Air conditioners have a lifespan of up to 20 years, but that doesn’t mean they’ll operate trouble-free the entire time. There are a number of reasons your air conditioner may break down and stop cooling your home, and a failing capacitor is commonly the cause. Here’s more information about how to diagnose this problem and what you can do about it.
What Air Conditioner Capacitors Do
Air conditioners contain several different motors that help it do its job.…
Air source heat pumps use refrigerants to extract heat from the outside air and release it into your home. If you are thinking about investing in a heat pump, you may want to consider an air source heat pump. Here are five signs it’s right for you:
1. You live in a relatively mild climate, with cold but not extremely cold winters.
Air source heat pumps were originally designed to only work in mild climates.…
There is nothing more unsettling for a homeowner than a pipe bursting and spraying water in the house. When you have water accumulating around your ankles and you don’t know how to make it stop, it’s time to call in a plumber. But in this type of emergency situation, you don’t have time to wait for a plumber to arrive at your house or you’ll be swimming to the front door.…
Before summer heat hits, you will need to take a closer look at your air conditioner’s evaporator coils to see if they need cleaning. If they do, then you can safely clean them yourself as long as you pay attention to a few key details. Below is what you need to know and how to properly clean the evaporator coils in your central air conditioning unit:
What evaporator coils do and why keeping them clean is important…
Of all the things that could happen to your air conditioner, a water leak is perhaps the most surprising. Finding a puddle of water near your A/C unit can be puzzling and sometimes frustrating, especially if you don’t know where it’s coming from. Fortunately, the following explains how this happens and what you can do to stop it in its tracks.
How Water Forms in Your A/C System
Located within the air handler plenum, the evaporator coil lies at the heart of your A/C system.…
Changing your air filter is one of the most important things you can do to keep your HVAC system in great shape. Most experts recommend changing the filter at least every three months. But as you change your HVAC system’s air filter, you can’t help but wonder how effective your air filter truly is at providing clean air through effective filtration.
How MERV Helps
This is where the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating system comes in.…
In the interest of modernizing their homes with the newest heat pumps or types of heating equipment, many homeowners are removing their perfectly functional oil burning furnaces. However, there are some facts about heating oil that makes this fuel a surprisingly smart choice for using into the future. Enjoy comfortable and affordable heat for many winters to come instead of switching to a less well-tested heating device just because it is new.…
Choosing to install a solar water heater is a great idea because they can save you significant money each month on your water heating costs. However, it isn’t as easy as buying a solar panel and attaching it to your roof. There are many different types of solar water heating systems available, and these are three decisions you must make when choosing your solar water heating system.
Active Heating Systems or Passive Heating System…
Imagine waking up one cold morning to find your air vents unusually silent, with no warm air being pushed through them. Finding that your home’s temperature has mysteriously dropped can make you frustrated, worried, and wondering whether you should call in the pros. There are several reasons your heating may have turned off, but before you find yourself reaching for the phone, try resolving it by yourself with these troubleshooting tips.…
Many homeowners choose to call an HVAC technician as soon as their central air conditioner breaks down. However, there is one problem that DIY-oriented homeowners can repair on their own before calling a professional: a faulty compressor motor capacitor. Here is more info on the steps you can take to diagnose and replace the capacitor in your central air conditioner.
Diagnosing Capacitor Problems
Before you go to the trouble of opening your air conditioner to replace the capacitor, you should look for common symptoms of capacitor failure, such as a burning smell or smoke coming from the air conditioner.…
