Air Conditioning Repair in Tumwater, WA

How Do I Troubleshoot My AC Unit Before Calling for Repair?

When your air conditioning unit starts acting up, that first instinct is to quickly call in the repair pros. But before you pick up that phone, any seasoned homeowner can run through a few basic checks themselves. A simple fix could have you back to cooling comfort in a jiffy!

The easiest place to start is ensuring your AC is actually getting the power it needs. Believe it or not, a tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse in the electrical panel is often the real culprit. Give that panel a once-over and reset any breakers that got kicked. If you’ve got a separate disconnect box for that outdoor unit, make sure it’s not tripped either.

With the power situation squared away, do a quick walk-around of the system. Make sure there’s no obstructions blocking airflow – clear any yard debris from around that outdoor condenser and scope out the return vents inside too. Might as well change out that air filter while you’re at it if it’s looking gunked up. Restricted airflow can really mess with cooling performance.

If the issue seems thermostat-related and your AC just isn’t kicking on properly, try manually rebooting it by switching the power off for a couple minutes, then back on. Just be careful not to accidentally wipe out any custom programming you’ve got dialed in.

For the brave souls, you can even give those outdoor condenser coils a gentle rinse with a hose to clear off built-up grime. Keyword is gentle though – don’t go bending any of those delicate fins out of whack. If they’re already looking pretty mangled, best to steer clear.

If after all that your AC still isn’t cooling like it should, it’s probably time to hang up the DIY hat and call in the pros at Taylor. Forcing an improperly running system can potentially lead to even bigger headaches down the road.

The goal here is to attempt some quick, common-sense checks to rule out any easy fixes before scheduling a service call. But if that AC just flat-out refuses to cooperate, don’t keep messing with it. Our certified techs will have no issues properly diagnosing and repairing the real underlying issue.

How Do Power Surges Affect My Air Conditioner?

We’ve all experienced that heart-stopping moment – you’re kicked back in blessed air conditioned comfort when KABAM! A booming summer thunderstorm sends a jolting power surge crackling through the neighborhood. The lights blink out momentarily before flickering back to life. In those few seconds of darkness, your mind can’t help but race – did that electrical spike just zap my AC unit too?

The hard truth is, power surges from lightning strikes and electrical grid hiccups definitely pack enough punch to potentially fry the sensitive electronic guts inside your cooling system. All those circuit boards, sensors and relays essentially act as tiny computers these days. A powerful enough surge can short them out just like it would any other digital device.

But even if your AC keeps humming along after riding out a power surge, those jolting spikes can still do gradual damage over time. They create little shorts and weaken electrical connections bit by bit, adding extra strain that accelerates wear and tear on costly components like motors and capacitors.

Here’s the good news though – you can absolutely protect that cool air investment from power surge perils by having a professional electrician install a heavy-duty whole-home suppressor. Similar to the smaller plug-in protectors for electronics, these burly devices basically absorb any rogue electrical spikes before they can reach your AC system and other major appliances.

For older cooling units already showing some road miles, it’s also a wise move to have an HVAC pro inspect for any potential surge-related damage at your next tune-up appointment. They’ll be able to identify weakened parts and make repairs to get everything running smoothly again.

At the end of the day, power surges are an unavoidable reality that come with our summer storm territory. But being proactive about whole-home protection, and quickly addressing any issues, can help extend your AC’s lifespan significantly. Just a little prudent planning for long-lasting peace of mind!

What Is the Impact of Dust and Debris on My AC’s Performance?

A little bit of dust around the house never killed anyone, right? Well, when it comes to your home’s air conditioning system, you can’t let that dusty stuff build up unchecked. What starts as a thin coating you barely notice can slowly but surely smother your cooling power if you’re not careful.

The main issue is how dust buildup restricts airflow through all the critical components like the indoor coil and outdoor condenser coils. As that grimy layer keeps accumulating on those finned surfaces, it gets tougher and tougher for air to flow through like it should. Those coils rely on clear airways to effectively pull heat out of your home’s air. Let them get caked and you’ll be stuck with lukewarm “air conditioning” at best.

But that’s not even the worst of it. All that extra dust forces hardworking parts like your blower fan and motor to strain way harder just to compensate for the blocked airflow. Next thing you know, you’re burning more energy each month just to achieve reduced cooling levels. Those utility bills are going to feel that big time!

If you really let the dust situation go totally haywire over years of neglect, that grime can also start causing premature corrosion and wearing down metal components. What may have started as a minor annoyance turns into replacing expensive parts like compressors way sooner than expected.

Worst case? Think about how insulating dusty blankets could potentially overheat your system’s electrical components if left totally unchecked during peak summer heat. You’re just asking for short circuits, failure, or even fire hazards at that point.

Fortunately, keeping that dusty menace under control isn’t too difficult with basic maintenance. Regularly swapping air filters and having a pro flush out your entire AC annually is really all it takes to keep everything humming smoothly.

The bottom line – don’t disregard a routine household dusting as no big deal for your AC system. That’s exactly how major cooling issues get started! A little simple upkeep goes a long way toward year after year of reliable cool air. Give the experts at Taylor Heating & AC a call if you need some help keeping that dust monster at bay!

How Can I Protect My AC Unit During Severe Weather?

When those first rumbling thunderheads start building on the horizon, you know it’s time to batten down the hatches in preparation for another round of severe summer weather. But while you’re making sure the patio furniture is secure and windows are latched, don’t overlook taking some simple precautions to protect your home’s air conditioning system too!

The biggest risk major storms pose to your AC is from flying debris getting whipped around by high winds. Those loose branches, rocks, even kids’ toys can become forceful projectiles capable of denting fins, puncturing coils, cracking the outer casing, you name it. Storm prepping should always start with a quick debris sweep around the outdoor condenser unit.

It’s also a good idea to use a bungee cord or tarp to secure any loose fan grills or service panels on that condenser too. You don’t want them flapping in the wind and risking damage. For extra security, you can even install a pruned shrub box around the unit to help deflect windborne objects.

If hail starts looking like a possibility, covering up the top and exposed sides of your AC with protective plywood boards helps prevent pocks and dents. Just don’t wrap things too tightly – airflow is still needed. Likewise, bagging up the top with a breathable mesh tarp can offer basic impact protection in a pinch.

When downpours are imminent, the main indoor concerns are preventing water backup from flooding your home’s interior air handler or furnace. Installing a simple drain line extension to carry moisture further away provides valuable peace of mind.

Of course, shutting off the electrical disconnect breaker before any storm hits is an absolute must too. You never want to risk power surges from lightning frying those sensitive electrical components inside.

With just a little basic storm prep like this, you’ll be sitting a lot easier knowing your cooling investment is protected from nature’s fury. Then you can simply crank the AC back on once it passes without any costly surprise damage!

What are the Signs of Refrigerant Leaks in My Air Conditioner?

We’ve all heard the stories – it’s always the stuff a homeowner can’t see that ends up costing an arm and a leg to fix. A prime example? Those refrigerant lines running through your air conditioning system. If even a tiny pinhole leak forms on one of those copper lines, it can let all the cooling juice gradually seep out. And before you know it, you’re looking at an expensive repair if it goes unnoticed.

The first signs aren’t usually super obvious. You might notice the air just doesn’t seem quite as cold and crisp as it used to be, even when you crank the thermostat way down. Or maybe you’ve picked up on the AC kicking off sooner than normal in the middle of its cycles before it restarts. Both could hint at not enough refrigerant flowing properly.

Put your sniffer to work too. Wander over and give the area around your indoor air handler and outdoor condenser units a good whiff. If you catch a sweet, sickly kind of odor, don’t brush it off right away. That sweet smell is a classic sign of refrigerant leaking out.

As those slow leaks keep trucking over time, they can also put extra strain on big components like compressors and fan motors as they struggle to compensate. You might even start hearing louder clanking or groaning noises coming from the units.

The dead giveaway though? If you do a visual inspection and notice those refrigerant lines are sprouting icy buildups. That’s basically a big blinking neon sign saying “major leak alert!” If it gets to that point, some expensive damage is likely done.

Here’s the kicker – refrigerant doesn’t just stop leaking on its own once a hole opens up. It’ll keep right on slowly seeping out until that line gets properly repaired or replaced. Those leaks don’t reseal themselves automatically.

That’s why it’s so important to keep your nose peeled for any little hints of refrigerant trouble early on. At the first whiff of an issue, get on the horn with a reputable AC company like Taylor to get it checked out fast. Catching those tiny pinhole leaks early could potentially save you thousands in the long run!