Call Us TodayCommon AC Problems in the Summer
Is your air conditioner underperforming? Below, we highlight some of the most common problems that could be affecting your AC unit. If you think your equipment is suffering from any of these issues, take a look at our solutions to get your system back to working like normal.
1. Mold and Dust in HVAC Vents
Air duct cleaning is a necessary service. According to some estimates, there are 300,000 cases of asthma each year in the United States alone, which may be attributed to living in an unclean indoor environment. The NCBI reports that numerous studies have demonstrated a significant association between increasing levels of indoor pollutants and allergies, neurological impairment, cardiovascular effects, and cancer.
Mold allergies are a serious, widespread health threat. Therefore, good indoor air quality should always be your highest priority. The mold that grows in the air ducts of your house is a severe risk factor for asthma and allergies for you and your family.
Mold growth can be hard to locate in your ducts, but the presence of mold spores indicates that you need a professional service to come and take a look at your system. Mold growth is caused by moisture and humidity. For example, water damage caused by a furnace leak could provide the right conditions for mold to thrive. Since the furnace is a commonly overlooked source of leaks, it makes sense to have air duct cleaning scheduled with your home’s annual furnace inspection.
Who Needs Air Duct Cleaning?
Every homeowner can benefit from scheduling air duct cleaning. It is often something that many people do not consider until they realize how much dust they’re actually breathing in.
If you are a homeowner, you should be having your air ducts cleaned once every three to five years. If you are a business owner, you should be cleaning your air ducts even more regularly, as often as once a year. Air duct cleaning can also result in savings on your energy bill. While the initial upfront cost may be high, the service will pay for itself in the long run.
Professionals at Hoff Heating & AC are happy to help answer any questions you may have about air duct cleaning. We serve residents in O’Fallon, MO, and the surrounding areas.
2. Poor Ventilation
Air filters are designed to trap dust and allergens in the air, which prevents them from getting into your air vents and reaching your lungs. They are also good at trapping airborne dust from furniture, carpets, and other household items.
When your filters become dirty, they will not be able to trap as much as they should. This can lead to a decrease in airflow, which can cause your heating and cooling system to work much harder than it should. This situation results in an increase in your energy bills and may even lead to unnecessary wear and tear on your system.
To ensure your HVAC system continues to operate at peak efficiency, it is important to have your filters checked on a regular basis. Maintaining your filters on a regular basis can also prevent them from becoming damaged, which could lead to even more problems.
Having your filters checked might be something that you take lightly, but regular maintenance is an important part of keeping your system running efficiently. Not only can dirty filters cause your unit to run longer than necessary, but they can also lead to your system overheating, resulting in unnecessary wear and tear.
In addition, the air quality in your home or office can be affected by the presence of airborne dust particles. This can lead to respiratory issues, allergies, and other health problems.
Therefore, it is very important to regularly change your HVAC system’s air filters. Be sure to switch out the filter at least once every three months. When your air filters are clean, your heating and cooling system will be able to better adjust its temperature to keep your home or office at a comfortable temperature.
3. Leaking Ducts
HVAC ducts expand and contract with changes in temperature and climate. If your ducts are made of low-quality metal, this could lead to duct leaks.
When your AC unit works harder to cool the air in your home, it loses energy somewhere. This can be in the form of heat from the air conditioner itself or from the unit blowing out warm air. In either case, your system is not as effective as it could be. Plus, if you are paying for a higher-grade AC unit, you are paying for cooling power that you are not getting.
Installing a quality duct sealing system can reduce your household’s cooling costs. A duct sealer can also be a good option for your HVAC system over time. When air moves through a duct, it is carrying dust and dirt particles with it. Over time, this can lead to blockages in the ducts. This blockage can result in a decrease in your residence’s indoor quality. Duct sealers can clean and treat your duct system to remove any buildup that has happened over time.
4. Dirty Coils
Is your AC unit just not cooperating? It is possible that the coils are dirty. Coils are the part of your AC unit that cools the air, and cleaning them can improve your system’s performance.
When the coils are dirty, the airflow is restricted. This causes the air conditioner to work harder to cool the air. Over time, the strain on your system will cause it to wear out sooner than it should.
The coils are usually the most difficult part of the AC unit to access. To clean them, you will need to remove the cover off of the appliance. The process can be complicated, and you should not attempt it if you are not comfortable with electrical work or interacting with a gas line.
A professional HVAC technician, like the ones at Hoff Heating & AC, can clean the coils for you. This will save you the hassle of cleaning the coils yourself. The technician will make sure the coils are cleaned properly. Depending on the type of coils, certain areas will be more prone to buildup than others. Those areas tend to be harder to access. A technician can avoid cleaning the sensitive areas to prevent any damage.
Cleaning the coils leads to more efficient cooling. This can save you money on your utility bills. Your AC unit will also last longer due to the increased efficiency. This leads to lower maintenance costs in the long run.
Turn to the Pros
Hoff Heating & AC serves homeowners living in O’Fallon and the surrounding areas. Call us today to beat the summer heat and get your AC back on track again. We offer a full range of heating and cooling services, such as furnace repair and AC maintenance. Our friendly team members will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
