A/C Contractors Blog

Get expert tips on AC filter cleaning, choosing the right HVAC contractor and how to tell if your AC thermostat is bad. 

Help For Your Longview Air Conditioning

Everyone in Texas knows how hot summer temperatures can get, and how important our central air conditioning units are. In Longview and other areas, Texans have to deal with temperatures that regularly rise over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. With this high temperature, getting stuck without air conditioning can be extremely bad for us, if not fatal for some. Small children, the elderly, and the ill are at the highest risk for death in hot temperatures. And it’s sure that everyone else will have trouble dealing with the unbearable heat. Air conditioners do a lot to relieve us of this uncomfortable situation, but they can also help with improving air quality. A good central air conditioning system helps us to feel more comfortable and live healthier lives. Good quality air is equally important. Many Longview air conditioning systems will filter the air effectively, eliminating dirt, dust, pollen, and other contaminants in the indoor air. Most standard air conditioning units in Longview will effectively remove the heat from the room and replace it with cool air. Central air conditioning units in Texas are generally the type with heat pumps. The heat pump unit will both heat and cool the home by using refrigerant. Typically, a heat pump run on electrical power is all that’s needed for Texas air conditioning and heating systems. In colder climates, a fuel run heater is much more efficient, but is way over powering for our temperatures here. When the air conditioning goes down, you don’t want to be stuck in your home while waiting for repairs. Having a good, reliable air conditioning expert on call is a great idea. Air conditioning repairs can be made quickly and efficiently by the right contractor. In Longview, that would be A/C Contractors. A/C Contractors is a full service HVAC company that has served the area since 1987. They are air conditioning, heating, and indoor air quality experts serving the Longview area. They provide fast and efficient response to all emergency A/C calls. Sometimes it can be hard to find a reliable repair person when you need help to fix your HVAC system. You need the problem fixed right the first time. That means your air conditioning repair specialist needs to be experienced, skilled, and possess all the right tools to expertly troubleshoot the problems. The technicians at A/C Contractors stay up to date with their training and all the latest technologies. Plus, you get up front, honest prices. You can’t predict or control when your air conditioning is going to go out. But you can do some things to prevent it. Calling to schedule an air conditioning tune up prior to the season change will greatly improve your chances of having a perfectly running system all summer long. It will also help your unit to last longer. If your air conditioning system hasn’t had any attention lately, it’s time to get it tuned up. Just like any mechanical system, it needs to be lubricated, cleaned, and repaired where needed on a regular basis.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Benefits Of A Tune Up For Your Heater

Winter is coming. Are you ready? Texas winters are unpredictable and susceptible to extreme lows in temperature and massive snowstorms. In the dead of winter temperatures often below zero. When your heater breaks down it’s more than just a minor inconvenience. It can compromise your family’s safety within just a few hours. So if it’s been a while since you’ve had a professional tune-up, then now is the time before cold weather sets in. A heating tune-up gives you peace of mind knowing that your heater will be there when you need it most. What is a Tune Up? A tune up in Longview and Tyler is a comprehensive point by point inspection of all the components of your heating system. With a thorough assessment, all the issues can be identified, and proper steps can be taken to restore your heater back to prime condition. It is designed to give your system long life and avoid major repairs or equipment replacement. Although different companies offer different services, most technicians perform the following: All components are inspected for operating condition Thermostat is calibrated and adjusted All filters are check and changed. All electric connections are tightened. All liquids including lubrication and coolant are checked are refilled All controls are inspected to make sure they are functioning Evaporator and coils are cleaned Blower is checked and adjusted. Condensation drain is cleaned out to insure proper flow Check all gas connections Energy Efficiency Other than high quality performance, one of the most immediate changes you’ll notice is a decrease in your energy bill. Preventative maintenance keeps your Longview and Tyler heating system running up to 30% more efficiently which saves you considerable money each month. When your equipment is running in excellent condition it doesn’t have to work as hard in order to achieve the results you are looking for as a poorly running system. Maintenance or Repairs? An older system that is neglected will inevitably need major repairs downt the road. Dollar for dollar, major repairs are far more expensive than a routine tune up. Ongoing maintenance allows you to tackle small problems along the way before they turn into big problems. You can avoide needless repairs and even system replacement by simply taking care of your equipment. Routine maintenance needs to be conducted at least once a year, but preferably before the summer and winter months before temperatures hit their highest and lowest. Dependability During the winters months, you need to be able to depend on all the equipment to run smoothly when temperatures go below freezing. A routine tune up in Longview and Tyler will insure that all the parts in your system are running like they should, so that you can make it through both the cold and hot seasons of the year. You never want to jeopardize your family’s comfort and safety and put yourself in a position where you are trying to contact an HVAC technician in the middle of the night. You can feel confident knowing that your heater will take care of you during the cringe moments!

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Indoor Air Quality For Your Longview Home

In the subject of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, it is impossible not to touch on the issue of pollution. Governments around the world are working hard to fight air pollution through passing and implementing new environmental laws and policies. Air especially in the cities cannot be called fresh anymore in as much as it has already been contaminated by dust and pollutants brought by industrial plants, vehicle smoke, and many other sources. This air consequently gets into our homes, causing poor Longview indoor air quality, discomfort, irritation, and health risks. One special area in the field of Longview air conditioning and heating is indoor air quality improvement. Since homes and buildings are basically enclosed, they are capable of manipulating the flow of air and the pollutants that it carries. This is where the topic of air filters comes in. Air filters screen the air to remove irritating and health-hazardous particles such as pollen, dust, spores, and other contaminates. Note that what heating and cooling systems do is to circulate the air around the house, so the absence of air filters to the equipment pose high risks of contact with harmful and unwanted pollutants. Now that the importance of Longview indoor air quality has been pointed out, let’s proceed to what is out there for homeowners. There are basically two types of air filters: one, a centralized furnace or air con mounted unit that works for the whole house; and two, a portable unit that serves individual rooms. Both types offer various models with different cleaning methods and features. Choosing between furnace-mounted and portable, single room unit filter basically depends on the type of house the equipment will be serving. A condominium or apartment unit, for example, may be advised to use a single-room air filter, while a town home may be advised to employ a furnace-mounted system. When you consult with your trusted HVAC contractor, you will be given several options on the types of air filter technologies you may use. Among the most common are media air filters, HEPA or high efficiency particulate air filters, electrostatic air filters, and electronic air filters. The first two are the most popular today for their efficiency. Media and HEPA air filters, in a nutshell, both employ pleated media to remove particles. Both are proven to eliminate 99 percent of irritants. The difference, however, is that the former is more efficient in screening very small particulates like bacteria, viruses and dust than the other. Media and HEPA air filters are cost effective Longview indoor air quality enhancers in as much as the screening media are replaced only once in every one or two years. In these times when the world becomes more industrial and urbanized, it is important for homeowners to protect themselves from health risks brought by air pollution. Air conditioners, furnaces, ventilators, and other heating and cooling systems should be accompanied by necessary air filtering devices to ensure the household’s health and safety. Call your HVAC contractor today and inquire how you will further improve the house’s Longview indoor air quality.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Longview Heating Repairs

If you rely on a gas furnace to keep your home warm during the cold winter nights then you know the need to have them maintained periodically and repaired immediately. And you should also know that gas furnace repairs are not a DIY project that you should consider doing. Here are the top reasons why you should leave something as dangerous as repairing a gas furnace to the professionals. Reason No.1 – They Know More Than You It can be hard to even find out what’s wrong with your gas furnace, let alone try to fix it on your own. There are many probable causes why your gas furnace isn’t working and trying to find out which one it is on your own is not only time-consuming it can also be dangerous. A professional Longview air conditioning and heating contractor knows all that could go wrong in a gas furnace and can tell what is wrong almost immediately and get to work repairing it. This will save you time so you won’t have to endure the cold for long. Reason No.2 – They Have Been Doing this Longer than You Have You may have tried to fix your furnace yourself one or more times and was successful at it, but your level of experience does not even compare to that of a professional furnace repair technician. There are lots of things that could go wrong in a gas furnace, and odds are you haven’t seen even a quarter of them. Because of the number of calls they responded to and also due to their training, professional contractors know of all the problems and know just what to do when they encounter them. Reason No.3 – They Have the Right Tools for the Job When professional technicians respond to a call, they always have the right kind of tools to do the job right. You will find that when you try and fix your furnace yourself. it will take more than a screwdriver and some duct tape to do the repairs. So, instead of buying expensive specialized tools which you won’t be using for anything else anyway, save money by just hiring the professionals. Reason No.4 – They Can Do the Job Right the First Time Most of the Time You may think that you are saving money by doing the Longview furnace repairs yourself, but there is a very distinct possibility that you will make the problem worse, leading to more costly repairs. If you would just get help from a professional HVAC contractor the problem would likely be fixed right away, and if they do make a mistake you can be sure they will fix it the second time around without charging extra. Reason No.5 – They Can Do the Job Safely Remember that you are dealing with highly pressurized metal pipes, extreme heat, and combustible fuel, one wrong move and you can be looking at a gas leak in your home or worse an explosion in your basement. Be safe and let a qualified heating and A/C contractor do the dangerous work for you.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Longview Air Conditioning Repair Tips

If you are a homeowner, you need to learn how to do minor fixes on your appliances, including simple Longview air conditioning repairs. The task may be intimidating at first, but it will become handy after you have found out what the problem seems to be. To get you started, here are the common problems that many central air conditioners encounter and techniques for air conditioning repairs. The appliance will not turn on. When you encounter this problem, you must first check the thermostat settings. Check to see if it is set in Cool and not turned off or set in Heat position. The setting should also be below the temperature of the room. If not the thermostat, the problem may also be due to blown fuse or circuit breaker. In this case, you must check the circuit breaker that is handling the condensing unit and compressor of the air conditioner and make sure that this is turned on. If the breaker has popped, you need to reset it. In the case of a blown fuse, you have to replace it. When these simple steps of Longview air conditioning repairs for the problem did not work, it is best that you refer the case to a professional. If the cooling vents produce poor air flow, the problem may be due to blocked or disconnected ductwork or air filter that is dirty. The air filter can be replaced or you can also opt to clean this. If the problem is not with the air filter, then you have to inspect the ductwork. Look for any signs of disconnections and perform the needed Longview air conditioning repairs. The register dampers that are situated on the vents in each room must also be looked into to check if these are in open position. If the system does not dehumidify in a sufficient manner, this may be due to the fact that your air conditioner may be oversized for your house. If this is the case, the unit turns on and off many times than usual. This problem can only be fixed by replacing the condensing unit. If the Longview air conditioning repairs seem to be simple and manageable, then do not be afraid to implement the task on your own. If it appears to be complicated, then you might as well opt for professional Longview air conditioning services to handle the problem than to let it persist until the problem gets more convoluted.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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