Air Conditioning Installation

One cause could be airflow restriction. Are your filters clean? Is there furniture covering supply vents? Icing can also happen if the AC unit is short on refrigerant. Or if airflow is restricted by a dirty condenser coil or a dirty evaporator coil There could also be an issue with the defrost control board, causing the defrost cycle to not work. A Faulty TXV could also cause icing issues. If your system continues to ice up after a filter change, it’s best to consult a professional

If your filters are clogged this can cause a high static pressure causing the safety limits to trip and that AC cooling cycle to stop working. Loss of power to the outdoor unit, you might hear the fan running in the indoor unit, and think there is power, but the outdoor condensing unit might not be running at all. Thermostat setting, if the fan is on continuous run, it will run between cycles and the air you feel between cooling cycles may be described as “warm”. Refrigerant leaks, if your system is low on refrigerant the air will not feel cool. 

Lack of maintenance, airflow restriction, faulty electrical breakers, or fuses. Extreme weather conditions are another contributing factor.

Compressor oil and refrigerant. If you see this your system has developed a severe leak.

Compressors are noisy by nature, but if your AC is making an unusual noise this could be a sign of failure. When the defrost cycle kicks in your unit will make a loud humming or vibration noise. Rattling noises usually happen when the system is cooling down after a defrost cycle. Unusually clunking or bumping could indicate an issue with the fan motor or the fan blades being off balance.

Loss of power is one reason your AC may not turn on. Start by checking breakers in the main electrical panel to see if any breakers are tripping, if it is a breaker and it continues to trip, it could be an electrical issue or it could signify the compressor in the AC unit is failing. Fuses or breakers in the outdoor disconnect box can fail, causing loss of power to the AC. Break in control wiring from thermostat to AC could cause the AC unit not to turn on. Failed thermostat is another reason you may have no AC. If the system has tripped on high pressure due to clogged filters, or dirty coils it could need to be manually reset in the control panel at the AC unit itself.

If your AC won’t turn off, first check your fan setting at the thermostat. The AC may have finished its cycle and may actually be turned off, but if the fan is set to “on” or “Continuous” it may just be the blower fan in the furnace that is running. Faulty contractor.

The typical lifespan for an AC is 12-15 years

If you’re shopping for energy efficiency look for the highest SEER rating, the higher the SEER the more efficient the air conditioner.

AC units can be retrofitted into any home, if you have existing duct-work the process is fairly simple. If you don’t have existing ductwork a mini split might be the best option for your home.

You should have a professional check up at least once a year, typically before you need to use your AC

Regular routine maintenance.

Yes but in the Pacific Northwest, our air conditioning units are not built for extreme heat. It’s important to give your AC unit a rest. A good rule of thumb is to run your unit no more than 20 degrees cooler than it is outside if you can. When it is 100 and above, try to set your thermostat to 75 or even 80. Try to give your unit a break in the evenings.

Keep it clean and free from obstruction, make sure there is proper air flow around the outdoor unit, keep trees, and shrubs cut back away from the AC unit. Make sure your filters are clean. It is safe to run a sprinkler on your AC unit to help cool the compressor, just don’t use a pressure washer or anything with high enough pressure to bend or damage the outdoor coil fins.

Yes, in fact running your AC when there is smoke outside can help filter the air inside your home.

It is safe to run your AC when the outside air quality is poor, your AC unit will actually help to filter the air inside your home.

Whatever is most comfortable for you, we recommend not going below 68°, and find 20° cooler than the outdoor temperature to be the most energy efficient.

Set the thermostat temperature up to around 80° in case of extreme heat events. Just remember when you come back home it will take time for the house to cool back down, a drop of about 2° per hour is to be expected, even longer if there is a lot of humidity.