According to recent reports, there is an abundance of units that show symptoms of not cooling, freezing and so forth.The homeowner's ac unit or heat pump has actually been overcharged. If your unit is not cooling, we have instruments that can measure superheat and subcooling temperatures and make sure the unit is charged to manufacturer's specifications. Overcharging a unit can shorten the life. If your unit is cooling well, it does not need to have the refrigerant tinkered around with. It does need to be inspected, filters changed regularly, airflow checked, wiring checked, volts and amps, evaporator condensation clogs and leaks, and others. 

Adding Freon

DuPont came out with a product called r-22 Freon. There are several manufacturers of refrigerant and it will be called r-22. Older units like mine use r-22.

Some of the ac's don't cool because not enough refrigerant, but there are other reasons that should be checked also. 

Like a couple of folks I visited had huge holes in their duct work.

Some coils have been dirty. 

I have seen airflow blocked because of plastic bags of stuff being place in front of the return air vent.

This is not about a/c but it is Spring and we are getting the house and yard ready, so here goes. Lawn Mower says "Guaranteed to start every time".It lied.No big deal it is either air filter or spark plug. I inspect air filter and it is ok. Now I will remove the spark plug. Not so fast. The wrench is too short. I can't grip the plug and turn it. I go to the hardware store and get a longer spark plug wrench that also fits two different sizes. Neither is  the right size. I call Kholer. Is this metric? Yes 18mm. I go to auto parts store. No 18 mm deep socket.. Just 17mm and 19mm and every other size. Three different places give this answer. Now to the small engine repair place. Spark Plug is five dollars and they have the wrench. They happened to order some Kholer plugs. Praise the Lord. Now I'm ready. It only took two and a half hours. I change plugs every year and it usually takes two minutes.

Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.A typical maintenance check-up should include the following.

Click here to learn more       Ducts account for a lot of energy loss and you can do something about it.

When to replace and what to replace

 

From American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning FAQ (from website)

Q: I need to replace my air conditioner, but my furnace works just fine. Is it true they need to be replaced at the same time?

A: Think of your air conditioner and furnace as part of a total system. That system will work better, longer and more efficiently if all of its components are matched in capacity and efficiency. By the same token, a mismatched system—one that mixes old technology with new—could decrease system performance and overall comfort.

In my neighborhood, There are many vehicles showing up to work on Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners. Many people have systems that are designed to be phased out, and the units may not be that old. There are several times that you should evaluate your decision on whether to pay for a major repair or continue to fix leaks.

Have you ever heard of an auto accident where the car was totaled? How was that decision made? The car value was depreciated because it likely had lost economic value anyway.

Alabama Power is now working with BOJIFFY to help qualified clients finance certain energy upgrades and you can make your payments with your utllity bill. We will be happy to discuss how thiis arrangement might be of benefit to you.

There are some good videos abouit energy savings that will help you understand some of the energy saving ideas.Click or cut and paste the link below to learn more.

 

Sometimes the solution to your air conditioning problem is simple. Here is a list of easy to spot problems.

1. Your filter is dirty or absent.

2. There is furniture and other items blocking your return air.

3. Your circuit breaker at your breaker box is off.

4. Your inside unit should create condensation. Is the drain stopped up? Do you clean it out regularly?

5. If your inside unit is in the attic, is your secondary pan filled and triggering a shut-off?

6. Is water running out of your condensation drain.