AC Repair That You Can Trust | Arlington, TX
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The climate in our part of TX. is characterized by long hot humid summers and temperatures are often above 100 degrees. With temperatures as high as this, heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heatstroke are not uncommon, and so it is important to keep everyone cool and safe.
A dependable AC repair service is vital for both homes and businesses should anything go wrong. So, who do you call when your air conditioner breaks down on a hot summer’s day? Not everyone is open in the evenings or weekends nor has the necessary skills to fix most appliances.
Minuteman Heating and Air offer a professional AC service in the Arlington area. We offer emergency services 24/7 and are your one-stop destination for AC repair needs.
How Does an AC Unit Work?
An AC unit works as follows. A fan blows warm air from the room across the evaporator coils. The evaporator coil contains refrigerant in a cold liquid state. The refrigerant absorbs the heat from the air, and it is then turned into a gas. The warm air is now cooled and is blown back into the room.
The refrigerant gas is now pumped through a compressor and is changed from low-pressure gas to a high-pressure gas. This now goes through a condenser which turns it back into its cooler liquid state. Outside air flowing across the condenser coil and cooling fins radiate the heat away from the outside air.
Warning Signs That You Need an AC repair
We at Minuteman Heating and Air would strongly recommend that you have your AC unit regularly serviced and maintained by one of our highly trained professionals. This should be carried out at least once a year, as it will help prevent unforeseen problems before they occur. This also guarantees that your unit is working correctly and efficiently so that it provides the highest possible cooling effect with the minimum use of energy.
Without regular service, you run the risk of expensive AC repair bills. Here are some warning signs you need to be on the lookout for:
- The unit does not turn on.
- The unit does not produce cool air.
- The unit works initially for a few minutes before stopping.
- Strange noises come from the unit.
- There are strange smells when the unit is turned on.
- There is a pooling of water around the unit.
If you experience any of these symptoms you need an AC repair immediately, as continued use of the unit could further damage it.
What Causes These Problems?
There are many components in an HVAC unit, any one of which could break down, requiring an AC repair. These include:
Refrigerant Leak
Every AC unit requires a specific level of refrigerant within it, a leak will reduce this optimum level. Less refrigerant will mean that there will be less cool air coming out of the unit. If the level is too low, it can cause serious problems such as frost and ice forming on the evaporator coil. The AC unit will need to work harder to increase the stress and strain on the unit. The extra work will also mean higher energy bills.
Refrigerant has a sweet, chloroform scent, and if you detect this you will need a repair from one of our expert, Arlington, TX technicians to quickly locate and repair any leaks. The sooner you do this the better as the refrigerant can be toxic and flammable.
Evaporator Coil Is Frozen
Restricted airflow across the evaporator coil can also lead to its freezing. The coils need warm air flowing over them to work properly. So, any dirty air filters will need to be replaced as it restricts the airflow.
If dirt settles on the coil this will create an insulating layer and reduce the transfer of heat from the warm air to the cold liquid refrigerant in the coil. The coil will need to be cleaned regularly to avoid it freezing.
Low refrigerant levels or a frozen evaporator coil can cause damage to the compressor. The compressor must work harder and may cause it to overheat and burn out, meaning an expensive AC repair bill.
Dirty Condenser and Cooling Fins
Like the evaporator coil, the condenser and cooling fins also need plenty of air to flow around them. This is to better transfer the excess heat from your home to the outside air.
Been outside the condenser and cooling fins will get covered with dirt and grime. This reduces the rate of heat transfer and so they will need cleaning regularly. If not, the AC unit will need to work harder and be more likely to need an AC repair.
Other Causes
If your air ducts are damaged or there are gaps in the joint seals, the cooler air will leak into the crawl space. It is worth inspecting them as between 20-30 percent of an AC unit’s energy is lost in this way.
Any thermostat will need to be calibrated correctly to make the AC unit more efficient. A badly calibrated thermostat will misread the correct temperature and either make the room too hot or too cold.
A faulty fan will reduce the airflow over the evaporator coil and condenser, resulting in your AC unit overworking and higher energy bills. A faulty fan is often the source of many strange noises coming from your AC unit.
A Trusted AC Repair Company in Arlington, TX
Minuteman Heating & Air is a family firm, with strong roots in the Arlington area and we understand the needs of our local community. We are only too aware of the implications of an AC unit breaking down. Living without a working AC unit on a hot summers’ day would be unbearable for most people.
If you need an emergency repair, at whatever time of the day or night, weekday or weekend, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, we will respond ASAP. We offer the most trustworthy plumbing service in Arlington, whatever your plumbing needs, large or small, please give us a call so we can discuss how to help you at a price you can afford.