this offer ends June 30th! Only one week left!

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Phoenix Air Conditioning FAQs: How Do I Determine the Cooling Capacity of My Central AC or Heat Pump System?

Monday, June 18th, 2012

For any type of air conditioning system in Phoenix, the cooling capacity is measured in BTU’s. This is important to know if the system doesn’t seem to be adequately cooking your home, and there are many different ways to check the cooling capacity of your AC system.

1. Air Conditioning System’s Age and Serial Numbers

An air conditioner’s age will usually give you a general idea for its cooling capacity, and if you aren’t sure, you can always check the serial number. Because serial number formats vary by the year the equipment was made, you can check to see how old an air conditioner is from looking at the serial number.

The first four digits of every serial number is the week and year the unit was manufactured.  For example, the serial# 1188E53294 on a compressor unit tells us that it was made between 1980 and 1990, and to be more exact, week 11 in 1988.

2. Air Conditioner’s Model Number

You should also look at the model number for your specific model because some manufacturers also vary how they assign each number in the serial number; however, they usually stand for tonnage or MBTUH. You can always call us if you aren’t sure how to read the serial number or model number.

3. AC Equipment’s RLA Numbers

RLA stands for “Rated Load Amps,” which means that it’s the manufacturer’s rate of the cooling capacity (also known as the draw) or load while it’s operating (minus the draw when you start the system). Most air conditioning compressor or condenser units will draw 5 to 6 RLA per ton of cooling capacity. You can check the data tag on the compressor for the RLA rating; however, this will need to be translated into BTUH for the total cooling capacity.

Feel free to call one of the Phoenix air conditioning experts at Cool Touch if you have any questions how to calculate your AC system’s cooling capacity.

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Glendale Air Conditioning Tips: How to Avoid Mold Problems and Rust Issues in HVAC Blower Compartments & Ductwork

Monday, June 11th, 2012

Mold and rust are not just unsightly, they can be corrosive to the structure of your home and possibly hazardous to your health. One of the last places you want those two things to take root is within your Glendale AC system, where they could be hidden from view for months.

So, follow this brief guide to prevent mold and rust problems from developing.

1.     Use high quality filters

A poor air filter lets through all kinds of contaminants, including organic matter. If mold spores get into your blower compartment or ductwork, it can bloom undetected for quite some time. Use a high quality filter that keeps out mold spores and other biological contaminants.

2.     Keep filters clean

The best filter in the world is no good if it is too dirty to function, so keep yours clean. Replace and/or clean them regularly in accordance with manufacturer recommendations.

3.     Pay attention to and fix leaks right away

The big problem with both rust and mold is moisture. Excess moisture that gets inside your AC system can wreak havoc. The water can corrode the metallic parts inside, giving rust free reign of your blower compartment or ductwork. Even worse, if water is added to some of those mold spores from the poor filter (see #1), the environment is perfect for mold to grow.

So, be aware of things like wall and ceiling leaks, wet insulation or moisture accumulating around the blower compartment. These are not uncommon problems with AC systems because of coil icing, poor condensate drainage and other issues, and they can easily turn into mold and rust problems if left unchecked.

4.     Be aware of humidity

If your home is too humid, even while the AC is running, get it looked at. This could be a symptom of an extra moisture source somewhere.

5.     Have AC problems fixed professionally

Finally, when you need to perform air conditioning repairs, have them professionally repaired. Many AC issues are related or the symptom of a larger problem, so fixing one thing may not solve the real issue. De-icing the condenser coil, for example, but not fixing the associated leak, could mean that the problem will come back, and in the mean time there’s plenty of water to cause rust and mold problems.

Call Cool Touch Air Conditioning & Heating Specialists for professional air conditioning maintenance services.

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How to Fix Wrong Sized Air Filters on Heating or Air Conditioning Systems in Goodyear

Monday, June 4th, 2012

If you have had an HVAC technician repair or maintain your air conditioning system for you lately in Goodyear, you may notice that whoever did the job put on the wrong size filter. This is not uncommon and is usually the result of an effort to save either time or money. However, in the long run it actually costs both. Here is how you can fix the problem of a wrong size filter.

The WRONG Way

If you have a filter that is too big for your system, it may seem like an easy enough fix– just fold it over or trim it down, right? Not so fast.

Folding the filter over makes for an imperfect seal. Air will leak through and around the bend, bypassing the filter entirely. This causes dirt and debris to build up on the fan, slows down air flow, degrades performance, decreases air quality and overall makes a big mess that you will have to pay to fix or clean up later.

Bending or cutting the filter also decreases its structural integrity. The whole filter can collapse while installed, creating not just a performance issue and a potentially costly repair, but also possibly creating unsafe conditions.

Furthermore, don’t give into the temptation to run your HVAC system without a filter for the time being. The debris will quickly build up in your AC system, as well as being blown into your home. Heating and cooling systems should always be operated with the proper filter installed.

The RIGHT Way

So, what do you do when you have an air filter that is the wrong size? The only solution is to find the right size. If you are having trouble finding the right air filter for your system, try these tips:

  • Refer to your owner’s manual for the filter model number.
  • Bring the make and model information of your heating/cooling system to the store and ask someone there for help.
  • Any time you are having services like air conditioner replacements performed on your AC system it is best to have a professional help out. (You should have a professional inspection once a year, anyway.)
  • For HVAC systems that are large or have special dimensions, special order custom filters to fit.
  • Above all, never operate your HVAC system without a clean, correctly sized filter properly installed.

When you are ready to install your new air conditioning system please contact Cool Touch Air Conditioning & Heating Specialists.

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