So you’ve decided on an AC replacement. That’s great! A new AC system is a great investment in your family’s comfort and your home’s overall value over time. As with any home improvement project, however, there are a few things you should be expecting as you go through the AC replacement process. In the interest of keeping yourself as informed as possible regarding the status of your system, we’re here to walk you through some things you should be expecting in the coming days.

Area Preparation

Once the technician gives you their initial estimates, the best thing you can do to help the process along is to clear the area where the system will be installed. Clear it of any and all debris or trash. It it’s an outdoor unit make sure the grass around it is properly cut, and if you’re installing an indoor unit like a mini split, make sure the installation area is clear of household furniture or clutter. If there are inordinately heavy objects in the way life sofas, refrigerators, or the like, consider covering them in such a way to protect them from any dust that may result from the installation process.

Know the AC Replacement Lingo

When you’re going through the process of getting a new system, you’ll need to know two terms in particular:

• Heating Season Performance Factor or HSPF refers to how effective a heat pump is during the heating season. A critical rating to keep in mind if you’re getting a heat pump installed, the industry standard for new products is a minimum rating of 7.7.
• Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER notes the efficacy of the cooling system. the bare minimum for all new systems is 13.

It’s worthwhile to note that the higher a system is rated for HSPF and SEER, the pricier it will be. However, you do get what you pay for, as these units typically have a much better performance and are longer lived than their cheaper counterparts.

Testing Your New Unit

Once the installation technician has come to your home and completed the installation process, they’ll have to test the new system to make sure it’s up to the task of cooling your home. Numerous tests are conducted to ensure that the pressure and vacuum systems are working before loading the unit with the refrigerant that makes it run. After it’s been filled, another test is carried out to ensure everything is still in working order.

Contact North Shore Home Energy Today for the Best air conditioner replacement in Newburyport and the surrounding area!

Read The Great Things That Your Neighbors Are Saying About NSHEC.

ac failure

By nshec

The days are longer, people around the office are taking vacations, and the temperature is constantly hitting the nineties. There’s no question about it: the dog days of summer are at our doorstep. And with the hottest weeks of the year ahead of us, it’s important to make sure your AC is up to the challenge. In order to make absolutely sure you’re set up for success this August, there are a few easy, DIY maintenance tasks you can carry out on your own at home.  If you need air conditioner repair, this is the way to find out. 

Safety is Key

Before you do anything for your system, you want to make sure that you keep yourself safe while you work. If you have an outdoor unit, you need to deactivate the power before doing ANYTHING. A fully-powered AC unit can be incredibly hazardous with spinning fans, live electricity and the like. Before doing anything related to prepping your AC, be sure to disconnect the power before doing anything. You can’t enjoy your summer from a hospital room.

Out With The Old, In With The New 

You don’t need to be an HVAC tech to understand that a dirty air filter means you’re going to have dirty air. After a long winter hibernation (and probably a summer of heavy use from last year), your air filters are going to be worn down, dirty, and minimally effective. Air filters are cheap, easy to find, and relatively easy to replace if you have a general idea of what you’re doing. Air filters are one of the first things to go after the winter and as such are one of the first things you should be replacing when the summer rolls around. 

 Consider Completely Cleaning Condenser Coils

Over the winter months, your condenser unit will accrue some debris: dirt, leaves, water, etc. Again, you don’t need to be an expert to know that such debris is not conducive to your AC’s performance. The condenser coil is one of the most important parts of your unit, which itself is the large metal box outside your house that has spinning fans. If the condenser was covered during the winter, there probably won’t be a massive amount of debris on it in the summer. If you didn’t cover it, consider doing so this fall. 

Make sure the fan is clear of any and all refuse. Next you need to open the box and check the coils. If there is anything on these coils, there’s a very particular set of things you need to do to make sure the system runs at peak efficiency

• Remove the side and top panels or protective grilles from the condenser unit. Note: Double check to make certain the power to the condenser unit is turned off.
• Lift off the top. The fan may be attached to it making it heavy. Note: Don’t tug any of the wires connected to the fan.
• Using a refrigerator coil brush or a soft brush on a vacuum, gently clean the coils from the outside of the unit. After you clean the outside, vacuum coils from the inside. Note: Be careful not to bend the delicate fins or damage the coils

Check the Coolant Lines

The coolant lines essentially are what carries the cool air to your home from the condenser unit. If these lines are damaged in any way there’s no guarantee regarding the efficiency. These lines are usually covered with some kind of insulation to prevent the cool air from escaping the tubes before it gets into your home. You’re going to want to check this insulation thoroughly to see if any portion of it is compromised: any fraying or wearing needs to be addressed now because it’ll only get worse over time. 

Testing 1 2 3…

The final step of any start of season AC tune-up is to test out your system. Because at the end of the day, there are still plenty of things that could go wrong with your AC that you wouldn’t really have a way of knowing the damage of. A quick test run of your system for about an hour will be able to determine any nascent with you wouldn’t be able to determine at baseline.

Know When to Call in Backup

We love to see homeowners embrace the DIY spirit. IT shows initiative and genuine investment in their home’s HVAC system. That said, there are some things best left to professionals. If you notice any glaring issues during your DIY inspection, rather than trying to fix them yourself, its safest to call a licensed technician from North Shore Home Energy. Our team members have the skills, tools, and expertise to avoid damaging your air conditioner. Improper repairs can result in damage to your system or yourself, so when you need air conditioner repair, it’s best to call in the cavalry.

Contact North Shore Home Energy Today for the Best air conditioner repair in Amesbury and the surrounding area!

Read The Great Things That Your Neighbors Are Saying About NSHEC.

ac failure

By nshec

The last thing you want to hear on a hot summer’s day is the sputtering death rattle of an AC failure. Since that is something of a worst case scenario, you obviously want to avoid it. Thankfully, it’s rare for a system to just up and die out of absolutely nowhere; there are normally some easy to identify warning signs that the astute homeowner can hone in on and fix before they become full-fledged system killing issues. Here are a few of the more major things that’ll warn you of an AC failure in your future. 

Your AC is Blowing Hot Air or No Air at All

The whole purpose of your air conditioner is to deliver cool, temperate air into your home. Obviously if that is not happening there’s a red flag going off. It’s likely this could be the result of a bad capacitor, a filter clog, or depleted refrigerant. As much as we value the DIY spirit, these are issues best left to the pros. If you notice warm air when your AC is running, call a North Shore team member and we’ll get it sorted out.

You’re Getting Weird Smells Through Your Vents

You can probably count on one hand the situations where you want to smell a burning smell; “from your AC system” is not one of them. If you notice a smell like that, you’ve almost definitely got a fried wire, which is an increased risk of an electrical fire. But as long as we’re talking about the smells that come from ACs, equally as common as the burning smell is an oppressive, musty, and dank smell. Usually this is indicative of biological growth in your vents like mold and the like. This is a little less serious than an impending electrical fire, but obviously still requires your immediate attention. If something smells fishy, something is fishy.

Loud Clanging Noises Coming From Your Indoor Unit 

No matter what type of system you have, you should never hear it from the inside of your home.  Any scraping, clanging, or squealing should be like blaring warning sirens to you that something is not operating as intended in your system. These sounds are often due to something falling out of place or just needing some extra lubrication. Of all the issues your AC may be facing, you want to act on these most quickly. Issues like these could quickly escalate from a quick fix to a massively costly repair, if not the total death of your system. 

You’re Getting Higher Utility Bills 

When a system is on its last legs, the #1 most common trait is a reduced efficiency of the system. Reduced efficiency means lower output for the same amount of time, which ultimately translates for high bills for less actual cooling. This can be due to any number of issues too numerous to list in an article like this, but it is always a sign that a professional touch is necessary to get your cooling efforts back under control. Nobody likes higher bills and in this economy you want to be saving as much money as you possibly can. 

Moisture In and Around Your Unit 

When is a leak ever a good sign of anything? Pretty much never, and the same goes for your air conditioner. When you go outside and notice moisture and water around the base of your condenser unit, that’s a pretty airtight way to find out that something is not right. 

Contact North Shore Home Energy Today for the Best AC service  in Amesbury and the surrounding area!

Read The Great Things That Your Neighbors Are Saying About NSHEC.

ac failure

By nshec