Emergency Repairs for Air Conditioning: What You Should Know

It’s understandable to be reluctant to pay money for ongoing HVAC maintenance. However, the last thing you want is to have to shell out a lot more money than necessary to pay for emergency HVAC repairs, and the best way to avoid this is to make sure you stay on top of routine maintenance.

Still, there are some circumstances in which you might need emergency repairs for air conditioning or heating, even if you’ve been good about performing preventative maintenance. Here are just a few signs that you should call in a professional for emergency HVAC repairs:

  • Strange noises: Every furnace or AC unit will make at least some degree of noise during its normal operation. However, if you are noticing excessive noise coming from the unit, this could be indicative of a major problem with the mechanics or with certain components of the system. If you notice loud hissing noises, this could be a sign of a refrigerant leak, which must be addressed before it can cause further, even more significant damage within the system.
  • Rapid cycling: Does your air conditioner turn on and off more frequently than usual? This is either a problem with your thermostat or a problem with the electrical connection to the unit. This is a problem you’ll want to have looked at by a skilled HVAC professional as soon as possible to get it corrected.
  • Ice forming on the system: Visible ice forming on the air conditioning unit is generally a sign that your evaporator coils are malfunctioning. Usually this is a result of a clogged filter, a buildup of grime somewhere within the system or a refrigerant leak. These issues must be resolved immediately, because ice buildup could result in more significant damage to the rest of the unit that will be very expensive to repair.
  • Strange smells: Have you noticed weird smells coming from your vents or from the AC unit while the air conditioning is running? Have a professional come out and investigate the source of the smell. It could be grime or debris buildup, a problem with mold or dead animals that got trapped somewhere in the system. All of these issues must be resolved quickly to ensure the health and safety of people within your home.
  • High indoor humidity: When the air conditioning is working properly, you should experience consistent indoor humidity levels of between 30 and 50 percent. This will keep your home comfortable and also prevent the formation of mildew and mold, which thrive in the presence of excessive moisture. If the system is not functioning properly you may start to notice elevated humidity levels, even when the temperature is low. It’s important to have a professional come out to inspect your system when this problem manifests itself.

These are just a few examples of some of the signs you need emergency HVAC repairs to your air conditioning. To learn more about the services we offer, or to schedule an appointment, contact us today at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling.

Is Your AC Blowing Hot Air? Here’s What You Need to Do

If you’re a homeowner in St. Louis, MO, an efficient air conditioning system is absolutely essential to your comfort during the hot summer months. You want your unit to work the moment temperatures start getting warm. If you find your AC system is blowing hot air instead of cold, you need to discover the cause of the issue and get it repaired as soon as possible. Here are some of the main causes and fixes when an AC unit is blowing hot air.

Check the thermostat

The thermostat is the first thing you should check when you’re investigating the causes of an AC unit blowing hot air in your St. Louis, MO home. It’s a good idea to replace the batteries to make sure the thermostat is functioning correctly. You should also make sure that the switch is set to “cool” instead of “heat” and see if cold air starts to blow from the vents.

Check the electrical panel

After you’ve made sure the thermostat is working correctly, checking the circuit breaker is the next step in discovering the causes of an AC unit blowing hot air. Your air conditioning unit requires plenty of power to run correctly, and circuit breakers shut off automatically as a safety precaution if the demand for power is too high. Look for a tripped breaker, then flip the breaker completely off and back on. If you see that a blown fuse is the culprit, replace it and see if the air conditioner starts blowing cool air.

Check the air filters

If the thermostat or circuit breaker isn’t causing the problem with your air conditioning system, you likely need the help of an expert HVAC technician to diagnose the issue. One of the first things they’ll check is the air filter. If the filter is dirty, cool air isn’t able to move freely, putting too much strain on the air conditioner and causing it to blow hot air. Your technician will replace the filter and see if the issue is resolved.

Check for refrigerant leaks

If refrigerant escapes your system via a leak, the system can’t complete cooling cycles and will blow warm air. Only a licensed HVAC technician who’s certified in refrigerant handling can fix this problem, and it can be key to ensuring your system blows cool air all throughout the summer months.

Check the evaporator coils

Your technician will also check for frozen evaporator coils. Poor airflow, refrigerant leaks or other issues can cause the evaporator coils to freeze. Your technician will make any necessary repairs that are needed to thaw the coils.

It often takes the expertise of a trained technician to discover the causes and necessary fixes when an AC unit is blowing hot air. Since summers can get hot in St. Louis, MO, it’s important to get the issue resolved before temperatures get too hot. Contact the team at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling to get your air conditioning system blowing cool air once again in time for summer.

How to Identify a Declining AC

The bad news is that your air conditioner won’t last forever. The good news is that air conditioners typically don’t just up and quit out of nowhere. Instead, they present a variety of signs that they’re about to stop working.

This post from your trusty HVAC experts will cover a few of the signs your AC unit is declining in St. Louis, MO and teach you how to get the most out of your system:

Ways to prolong your unit’s lifespan

You can get decades of service from your air conditioner by being a proactive homeowner. First and foremost, be sure to schedule yearly maintenance with an HVAC technician. During this springtime service, your technician will clean your unit and repair or replace any parts that are starting to fail.

Along with scheduling maintenance each spring and replacing your air filters every few months, watch your usage. Running the AC on the coldest setting 24/7 is a waste of electricity and puts a lot of undue stress on your system.

Schedule your spring tune-up today!

Judging by the current weather, you won’t need to turn on your air conditioner for a few months. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go ahead and schedule a tune-up! In addition to getting your unit ready for summer, the pros at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling will identify any signs your AC unit is declining in St. Louis, MO.

Why Is My AC Blowing Warm Air?

One of the most common air conditioning problems people experience in St. Louis, MO is having warm air blow through the vents when they should be getting fresh, cool air flowing through instead. There’s a large number of possible reasons why an air conditioner could be blowing warm air, but today we’ll focus on just a few of the most common.

Thermostat settings

Any time you’re having temperature issues with the air coming from your vents, your first step should be to check the settings on your thermostat. While it might sound ridiculous, there is a possibility that you have the air set to “heat” instead of “cool.” Other settings, such as “auto” or “on,” may simply result in the fan blowing regardless of whether the air conditioner itself is running and cooling the air. This would cause your AC to blow warm air through the vents during the periods of time when the outside unit isn’t operating.

So, simply put, check your settings on your thermostat and make sure you’ve actually set it up to get cool air coming into your home!

Problems with the outdoor unit

There are a couple main components for every air conditioning system, split between the indoors and the outdoors. The indoor unit will feature the fan that blows the air through your home, but it will only operate if the outdoor components are also working properly.

The outdoor unit features the compressor, which compresses the refrigerant that flows through the system. In most cases, if you’re having a problem with the air conditioner blowing warm air, it’s going to mean there’s either a problem with the compressor or that your system is low on refrigerant.

Problems with indoor systems

While most of the time equipment problems will primarily be found in the outdoor unit, there are some issues that can occur with interior components. It is possible that you have a broken or disconnected air return duct that is pulling in air from the outside or the attic without conditioning it. You might have a circuit breaker that was tripped or a fuse that was blown, which has resulted in power to the AC unit being shut off, so check your circuit breaker or fuse panel and make sure it’s actually getting the electricity it needs to maintain power.

Airflow restrictions

Another potential problem could be that there’s something restricting the amount of air that’s going to or from your air conditioner. Restricted airflow can result in the compressor freezing up. Causes of restricted airflow can include a clogged air filter that needs to be replaced, or dirty coils caused by a general lack of maintenance to your air conditioning system. You should make it a point to have your system inspected and maintained each year by an air conditioning technician so it operates as efficiently as possible and you can extend its usable life.

When you need more information about common air conditioning problems and how you can resolve them, an air conditioner maintenance service in St. Louis, MO can help. Contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today!

Eight Factors That Could Affect the Price of Installing Central Air

Are you considering installing central air in your home or place of business? As an AC service in St. Louis, MO, we know that folks are not usually thinking about air conditioning at this time of year, but it is actually a great time to spring for a new air system, because then you’ll be all set when next summer rolls around!

Before investing in AC installation or AC repair in St. Louis, MO, you will probably want to know how much it is going to cost you. There are actually many different factors that could affect the cost of your AC installation. Here is a rundown of eight of those factors:

Are you in the market for AC service in St. Louis, MO? If so, please feel free to get in touch with Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling anytime! We pride ourselves on offering reasonable rates and exceptional service.