Tag: air conditioning

What is an AC Tune-up and Do You Really Need It?

May 10, 2023

What is an AC Tune-up and Do You Really Need It?

  • Cooling
What is an AC Tune-up and Do You Really Need It, North Shore Home Energy

If you’re a homeowner with an air conditioner, you’ve probably heard about AC tune-ups. But what exactly is an AC tune-up, and do you really need it? In this article, we’ll answer those questions and more. We’ll cover the benefits of a tune-up, what’s included in the service, how often you should get one, and how long it takes. We’ll also explain why North Shore Home Energy is the best choice for your AC maintenance needs.

What is an AC Tune-up

An AC tune-up is a professional maintenance service performed on your air conditioner. During the service, a technician will thoroughly inspect, clean, and adjust your AC unit to ensure it’s operating at peak performance. A tune-up typically includes cleaning or replacing air filters, checking refrigerant levels, inspecting electrical connections, lubricating moving parts, and more.

Services Typically Included in a Tune-up

An AC tune-up typically includes the following services:

  • Cleaning or replacing air filters
  • Checking refrigerant levels and adjusting if necessary
  • Inspecting electrical connections and wiring
  • Lubricating moving parts
  • Checking and tightening belts and pulleys
  • Checking and cleaning the condenser and evaporator coils
  • Inspecting the blower motor and fan blades
  • Testing the thermostat and adjusting if necessary
  • Cleaning the condensate drain and pan
  • Inspecting the overall system for any issues or potential problems

Is a Tune-up Necessary

Yes, an AC tune-up is necessary if you want to keep your air conditioner running efficiently and prevent costly breakdowns. Just like any other mechanical system, your air conditioner needs regular maintenance to stay in good working condition. Without proper maintenance, your AC unit can become less efficient, break down more often, and ultimately have a shorter lifespan.

Benefits of an AC Tune-up

There are several benefits to getting a tune-up, including:

  • Improved energy efficiency and lower utility bills
  • Increased comfort and better air quality
  • Reduced risk of breakdowns and costly repairs
  • Longer lifespan for your air conditioner
  • Peace of mind knowing your AC unit is operating safely and reliably

How Often to Get an AC Tune-up

It’s recommended to get an AC tune-up once a year, ideally before the start of the cooling season. This will ensure that your air conditioner is ready to go when you need it most. However, if you have an older unit or a unit that sees heavy use, you may want to consider getting a tune-up twice a year.

How Long a Tune-up Usually Takes

The length of a tune-up can vary depending on the size and complexity of your system. Typically, a tune-up will take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours to complete.

Schedule an AC Tune-up With North Shore Home Energy

If you’re in need of an AC tune-up, look no further than North Shore Home Energy. Our team of experienced technicians will provide you with a thorough and efficient tune-up to keep your air conditioner running smoothly. We also offer a range of other HVAC services, including repairs and installations. Contact us today to schedule your tune-up or learn more about our services. Check out our Google Reviews!

By sam@admachines.com

Things to Expect When You Get an AC Replacement

Aug 27, 2022

Things to Expect When You Get an AC Replacement

  • Cooling
ac replacement

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

Welcome To Cooling Season: What You Need to do to Prep Your AC for a Busy August

Jul 19, 2022

Welcome To Cooling Season: What You Need to do to Prep Your AC for a Busy August

  • Cooling
air conditioner repair

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

5 Warning Signs of an Impending AC Failure

Jun 27, 2022

5 Warning Signs of an Impending AC Failure

  • Cooling
AC failure

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

Air Conditioners: What You Need to Know For This Cooling Season

Apr 19, 2021

Air Conditioners: What You Need to Know For This Cooling Season

  • Cooling
air conditioners

Air conditioners just blow cold air into your home, right? Actually, no. Cooling the air in your home is accomplished through a relatively complicated process that involves refrigerant fluid that shuttles heat back and forth between an outside compressor as it transforms from a liquid to a gas and back again. It takes quite a bit of electricity to perform this modern magic show of moving heat from a cooler place and back to a warmer place.

Types of Air Conditioning Systems

There are several different technology options involved with the process of cooling your home: central air conditioners and heat pumps, evaporative coolers, room air conditioners and ductless mini-split air conditioners. 

  • Central air conditioners and heat pumps are the most common form of systems, and unlike some of the other options they are often used to heat entire homes. They generally consist of a large compressor that is external to the home and drives the process and indoor refrigerant coils that distribute cool air throughout the home via ducts. Heat pumps work similarly, except they are also able to distribute warm air in the cooler winter months. Ducts throughout the home are utilized for distribution of both warm and cool air in concert with a fan system. 
  • Room air conditioners are mounted either on the walls, ceiling or through a window. These systems work in a similar fashion to central air conditioners, but compressors are located outside the home and the systems are generally built to control the temperature in a single room. These units are less expensive to purchase, but are potentially less efficient and have a higher daily running cost overall. 
  • Evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers, can be a practical alternative in certain parts of the country but are much less common than central air or room air conditioners. These unique systems operate by pulling fresh air through an evaporative system that involves moist pads and a whole-house circulation mechanism. While swamp coolers are only efficient in the drier areas of the country, they are very efficient and cost-effective to run and can reduce the temperature of your home by up to 30 degrees. The cost of purchase and installation is also lower as these systems are relatively simplistic. Evaporative coolers work most effectively in dry climates because the system works by putting moisture back into the air — something that isn’t as efficient in a wet climate. 
  • Ductless mini-split air conditioners are more popular outside the U.S., but are gaining prominence with homeowners who are updating a portion of their home or reworking an older addition that doesn’t have ductwork in place. They are similar to room air conditioners in that they are a zoned system, but the functionality is more similar to a conventional central air conditioning unit. When you’re using a ductless system, you also avoid the energy loss that is associated with a traditional system with ducts. You can also maintain overall cleaner air due to the lack of cracks and crevices in the ducts for dust, mold and other contaminants to hide.
  • New technology options include the Night Breeze, which integrates a whole-house fan, indirect water heater and air conditioner in one unit as well as Thermal Energy Storage where energy is stored overnight in ice — ideal for climates where energy costs are high during peak usage times. 

Warning Signs

Other than the obvious (it’s getting hot in here!) signs, there are multiple ways to determine that your system either needs maintenance or replacement. However, if you’re not as experienced with home maintenance and air conditioners, you may wonder if the problem is in your head or if it truly exists. Since air conditioners are used most heavily during the summer months, it’s important to get a tune-up before the heat of summer really kicks in. Qualified and licensed professionals perform a full system inspection to catch some standard problems that can occur. A check up generally includes:

  • Performance test of the full system
  • Visual review of all air conditioner components
  • Tests to determine the state of the refrigerant charge and overall system control testing
  • The use of an approved leak detector to perform a leak test
  • If slow leaks are suspected, your professional may perform a dye detection test

How can you tell that your system is not functioning as it should? Here’s a few things to look out for:

  • Air is not flowing as easily as it should be. If you’re seeing poor air flow through your vents, it’s probably time to call a professional. 
  • Zone issues — where part of your home is comfortable and another part is too hot or cool — are a good sign that there may be something wrong with your thermostat.
  • Excess moisture where it doesn’t belong can also be an indicator that it’s time to call a professional. 
  • Foul odors coming from your air conditioning unit are never a good sign. Mold can grow in wet, dark spaces and an air conditioning unit certainly fits those parameters.
  • Squeaking or squealing sounds coming from your air conditioning unit may indicate that a belt has slipped. This generally requires professional assistance to resolve.
  • Of course, if you find that your home is heating up unexpectedly, or the air conditioner is cycling (turning on and off quickly), you should have your unit checked out. 

With careful use and a solid maintenance schedule, nearly all types of air conditioning units will last upwards of 15 to 20 years. Your system should receive maintenance at least once a year in the spring, before it’s heavily used in the summer heat. This ensures that you’re catching any small problems such as leaks quickly and before they have a large impact on the functioning of your system. The cost of not performing regular maintenance could be decreased system efficiency or even having a system that freezes up or sustains serious damage from broken items such as motor bearings.

For More Information on Air Conditioners of All Shapes and Sizes, Call NSHEC Today!

Contact North Shore Home Energy Today!

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By nshec

Extending The Life Of Your AC

May 29, 2020

Extending The Life Of Your AC

  • Cooling
central AC replacement in New Hampshire by North Shore Home Energy

Just like any other part of your home, you want to be sure that your AC works properly and continues to do so for as long as possible. There are several things you can do to lengthen the lifespan of your air conditioner. With a little work on your end and routine maintenance from a professional, your AC will be able to keep your home cool and comfortable for years to come.

Routine Inspection and Maintenance

To extend the life of your AC to the fullest, maintenance is key. No matter what type of system or model you have working in your home, you should have a professional inspection at least twice a year. This allows for an in depth look at the inner workings of your air conditioner. Here’s what you can expect during a professional tune-up:

  • Performance test of the whole system
  • Visual review of components to look for areas of concern
  • Test to determine the state of the refrigerant charge
  • Overall system control testing
  • Leak test
  • If a service professional suspects a leak, a dye detection test may be necessary

Keep in mind that professional maintenance can lower your energy bills and improve the function and durability of your cooling system. To prevent costly repairs down the road, don’t hesitate to call at the first sign of an issue.

What You Can Do on Your Own

While you should always call a professional if a problem pops up, there are things you can do on your own in between visits to keep things running smoothly. To help extend the life of your AC on your own, try the following:

  • Turn it off when you don’t need it. Your AC could use a break every once in a while! If you are going to be out of the house for an extended amount of time, there’s no need to keep it running. It’s also a good idea to turn the thermostat up a little at night when the temperature outside drops.
  • Keep it clean. Dust or debris buildup can damage your AC, even if its just on the outside. Units located outdoors, even partially, are more susceptible, so its important to keep it free of dust, dirt and leaves. If they are left to build up, a malfunction is more likely.
  • Allow air circulation. Without a proper airflow, sufficient cooling will be difficult. Keep vents free from obstructions.
  • Keep your ducts clean. Unless you have a ductless system, you need to keep your ducts clean. Dust, dirt, mold, or mildew buildup can make its way into your air supply.
  • Keep an eye out for leaks. Whether its your AC itself or your ducts, you should always keep an eye out for leaks. Leaky ducts or hoses will result in your AC needing more electricity to function and cost you more on your utility bills.

In order to extend the lifespan of your AC and keep it running smoothly, call North Shore Home Energy and schedule your inspection today.  

By nshec