Touchstone Heating & Air Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning Repair’

The AC Cooling Cycle: How Long Should It Last?

Monday, August 26th, 2019

AC-plastic-grateA problem our technicians often address in air conditioning systems is short-cycling. This is when an air conditioner becomes trapped in the start-up cycle so it doesn’t complete a regular cycle. The thermostat activates the compressor to begin cooling down the house, but for some reason, the compressor shuts down early. Soon after, the compressor starts again, only to shut down early once more… and the process repeats.

Most of the time, short-cycling requires professional air conditioning repair in Alachua, FL to fix. No matter what, don’t allow your AC to continue this stop-and-start routine. It increases wear on the system and endangers the compressor. You might end up with a dead AC years before its time. And you will certainly have higher electrical bills because the start-up cycle uses the most amount of power of any part of an AC’s operation.

But to understand when an AC is short-cycling, you have to understand how long a “regular” cooling cycle lasts. Let’s get into the details …

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The Moldy AC—It Happens!

Monday, July 29th, 2019

virus-cellsNobody likes talking about mold in homes. It’s icky and unpleasant. And, in the case of black mold, it’s downright dangerous. Unfortunately, living in a humid place like Florida means we have to confront the reality of mold and mildew sometimes cropping up in our homes. A good defense is the best way to keep these troubles away.

Our expertise when it comes to unwanted mold is when the mold occurs inside a home’s air conditioning system. This can happen, and happen more often than anybody would like. For a number of reasons, ACs can encounter bad mold and mildew problems, which hinder their ability to function, send awful smells around a house, and even spread black mold spores everywhere.

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My AC Is Running Constantly—What’s Wrong?

Monday, May 20th, 2019

air-conditioner-maintenance-tools

When the summer heat ramps up in Florida, it can be searingly hot. On some days it may feel as if you have to run your air conditioning system constantly.

But there’s a difference in needing to keep your air conditioner on and your air conditioner’s compressor never cycling down. When the compressor just continues to run and run, then there’s something wrong. The compressor is designed to run through cooling cycles, which is why under normal circumstances you’ll hear the compressor kick in periodically during the day. When it never shuts off, you probably need air conditioning repair in Lake City, FL from professionals.

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A Helpful AC Tip to Clean the Condensate Drain

Monday, April 22nd, 2019

water-dropletsIt’s time to get down to the nitty gritty of your air conditioning system. It’s about to shoulder an immense amount of work as the hot and humid season in Florida settles in, and you don’t want it to go up against the heat without the proper preparations.

One of the essential  air conditioning services in Lake City, FL to schedule is professional preventive maintenance. Nothing is better at fixing up an AC for another summer. Our Energy Savings Agreement is the fast, easy, and affordable way to set this up.

But once the professional maintenance inspection and tune-up is done, there are a few maintenance jobs you can do over the season, such as changing the air filter and cleaning the condensate drain—which we’re going to examine below.

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Is It Too Early to Think About AC Maintenance?

Monday, February 25th, 2019

air-conditioner-unit-being-repairedMost HVAC contractors recommend their customers schedule maintenance for their air conditioning systems during the spring. This fits the maintenance in at an ideal time, when the weather is starting to warm up but isn’t yet warm enough to make an AC necessary. HVAC contractors are less busy in this period, making scheduling simple.

The situation is a bit different in Florida. The official start of spring isn’t until the third week of March, but our weather can warm up much faster with higher humidity. It’s a good idea to be prepped for hot conditions starting in April.

So if you’re already thinking about arranging for AC maintenance here in late February—that’s good! We think it’s best to arrange for your regular maintenance before the rush of other homeowners who realize the weather is starting to turn hot.

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Check the Outdoor AC Cabinet in the Fall

Monday, October 8th, 2018

touchstone-new-ac-yorkAlthough we experience some wet and cold days during the winters in North Central Florida, we also still have hot days. Air conditioners are expected to work throughout the year around here. That means you need to make sure your home’s AC is prepared to get through each season. The biggest concern is summer, which is why we stress having professional maintenance done in the spring, right before the period when the AC will run the most.

It’s fall now, and you won’t be arranging for professional maintenance for the cooling system (unless you didn’t have it done during spring, in which case, better late than never). But we recommend you take a few steps to check on the air conditioner to make sure no problems are developing and that it’s set to handle any warm days ahead. If you do need air conditioning repair in Gainesville, FL, call us and we’ll be there to take care of it.

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How Corrosion Can Affect Your AC

Monday, September 10th, 2018

ac-units-scrapyardCorrosion is a major enemy of most metal devices and appliances. With air conditioners, corrosion along the evaporator or condenser coils is responsible for 40% of system failures. Corrosion can happen quickly and may result from years of moisture exposure.

If you notice corrosion starting anywhere on your home’s cooling system, call for professional AC repair in Alachua, FL. The sooner you have the problem dealt with, the less likely you’ll need to replace the air conditioning system years before its time.

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A Short-Cycling Air Conditioner—Why It’s Bad News

Monday, June 18th, 2018

spinning-fan-cuIs your AC turning on and off again? It’s definitely not normal.

Short-cycling occurs when your AC turns on and off, over and over, without going through a proper cooling cycle. In the short-term, short-cycling will stop your home from getting cooler. In the long-term, you’re looking at costly repairs and possibly even replacement.

The bad news is that short-cycling can have a profound effect on your next energy bill. The good news, though, is that the earlier you take care of the problem, the better off you’ll be.

Keep reading to find out why short-cycling is more than just an annoyance.

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Summer Cooling Tips to Lower Your AC Bills

Monday, May 21st, 2018

stack-of-billsTemperatures are rising in Florida, but the rain is also falling, so we aren’t quite into the full heat of summer yet. Your utility bills won’t show the price spike you expect when your air conditioning system starts running on a regular basis.

When the price spike comes, we’d like to help you keep it from being quite so steep. Here are a few simple tips to help lower air conditioning bills over the summer without having to make big sacrifices in comfort. Some you can do on your own. Others require the assistance of AC professionals—but they’re definitely worth it.

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Ways That Regular Air Conditioning Maintenance Saves Money

Monday, April 23rd, 2018

money-saving-piggy-bankOne of the most important services that we offer our customers is routine maintenance service for their cooling and heating systems. We strongly recommend homeowners arrange for a maintenance tune-up and inspection in spring for their air conditioning systems. The work we do on your AC, such as tightening electrical connections, lubricating moving parts, and checking for a drop in refrigerant pressure, will give the system the best chance of making it through another sweltering Florida summer without suffering a breakdown. That will give you peace of mind, one of the best rewards.

There are other reasons to have routine air conditioning maintenance in Lake City, FL each year. Many of those reasons are about saving money. The price you pay for regular maintenance will come back to you with interest through the many ways AC maintenance reduces various costs.

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