3 Things to Know About Air Conditioning Services in Utah

Wondering whether you should or should not repair or replace your air conditioning unit is a common question among homeowners. There are many factors that you should weigh out before making a decision. One of the first things you should look at is the age of your air conditioning system. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s EnergyStar program, an air conditioner typically lasts between 15 to 20 years, a heat pump for around 16 years, and a furnace for nearly two decades.

Keep in mind that proper ventilation is needed for all air conditioning and heating systems to work properly and to be efficient in the amount of energy they use. This means that you will need to enlist the help of a trustworthy HVAC company that can send a heating and cooling specialist to your home to check your air conditioning and heating systems. Your HVAC expert will let you know if they think it is time to replace your unit or if repairs will make it last for years to come.

It goes without saying that a completely new air conditioner or a new furnace can be pricey. This is why you need to know if your old cooling system is worth repairing, beyond repair, or needs to be replaced.

A clogged air conditioning coil can cause your air conditioning system many problems. If you have an air conditioning system, you have an indoor coil that is connected to your furnace and an outdoor coil that is part of the air conditioning unit. For your system to function properly, both of these coils need to be clean. Cleaning the outside air conditioners coil is as easy as rinsing it out with a hose; however, cleaning the inside coil isn’t as easy. If your inside coil is dirty, you will need to call a professional to clean it. The best way to keep your indoor coil clean is to change your furnace filter regularly. Maintaining both your indoor and outdoor coils will keep your cooling system running properly and efficiently.

Because the state of your air conditioning systems coils are directly related to the level of comfort and efficiency that you are used to, it is best to call an HVAC specialist to fix the issue rather than to trying to solve it yourself, especially when it comes to repairing a coil. Coil fins are very delicate and can be damaged easily, which is why it is better to rely on a professional. Your heating and cooling specialist will already know where your coils are located when they arrive at your house. They will be able to quickly determine which coil is clogged and be able to remove it for the cleaning process. After your HVAC specialist inspects the coil, he or she will be able to determine which cleaning method will be best and correspond well with the manufacturer’s recommendations. This can even include repairing bent fins using a special tool that is designed specifically for that purpose. Your HVAC specialist will often need to use heavy-duty coil cleaning chemicals that are designed specifically for air conditioning units and may even use equipment, like a compressor, to blow compressed air through the coil to get rid of any debris, dust, or dirt that may be clogging it.

In addition to cleaning clogged coils, there are several other common air conditioning repairs that may need to be done to your unit. One of the most common is a refrigerant leak. If your air conditioner becomes low on refrigerant, it means that either the air conditioning unit was under charged when it was installed, or it has developed a leak. If there is a leak, you can’t just add more refrigerant because it will leak out again. A skilled HVAC technician will be able to fix any leaks and then test the repair the system before recharging it with refrigerant.

Another issue that causes air conditioning units to need to be repaired is a lack of maintenance. You need to ensure that your air conditioning filters and coils are cleaned when they become dirty. Dirty equipment can cause issues too, such as a damaged compressor or fan motor. Another common issue that is connected to poor maintenance is electrical control failure.

Control failures often happen when your cooling system turns on and off too frequently. One reason that a cooling systems cycles to frequently is that the air conditioner is undersized for the area it is trying to cool. Another reason they fail is because the system hasn’t been maintained and its wires and electrical terminals have corroded.

Corrosion can prevent electrical connections from working properly. If you’re worried that your air conditioning system needs some attention or if it isn’t working, your HVAC specialist can service your system or fix any of these or other issues for you.