Look Out for the Following

• Fixing refrigerant leaks: If you have an air conditioning system that is over 5 years old, it is susceptible to leaks occurring along the refrigerant line due to chemical corrosion. At the first sign your AC is dropping in cooling power, or you see ice developing along the indoor components, call for HVAC professionals to see if refrigerant leaks need to be repaired and the refrigerant recharged.
• Replacing burnt-out motors: Dirt and dust can infiltrate the cabinet of an air conditioner over a long summer season. If grime starts to build up across the motors that run the fans and the compressor, it will increase mechanical stress across them. This will make the air conditioner inefficient, and it may also cause the motors to burn out. If you hear mechanical screeching and grinding sounds from the AC or detect an acrid odor coming from the vents, you may need to have a burnt-out motor replaced.
• Thermostat recalibration: Modern thermostats are precision instruments, but that also means they’re susceptible to developing small faults. Unfortunately, a small fault in the thermostat’s temperature sensors can lead to inefficient and ineffective behavior from the AC, such as short-cycling. If you air conditioner is turning on and off at odd times, contact repair technicians to see if the thermostat needs recalibration.

Lifeline Plumbing, Inc. offers air conditioning repairs in East Dundee, IL. You can reach us 24/7 for urgent care.

The post Some Late Summer Air Conditioning Repairs You May Need appeared first on Lifeline Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

#1. Forgetting to change the air filter each month

No question, this deserves to be in the top slot. Many homeowners aren’t even aware that their AC has an air filter, let alone that it needs to be changed or cleaned once a month during summer. If this filter becomes clogged after a month of steady work, it will restrict airflow into the air conditioner and cause a rise in the cost to operate the system. If you don’t know where the air filter on your AC is located, ask a technician for help.

#2. Running the air conditioner even when no one is home

Unfortunately, the Internet is filled with this piece of bad advice: “It’s cheaper to run the air conditioner all day than to have it turn on and off.” It simply isn’t true. You should keep the air conditioner either turned off completely or at a very high temperature setting during the daytime when the house is empty. If you have a programmable thermostat (a good idea) you can arrange for the AC turn on a half hour before you come home. This way you will always have a pleasant home environment.

#3. Setting the thermostat too low

No, you don’t need to drop the thermostat down to 60°F for comfort. It will waste energy—and it’s too chilly anyway! Keep it set in the mid-70s during the day when you are home, then move it up by 10° at night.

If you need air conditioning repair this summer in East Dundee, IL, you only need to call Lifeline Plumbing, Inc. and we will take care of everything.

The post 3 Air Conditioning Mistakes to Avoid This Summer appeared first on Lifeline Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

Arranging for a routine maintenance visit for your AC is simple: contact the technicians at Lifeline Plumbing today! We help maintain air conditioners throughout Chicagoland and Fox Valley.

Why is maintenance so important? Here are some reasons that you should schedule this service every spring for your AC:

• It saves you money… and in more ways than one. First, it will keep your air conditioner working at peak efficiency so it won’t waste money trying to run with parts that are wearing down. Second, it will lower the amount of repairs that you will need to schedule for the system; around 85% of the repairs that an AC may require in its lifetime are avoidable thanks to maintenance. And third, it will see that the system has the longest service life possible, so you won’t have to spend a large amount of money replacing it early.
• It protects your comfort… by making sure that the system stays working at its best. You won’t have to worry about a decline in comfort as the system wears down; you’ll receive the performance you want from your air conditioner each time it comes on.
• It provides peace of mind… because the last thing you want to worry about during a hot stretch of summer is whether your air conditioner will be able to make it through each hot day. You wouldn’t want to go on a long road trip in a car and constantly have to worry that it might suddenly break down. The same applies to an air conditioner. Before you take it on the long “road trip” of a hot summer, make sure it has received a thorough tune-up from professionals.

Call us today and we will be happy to arrange for an annual spring inspection and tune-up for your residential air conditioner.

The post Have You Had Your Air Conditioning Maintenance Yet? Time to Schedule It! appeared first on Lifeline Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

It’s Noisy

Over the last decade, great strides have been made to lower the noise level on air conditioners. As such, a well-functioning outdoor AC unit should have a basic hum sound to it and nothing else. If you start to hear excessive noise, including banging, clanking, hissing, or anything else that seems out of the ordinary, shut the unit down and call your air conditioning technician immediately.

Decrease in Airflow

A decrease in airflow can be attributed to a number of things, ranging from a dirty filter to a weakened fan blower. If you are still experiencing a decrease in your air flow after changing your AC system’s filter, call a professional to resolve the problem.

Air is Blowing Warm

If the air is blowing warm, something is most likely happening with the refrigerant. There are a number of things that can compromise the proper function of the refrigerant, from a compressor issue to dirty coils. Handling of refrigerant and work on the compressor or coils should be conducted only by a trained specialist.

Too Much Cycling

Are you noticing that your system is turning on and off more than normal? Excessive cycling can indicate several things, the top two being a malfunctioning thermostat and/or that air is escaping the system via a leak or blockage. Your Lifeline Plumbing expert will be able to pinpoint the problem and stop your air conditioner from over cycling.

The AC Breaker Keeps Tripping

Is your AC system tripping its circuit breaker? A breaker that keeps turning off indicates a problem, so if your AC breaker is tripping repeatedly, do not keep switching it back to on. Breakers trip for a number of reasons, all of which need to be handled by an expert.

Icing

Ice on the unit usually indicates one of two problems: an issue with the air flow or an issue with the refrigerant. When air flow is restricted, the evaporator coil temperature drops to below freezing. The humidity in the air then collects on the coil, causing ice to build. The same happens when the refrigerant runs low.

Water Leakage

Every air conditioning system removes humidity from the air. Your unit disposes of the resulting condensation via the condensate tray. The condensate tray is a sloping tray that direct excess water to an exit pipe. If the tray or pipe becomes clogged, the tray starts to fill up with water rather than drain it. Eventually this will lead to overflowing and leaks.

Something Smells

AC systems are constantly in contact with water, as they remove humidity from a space. If this water is allowed to stagnate anywhere in the system, whether it be in the condensate tray, pipes or vents, mold and mildew can grow. If you suspect that you’ve got mold and/or mildew in your vents, pipes or ducts, call us to schedule an inspection and cleaning.

Don’t Get Left in the Heat

Checking your air conditioning system for potential problems before summer can help eliminate the irritation of having it break on a hot day.

Call a Lifeline Plumbing AC expert today and make sure your air conditioner is running as it should. Dependable air conditioning in Elgin is just a phone call away.

The post Look for These Air Conditioning Repair Warnings Before Summer appeared first on Lifeline Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.

• Replace your air filter on a regular basis: In order for your system to function, it needs to be protected from the accumulation of dust, dirt, and other debris. Your HVAC air filter does a fairly good job from making sure that your internal components are not too adversely affected by debris. But during the peak cooling season, this filter can itself become excessively dirty or clogged with debris, in which case it can actually begin to slow down the passage of cool air. This tends to increase energy costs.
• Enroll in routine air conditioning maintenance: Beyond changing the filter and keeping the surrounding area clear of belongings and debris, the majority of air conditioning maintenance must be taken care of by a qualified AC technician. During these routine visits, we can thoroughly inspect, clean, and make adjustments to your AC so that it stays efficient.
• Programmable thermostat installation: If you’re still operating your AC with a conventional thermostat, you should consider investing in a digital, programmable model. This allows you to create a schedule of cooling for your home based on your unique situation. You can schedule it to raise the temperature after leaving for work and then lower the temperature again before you get home from work each day. During the summer, this can reduce your energy costs without sacrificing the pleasure of walking into a cool home.

Make sure you get in touch with an HVAC professional if you need work done on your AC. Call Lifeline Plumbing today for excellent Naperville air conditioning services.

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Call Lifeline Plumbing for all your Plumbing, Water Heaters, Water Treatment Systems, Bathroom Remodeling, Heating, Air Conditioning and Commercial needs.

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