Fulmer Heating & Cooling Blog: Posts Tagged ‘air conditioning repair’

What Happens When Your Evaporator Coil Gets Dirty?

Monday, July 13th, 2020
man-on-couch-with-fan

We always encourage our customers to clean their vents and replace or clean their filters on a regular basis. This is because it helps your air quality and helps keep the interior of your air conditioning system as well. Trust us when we tell you that you don’t want dust and debris inside of your AC unit–and it’s not just because it will make you sneeze more often.

When it comes to factors that can hinder your cooling comfort during summer, there is one part of your system that is extremely important to the process: your evaporator coil. And if your evaporator coil gets dirty it will create all kinds of issues for you and your system’s wellbeing.

Learn more about the importance of your AC system’s evaporator coil and how we can help keep you comfortable this summer with our AC services.

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Common End of Season AC Problems and What You Can Do About Them

Monday, October 7th, 2019
working-on-AC

Maybe you have discovered that you are looking forward to the cooler temperatures of winter with a little more gusto than usual. Why is that? Could it be because your home is feeling a little more tropical than it should be?

At the end of summer, it is common to encounter some potential repair needs for your AC system. This is because your unit has been running hard all season, likely creating some wear and tear that has to be addressed.

If you have checked your thermostat and discovered your inside air temperature is closer to the air outside your front door, you are likely in need of air conditioning repair in Columbia, SC.

Dust and Dirt

Everything gets dirty, even your air conditioner. After running hard all summer there are multiple places in your cooling system that might need a little washing.

For example, your air filter could be clogged with dust and dirt after helping to keep your home clean all season. Likewise, the condenser coils located on the outside of your outdoor AC unit can collect dirt simply by being exposed to the elements. You might also have a drain that is clogged with dust and debris.

If any of these instances occur, it can affect your cooling system’s ability to run well and put it at risk of sustaining damage too.

Cleaning or replacing the air filter, or cleaning the condenser coils, will offer a solution to these issues.

Fan Trouble

You can normally hear it if you have a condenser fan or an evaporator fan that is on the fritz as this issue is characterized by a screeching noise. Problems that can arise with the fans in your AC unit include bent or broken fan blades, belt issues, or motor malfunctions.

Once a professional AC tech has diagnosed what the issue with your unit’s fan(s) is, the solution to this problem is likely as simple as replacing the broken belt or fan blade or fixing whatever is hindering the motor.

Compressor Problems

If your compressor breaks down, it means your AC won’t be cooling your home anytime soon. Because your compressor is responsible for energizing the refrigerant in your system, if it isn’t working, the refrigerant won’t be able to do its usual heat exchange.

Likewise, if you have too much or too little refrigerant, your compressor won’t be able to do its job correctly.

In either of these instances, a professional should be called to check on your compressor and replace it if needed.

Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is the material that allows your air conditioner to create the cool air you love so much on hot days. Also referred to as coolant, if your unit springs a refrigerant leak, it will eventually stop working properly and, in the meantime, won’t be able to cool your home efficiently.

Finding and fixing the leak, and replacing any lost coolant, is the best way to address this. However, this is best done by a trained technician.

Why a Professional Is the Best Solution

If it seems like your air conditioner is starting to share certain characteristics with an old jalopy, it is time to reach out to a professional about repairs. Retaining the services of a professional HVAC tech means ensuring your unit is getting the best diagnostic exam and repairs possible that will keep it running efficiently.

If you are in need of air conditioning repair services, contact Fulmer Heating & Cooling. With over 30 years in business, we bring you well-trained and experienced staff that will fix your problem the first time around.

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Keep Your AC Working Properly This Summer

Monday, March 26th, 2018

AC-technicianWe know that some people scour the internet for information about how to ensure that their air conditioning systems never encounter operational problems.  The answer to this question, of course, is that no air conditioner can truly make that claim. Your whole-house cooling system is a mechanical system, and that means that it will require AC repair in Columbia, SC eventually. When it does, you really want to make sure that those repairs are completed as soon as possible.

To do so, you must first learn to recognize the signs that your air conditioner is in trouble. That way, you can avoid damage to your system that could develop if the problem was left alone for an extended period of time. You also must learn how you can keep your air conditioner working properly throughout the summer season, which is really the focus of our post today. Read on, and remember that you can count on our team to repair your AC when–not if–problems do develop.

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Always Schedule Professional Air Conditioning Repairs

Monday, October 23rd, 2017

thermostat-with-sunWhen you consider just how hot and humid our summer weather can be in these parts, it should come as no surprise to hear us say that prompt and professional air conditioning repairs in Columbia, SC are a necessity. Even so, some homeowners foolishly make the mistake of loading up an internet tutorial video, grabbing some tools from the basement, and “going to work” on their systems themselves. If this is something that you’ve considered in the past, you need to reconsider!

The only way in which to ensure that your air conditioner repairs are completed properly is to work with skilled, trained professionals. The stakes are just too high to be taking any unnecessary risks with your home cooling system. When you notice problems of any kind with your air conditioner, no matter how “minor” you may think that they are, the only correct course of action is to pick up the phone, not the toolbox, and dial our number. 

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Air Conditioning Repairs: Short Cycling

Monday, September 11th, 2017

AC-technician-outdoorsLiving in South Carolina means that you need to have a great air conditioner working for you in your home. It is just too hot and humid for too much of the year to take any risks with the overall operation of your AC. That is why you should always schedule prompt air conditioning repairs in Columbia, SC. The longer that you wait to have your system put back on track by a skilled, trained professional, the worse off your system is likely to be.

Now, some homeowners are of the mind that a running air conditioner is an air conditioner that is running fine. This is not the case at all. Just because the system has not broken down entirely does not mean that you have nothing to worry about. In fact, you never want to wait until the point of a total breakdown to schedule your air conditioning repair services. If you notice an issue like short cycling, for instance, you should be dialing our number to have the root of problem resolved. 

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Common AC Repairs: Refrigerant Leaks

Monday, August 28th, 2017

warm-man-with-fanWe all love our air conditioners around here. Without a good whole-house cooling system, it would be basically impossible to live in true comfort throughout the hottest and most humid time of the year. Unfortunately, as much as we rely on our air conditioning systems in Columbia, SC, we may encounter trouble with them from time to time as well. There are a number of problems that can develop with any AC, and a refrigerant leak is potentially among the most serious.

Refrigerant leaks are not going to cause an air conditioner to break down immediately, necessarily. When given the time necessary, however, they can cause costly and sometimes irrevocable damage to the system in question. That is why it is so important that you are able to spot the signs that you may have a refrigerant leak in your air conditioning system. We’ve put together a few tips intended to help you do just that.

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AC Repair Warning Signs

Monday, August 14th, 2017

Considering how hot it gets and remains around here, along with the fact that we are currently in the grasp of the August heat, it is pretty safe to assume that your air conditioner is up and running pretty much all the time. However, it is important that you remember that the fact that your air conditioner is running does not mean that it is running properly. Not all operational problems are going to cause your system to break down immediately — but they certainly can if given the time necessary for doing so. service-time

It is for this reason that learning to recognize the need for professional air conditioning repairs is so important. There are a lot of problems that may develop with your air conditioning system in Columbia, SC, especially considering how hard we run ours in this area. Most problems are going to give you some warning signs that trouble is brewing, which allows you to act quickly to resolve them — provided that you know what it is that you are looking for.

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Ice on Your AC Means Trouble!

Monday, July 17th, 2017

woman-with-fanWhat would you do if you noticed that there was ice on your air conditioning system? Give it a pat and let it know that you appreciate hot it is going above and beyond to keep your home cool? Well, ice on a cooling system may seem like a case of an overzealous work ethic. Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that it means there is something wrong with your system. It may not be a major issue, and it could even be one that you can fix yourself.

Regardless of just how severe the issue is, though, you need to act fast in resolving it. The last thing that you want to do is give any problem with your air conditioner in Chapin, SC the chance it needs to do serious damage to your system. Keep the following information in mind, and remember to contact us immediately if you can find no obvious cause of the problem. When in doubt, a professional diagnosis and resolution is always the way to go.

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Why Is There Water Surrounding My AC Unit?

Monday, April 10th, 2017

thermostat-with-sunPlumbing leaks are a major hassle. There are few scenarios more stressful to a homeowner than coming home to find a big puddle of water on the floor, with a pipe spraying water overhead. What do you do if you notice a puddle on your floor, and you come to realize that it’s not coming from a pipe, though? What if it is coming from your air conditioning unit? It’s a strange sight to behold, but it is one that is not all that uncommon. There are a few explanations for this phenomenon.

While the underlying cause of the water surrounding your indoor air conditioning unit may not be terribly serious in nature, it is still important that you have it resolved as soon as possible. After all, it could be a serious issue, and even if it’s not it could result in serious water damage in your home. Read on, and contact us if you have concerns about your air conditioner in Newberry, SC.

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Why Is My AC Blowing Out Warm Air?

Monday, August 8th, 2016

Imagine that you come home after a hot, long day outdoors, but know for certain that you left the AC running on its regular program. Now imagine that you enter your home, only to find that it is marginally, if at all, cooler than the environment outdoors. That is cause for serious concern, not to mention considerable aggravation.

There are a number of different reasons as to why your air conditioner may blow hot air out of its ducts. Some are, of course, more serious than others. Read on, and remember to dial our number if you need any air conditioning services in Columbia, SC.

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