Carrier Heating and Cooling Blog

March 28, 2020

28 Mar 2020

Why Is My AC Not Turning On?

Nothing’s worse in the middle of a hot Georgia summer than discovering your air conditioning won’t turn on. But sometimes getting your AC to work again doesn’t require professional assistance. There can be plenty of reasons that your air conditioning won’t turn on, and homeowners can troubleshoot many of these common scenarios themselves to avoid the cost of a repair appointment.

Read on to discover what may be causing your AC troubles and find out how to fix the problem yourself. If you’re still experiencing issues after reading this article, the team at Conditioned Air, Inc. has the expert HVAC technicians you need to regain cooling capabilities in your home.

Contact our team online today to schedule air conditioning repair in your Georgia home.

Reasons Your AC Won’t Turn On

Lots of things can contribute to your air conditioner’s reluctance to operate normally. When your AC won’t turn on, consider the following reasons to get to the heart of the problem:

Dead thermostat batteries
Dirty air filters
Low coolant
Bad/broken motor

While a broken motor might not be a quick fix for most homeowners, many of the other common reasons for an AC unit that fails to turn on are much easier to solve on your own. Before calling in a professional team, see if you can troubleshoot your system yourself with the tips outlined in the section below!

Troubleshooting Your AC

Troubleshooting your air conditioner is easier than you might think. By following a few simple steps after your unit shows signs of trouble, you can avoid incurring unnecessary repair or replacement expenses. The following outlines some of the ways in which homeowners can tackle troubleshooting on their own:

Check Your Thermostat: Ensure your thermostat has power, is in “cool” mode, and is set below the current room temperature.
Check Your Air Filter: Touch the AC handler to see if it’s cold or not. If it is, shut the cooling function and set your thermostat to “fan” to let the unit thaw, then replace the dirty filter with a new one.
Check Your Circuit Breakers: Check your circuit breakers to ensure the breaker for your AC is functioning properly. Reset it only once for safety purposes!
Check Your AC Drain Pan: Inspect the pan below the indoor portion of your air conditioner. If it’s full, this could be the cause of your faulty AC.
Check Your AC Shutoff Switch: Ensure your unit is actually turned on before jumping to any conclusions.

By checking a few key areas of your system, you can easily identify the root cause of your problem and regain AC functionality in your Georgia home. Keeping this information handy will help you avoid repair costs should the problem resurface in the future.

Contact Conditioned Air, Inc. for AC Repair in Macon, GA

If your unit still refuses to operate or shows signs of a broken motor or low coolant levels, it’s best to call in a professional HVAC technician. Conditioned Air, Inc. provides the air conditioning repair and replacement services you need to regain cooling capabilities in your home.

Contact our team today to schedule your AC repair services and keep your Georgia home cool all summer long!

in Blog /by bluecorona/#permalink

May 25, 2018

25 May 2018

Why Is My AC Leaking Water?

If you notice water puddling under your outdoor air conditioning unit, your first instinct might be to pick up the phone and call a contractor for service. Luckily, water leakage from your AC unit can be perfectly normal. However, there are certain circumstances when a leaking AC could be cause for concern and warrant a service call.

What’s a Normal Amount of Water to Leak from My Air Conditioner?

There are two main reasons for water (condensation) to leak from your air conditioner. One factor is your thermostat setting. The second involves the outdoor temperature. When you live in the hot and humid climate of Macon, Georgia, it’s normal to see condensation pooling by the condenser unit because it’s working extremely hard to cool your house down—especially if you keep your thermostat set lower than normal or if it’s an extremely hot day.

When Is AC Water Leakage Too Much?

As a rule of thumb, your air conditioner should leak condensation only while it’s running. If a puddle of condensation pools under your compressor, it should dry up after a hot day. If you can’t tell how much water is leaking or you notice the unit has been leaking for a full day or longer, it’s probably wise to call a contractor to inspect your AC unit for problems.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Leaking Water?

Many factors could play a role in why your air conditioner is leaking water either inside the home or out. These include:

A dirty air filter – If your air conditioning air filter becomes clogged or even partially blocked, it can cause the unit’s evaporator coils to freeze, which causes extra water to overflow from the drainage pan.
Faulty condensate pan – Your air conditioner will leak if the pan that’s designed to hold water breaks down due to age or corrosion.
Blocked drain pipe – Normal air conditioner function involves water funneling through a series of drainpipes before disappearing down the drain. If any of these drainpipes are blocked, it could cause a water leakage.
Faulty installation – If your air conditioner is brand new and is experiencing a leaking problem, chances are it is improperly sized for your home or was installed incorrectly.
Cool outdoor temperatures – If you try to cool your home when the outside temperature is below 60 degrees, the coils may freeze up and cause water leakage.
Low refrigerant level – When the refrigerant level for your AC is too low, it causes the unit to lose pressure. This can cause freezing coils, which may overflow the drain pan when it melts.

Schedule AC Repair in the Macon Area with Conditioned Air

If your air conditioner is leaking water and you need a contractor, call the experts at Conditioned Air, Inc. to solve the problem. Conditioned Air has more than 70 years of experience in the installation, repair, replacement, and maintenance of HVAC equipment in Middle Georgia. Our highly skilled team is standing by to repair your air conditioner day or night with our 24/7 emergency HVAC services.

Give us a call at (478) 787-6578 or schedule an online appointment today for AC repair in Macon, GA or the surrounding areas.

in Blog /by danielle/#permalink

April 27, 2018

27 Apr 2018

Is Shading Your AC Unit Worth It?

You’ve invested a lot of money in your air conditioning system to shield you and your family from Georgia’s hot summers. One simple way to protect that investment is to shade the area around the compressor to lower the outdoor temperature and reduce wear and tear on the system, helping to keep it humming smoothly for years to come. Although shading your AC unit is definitely worthwhile, there’s a right and wrong way to go about it. Learn why shading your AC compressor is a great idea and how doing it properly will avoid damaging the system.

Don’t forget that all the shade in the world doesn’t take the place of regular maintenance!

Why Shading Your Air Conditioner Can Increase Its Efficiency

Planting trees to shade your air conditioner can make the unit 10% more efficient, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Planting just three trees in strategic areas near the compressor and large windows that let heat stream in can reduce your annual cooling costs by $100 to $250 depending on the size of your cooling unit.

Shade trees keep outdoor temperatures down by cooling the air around them and blocking unrelenting sunlight from heating the ground. After a long day of absorbing heat, the ground releases it into the air and makes your air conditioner work harder than it needs to. It’s even more cost-effective to shade your air conditioner if you live in a brick or stucco home that endures an endless cycle of absorbing and releasing heat near your compressor. Consider planting trees, shrubs, and installing an awning over the compressor to shield it from temperature extremes.

What Trees Should I Plant Near My AC?

If your air conditioner is on the south side of your home, plant trees that will grow tall and provide a wide, spread-out canopy to offer maximum shade. If the compressor is on the west, east, or north side of your home, six- to eight-foot deciduous trees are a great choice to provide shade to your cooling unit within one year of planting. If you’re in the market for a new AC unit, place it on the north side of your home, if possible, since this location will provide maximum protection to your system.

In addition to planting trees and shrubs near the compressor, consider placing awnings over large south-facing windows and shading sidewalks, patios, and paved walkways to reduce heat transfer. However, when planting any kind of tree or shrub near your compressor, make sure you don’t encroach too closely on the unit by blocking its air intake. Blocking the air intake will make your compressor work harder than it needs to and eventually will cause the system to break down.

The ‘Don’ts’ of Shading Your AC Unit

When shading your AC unit, make sure to keep these ‘don’ts’ in mind!

Don’t restrict the airflow around your unit. This includes providing plenty of clearance for low-hanging trees, bushes, and any other shrubbery.
Don’t allow vegetation like leaves, moss, or any other materials clog your unit

Contact the Professionals at Conditioned Air for AC Advice

Shading your air conditioner will increase its efficiency, add years to its longevity, and save you money on cooling costs. If you’d like to learn more about choosing the right trees and plants to shade your compressor or to ensure you’re planting them in the most strategic location, contact the experts at Conditioned Air, Inc. Our team can help you find the best solutions to shade your compressor to keep it effectively cooling your Macon home for years to come.

in Blog /by danielle/#permalink

March 30, 2018

30 Mar 2018

AC Maintenance Tips

The last thing you want in Macon, GA is a broken air conditioner. The heat will be one thing, but the cost of replacing your AC unit might make you sweat even more! Fortunately, there are some easy tasks you can perform to maintain your unit. Use these AC maintenance tips and tricks to keep your air conditioner running smoothly.

in Blog /by sam/#permalink

February 28, 2018

28 Feb 2018

Is AC Maintenance Really Necessary?

Is your AC going to work when you flip the switch? Don’t leave it up to chance! Luckily, when you invest in regular air conditioner maintenance checkups, you’ll have peace of mind that you’re ready to beat the heat year-round. Our HVAC professionals at Conditioned Air, Inc. in Macon, Georgia, want to share with you important details about your AC maintenance inspection!

You can also call us directly at (478) 787-6578 to schedule air conditioning maintenance services!

in Air Conditioning, Blog /by becca/#permalink

January 29, 2018

29 Jan 2018

How Long Will My HVAC System Last?

A heating or cooling system is a significant investment, and it only makes sense to get as much use out of it as possible. In general, most HVAC systems will last from 15 to 25 years, but depending on the type of system and other contributing factors, that estimate can be highly variable. Even with HVAC maintenance and regular repairs, eventually even the best boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, and air conditioners today will run their course over time.

Factors That Affect HVAC Service Life

There are many things that can reduce the life span of HVAC equipment, including:

Poor maintenance practices
Poor initial quality or defective components
Oversizing or undersizing the system
Improper installation procedures
Inordinately high usage or high loads
Improper usage, such as heating or cooling with windows and doors open
Installation in salty or corrosive environments, such as coastal areas

Of these, poor maintenance and oversizing are the most detrimental. A lack of maintenance can lead to accelerated component wear and a dramatically shorter life span, while oversizing can cause frequent on-and-off cycling, leading to compressor or blower motor failure. With preventive maintenance plans, HVAC systems will last longer because small issues are caught before they require costly fixes. Air conditioners or heat pumps in coastal areas will also see significantly reduced life spans due to salt corroding the condenser unit.

Typical HVAC Life Spans

The service life of an HVAC system depends on its type. Here are the typical life spans for common HVAC equipment:

Furnaces – With proper maintenance, gas furnaces typically last 20 to 30 years, or even longer. Usually, a furnace is replaced when the heat exchanger starts leaking, as it is one of the most critical and expensive components. Systems that are poorly maintained or of questionable quality may last as little as 10 years, while oil furnaces typically last only 10 to 15 years, due to maintenance problems caused by the inefficient fuel.
Boilers – Boilers often last slightly longer than furnaces, with an average life span of 20 to 35 years. Usually, they are replaced when the heat exchanger starts leaking.
Air conditioners – Most air conditioners will last 15 to 20 years, though some may last closer to 10. In coastal areas, they typically last only seven to 12 years due to salt exposure. Both air conditioners and heat pumps are usually replaced when the compressor fails or the condenser develops significant corrosion and leaks.
Heat pumps – Heat pumps can last 10 to 20 years, depending on usage frequency, though 15 is average. Functionally, heat pumps are similar to air conditioners, but because they can provide both heating and cooling, they are typically used longer each year. Heat pumps in coastal areas will also fail prematurely, with typical life spans of seven to 12 years.
Ductless mini-splits – Like heat pumps, ductless mini-splits can provide both heating and cooling, with a typical life span of 10 to 30 years, except in coastal areas.

While these are the most common life spans, many homeowners choose to replace their HVAC system sooner. As the system ages, it will gradually become less reliable and efficient, increasing repair and utility costs. Once a system is 10 to 15 years old, the monthly energy savings from upgrading to a newer, more efficient model can often justify the initial investment, especially if the current system is unreliable or has major problems.

HVAC Replacement in Macon, GA

If you are worried about the condition of your HVAC system, our team at Conditioned Air, Inc. can help. We can perform a full inspection of your system and estimate its remaining service life. We offer complete replacement services if you choose to upgrade, as well as comprehensive maintenance and repair services to keep your system running smoothly.

To schedule a system inspection or replacement, contact Conditioned Air today at (478) 787-6578!

in Blog /by becca/#permalink

December 29, 2017

29 Dec 2017

Finding Home Heating Help in Warner Robins, GA Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

Conditioned Air, Inc. has been providing home heating help and other HVAC services to the community of Warner Robins, GA since 1938. As we approach our 75th anniversary, we continue to enjoy a reputation of being a heating and cooling contractor that home and business owners trust to get the job done right. We are proud to be the oldest company offering home heating help in Warner Robins. However, you shouldn’t let the age of our company fool you. We are just as open to pursuing advances in the HVAC industry as companies that have only been around for a few years.

in Blog /by mediagistic/#permalink

December 20, 2017

20 Dec 2017

Why Won’t My Heating System Turn On?

For Fast Heating System Services, Call (478) 787-6578!

Is your heating system on the fritz? Wondering why your heat won’t turn on? Don’t ignore it! If you want to fix your heating system at home, we’ve put together a few troubleshooting tips, featured below.

in Blog /by becca/#permalink

November 11, 2016

11 Nov 2016

What is an HVAC Installation Checklist?

Originally published February 2013, updated November 2016

When the time comes for an HVAC system upgrade in your Warner Robins, GA, home, it is important that the installation team completes all essential activity properly. At Conditioned Air, we use an HVAC installation checklist so that our customers can rest assured that we have taken care of every detail. We diligently observe the checklist so no area is overlooked.

in Blog /by mediagistic/#permalink

September 25, 2016

25 Sep 2016

How to Take Advantage of Cooler Temperatures to Save Money

According to the Department of Energy, heating and cooling costs account for more than half of the monthly utility bill in an average home in the United States. Fortunately for homeowners in Macon, Georgia, the cooler fall weather helps curb those energy costs by giving your HVAC system a break before the winter arrives. Here are a few other ways you can use the cool temperatures to save money.

in Blog /by mediagistic/#permalink

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