6 Common Reasons For a Leaking AC, Explained
A leaking AC unit could spell disaster for your home’s temperature. In a climate like that of Oklahoma City, you can’t afford to be without a functioning AC unit during summer.
Yet what is it that causes the leaks? What mechanical gremlins have caused the issue?
In this guide, we’re going to take a look at some of the most common causes of leaking air conditioning so that you can diagnose your problem and get it fixed.
Are you ready to learn more? Then read on!
1. A Damaged Drain Pan
The condensate drain pan has an important role to play in your AC unit. It captures all of the moisture that comes off the evaporator coils, and there’s a lot of that. However, these drain pans have a finite lifespan.
If you’ve got an older AC unit (around 15 years old), your condensate drain pan might have rusted through or experienced some other kind of damage. If this happens, all of that moisture it would have collected will find another way out, causing a leak.
2. A Dirty Air Filter
You might not think of an air filter as being responsible for a leak but it may well be. If your air filter is too dirty or if it’s got a clog, the evaporator coils can get too cold.
When this happens, moisture will freeze on the coils. In warm weather, like we’ve been experiencing in Edmond, OK, the ice will then start to melt. If there’s an air filter clog, the sheer amount of moisture might overwhelm the drain pan, which will lead to leaks.
3. A Clogged Drain Line
The drain line on the AC is a vital component and a clogged drain line is one of the most common causes of leaks. It causes leaking AC issues because if the line is clogged up, there’s nowhere for the water to go.
This means that the water backs up and can spill out of the unit, causing leaks.
Dirt and other debris can get carried into the line over time, and this can lead to a buildup, causing this problem.
4. A Refrigerant Leak
Without enough refrigerant in your AC system, it won’t be able to effectively cool your home. This can lower the pressure in your AC unit, which can lead to the coils freezing and resultant leaks.
It can be difficult to diagnose a refrigerant leak yourself but there are two main symptoms to watch for. The first is a lack of cooling and the second is a bubbling sound coming from your AC.
5. A Broken Condensate Pump
When moisture goes into the drain pan, a condensate pump will move it out of the pan and into your drain. If your pump is broken, however, it may not be able to clear the moisture fast enough, which can cause leaks.
Solving Leaking AC Problems
Whatever the cause, leaking AC is a serious issue and one that you need to solve fast. We’re here to help: our team of expert technicians is here to solve any AC issues that you may be having, no matter what their cause.
Contact us, and we’ll be happy to come and inspect your AC and diagnose your problem. When we’ve figured out the cause, we can get to work straight away and get your AC back in full working order.
This Is How to Improve the Air Quality in Your House
When we think of air pollution we think of large factories, car exhausts, and murky air. Although all of these factors attribute to air pollution outside, there are many pollutants that are also introduced inside of our homes.
The average American spends 87% of their life indoors. Given the constant exposure, it is important that you take steps to improve the air quality in your home. Keep reading to learn more about improving your indoor air quality.
Indoor Air Pollution
Studies have shown that inside air has 2 to 5 times more pollutants than outdoors. The reduction in air quality in your home can be from daily activities or things you have no control over, like the thinning of the ozone layer. It is important to be aware of the pollutants in your home and take steps to improve your air quality.
Common Forms of Indoor Pollutants
Indoor air pollution can come in the form of particulates, microbial pollutants, or gases. Exposure to pollutants can have adverse effects on your lung and heart health.
Indoor particulate matter is solid or liquid particles that have been mixed into the air. Microbial pollutants grow indoors where there is sufficient moisture. Gases can linger in the air from the use of aerosol products or even cooking.
Methods to Improve the Air Quality in Your Home
There are many ways to protect your home against air pollutants in Edmond or Oklahoma City and improve your air quality. Through the following practices, you can reduce your home's pollutants and breathe healthier.
Regular HVAC Maintenance
Pollutants can circulate through your home's heating and cooling system is important to invest in routine maintenance for your HVAC unit. Proper maintenance can help to reduce the pollutants by ensuring all filtration systems are working properly and making sure no leaks are present.
Changing Filters
Air conditioning units are designed to help cycle and cool your home. They do this while circulating the air through a series of filters, which can catch many air pollutants. To ensure that it is operating at maximum efficiency, you should replace your AC filters every two to three months.
Your vacuum cleaner and drying machine come with filters to catch lint and other particulates that can pollute the air of your home. In order to reduce the number of particulates you are introducing to your home, be sure to also regularly change appliance filters.
Checking Your Vents and Ducts
Air vents and ducts are used to move heated or cooled air throughout your home. Over time, vents and ducts can produce dust or mold. By having regular maintenance on ducts, you can ensure that you are circulating clean and fresh air around your home.
Control the Humidity in Your Home
Humid conditions can further stimulate the growth of microbial pollutants, such as mold or mildew. Oklahoma City maintains an average relative humidity between 50-60% year-round. By using dehumidifiers in your home, you can reduce the amount of moisture in the air to minimize the growth of these pollutants.
Use Indoor Plants to Freshen the Air
Plants are a great natural tool to help filter the air. Through photosynthesis, plants can convert carbon dioxide to fresh oxygen. Plants can also scrub the air of certain chemical compounds found in cleaning products, such as formaldehyde and benzene.
By growing indoor plants, you can make your home feel more welcoming while improving the air quality.
Breathe Easy Indoors
Ensuring your home's air quality should be a top priority. It is important to monitor the air quality in your area, whether you are in Edmond or Oklahoma City.
By implementing these strategies, you can control common indoor pollutants and reduce your risk for health concerns.
Connect with us to improve the air quality and breathe easy indoors.
What Are the Most Common Furnace Problems?
Have you ever set the thermostat to a nice, cozy temperature on a winter night only to wake up the next morning with chilled feet, a cold runny nose, and the clouds of your own breath blowing over your head?
The likely culprit is furnace problems (or even a broken furnace).
Luckily, most furnace issues are an easy fix. It doesn’t require much money, effort, or time to get to the root of the problem and tackle it with precision.
Here are some of the most common furnace problems, how to fix them, and when to call a professional.
Your Furnace Isn’t Receiving Power
If your furnace is unplugged, you won’t get any heat out of it. The first thing you’ll want to do is plug it back in. After that, check if the circuit breaker tripped. If it did, the fix is simple.
Here are the steps:
- Flip the breaker from its OFF position to its ON position.
- If it’s in the middle of OFF and ON, turn it off first, then flip it back up.
Hopefully, the breaker will stay in the ON position and your furnace will be up-and-running.
If it switches back to OFF, there’s a wiring issue. You’ll want to contact a licensed professional to sort this out for you.
What’s That Scraping Sound?
It’s the ball bearings. They’ve done all they could and now they’re worn down. If your furnace is scraping or grinding like nails on a chalkboard, lubricating them is no longer an option.
They’ll need to get replaced. To do this the proper and safest way, you’ll want to turn off your heater and immediately call an HVAC professional.
What’s That Squealing Sound?
If your furnace is screeching and squealing at you like a bat in the dead of night, it means there’s an issue with your blower belt. It either slipped or is worn down.
Consider troubleshooting this issue yourself if you have had experience with similar mechanical issues.
If it slipped, just tighten it, but try not to tighten it too much. This can cause needless wear and tear on your ball bearings.
Assuming your blower belt is worn out, it’s still an easy and cheap replacement. Consider taking a trip to your local home improvement store.
Furnace Problems With Pilot Light or Ignition
If your furnace is working, your pilot light should always be lit. When the pilot light is acting strange, there could be a range of factors contributing to this misbehavior, so it’s best to have an HVAC professional tackle this problem for you.
You can never be too certain if a defective safety switch is the culprit of this problem. Because of this, troubleshooting pilot light issues on your own could put you in needless danger.
Some other common issues causing a defective pilot light include:
- Clogged pilot orifice
- Flame setting too low
- Aberrant thermocouple
Professionals will turn off the gas supply and wait at least 5-10 minutes before relighting your pilot. The longer the pilot has been out, the larger the gas build-up. If you don’t know what you’re doing, AGAIN, please contact an HVAC professional.
Still Unsure About What’s Wrong With Your Furnace?
That’s okay! The furnace problems listed above are the most common, but the list of possible causes of your furnace not working is rather long.
You can save yourself a lot of time, money, and heartache by contacting your Above and Beyond Heating and Cooling HVAC professionals. Stationed in Edmond, OK, and Oklahoma City, OK, we would love to hear from you.
Give your local HVAC team a call. If you’re unsure about our location, here are our coordinates:
Edmond Location
17300 N. May Ave, Ste A,
Edmond, OK 73012
Call us at: (405) 233-8978
Oklahoma City Location
13616 Railway Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73114
Call us at: (405) 237-4257
What Are the Different Types of Home Heat Pumps?
Over 12 million homes use heat pump systems to heat their homes. Heat pumps offer a more energy-efficient way to heat and cool your home than furnaces and air conditioners.
Preparing your home heating system is an important part of gearing up for the winter months. This is especially important if you live in an area that consistently reaches single or negative digits.
Are you looking to switch over to home heat pumps or replace your existing heat pump system? Keep reading to learn tips for heat pumps and the different types you can choose from.
What are Home Heat Pumps?
First of all, what is a heat pump system? Put simply, heat pumps use electricity to heat and cool your home.
Heat pumps do not create hot or cool air. Instead, they redistribute hot and cold air to create the temperature you desire in your home.
In the winter, a heat pump system collects heat from the ground, water, or cool air and sends it into your home. In the summer, a heat pump system will take the warm air from inside your home and sends it outside.
There are many benefits of heat pumps. They're more environmentally friendly as they don't use gas like other heating systems, and they have a cheaper monthly cost because they don't use a lot of energy.
Is it time to replace your heating system? Consider the following different types of heat pumps to find out which system would work best for your home.
Air-to-Air Heat Pumps
An air-to-air heat pump, also known as an air source heat pump, is the cheapest heat pump system. It's also the easiest system to install.
This system takes heat from the air outdoors and places it back inside your home. This pump also takes up the least amount of space in your home.
Water Source Heat Pumps
A water source heat pump can only be utilized if you live close to a body of water. It pumps water from a water source through the heat pump, extracting the heat energy.
This is the second most expensive type of heat pump. However, it requires a constant flow of water, so you may need a second heat source for backup, just in case.
Geothermal Heat Pumps
A geothermal heat pump, also known as a ground source heat pump, takes advantage of the heat that remains underground in colder temperatures. It takes the heat from below the ground near your house and pumps it back into your home.
When testing heat pumps, this is the most reliable and quiet pump to use. It's also the most expensive heat pump to install.
Heat Your Home
Now you know the types of home heat pumps and how they work. It's time to choose the best system for your home.
Above and Beyond Heating and Cooling is dedicated to providing the Edmond, OK and Oklahoma City, OK areas with heating and cooling systems that keep homes comfortable all year. Give us a call or send us an email, and we'll be happy to set you up with a heat pump system that works for you.
What Is a Heat Pump and Why Is It Ideal for Warmer Areas in your Guthrie Home?
Heating and cooling services have come a long way since palm fronds and bonfires, but the modern options can be confusing. With so many options available, making the best decision for your home has gotten difficult.
One option that you've probably not heard a lot about is the heat pump. What is a heat pump? It is a combination heater/cooler system that moves heat from one location to another.
That's the super simple definition, read on for more specifics to learn if a heat pump is the right choice for your needs.
What is a Heat Pump?
A heat pump uses a motor and compression to move air like many HVAC systems. Instead of heating or cooling the air before it is moved, the heat pump draws in warmer air and then pushes it.
In the summer, this sucks air from inside the house and pushes it outside. In the winter, the system draws excess heat from the outdoors and pushes that indoors.
Because a heat pump moves air inside to outside, it can be a terrific option for those sensitive to allergies and air quality.
Hot and Cold?
Not all heat pumps work with open environments. A geothermal heat pump draws heat from under the ground and moves this inside.
The temperature underground is more stable than atmospheric temps.
When the temperature outside drops below zero, it's difficult for a heat pump to find anything to move into the house. Geothermal pumps don't run into this problem, but for an atmospheric pump, you will occasionally need backup heating.
Ductwork
If you replaced a previously existing HVAC or central heating/air system, the ducts in place don't need to be modified for a heat pump. That said, the better your insulation and air seals, the more efficiently a heat pump will run.
For a new home, or if you want to be rid of vents, ductless heat pump systems exist.
What is a ductless heat pump? Also known as a mini-split heat pump, these units exchange heat through smaller conduits to the a larger external system. The benefit of a mini-split is the precise temps that can be achieved on a room by room basis rather than average temperatures throughout the floor of a house.
Energy Efficiency
Heat pumps offer savings on energy bills by efficiently moving air around and not treating that air.
That said, they are more efficient cooling than heating. They offer up to 10 HSPF when cooling. When heating they number is cut down by about five points.
With a well-insulated home and good seals on windows and doors, heat pumps offer a lot of effect for a low monthly energy cost. They last an average of 15 years and most of the cost is in the installation.
Keep it Moving
That's the longer answer for "What is a heat pump?" concluded. As for if it's the right choice for your home, if you live in the Oklahoma City or Edmond area, you likely spend more on your cooling than your heating. That makes a heat pump an ideal choice.
The upfront cost is hefty but also manageable. Contact Above & Beyond Heating & Cooling for information on available units and pricing plans.
5 Common Warning Signs of Poor Air Quality Indoors
With extreme summer temperatures rising above 104 degrees, it’s nice to know you can take shelter inside your home.
However, it’s important your AC unit is ready for summer if you want to avoid poor air quality inside your home. How do your spot poor air quality?
Read on to learn about the sign of poor air quality.
1. Excess Humidity
With the summer season upon us, humidity tends to increase in the air. However, when you’re inside your house, you want the air to remain cool and crisp.
Even if humidity is 100 percent outdoors, you should expect the air inside to remain between 30 and 50 percent. If the humidity is lower than this, then your eyes will get dry, or you will show signs of upper respiratory infections. However, if your house is too humid, organisms will begin to grow.
If you notice the humidity inside your home is higher than normal, it’s a sign you have poor air quality indoors.
2. Unpleasant Odors
The last things you want to smell inside your home are unpleasant odors. Poor air quality means there’s an issue with the airflow. Your A/C unit is letting the air linger longer than it should, which can result in strange smells.
Also, as mentioned before, if your house has high humidity levels, it can lead to mildew, especially in the summer. Mildew is an unpleasant smell that no one wants lingering around their home.
3. Mold and Mildew
Growth of mold and mildew is the number one sign you have poor air circulation in your home. Humidity and lack of circulation will result in the growth of mold and mildew inside your home.
You can spot mold because it leaves traces of green or black spots on surfaces, such as walls, sink, tubs, and other high moisture areas. Sometimes mold-growth is not apparent as it hides behind your walls.
If you can’t visibly see mold, sometimes you will be able to smell it. Mold and mildew have a strong, musty smell.
4. Inconsistent Temperature
During hot summer days, you want your entire house to remain cool and crisp. If you notice some rooms are colder than others, it’s a sign you have a poor airflow distribution.
When you have inconsistent airflow throughout your home, it’s a sign your HVAC system can’t maintain the right temperature throughout the entire home. Sometimes the issue is quite simple to fix, but you should call an HVAC expert to take a look.
5. Allergies and Other Health Issues
If you suffer from allergies and they have gotten worse out of nowhere, you should take a look at the airflow inside your home.
When the airflow inside your home doesn’t circulate as it should, dust, pollen, and debris will collect inside your home. The excess debris will cause your allergies.
Signs Your House Has Poor Air Quality
Now that you know about these poor air quality issues, it’s time you address them. If you notice bad odors, excess humidity, inconsistent temperatures, and your allergies getting worse, it’s time you call an expert.
Above and Beyond Heating & Cooling provides residential & commercial HVAC services in OK, Edmond, and the surrounding areas.
Need help with your HVAC system? Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
5 Air Conditioning Tips to Get Ready for the Summer
When the heat of the summer rolls in, the pressure is on for your HVAC system to work properly and efficiently. Now is the time for your air conditioning unit to do its magic and keep you and your home cool during the hottest months of the year.
Without care and maintenance, however, your HVAC system can't work to its full potential. You need to keep up with the best air conditioning tips to ensure your system is in the best shape possible to cool your entire home during the summer.
Continue reading below for our list of the best tips to get your air conditioner ready for summer!
1. Provide Shade for Your System
You should provide shade for your outside unit. Placing your unit under shade will surround it with cool air. The shade makes it easier for your HVAC system to run and cool the air inside the home.
When the unit is located in direct sunlight, it'll have to work much harder to cool itself down and your entire house, which could cost you down the road. If your unit isn't currently under the shade, don't worry about having to relocate it. You can install a canopy over it or something similar.
2. Check the Condenser for Blocks
It's not uncommon for outdoor units to come into contact with outdoor debris such as leaves, twigs, dirt, and more. If your unit isn't cleaned out on a regular basis, then this type of debris can build up inside of it creating blocks within the condenser.
Clear the condenser of any blocks and ensure that it's in a place where it can receive air effortlessly and do its job well.
3. Weatherize Your Home
If your home isn't properly weatherized, then cool air can exit through windows, doors, attics, and other areas. Take the time to weatherize your house thoroughly. Provide insulation around ducts and apply caulking to weather stripping with leaks.
Seal up any air leaks that your home might have to stop the air from exiting. If these leaks aren't taken care of, your air conditioning will have to work harder to keep the house cool.
4. Invest in a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are beneficial in several ways. They come in handy when you leave your house but forget to change the settings on your air conditioning. You can access the thermostat via your smartphone and change the temperature.
They also come in handy for regulating heating and cooling while you're away.
5. Schedule Regular Tune-Ups
Your HVAC unit is an essential part of your home. It deserves the proper type of care to keep it running smoothly for years to come. Scheduling regular tune-ups is a necessity for your air conditioning.
Having a professional service come out and complete a quick fine-tuning of the system might be all it needs to perform at its best abilities during the hottest months of the year.
Follow These Air Conditioning Tips This Summer!
These air conditioning tips are the best route to take to keep your HVAC system up and running. Follow these tips along with other routine air conditioning maintenance such as changing the filter to ensure you have no worries about staying cool this summer.
Click here today to contact us and schedule your routine HVAC check!
Above + Beyond Service Company COVID-19 Prevention
As our company responds to COVID-19, the health and safety of our employees and customers remains our top priority. The work we do is critical, especially while you and your families spend more time indoors. During this time at Above and Beyond Heating & Cooling, our focus is on these things:
- The health and safety of our customers and employees
- Implementing strategies to keep our company running as smooth as possible and protect our staff as much as possible
- Continue to provide excellent customer service for our customers
- Keeping our customer’s Air Conditioning & Heating systems running
- Providing solutions to COVID-19 for our customers
We have also taken precautions to ensure that we do not put your family or ours at risk during this time. To minimize everyone’s risk, we have implemented the following procedures.
- For your health and safety, technicians have been advised to not shake hands.
- Our technicians will wear gloves as much as possible and may need to clean or sanitize surfaces they touch during their visit. Technicians will also wear shoe covers as much as possible inside your home.
- If you or someone in your household is showing signs of illness, including fever or flu-like symptoms, we ask that you reschedule any upcoming technician visits to your home.
- All employees who can work remotely, are working remotely.
- Increased Office Cleaning & Disinfecting for those essential personnel that must be in the office/warehouse
During this time there are no interruptions in our services. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the office.