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Mansfield, TX has long hot, and dry summers. Anyone who is looking after young children or elderly relatives should know how dangerous a time this is. There is an increased risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. If there is a problem with your air conditioner, it can negatively affect the well-being of people with pulmonary or breathing issues like asthma.

Air quality can also deteriorate with disastrous results for those suffering from chronic breathing conditions such as COPD. It is vital to be able to find a reliable AC repair company quickly, and one with a highly experienced team of technicians available to undertake repairs at all hours of the day or night that company is the AC repair company: Minuteman Heating and Air.

How Does an Air Conditioner Work?

It is probably a good idea to understand how an air conditioner works before wondering how to fix it if it goes wrong. There is a circuit of copper tubing connecting all the major components of your air conditioner, and this copper tube contains a coolant. A compressor pumps the coolant around the circuit.

Warm air is extracted from your home by a fan and is then blown over an evaporator coil. The coolant in the evaporator coil absorbs the excess heat from the warm air and the now cooler air is blown back into your home.

The coolant in the evaporator coil is initially in a liquid state. After absorbing the heat from the warm air, the coolant changes into a warm gas. This warm gas is pumped through the condenser, where it is squeezed into a denser and hotter gas. This now passes through the cooling fins when it transfers the heat to the outside air. It is aided by another fan that blows the outside air over the condenser and cooling fins.

After the heat transfer, the gas changes back into a cold liquid and is pumped back to the evaporator coil to continue the cycle again. The air conditioner relies on all these components working properly to get the maximum efficiency out of the unit.

Have a Regular Service to Avoid AC Repair Work

Your air conditioner is going to work at its hardest during the period from late spring to the end of summer. Not surprisingly this period also sees the greatest volume of breakdowns and the need for an AC repair and the technicians at Minuteman Heating and Air are in great demand during this time.

To reduce the great of needing an AC repair we advise all our customers to have their air conditioners serviced before this busy period and book an appointment during early spring. This ensures that the air conditioner is working safely and at its most efficient before its peak usage. You will gain greater peace of mind knowing that your air conditioner is less likely to break down and need an AC repair.

Signs You May Need an AC Repair

We often take our air conditioners for granted. They work hard all summer long delivering cool air to keep us safe. Watch out for any of the following symptoms because the quicker you catch the problem the cheaper the repair will be.

• Sky-high energy bills
• The evaporator coil starts to freeze
• The reduced cooling effect from your unit
• Increased humidity in your home
• Pools of water around the unit

Sky-High Energy Bills

Any component in your air conditioner that underperforms has an impact on other parts of the unit. They will have to work harder to compensate and maintain the temperature you have selected. For example, when dirt and grime are not cleaned from the condenser and cooling fins, it acts as an insulating layer and reduces the rate at which heat is transferred from the warm coolant gas to the outside air. This forces the compressor to work harder, using up more energy. Another disadvantage to misfunctioning units is that they are more likely to overheat, burn out, and need to be replaced during an AC repair.

Evaporator Coil Starts to Freeze in Mansfield, TX

Without a constant supply of warm air blown over it, you will start to see frost and ice form on the evaporator coil. If you ignore this sign there is a chance that the evaporator coil will freeze over. This will mean that you will have to turn the air conditioner off to allow the coil to thaw. It could be for up to 24 hours, an unacceptable downtime during the heat of summer.

So, what causes restricted airflow in the first place. Dirty air filters are one cause and these need to be cleaned or replaced regularly. Also, a faulty fan will not provide enough warm air to flow over the coil either.

Just as dirt layers on the condenser and cooling fins impede performance, so will dirt that accumulates on the evaporator coil. This dirt needs to be cleaned periodically or it too will cause the coil to freeze over. When the evaporator coil freezes over too many times this increases the risk of an AC repair.

Reduced Cooling Effect from Your Unit

Low levels of coolant in your air conditioner will mean less heat is absorbed from the warm air blown over the evaporator coil. As less heat is absorbed the air blown back into your home will be warmer than you would like.

Increased Humidity in Your Home

Warmer air will contain more moisture than cooler air. The warmer the air blown back into your home, the more humid your home will feel to you.

Pools of Water Around the Unit

If the AC drain is blocked for any reason, the water will have no way to exit your home. The drip pan will start to fill up and will eventually overflow into your unit and then to your floor. This also has the effect of increasing humidity levels in your home.

Minuteman Heating & Air Serving the People of Mansfield, TX

We at Minuteman Heating & Air understand how distressing it is for families to have their air conditioner break down during a heatwave. We are ready 24/7 to respond to any air conditioner emergency. Our highly trained technicians are ready to take your call.