It’s normal for your air conditioner to create some noise when running—that simply means it’s working. Although older units are typically louder than newer ones, all air conditioning noises are not the same. Despite your air conditioner’s age, any sound coming from the unit can still be bothersome. If your air conditioner is producing an unusual sound, that could mean trouble. So instead of risking injury to you or your system by poking around the unit yourself, play it safe. Call A-Plus Mechanical to come inspect it for you. To avoid any of these potential issues, we at A-Plus Mechanical recommend getting a maintenance inspection at least once a year to determine the health of your air conditioner, regardless its age or noise level. According to ENERGY STAR®, “proper maintenance by a qualified professional technician is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent future problems.” Air Conditioner Common NoisesWe have heard our fair share of unusual hums, buzzes, and clatter coming from air conditioners throughout the years. So below is a list of the most common noises we have found and the problems they can indicate. Rattling Grinding Popping Hissing Your air conditioner is a complex piece of machinery with many moving parts and, like a car, it requires regular maintenance by experienced professionals like ours at A-Plus Mechanical to diagnose and treat any potential problems. Don’t ignore the signs if you suspect there could be an issue with your air conditioner. Give your unit the proper attention it needs to operate in prime condition for years to come. We Want to HelpTrust your ears and judgement. If your air conditioner is making an unusual or harsh noise and you live here in the Worthham Village, TX, area, call us at 281-970-5200 or schedule your service online today. The post Why Is My Air Conditioner Making Noise? appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical http://bit.ly/2xbmPIh
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A major part of your health relies on getting a good night’s sleep. That’s why it’s not just important to run your air conditioner during the hot summer days. You also need to keep your home comfortably cool at night as well. At A-Plus Mechanical, we understand that depending on your air conditioner to run efficiently is crucial to helping you get the good night’s sleep you deserve. We also know how critical sleep is to everyday life, so we make it a priority to provide our customers in the Cy-Fair, TX, area a cooling system that ensures the utmost comfort all hours of the day or night. Getting It RightAccording to a study published in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), part of the US National Library of Medicine (NLM), it’s recommended to set your thermostat between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit at night for a comfortable full night’s sleep. By comfortable, we mean not constantly waking up to add blankets or to turn down the thermostat in the middle of the night. Additionally, your body will not have to worry about regulating its own temperature, because your room will already be set to the ideal sleeping condition to do that for you. Keeping It RightBy keeping your air conditioner in tip-top shape all year long, you can help prevent any potential problems that can arise during the times when you need your cooling system most. That means scheduling regular maintenance for one of our professionals to come out and thoroughly clean your unit of any debris, dust, or dirt, and confirm there are not any leaks or cracks. The Right BenefitsOnce you know your system is working in prime condition, here are three health benefits you can experience from lowering your thermostat’s temperature at night: 1. Helps your moodIt’s not just your physical health that will improve—your mental health will significantly change as well. Getting uninterrupted sleep is essential for staying alert, energetic, and keeping a positive outlook on life. The less signs of irritability and exhaustion you show, the more likely you will be able to function at your best. 2. Fights agingResting comfortably and staying cool are not the only advantages of lowering your home’s temperature before going to bed each night. While sleeping, your body is also more likely to release melatonin, a hormone that fights symptoms of aging and helps prevent getting wrinkles sooner than you should. 3. Contributes to weight lossIt’s not just a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise that are the necessary components to losing weight. You also need a healthy sleeping pattern to help shed those unwanted pounds. Without a comfortable and proper sleep schedule, your weight-loss plan will not be as effective and ultimately can increase your odds of losing muscle mass instead of fat. Schedule Your Tune-UpFollow our simple air conditioning tips, and schedule your seasonal maintenance today. Give our A-Plus Mechanical professionals a call at 281-970-5200. We can help you live healthier by keeping you and your family comfortable at home throughout the hot summer months ahead. The post 3 Health Benefits for Using Your AC While Sleeping appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical http://bit.ly/2JVb9AP
An air conditioner, just like a car, needs regular maintenance and service to run efficiently. At A-Plus Mechanical, we recommend getting your air conditioning unit serviced and cleaned once a year. The optimum time is in the spring to ensure your unit will run with the most efficiency during the hottest summer months. You need to be able to rely on your air conditioner for your comfort here in Cy-Fair, TX. Why Is Maintenance Important?The short answer is it saves you money!An air conditioner collects dust and dirt continuously as it sits throughout the year, not only in the months when it’s running. Though this tiny debris may not seem harmful, when it accumulates throughout the year, it can make its way into the cracks and crevices of your unit, as well as everywhere else. This creates gunk and wreaks havoc on the different parts involved in the cooling process. When this happens, parts break down much sooner than expected and can add up to costly repairs. It also decreases the life expectancy of your system, forcing you to purchase a new air conditioner much sooner than you may have planned. Regular air-conditioning maintenance also supports your system’s energy efficiency. Simple acts you can perform yourself, like replacing a dirty and clogged air filter, can reduce your energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent. This translates to you spending less money on your utility bills. Professional and DIY maintenance alleviates higher bills and keeps your air conditioner working at its manufacturer’s intended efficiency. Even if you are fastidious with doing your own regular home maintenance, you should always have your unit cleaned and checked in the spring by a professional. There are many tasks only a professional technician is trained and certified to perform. Neglecting these professional tasks constitutes poor maintenance and will negatively affect your system in the long run, again, costing you money. What Can I Expect My Technician to Do During My Annual Maintenance?Here’s a brief overview of what our knowledgeable and experienced technicians do during your air-conditioning-maintenance appointment:
Schedule Your Maintenance TodayDon’t delay in scheduling your annual air conditioner maintenance with our A-Plus Mechanical professionals. With spring now here, our calendar is quickly filling. Call us at 281-970-5200 today to be sure your maintenance is done before you need to use your system this year! The post Spring Is the Best Time for Your Air Conditioner Maintenance appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical http://bit.ly/2GCi0Mq Aside from the professionals, like ours at A-Plus Mechanical, who really thinks about air conditioners and their components? Air conditioners keep your Cy-Fair, TX, home or business cool and comfy when the outside temperatures are high, and that’s all you really need to know, right? Well, air conditioners do so much more than just cool, like dehumidify your home or business and help keep your inside air cleaner. Understanding a bit of its basic components and how they work can help you identify a problem or malfunction when it occurs. Air Conditioner OverviewAs already mentioned, your air conditioner does more than just cool. It dehumidifies by reducing the volume of humid air, thereby taking a portion of its moisture. That’s the reason for pans and drains with air conditioners. Your air conditioner also aids in cleaning the air by removing allergen and debris particles from the airflow where they attach to the filter. But the largest purpose of your air conditioner is to remove the heat from your inside air and cool it, providing the maximum indoor comfort. Looking at this side of your air conditioner, most conventional central air conditioners have a hot side, which is located outside, and a cool side, located inside. Since these air conditioners have both outdoor and indoor components, many times you’ll see your air conditioner referred to as a split-system air conditioner. In the very basest of explanations, here’s how your air conditioner works. Air conditioners transfer heat to the outside, extracting it from the inside air. The compressed gas refrigerant in the system (you probably know DuPont’s Freon® refrigerant) absorbs the excess heat before it’s pumped through the piping in a closed system to an outside coil. A fan blows air over the hot coil, transferring the absorbed heat in the refrigerant to the outdoor air. Since the inside heat has been removed, the indoor air is now cool. As a result, the refrigerant is recooled and condensed here, then sent back to circulate through the system to begin the process again. There are many complex and smaller transactions throughout your air conditioning system, but this gives you an overview on how your system works. Air Conditioner ComponentsAn air conditioner is made up of many components, but the major parts doing the heavy lifting of moving the air indoors and outdoors are the evaporator, condenser, expansion valve, and compressor. Keep in mind they’re each either located outside (the hot side) or inside (the cool side). Evaporator. The evaporator is located on the cool side. Its main function is to receive the liquid refrigerant. It’s paired with a fan blowing air over the chilled coils into your home. After it receives the liquid refrigerant, it converts it to gas through a drop in pressure. Condenser. The condenser is located on the hot side. Its main function is to facilitate heat transfer. Resembling a car’s radiator in looks, it actually works the opposite of the evaporator by converting the evaporated refrigerant back into a liquid. This process is called a heat transfer, working on the principle that heat will always move from a warmer to a cooler substance. Expansion valve. The expansion valve is located between the evaporator and condenser coils. Its main function is to regulate the refrigerant flow into the evaporator. It removes pressure from the liquid refrigerant allowing the conversion into gas to occur in the evaporator. Compressor. The compressor is located on the hot side. Its main function is to pressurize refrigerant. The compressor is a large electric pump repressurizing the refrigerant gas to convert it back into liquid. It assists the condenser, while the expansion valve assists the evaporator. Call Us for Your Air Conditioning NeedsWhile there are additional fans, valves, sensors, and other components to your air conditioner, these four components are fundamentally the main components. Call A-Plus Mechanical at 281-970-5200 if you think you need service or replacement on one or more of them. Or one of our certified experts is happy to discuss the roles of these components in more detail with you anytime you have a question. The post How Does Your Central Air Conditioner Cool Your Home? appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical https://ift.tt/2WAlrtp Your fuel-burning furnace has a number of mechanisms allowing it to run safely and effectively. These features prevent fires and protect your indoor air quality (IAQ). They also work to prevent internal errors from damaging large portions of your furnace. From our team here at A-Plus Mechanical here are six ways your furnace is working to ensure your safety: 1. Air FiltersThis component protects your furnace’s internal parts and your indoor air quality. Air filters catch dust and debris, which would otherwise be circulated by your air ducts. Not only does dust make you sneezy, it can actually hurt some of the mechanical parts in your system over time. Remember to change your filter before it gets clogged, or else you’ll end up with a variety of problems due to poor airflow. Check your manufacturer’s recommendations to see how frequently you need to change it, though we typically recommend every month or at least every couple. 2. ThermocouplesThese are sensors protecting you from gas leaks. If your pilot light won’t turn on, the valve is leaking gas into your home. Thermocouples use thermal imagery to detect a flame source. When the thermocouple doesn’t sense your pilot light, it will automatically shut down your furnace to prevent the harmful fumes from circulating. 3. Pressure SwitchesThese switches detect changes in pressure that could indicate an error in your heating system. One such error is called backdrafting. Backdrafting is when exhaust is reintegrated into your furnace instead of exiting through the flue. This can be potentially deadly to breathe and is indicatory of other problems within the system. 4. Rollout SwitchesRollout is when the burner flames become too hot, or too high, leading to fire hazards. This is often a symptom of a cracked heat exchanger. Rollout switches sit near the burners and shut the furnace off if things get too hot. This prevents a fire, as well as carbon monoxide (CO) production due to combustion. 5. Limit SwitchesLimit switches “limit” the overall temperature of your furnace to keep it from overheating. Your heating system will a factory-designed switch to meet specifications for your particular make and model. Once the switch detects the temperature to be past a set peak (for example 200 degrees Fahrenheit), it will cut off the power to your system. 6. FluesYour furnace flue is a pipe sending exhaust out of your home using a blower. Exhaust is deadly to breathe and may contain flammable gas. It’s important to be sure no obstructions exist within or near the pipe. Obstructions to the pipe restrict airflow and can cause backdrafting. At A-Plus Mechanical, promoting home safety in Houston, TX, is a priority! For more questions about your furnace, or to schedule service, you can reach us today at 281-970-5200. The post Six Ways Your Furnace Keeps You Safe appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical http://bit.ly/2RPlPBp Is your energy bill too high in winter time? Are you looking for ways to cut costs? There are a number of things you can do at home to save money. Some of them are big projects but most are simple things you can do to help reduce the cost of heat this winter. Air Seal Your HomeAir leaks allow outside air into the home or inside air to escape from the home. Reducing this leakage is a cost-effective way to save money on your home energy bill. Caulking and weatherstripping are simple and effective techniques to reduce air leaks. If you are building new construction, talk to us about air sealing for new construction. Adjust Your TemperatureTurn your thermostat as low as you can and still feel comfortable; and when you are not home, dial town another 10-15 degrees. You can also invest in a programmable thermostat. This device can automatically lower and raise your home’s temperature based on your daily activities. You will save money by using less heat while you are not at home. Programmable thermostats can be a little more expensive up front but often pay for themselves cost within the season. Insulate Your AtticWe all know that heat rises and it is no secret that heat is lost through your home’s roof. Check the insulation levels in your attic. Make sure you have adequate depth and fill coverage of insulation. You can also ask a professional to preform a home energy test to diagnose where you may need more insulation. Cover Your Drafty WindowsYou can buy plastic window covering kits at any hardware store. They are relatively inexpensive and can reduce energy consumption and increase your overall comfort level. This is a fairly cheap and easy way to save quite a bit of money on your energy bill. Use Space HeatersDepending on how much time you spend in your whole house vs. just a few rooms, you may want to invest in a space heater. If your time is spent mainly in one or two rooms, you can turn your thermostat down quite a bit and heat the rooms with and electric space heater. It is cheaper to heat up a small room than to heat up an entire house. Dress Warmly InsideAgain, turn down the thermostat a few degrees and layer up. It can be nice to cuddle up and snuggle in blankets and sweaters on a cold winter’s night, and it will save you money at the end of the month. Change Your Furnace FilterA clean filter is essential to making sure your furnace is running as efficiently as possible. Filters are crucial to maintaining healthy indoor air quality. You should follow your furnace manufacturer’s recommendations but should probably change your filter every 3-6 months. A dirty filter restricts air flow and causes your furnace to work harder than it needs to maintain a constant temperature. Have Your Furnace Cleaned and Checked According to the Manufacturer’s RecommendationThis isn’t just about safety, it’s about preventative maintenance. You can catch the problem before your furnace stops working in the middle of the night or on a weekend. Proper maintenance will also ensure that your furnace is working at is optimum efficiency, providing you with the most heat for the least cost. Close Your Fireplace FlueYou should always have your flue open if you are using your fireplace, but make sure you close it when your fireplace is not in use. An open flue is like an open window and a great amount of heat can escape. Turn Down the Temperature on Your Water HeaterMost water heaters are set by default to 140 degrees. Check the temperature and turn it down to 120 degrees. A lower temperature can slow mineral buildup and corrosion and reduces the energy required to keep the water in your tank hot. For most people 120 degrees is completely satisfactory for all their needs. If you have any questions about your heating bills this season, the professionals at A-Plus Mechanical of Houston, TX are here to help. Call us at 281-970-5200. The post How to Save Money on Heating Bills this Winter appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical http://bit.ly/2SV2G28 Happy New Year From Our Family To Yours!The post Happy New Year! appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical http://bit.ly/2Rx14yp The post Merry Christmas! appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical http://bit.ly/2EENim9 Homeowners generally favor heat pumps for their efficiency. However, internal errors can cause them to run extremely inefficiently. When your unit turns on and off continuously, this can drive up your energy bill significantly and damage its parts, leading to both repairs and part replacements. This phenomenon is known as short cycling. When a heat pump short cycles, it’s having trouble heating or cooling your home. The unit can’t maintain the set temperature, so it restarts over and over again. Here are four reasons this might be happening, and what to do about it: 1. Air Filter ClogWhenever your heat pump has a problem, always check your air filter first. Over time, dust and debris form on your filter. When unchanged, this restricts airflow, which means your system can’t circulate the right amount of air to heat or cool your home. You should replace or clean your air filter, depending on whether it’s disposable or reusable. To prevent future clogs, be sure to do this on a regular basis, depending on the heat pump manufacturer’s recommendations. 2. Thermostat ErrorYour thermostat could be giving your heating system an inaccurate reading. This might be due to where your thermostat is placed. A thermostat placed near a vent or window is likely to produce a misleading temperature scan that can cause short cycling. Another possibility is faulty wiring between your thermostat and heat pump. In either case, you should have a professional assess the situation. 3. Leaky RefrigerantDuring hot weather, the refrigerant catches heat inside your home and sends it outside. During cold weather, it takes heat from the outdoors, where it is then pressurized into your home. If you have a refrigerant leak, your system is going to have trouble with the heat transfer. Consequently, it will not be able to complete a cycle. If you see ice on your outdoor unit, this may indicate a refrigerant leak. In this case, seek help from a technician. 4. Oversized UnitThis is perhaps the most serious problem, as it may call for replacement. This is why A-Plus Mechanical always performs the proper calculations before any HVAC installation. If you have received an oversized unit, it will heat or cool the area quickly, prematurely detect that it’s reached the target temperature, then shut off. Then the cycle will repeat. To be sure your system is the right size, you need to have a trained technician perform Manual J testing in your home. Think you might need a repair? Call A-Plus Mechanical of Cy-Fair, TX, today at 281-970-5200 to schedule heat pump service. The post Why Is My Heat Pump Turning On and Off Frequently? appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical https://ift.tt/2LbPNxR |