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Month: May 2022

Listen to Your HVAC System

Think of your heating and cooling (HVAC) system components as the instruments in a quiet symphony.

When all the pieces are in good condition and work in harmony, the only sounds you will hear will be the quiet hum of a motor and whisper of air as it exits registers in your AZ home.

An HVAC system operating at peak efficiency is music to the ears.

An HVAC system in need of professional attention produces noise.

Unusual sounds may indicate the need for a tune-up, cleaning, or repair. The experts at ACS Air Conditioning Services can decipher the noise and get your system back on track. They have the knowledge and experience it takes to keep your HVAC equipment running at peak efficiency and delivering the comfort you expect in your Marana home.

According to ENERGY STAR®, annual energy bills top $2,200 in the average household. Half of that cost goes to heating and cooling systems. Maintaining HVAC equipment is essential to keeping costs down and more money in your pocket.

You can troubleshoot your furnaceair conditionerheat pump, and ductwork by paying attention to sensory cues. If the equipment emits strange odors or working parts look worn and dirty, it may be time to call for professional help. Listening to your HVAC system is one of the easiest ways to be proactive.

What is your HVAC system trying to tell you? Here is a guide to some typical sounds:

  1. Screaming—If your air conditioner sounds like the victim in a horror film, it may have a refrigerant leak or too much pressure in its compressor. Turn the system off and call one of our professionals.
  2. Squealing or screeching—These sounds are like the high-pitched noise from worn brakes or metal on metal. They may indicate a worn belt or motor bearing. Sometimes the motor simply needs lubrication. Replacing the belt and lubricating the motor are not for do-it-yourselfers. For fast, quality, and expert service, call the professionals at ACS Air Conditioning Services.
  3. Rattling—If you notice rattling near an air register, it could mean the grille is loose. A rattling sound from within an air duct usually signals the presence of debris. Did you inadvertently drop a nail through the register or did someone in the family force a tiny toy through the grille? It may be time for a thorough duct cleaning.

Debris inside the outdoor unit of the air conditioning system also can cause rattling. Other possibilities include a loose fan and loose parts in the blower or motor. These also can cause rattling sounds from the outdoor unit of your air conditioning system. The fan could be loose and there might be a problem with the blower or the motor.

  1. Banging or clanking—A loose part that rattles can eventually break or disconnect, causing a banging sound. Your furnace blower also could be unbalanced, or your compressor might be loose.
  2. Scraping—A metal scraping sound likely means a component is broken and possibly moving around in the unit. It might also indicate damaged or obstructed fan blades.
  3. Loud humming or clicking—Humming, clicking, even buzzing usually indicate electrical problems, such as loose wiring, a defective capacitor, or failing thermostat.
  4. Hissing—If you hear hissing from your air conditioning unit, it could be a refrigerant leak or a problem with the compressor motor. If the sound is inside the walls of your home or from the furnace, it likely is a leaky duct. Either way, you will need to call a professional for repairs.

Call Us Today

Now that you are fluent in HVAC sounds, listen for noise that might indicate a potential problem. Be proactive and call ACS Air Conditioning Services in Marana, AZ, for an inspection and tune-up. Call 520-230-5668 or request service online.

Thermostat 101 Basics

Every team needs a leader.

In the heatingventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, your thermostat is the undisputed leader of the heating and cooling team. It signals your furnace and air conditioner (AC) when to turn on and off. Whenever your thermostat detects a temperature change that’s different from the desired setting in your Oro Valley home, it barks out a new directive to adjust the indoor climate.

You can trust our team at ACS Air Conditioning Services to always add value and comfort to your AZ home or business throughout the year. We offer practical solutions designed to extend the service life and operating efficiency of your HVAC system—including your thermostat.

What Type of Thermostat Should I Buy?

The thermostat you choose will depend on your needs. Here are the three basic models, along with some pros and cons to each one:

1. Standard ThermostatsThe standard nonprogrammable thermostat is the most common, least expensive, and easiest to use. This is the one most people remember from their childhood homes. The round Honeywell unit designed in 1953 has become so embedded in our American way of life that it has made its way to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. And it is still in use today.

Pros: Many people favor a simple mechanical design with physical switches. Your biggest decisions involve setting the target temperature and deciding whether to leave the fan on AUTO or switch it to ON. There isn’t much to this unit, so there isn’t much that can go wrong.

Cons: When you adjust the thermostat because of a change in the outdoor temperature, you’ll need to remember to readjust it back to your desired setting later. This model is the least energy efficient of these three options as well.

2. Programmable ThermostatsThe programmable thermostat is a more energy-efficient model. You can have a home and away setting. When you are home, you have the temperature set at your ideal comfort setting. When you are away, you can raise or lower your thermostat setting to save energy.

The climate may not be as conducive, but you won’t be there anyway. The key is to remember it takes a bit of time for your home’s climate to get to your ideal setting, so be sure to allow for that in the programming.

Pros: The programmable thermostat will save energy and prolong the life of your heating and cooling system. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a programmable thermostat can lower your heating and cooling costs up to 30 percent.

Cons: The programmable thermostat is a bit more expensive upfront compared to a standard model. Some may argue that starting and stopping your system is more taxing than the energy it saves.

3. Smart ThermostatsThis is the new breed of thermostats. The smart thermostat learns the behavior patterns of your home. These thermostats offer the latest advances in home automation technology—they can detect when you are home or away, weather patterns, and whether there is an issue with your HVAC system.

By using Wi-Fi, you can remotely control your smart thermostat through a computer, tablet, and smartphone. This is why they’re called smart! Once a smart thermostat has been in place for a while, it can adjust itself. It can show you energy consumption in real time.

Pros: You can control your climate remotely from within your home or away from your Oro Valley home. You can monitor your home’s energy usage.

Cons: This is the most expensive option.

Learn More About Thermostats Today

Never take your HVAC thermostat for granted. It plays a vital role in maintaining the heating and cooling system in your Oro Valley, AZ, home. Call 520-230-5668 or request service online to have one of our professionals at ACS Air Conditioning Services provide you with more information about improving the comfort and safety of your home.