Air Conditioner Maintenance

Signs that Your AC Unit is Going to Go

Summer is here in full force with its sweltering temperatures and high humidity, which add up to scorching heat indices. No doubt, your AC is running around the clock trying to keep your home cool and comfortable. However, if your AC isn’t working efficiently, it’s fighting a losing battle trying to meet capacity. This means that your home isn’t as cool as you’d like, and you’ll be faced with skyrocketing energy bills. The service pros at Atlas Butler have some signs to look for to determine if your air conditioner isn’t working as well as it could.

1. There are hot and cold spots in the house. When some rooms are freezing and others warm, that means your AC unit and possibly ducts, need cleaning. Dirt build-up in the ductwork can hinder airflow.
2. The AC isn’t removing humidity from the air. If your AC is running and you still experience that damp, clammy feeling, the likely cause is low refrigerant levels. There are other causes of this problem, so it is best to have your unit looked at by an HVAC specialist.
3. The AC runs constantly. This is a sign that your AC unit isn’t the proper size for your house and a common problem if you’ve added on to the structure. Upgrading to a unit better equipped to handle the load will help and will pay for itself over time through lower energy bills.
4. You are cooling your entire house. Forcing an air conditioner to keep the entire house at a constant temperature is very hard on the unit. A better solution is to have temperature zones throughout the house to only cool those rooms that are used the most.
5. You’re seeing a spike in energy bills. It’s normal to see an increase in energy bills during a heat wave, but if you’re constantly paying more and more for your AC during moderate temperatures as well, it’s a good idea to have your system looked at by a professional. There could be many problems, including the age of the unit, contributing to increased energy bills.
6. You need more service calls. If you are constantly calling for AC repair, it’s a signal of a bigger problem. Older units start wearing out and parts need replacing, which can create a domino effect. It might be time to just bite the bullet and buy a new air conditioner.
7. Your AC unit is more than 10 years old. When your AC is 10 years old or older, it’s time to start thinking about replacing it. Regular maintenance can prolong the life of your system, but you can also reach a point where the costs of keeping cool have outpaced what you’d actually save money on a new, more energy-efficient unit.

Atlas Butler Can Help Repair or Replace Your AC Unit

If you are experiencing any of these issues with your air conditioner, contact the service pros at Atlas Butler for an Air Conditioner check-up. We have same-day appointments, and our phones are answered 24/7/365. Call us at 614-681-2167. Ask about our Comfort Club and enjoy savings and year-round comfort from your HVAC system.  

Knowing When to Run Your AC

With summer is in full throttle, hopefully, your AC is keeping your home cool and comfortable. With the high heat of July/August, you want to keep your AC running to keep your home cool and combat the heat. If you turn your AC on and off to correspond with temperatures, you may be overworking your unit on hot days to keep up. We recommend you at least keep your thermostat at a moderately high setting (around 75-80) rather than turning it off, to avoid overworking the system.  

When the temperatures start to drop, you’ll want to adjust the thermostat and eventually turn it off when temperatures consistently reach the low 60’s. Your AC unit was not designed to run in cold temperatures and running it when temperatures are below 60 may damage the compressor, which can be a costly repair. 

If your air conditioner is not keeping your house cool, you may have an issue. You don’t want to wait too long to address the problem. If your AC isn’t cooling your home properly, give the service pros at Atlas Butler a call at 614-681-2167. With our AC repair service, we’ll inspect your AC and address whatever needs to be fixed to get your home cool again. We are available 24/7.

Before you know it, summer will be here and the temperatures will start to heat up. If there is one thing that is certain in Central Ohio, the summer months will be hot and having a functional air conditioner is very important. We recommend getting your A/C unit checked out before the temperatures rise and make sure that it is ready to go when you flip the switch. Here are a few things we look at when we perform maintenance on an air conditioning unit. 

Clean out any debris

Over the course of fall and winter, leaves, twigs and other debris can get trapped in your air conditioner. We remove this debris to avoid any clogs or issues when the A/C unit kicks on. 

Inspect the fan blade

The blade is a major component of your air conditioner. The blade turns and acts as a fan and draws the heat out of the refrigerant that is moving through the outdoor coil.  The fan blade inspection ensures that the blade is free of debris, rust, and corrosion that would impact the performance of the blade. 

Inspect electrical connections

The electrical connections to your air conditioner are protected by rubber coatings, which over time will wear thin and crumble. We make sure that the electrical connection to your A/C unit is safe and secure. 

Check refrigerant levels

Refrigerant is what cools the air as it passes through your A/C unit. We check to make sure you have enough refrigerant, or we replace old equipment that houses the refrigerant. 

Inspect the coils

The evaporator coil and condenser coils are also major components of your air conditioner. We inspect them to ensure they are both functional in the role they play to cool the air that flows through the air conditioner.

Inspect motor components 

We inspect things like the air compressor, the blower, and the parts that work to cool the air in your home.

Test the thermostat

We inspect the thermostat connection, as well as test that the AC Unit responds to the thermostat.

Evaluate airflow 

Airflow is the key to having a working air conditioner. Once we have everything inspected, we’ll turn it on and check that the air is flowing properly. 

Change the air filter

Some customers forget to change their filters regularly, so we’ll inspect your filter and change it if needed. 

If you haven’t had your air conditioner serviced yet, contact our team and schedule an appointment. We will provide an inspection and maintenance to get your unit up and running for summer. If your air conditioner has a major mechanical issue, our technicians can also work with you to replace your existing air conditioner.