Ace Hardware Home Services Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Signs That Your Air Conditioner Is Struggling

Monday, June 13th, 2022

Summer is just around the corner, which means that it’s time–if you haven’t done so already–to schedule your next air conditioning maintenance session. Professional tune-ups allow our experienced technicians to comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it, which ensures that your air conditioner operates as efficiently and effectively as it’s meant to, for as long as it’s meant to.

Maintenance helps reduce up to 85% of the repair costs you may ever need during the lifecycle of your air conditioner. Still, though, it’s important to be aware that even with maintenance, wear and tear does occur–and repair needs can crop up between annual maintenance sessions. Since a year is a long time to wait to address a repair need that could grow far worse and lead to an air conditioner breakdown, it’s a wise idea to be aware of the following signs that your air conditioner is struggling.

If you notice any of these symptoms, please don’t hesitate to give our team a call!

Continue Reading

3 Sounds You Don’t Want Your AC System to Make

Monday, May 2nd, 2022

woman-holding-hand-to-ear-to-listenHow do you know that your air conditioner is doing its job as effectively and efficiently as possible?

One way to help ensure this is the case is by scheduling routine professional maintenance each year… or every 6 months in the case of a heat pump system. Maintenance allows our technicians to thoroughly inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it, leaving your system in the best shape possible for the coming summer season.

Maintenance also reduces ac repair needs by as much as 85%! This doesn’t, however, mean you should neglect your air conditioner if you suspect it needs repairs. It is, after all, a major appliance that suffers from wear-and-tear just like any other mechanical equipment. But how do you know if it needs repair?

One of the most telltale signs that an AC is in disrepair is strange noises coming from the unit. A “strange” noise can really be anything outside of the normal, day-to-day operational sounds that come from the system. Read on to learn more, and please give us a call right away if you hear any of these particular sounds!

Continue Reading

How to Choose Between a Central or Ductless Air Conditioner

Monday, April 18th, 2022

ductless-air-handlerWhen homeowners go to buy a new appliance, they’re usually in one of two scenarios:

  1. Their current appliance is breaking down or has already broken down and they need new equipment now or…
  2. Their budget allows for them to get an upgrade appliance, so they want the best that technology has to offer.

Whichever reason is yours, you should know that there is a preconceived notion that the more expensive the system is, the “better” it is, and that’s not necessarily true. The fact of the matter is, which system is right for your specific home is going to depend on many factors.

There are more options than just the central air conditioner and ductless system, but for the purpose of today’s blog posts, these are the two systems we’re going to focus on. Read on as we uncover the differences to help you decide what’s best for your specific needs.

Continue Reading

Tips for Boosting AC Efficiency This Year

Monday, April 4th, 2022

There aren’t many things that HVAC professionals will tell you to do on your own when it comes to servicing your HVAC systems. And there is definitely a reason for this when it comes to big repair needs. The fact of the matter is that there are some components of your air conditioning and heating systems that the pros need special training and licensing to handle. This includes working with components like refrigerant and natural gas.

Professional maintenance is vital for the health of your air conditioner, the efficiency of your home, and for your family’s comfort. Maintenance enables our technicians to comprehensively inspect your cooling system for problems, anything that may need adjusting, and anything that needs to be cleaned. It also allows us to alert you to repair needs. And lastly, maintenance helps your system work more efficiently. But there’s more you can do besides just scheduling maintenance. Read on to learn more!

Continue Reading

Have You Scheduled This Important AC Service Yet?

Monday, March 21st, 2022

two-techs-working-on-outdoor-ac-unitWhen you live in a climate such as ours, it’s not only recommended that you have a powerful and efficiently operating air conditioner; it’s absolutely vital that you have one. Why? Because without a great AC system, not only will your home not be comfortable, but it can cause health problems–especially for kids or older individuals.

So, how do you ensure that your cooling system is, in fact, powerful and efficient?

It starts with professional installation. Only a trained and experienced HVAC technician has the knowledge it takes to conduct a successful AC installation. Beyond installation, you should make sure that you’re having your air conditioner professionally maintained on a routine basis, and following up on ac repairs as needed.

Why is ac maintenance such an important service, and why should you schedule it now? Read on to find out!

Continue Reading

Don’t Let These End-of-Season Repair Needs Haunt You

Monday, October 18th, 2021

vent-on-floorFall is officially here, and soon enough it will be time for you to start thinking about your heating system. In fact, if you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to schedule heating maintenance.

You have likely been using your air conditioning system pretty consistently over the last several months. The last thing you need is a sudden breakdown or huge repair need when you still need your system to work for at least a few more weeks.

We have some good news though! Most AC system repair needs show symptoms and signs well before they cause your system to break down. So if you notice anything now, it’s a great idea to give us a call right away. This way, you’ll be able to rely on your system not only for the rest of our warm weather, but when you begin using it as temperatures warm up again next year, too. Read on to learn what the signs of a system in disrepair.

Continue Reading

What Kind of AC Should Be Your Next Installation?

Monday, October 4th, 2021

As we often hear said around our neck of the woods, different strokes for different folks. It’s crazy to think of air conditioning as a one size fits all solution. People have wildly different standards when it comes to temperature preferences, ideal humidity conditions, and the enjoyment of seasons. Some homeowners like to have a perfectly comfortable temperature throughout the majority of the year, while others are alright with some temperature fluctuations, as long as they remain safe and comfortable at home.

Different air conditioning systems can work for different homes and budgets. Our blog post today is dedicated to showcasing the different types of air conditioning installations in Mooresville, NC that we provide. We’ll give a breakdown of each system and discuss their major differences. Once you’ve got a better picture of the different types of AC systems, you’ll be able to choose your next unit with confidence!

Continue Reading

“What Does It Mean If My AC Is Leaking Water?”

Monday, September 20th, 2021

technician-working-on-air-conditioner

There are often times when home service companies get a call from a homeowner who is concerned about a major plumbing leak in their living space, only to realize that the problem is actually a leaking air conditioner. AC systems can leak water, but it’s not because they use your plumbing system to operate. Instead, condensation builds up within the system and can, if it’s not properly draining, find a way to spill over, into and onto your property. And then it’s time for some AC repair.

Depending on the location of a cooling system’s indoor unit, the results of that leak can have a huge negative impact. So, what should you do? And is it possible to prevent this from happening again? Read on to learn the answers to these questions!

Continue Reading

As Summer Comes to a Close, Be Aware of These AC Repair Needs

Monday, September 6th, 2021

two-techs-working-on-outdoor-ac-unitAir conditioning repairs are one of those home services you never want to delay. You might be tempted to–especially as the official end of summer nears. After all, as long as your cooling system is still running, if you don’t have repairs in the budget, why bother? Well, one reason is that by ignoring repair needs, you risk the AC system completely breaking down on you when you least expect it, and when you need it the most.

We encourage our customers to always take care of their air conditioners the moment they notice there’s a repair need. This is especially true at the end of the season. First off, the problem could be something that will impact your heater, too–like damaged ductwork or a malfunctioning thermostat. Secondly, neglecting your suffering air conditioner at the end of the summer season could leave you with an unpleasant surprise next spring–a system that just won’t turn on.

Read on as we uncover some of the most common end-of-season AC repair needs we get called for.

Continue Reading

Is Your Air Conditioner Short-Cycling? Here’s What May Be Wrong

Monday, August 23rd, 2021

technician-working-on-outside-ac-unit-with-homeowner-in-backgroundOne of the most popular service calls we get and, unfortunately, one of the most damaging problems for an air conditioner, is about a system that is short-cycling. This is the name given to the process where an air conditioner or heater cycles on and off in rapid succession without ever completing a full cooling cycle. Short cycling is both the symptom of a problem already in your air conditioner and the cause of further problems.

Sometimes, all that might be needed to fix the issue is a few simple adjustments. In most cases though, short-cycling requires a professional to come in and repair an issue. You want a trained and experienced technician for this kind of work!

The bottom line is, short-cycling has to be fixed, and not ignored. Otherwise, you face the very real possibility that you’ll have to prematurely replace your entire air conditioner, and until then you could waste a lot of energy and subsequent money. Read on to learn more!

Continue Reading