The HEAT is back! But… your A/C could still freeze up!

pzmija air conditioning, JJ McLellan August 26, 2014air conditioning, Cooling, heat of the summer, HVAC, HVAC maintenance, hvac service, HVAC Technician, is your furnace filter clean, JJ McLellan, preventative maintenance, why does my air conditioner freeze up 0 Comment

The heat of the summer is back and in full force!

The hydro grid will be feeling the force today with all the air conditioners being turned back on to cool the homes after the fall-like weather we have had.

Even with this hot humid weather, your air conditioner can still freeze up!

Why?

If you only turn on your air conditioner when its very hot out or if your system is dirty. Both can cause the system to run continuous or cycle on and off too quickly and could over work the system which would eventually freeze up or a part could burn out within the furnace.

How?

When the air moves over the A-Coil, which is located above the furnace, the A-Coil cools the air with the freon from the condenser. When the system does not get a chance to rest and is continuously running the A-Coil will eventually ice up causing the system to not work properly.

This is an A-Coil. The freon runs through the copper tubes. It really does have an A shape!

Looking down on the case A-Coil.

What Should I Do?

To avoid the air conditioner system freezing up there are a few suggestions.
1. Keep the temperature in your home set at a consistent temperature all the time. If the home requires cooling, the air conditioner will turn on.
2. If you only use your air conditioner when it gets very hot – begin by setting the thermostat just 2-3 degress less than what the current temperature is in the room. Once the house reaches that temperature, let it sit for 30 min and then lower it again by 2 degrees. By allowing your home to slowly be brought down to a comfortable temperature your equipment has a chance to rest and will avoid freezing up that constant operation can cause.
3. Set a realistic cooling temperature. On very hot humid days, your system will have a very hard time cooling your entire home or business after not being on for a day or more.
4. Ensure your filter is clean! A dirty filter will block air flow causing the system to over work.Filters are not expensive. Buy a few at a time and have them on hand ready to change!
5. Is your heating system clean? If your furnace and air conditioner are dirty this can cause your system to over work.

If you are doing all the correct things and its still not working properly, it could be low on freon or there could be a more serious issue. In which case you should call a professional!

Stay cool 🙂

A Visual.
An A-Coil and Furnace ready for installation in a customer’s home. The A-Coil is cased so it comes like this with the coil inside. The front of the case comes off to check or clean. A-Coils which do not come in a case have duct work built around them.

Spring Check Up – HVAC System

pzmija Cleaning & Servicing May 8, 2012air conditioner, change filter, energy efficient, Ensure your heating system is operating properly, Furnace, HRV, humidifier, HVAC maintenance, preventative maintenance, qualified technician, Spring Clean & Service, TLC 0 Comment

With the heat of the summer on the way, now is the time to be thinking about the heat your home HVAC system provided you with all winter! Just like maintaining a car, it is very important to maintain your home HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning system) just the same in the Spring and Fall to ensure optimal performance and energy savings.

In between your seasonal cleaning and servicing you should ensure that you keep your hot and cold air registers clear, and if you have pets vacuum them off regularly to clear away any hair or dirt caught in them. Also ensure your outside vents are clear from any trees, plants and dirt. Just like the registers inside, the outside vents must be clear for air flow and safety.

One tip that is easy for most home owners to do is to ensure you change or clean your filter regularly. Especially now that spring has finally sprung and having our doors and windows open, the dust and dirt that is blowing around outside can get into your home and then into your heating ducts. If we have another cold front and the heating system needs to be turned on, all that dust and dirt in the ducts or sitting on the registers could get sucked into the heating system. If your filter is clean, the filter will do its job and catch these particles, however if the filter is dirty, this will clog the filter even more forcing your system to work harder to get the air flow through. This can cause the system to over work and could cause it to over heat, which could result in the system breaking down and parts requiring to be replaced.

With some TLC and Preventative Maintenance you can ensure your home or business HVAC System is always operating efficiently !