The Coronavirus and Our Promise to You

March 18th, 2020

We know that readers usually come to our blog for informative and educational posts about the systems and services that we offer. However, as is the case across the country and the globe right now, there is one topic at the forefront of our minds. That is COVID-19, or the Coronavirus. 

We understand that homeowners everywhere are exercising extreme caution when it comes to mitigating the chance of exposure to this virus in their homes. Trust us, we are doing the same in ours. And we promise you that every member of our team will take these same precautions when working in your home and on your property. 

If you have an appointment scheduled with Cool Touch, rest assured that we’ll continue to provide you with the exceptional service that you deserve in this uncertain and trying time, and that we’ll do so while making your health and safety our top priority. 

Our entire staff is well aware that prevention starts at their homes, that it continues in the workplace, and that it extends into the residences of our valued clients. They have the information and supplies that they need to do their jobs while protecting both themselves and the clients that they serve.

If you have any questions or concerns about your upcoming appointment, or if you are thinking about booking an appointment but want to know more about our specific preventative measures, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team.

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Why an AC Compressor May Burn Out

November 23rd, 2020
compressor-in-ac-unit

Your air conditioning system worked hard this summer, and it’s probably still putting in work because the heat is carrying through the fall. Because you won’t be ready to schedule your next AC maintenance appointment until spring, it’s wise to pay special attention to how the AC is currently operating. You want to catch any problems early so you can arrange for air conditioning replacement or air conditioning repair in Tempe, AZ with our team. 

We want to talk about one of the biggest issues your AC may run into, which is a burnt-out compressor. The compressor is the literal heart of the air conditioning system, since it’s what causes refrigerant to circulate and carry out heat exchange. (Note: If you use a heat pump, all of this applies to it as well, since its compressor operates the same way.) If the compressor fails, it often means the entire air conditioner must be replaced.

Reasons for Compressor Burn Out

A compressor burns out when the motor overheats and the wiring in it fuses with the casing. The motor is part of the compressor’s housing, so a burnt-out motor means a burnt-out compressor. What can cause this burn-out?

  • Refrigerant floodback: Liquid refrigerant is not supposed to move into the compressor. If this occurs, it will cause the oil in the compressor to break down, leading to mechanical strain that will overheat and burn out the motor. Refrigerant floodback can occur if the AC is overcharged with refrigerant, which is a common problem caused by amateur repair work.
  • Low refrigerant: Refrigerant leaks are extremely detrimental to an AC, and the main reason is that the lower amount (charge) of refrigerant will cause the compressor to overheat. 
  • Electrical overload: There are several sources for excess voltage overloading the motor and causing burn out. There may be an electrical short, a voltage surge, or a drop in voltage causing the motor to make a higher demand that overwhelms it. 
  • Strain from short-cycling: We’ve talked about short-cycling before. It’s a phenomenon where the AC becomes trapped in its start-up cycle and turns on and off rapidly over a short time. The motor draws on the most electrical power at start-up, and it can much more easily overheat because of this. If you notice short-cycling, please have a technician on the problem soon to avoid compressor burn out. 
  • Mechanical issues due to degradation: In other words, the motor is plain worn-out, possibly from age. If the compressor fails in a system that is older than 10 years, it’s likely because the mechanical parts are too worn down. 
  • Corrosion: High moisture levels can sometimes lead to corrosion beginning in the motor that will cause burn out. This is avoidable with regular maintenance.

If you notice a decline in cooling in your house, an increase in humidity, hear strange noises from the outside cabinet of the AC, or detect short-cycling, please shut off the air conditioner and call our technicians. The sooner we’re on the problem, the better chance we have of heading off a burnt-out compressor and need to replace the system.

Call on Cool Touch Air Conditioning and Heating when you need the best in comfort. Kick back and relax: we’ll keep you cool.

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Let’s Chat About Getting a New AC at the End of the Year

November 9th, 2020
air-conditioning-with-flowers

We’re expecting cool and relaxing weather this month as the heat gives way to the finest temperature conditions we enjoy in Arizona—temperatures that are the reason so many people choose Arizona for winter getaways. Because we have mild winters and occasional flare-ups of heat, there’s never a bad time of the year to consider getting a new air conditioning system. In fact, the cooler season is a superior time than having to rush to get a new system in the middle of July heat waves.

So let’s talk a bit about this vital air conditioning service in Scottsdale, AZ: a new air conditioning installation. For the purposes of this post, we’ll assume you already made the choice about replacing your old air conditioner. (We have posts about making that choice, if you want help with this.) We’ll move onto the next steps:

Think about whether you want to make a major change to the HVAC system

A new AC can be as basic as having a similar central unit installed in place of the old one. The new system will have a higher energy efficiency rating because of the advances in cooling technology and the change in the standards of the ENERGY STAR program, but it’ll be a similar AC. There’s nothing wrong with staying with the tried-and-true. 

But you may have ideas about bigger changes to the HVAC system, such as installing a heat pump. Putting in a heat pump means also removing the furnace, because the heat pump does the job of both heating and cooling. Heat pumps are great at energy-efficiently heating in the Arizona climate, and if you currently have an electric furnace that’s up there in years, this might be the time to go with a heat pump and have your heating and cooling updated at one time.

We’ve recently discussed the package unit. This is a less likely option, but you may wish to consider it.

Finally, a ductless system is a choice to consider if you’re not only looking into improving the HVAC system, but you have plans to remodel parts of your house.

Call our professionals

You’ve weighed some options, but before making a decision, start working with our HVAC professionals. Our NATE-certified experts can help find the best new air conditioner based on your plans.

For example, you plan to stay with a central AC, but you want more features and a high-efficiency system. This can be a tricky tightrope to walk, since a poorly chosen high-efficiency air conditioner can end up wasting money. We won’t let this happen to you. We’ll present you with the options and give you an honest assessment about the pros and cons.

Let us take on the hard work

Okay, you’ve gone over the options, consulted our pros, the unit has been picked … now what? Well, on your side, not much. And that’s great news! A new air conditioner or heat pump installation will take us a few hours, but it won’t be longer than a standard workday.

We’ll arrange for a convenient appointment—always easier during the slower months of the fall—and you’ll soon have a great new cooling system that will last for many years. 

Call on Cool Touch Air Conditioning and Heating: Kick back and relax … we’ll keep you cool.

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Yes, You Still Need Heating Maintenance Done in Fall

October 26th, 2020
technician-inspecting-furnace

It’s fall and it’s hot here in the Valley. It’s often hot here in the valley, and we can expect warm weather to follow us through most of the rest of the year. That makes it harder to make people think about the heating system in their home. If it’s 80°F or warmer outside, who wants to give much thought to turning on the furnace in the house, or switching the heat pump over to heating mode?

However, as a reminder about the future: temperatures during winter nights can often fall into the 40s. That might sound humorous to somebody who lives in Wisconsin, but it still means needing a heating system to help out. So when we say you need to schedule heating maintenance this fall, it’s because we know you’ll need it.

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Is a Packaged AC Unit Worth Considering?

October 12th, 2020
air-conditioning-collage

Packaged air conditioning units are something you may not recognize when you first hear the term—but you are familiar with them, because they are the most common way to provide cooling to commercial spaces. When you see HVAC units located on the top of a building, you’re looking at packaged units.

When it comes to air conditioning in Surprise, AZ, most homes have split air conditioning units: an outdoor condenser which connects through a line set to an interior evaporator unit an air handler that sends cooled air into the ducts of the ventilation system. Packaged units put all the components (except the ductwork to the rooms) outside. The packaged AC contains the compressor, the condenser coil and evaporator coil, and fans in one cabinet, and it draws air from the house through one set of ducts and sends the cooled air back into the house through another set.

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How Our HVAC Services Can Help You Move Into Fall

September 28th, 2020
Inside-an-Air-Duct

Preparing for fall in Arizona isn’t as extreme a job as it is in more northern states where the change in seasons means heading toward days where the temperatures are below freezing. But we still have to make adjustments for cooler weather, and we also have to make sure our air conditioning systems remain in top shape because they may need to kick back on at any time.

So, what HVAC service in surprise, AZ do you need to help you get ready for fall? We have some suggestions of ways that we can best serve you as we move toward the season of pumpkins and somewhat cooler weather.

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Did You Schedule AC Maintenance in Spring? Here’s How You Benefited This Summer

September 14th, 2020
congratulations

This post is something a touch different: we’re offering you congratulations! Yes, if you remembered to schedule AC maintenance in Glendale, AZ in spring, you deserve to know how you benefited from it. We hope this will make it easier for you to remember to have air conditioning maintenance done every year—and our Ultimate Service Agreement makes it easy, because we’ll call to remind you each year!

(Okay, we’ll admit there’s another reason for the post: to make sure you know why maintenance is essential. If you didn’t have maintenance done, you’ll have a better idea why it’s so important.)

So let’s take a look at how you benefitted this summer from an AC.

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Know the Signs It’s Time to Schedule Duct Cleaning

August 31st, 2020
vent-cleaning-before-after

Do you need duct cleaning at all? If your house has ducts, the answer is yes. The ductwork of the average six-person home circulates 40 lbs. of dust through it per year—and plenty of that gets trapped along the duct walls, creating an even greater build-up over time. It only takes a year for a thin layer of dust to develop, and that’s enough to start causing a drop in HVAC system efficiency.

(This, by the way, is one of the reasons more homes today are built for ductless HVAC systems. No ducts, no need to clean them.)

We recommend our customers schedule duct cleaning in Glendale, AZ every three to five years. If you have never had your ducts cleaned, you’re probably overdue for this service. However, if you’d like some more solid indicators telling you it’s duct-cleaning time, we’ve put together a list of ways to tell.

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Is It Important to Know the SEER Rating for a New AC?

August 17th, 2020

SEER is one of two ratings used to measure the energy efficiency of an air conditioner. (The other is EER, we’ll get to that in a minute.) Because SEER is often displayed prominently on air conditioning systems and is one of the criteria for a unit to earn the ENERGY STAR label from the Department of Energy, people imagine it’s important. But how important? Is it the main factor in choosing the air conditioner when you are ready for an AC installation Glendale, AZ?

No, it’s not—but it’s still important!

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Water Dripping From Your AC? Let’s Take a Look!

August 3rd, 2020
water-droplets

What are the normal sounds you hear from your central air conditioning system when it’s running? The whirring of the motors, the movement of air through the ducts, and the occasional dripping of water.

About that last sound … do you know why you hear water in your AC? It’s not because an air conditioner uses water to cool the air. Water is a product of how the air conditioner cools the air. As the blower fan pushes warm air over the evaporator coils in the air conditioner, the cold refrigerant in the coils absorbs heat from the air and causes moisture vapor to condense along its surface. It’s like the way moisture appears on the outside of a glass of cold liquid during a hot summer day.

However, the air conditioner is set up so that water leaves your house. If you notice water is dripping from your air conditioner, that’s not a good sign. Something is wrong with the condensate drainage system the AC uses to remove the water moisture, and you may need to call us for air conditioning repair in Mesa, AZ.

Why is this happening? A few possibilities:

Condensate drain is clogged

The water moisture from the evaporator coils drips down from the A-frame of the coils and into a shallow pan. The water then moves down a drain, helped by a special pump. This drain, like any drain, can become clogged. Algal growth is a common way this happens, but small debris can also work its way into the drain. The pan (only about 1” deep) will soon overflow, tripping a safety switch to shut off the AC. You’ll need pros to clean the drain.

Broken condensate pump

A small pump is responsible for moving the water from the shallow pan and either into the wastewater system or out a PVC pipe that deposits the water outside. The pump motor may burn out, making it difficult for the pan to drain, leading to the overflow and water leaving the AC.

Loose drain

Corrosion can weaken the connection of the drain to the condensate pan, leading to the pan coming loose. This will permit water to drip straight out of the air conditioner and into your house. Usually the entire pan and drain system must be replaced by professionals.

Cracked drain pan

The condensate pan is made from plastic, and in most HVAC cabinets it is set up over the furnace. Heat from the furnace over the years can cause the pan to eventually crack and allow water to drip out. The pan must be replaced if this happens—although the AC may be so old at this point that getting a new system is a better idea. Also, you don’t want water to drip onto the furnace, since it can cause corrosion on the heat exchanger and lead to potentially dangerous heat exchanger cracks.

When in doubt about your AC, call our technicians and leave the diagnosis and repair to us. We have 24/7 emergency service available.

Call Cool Touch Air Conditioning and Heating for air conditioning repair in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Kick back and relax: we’ll keep you cool.

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The Line Set for Your AC: Another Reason to Only Trust Pros!

July 20th, 2020
ac-coils-copper

You never want to run into air conditioning troubles during an Arizona summer. It’s one of the worst problems that can affect a home in the state, since temperatures above 100°F are commonplace through the middle of the year. We take our job as air conditioning technicians seriously because we know how important it is to the health and happiness of our customers.

We’re often called on to help people with air conditioning replacement in Sun City, AZ when their old systems start to fail. Often, we discover that the contractor who installed the first system took shortcuts that caused problems. We want to bring your attention to one of these shortcuts because it helps explain why hiring professionals from the start is so vital.

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