AC Repair, Maintenance and Finding a Service Provider

An air conditioner functions better when its parts such as fins, filters, and coils are properly maintained.

Not only does it make the AC unit function better, but proper maintenance also ensures that your unit will last and perform better over the next coming years. Lack of ac maintenance may also mean that your air conditioning unit will not be as great as it used to be when you first purchased it, and at the same time, your energy consumption will generally increase.

Air Conditioning Filters

While all AC parts are equally important, AC filters are one of the most overlooked parts, and many people don’t the importance of regularly cleaning them. When your filters are dirty, the airflow will get clogged, meaning that the unit may have difficulties blowing out cool air, significantly reducing its efficiency. A clogged filter may also mean that the dirt may just pass through the filter, go straight to the evaporator coil, reducing the performance of the AC unit which may also cause more issues in the long run.

ac filter

To make sure that you don’t have to go through this issue, cleaning and/or changing clogged filters will improve your air conditioner’s efficiency and even help you save up to 15% of energy.

Depending on your AC type, the filter may be located in different parts. Typically, they’re along the return duct, while some others are found underneath the grill.

Some AC units have disposable filters, while some others need to be cleaned once it’s all clogged up. You’ll find that there’s a wide range of AC filter types depending on your AC brand and type. Filters need to be replaced or cleaned ideally every two months during the hot summer season. If you’re using the air-conditioner more often, you’ll need to pay more close attention to it have it cleaned or replaced more often. You may also have to replace this often if you have a lot of dust or pets inside the house.

Air Conditioner Coils

It’s normal for your air conditioner coils to generate dust and dirt – especially if you’ve been using your AC unit for years. A clean filter helps lessen the dirt buildup on these coils, but at the end of the day, even with clean filters, there’s still a slight chance that dust may still build up. If the evaporator coil is surrounded by dust, it won’t be able to effectively absorb heat, making your AC run more inefficiently.

What’s the solution? Check your evaporator coil once a year and clean it whenever necessary.

As much as possible, perform possible steps to make sure that the dirt and debris won’t accumulate around the condenser unit. Your AC unit should not be placed in areas that could accumulate falling leaves, debris, or foliage trimmings. There should be at least 2 feet of airflow surrounding the area so that the condenser’s airflow won’t be blocked.

AC Coil Fins

ac unit in need of air conditioning repair

Both the condenser and evaporator coils contain aluminum fins. Most of the time, the fins have a tendency to bend, which eventually causes airflow blockage. To prevent this from happening, you can get one of these “fin combs” that can be purchased from air conditioning wholesalers. This comb will make sure that the fins are back to their pristine condition, prevent air blockage.

Condensate Drain Lines and Pump

Most units have drain channels, and it’s normal for water to flow through these drain channels. What this does it that it helps prevent the unit from acquiring humidity and moisture. Sometimes, these drains may get blocked, and if not taken care of immediately, may cause wall and even carpet discoloration.

Seal Window Type AC’s

Once the weather starts to feel dry and humid, conduct an inspection and make sure that the air conditioner’s seal from its window frame is still intact. This is to make sure that cool air won’t escape from your room or home.

Getting Ready For Winter

You have two options: you can either cover your AC unit or completely remove it and put it in storage. You may want to protect your AC’s outdoor unit during the winter season to protect it from debris.

When Professional AC Repair Is Necessary

Most of the tips mentioned above will help your conditioner remain in its tip-top condition. However, when you feel like your unit requires more than just simple maintenance, finding a reliable and experienced technician plays a crucial role in a quality AC repair.

AC repair technician

It is important that the AC technician is able to:

  • Inspect the unit and the refrigerant levels.
  • Conduct an inspection to see if there are leaks.
  • CI a leak is found, make sure the remaining refrigerant is properly evacuated rather than releasing it in the environment prior to repairs.
  • Closely inspect for leaks from window seals and AC units.
  • Check all electric connections making sure they are tight and clean, and that a non-conductive coating is applied whenever necessary.
  • Make sure that the thermostat isn’t malfunctioning and gives accurate readings.

AC Repair and Maintenance Tips

Top Areas Some Home Inspectors Overlook

What a Home Inspector Might Miss on the Initial Visit: Searching for Potential Problems

This blog post will be about areas that a home inspector might miss on the initial visit. There are many reasons why this could happen, and I would like to share some of them with you so that you know what to expect when hiring an inspector for your new home!

Asbestos

There are a large number of homes that have been built prior to the 1970’s that still have asbestos in the materials that they were constructed from.

sign-caution-asbestos

In some instances a home inspector will not be able to test for asbestos on the initial visit, and in others they will not have been trained to recognize it.

It is often best to seek out a lab or a specialist for the testing of asbestos in the home. In fact, there are a number of home testing kits on the market that you can purchase in order to test for asbestos yourself. However, you may not feel skilled enough to do so, and it is always best to call in a professional. A professional asbestos examiner will look into the materials the home is constructed from, and they will test it to ensure that there are no traces of asbestos.

When a professional inspects for asbestos , they are looking at a number of things. In the basement, for example, you will want an inspector to inspect all vapor barriers and ductwork . In the attic, you will want an inspector to check for insulation.

If they do find any trace elements of asbestos they will offer you advice on how to have it removed safely and efficiently.

Outdated Electrical Wiring

electrician

There are many homes available on the market today that are still running with knob and tube wiring. This type of wiring, which is also known as “legacy” or “string and plug,” has been found to be unsafe for years. In many situations it is unable to carry the full weight of a home’s electrical load.

Incorrect Grade Slope

This is a serious situation that can lead to wet crawlspaces, cracking, as well as the full movement of the foundation. Additionally, water wicking up the foundation has the ability to cause damage to the inside of your home. Including the potential for rotting walls and harmful mold throughout the house.

Some of the noticeable factors that the foundation has moved include doors that have large gaps, windows that are no longer fully square. If you notice any of these telltale signs of foundation problems, understand that it is a serious and often expensive problem to have solved.

Minor Structural Damage

It can be quite common to find broken and cut trusses in attic cavities as well as complete structural components that are missing. These are visible on the initial inspection and will need to be addressed. While repairs will often be needed, it is typically not that complicated or a dangerous situation.

Radon Gas

radon measurement equipment

Home inspections will generally be able to detect for possible harmful situations such as carbon, mold, and radon. Be certain that the contract for the home in which you are considering addresses these issues as well.

Mold

A home inspection is a critical part of the process if you are considering a home that is being purchased “as-is” or a foreclosure. The inspector will be able to find the presence of mold and give you a sense of its severity. Mold is quite dangerous and should be addressed as soon as possible. This can not only be a dangerous situation but a costly one as well.

The home inspector will also be able to judge an approximate age on many of the essential systems in the home including the roof, heating and cooling systems.

The inspector will also be able to find any potential leaks in the home such as a leaky toilet, water heater or other plumbing fixture. These can cause significant damage not only to your budget but to your health if they are left untreated for an extended period of time. Understand that all aspects of the home have a specific shelf-life and this is true for the systems in your home as well.

It is important to understand that an inspector does not examine all aspects of a house and there may be some areas which are overlooked on their initial visit. The best thing you can do if you have any questions or concerns about anything at all, it ask them directly with no hesitation! Contact us if you have any questions, would like to book an inspection, or would like referrals if your not in the Greater Kingston area.

Protect Yourself With A Real Estate Home Inspection

A Real Estate Home Inspection is a significant step in the home buying process.

A home inspection is one way to make sure you know about the condition of a house before buying it. If you are concerned that there might be something wrong with any part of the property and want someone to check it out for you, this would be an excellent option.

It allows you to make sure that your house has no significant defects and will be safe for your family to live in. The inspection should include roofing materials, electrical wiring, plumbing pipes, heating systems and insulation. All of these components are essential for maintaining the structural integrity of your home!

Protect Yourself and Your Children with a Real Estate Home Inspection:

First, ask your Real Estate Agent about the home inspection process. It will give you a basic understanding of what to expect during this critical time and how it can help ensure your new house is safe for you and your family.

Real Estate Home Inspection

I recommend that before making an offer on any property, contact two or three local Inspectors for estimates. This way, you should be able to find one who charges rates comparable with other professionals in their area so as not to break the bank buying a new home!

Make sure that your inspector is qualified to inspect the type of home you are purchasing and has the appropriate qualifications for doing so

You can also use the internet to screen your inspector. If you have a home inspection, it is also essential that you get an appraisal and termite report.

If possible, hire someone who has years of experience in inspecting homes so they can give those inspections with accuracy!

Some homeowners are not always honest about what has taken place on their properties or how long ago these issues were dealt with. So if there are any questionable things on the property, always investigate further before sealing the deal.

Real Estate Home Inspection Checklist

Inspectors are kind of obligated to tell you everything wrong with a house without sugarcoating anything for their customers because then they would lose credibility with them. For this reason, real estate inspectors should come highly recommended by people whose opinion you trust.

Although some people may be apprehensive about getting an inspection done because there are so many scams out there nowadays, choosing a professional company like Baking Home Inspections, you can rest assured we’ve been vetted by our customers as well as local government regulatory agencies.

As long as they have experience in what they’re doing, their opinions will always hold weight.

They can also provide advice on how super to proceed if anything requires repairs. Their primary interest should be in making sure homes are safe for people like our families and us to live in!

Review all details provided by the inspector on the inspection report and get estimates from contractors for anticipated repairs. If there’s something wrong with the house, after considering such information, ask the seller if they’ll drop their price or pay for extra work prior to closing the sale.

Here’s an example of what a home inspection should look like. Jim Crumb