Bob Mims Heating & Air Conditioning Blog : Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

When to Call for AC Repairs

Monday, July 13th, 2020

wrenchesSummer is when you need your air conditioner the most, which means it is also when you really need a reliable source for air conditioning service in case something goes wrong. If there is a problem with your AC system, the sooner you get it taken care of the better off your home comfort will be. But do you know when the time has come to reach out for repairs? If not, we can help with that too.

That’s right, we provide services and reliable information! Your comfort is important to us after all so we want to make sure you know what instances work for you to contact us for professional air conditioning service.

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Boost Your Energy Efficiency With These Tips

Monday, June 15th, 2020

air-conditioner-on-leavesStaten Island has started quickly heat up. This means that you went from the days of enjoying the break in the cool temperatures to racing for the thermostat to get the air conditioner running again. Thankfully, you have a good air conditioner that is running correctly and able to do its job. That doesn’t mean you should just turn on your system and leave it be the rest of the season, though.

If you want to most out of your air conditioner, you should incorporate a few tactics to your regular habits to ensure you are doing everything possible to make your home efficient. We have some great tips for you here so you can get the most efficient and effective cooling power out of your AC.

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Know Your AC Options

Monday, May 18th, 2020

big-blue-question-markCooling season is here and you are going to be relying heavily on your air conditioning system if you aren’t doing so already. The problem here is that your A/C may not be able to properly do its job if it is too old or worn out. Modern air conditioners are built to last for a long time but not forever so if yours has gotten to the stage when it needs to be retired, the sooner that you get this done the better.

Choosing a new air conditioning system isn’t always easy but it can be made easier by learning what your options for a new one are. Knowing what you can choose from will help you to figure out what option will best suit your needs. Once you make a choice, just make sure to schedule your AC installation with a team of professionals to ensure that it will enjoy a full lifespan and optimal operation.

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When Does Putting in a Ductless AC Make Sense?

Monday, August 12th, 2019

ductless-system-with-technicianYou may already have some familiarity with ductless mini-split AC systems in Staten Island, NY. You can find them in businesses and in older apartment complexes. When you see what looks like a small-sized window AC up on the wall—and with no actual window behind it—that’s the air handler part of a ductless mini-split.

Instead of exhausting the heat from the room directly out the back of the unit the way a window AC does, the air handler of a ductless system connects through refrigerant and power lines to an outdoor condenser cabinet that looks the same as the condenser cabinet of a standard central air conditioner. This outdoor unit can connect to multiple indoor air handlers (from 4 to 8 depending on the capacity of the system) so cool air can be sent into rooms all around the house.

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Don’t Try to Scrape That Ice off the AC Coils!

Monday, July 15th, 2019

frozen-acIf you’re reading this, it’s because you already know that ice forming along the indoor evaporator coils of your air conditioning system is a bad thing. We’re glad to hear it. Too many homeowners make the mistake of thinking that ice appearing on the coils is just a normal part of how an air conditioner runs. It’s not. When you see ice or frost on the coils, it means something is wrong with the AC’s ability to draw heat from the air.

However, the solution to this problem isn’t scraping the ice from the coils. No matter what tool you’re thinking of using to remove the ice, please put it away. A frozen coil requires calling for air conditioning repair in Staten Island, NY from professionals.

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Why Is Water Dripping From My AC?

Monday, July 1st, 2019

water-dropletsWhen an air conditioner is running, it makes a number of sounds as part of its basic operation: the hum of the motors running the blower fans, the low whirring of the compressor when it starts a cooling cycle, the whoosh of air moving through the ductwork—and the sound of water dripping from the inside unit.

Why is there water in your air conditioning system in the first place? It’s part of the cooling cycle, but the AC is designed to keep this water from getting out of the cabinet and dripping into the house.

But no part of a central air conditioning system can operate 100% free of trouble 100% of the time. When you see water dripping from the indoor cabinet of the AC, you’ll need to call for central AC repair in Staten Island, NY right away.

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It’s Summer—But It’s Not Too Late for AC Maintenance!

Monday, June 17th, 2019

checkmark-greenThis week is the official start of summer. That doesn’t mean it gets instantly hot, of course. Sometimes summer weather starts in early, and sometimes the “June Gloom” hangs around for a stretch. The weather here in Staten Island is already climbing up past warm and will soon reach hot—so we hope you’ve already had your annual air conditioning maintenance done. It’s the best way to have your AC “armored up” to make it through the gauntlet of summer heat.

If you haven’t had maintenance done … no time like the present! With most of the summer still ahead, you’ll receive the best benefits of maintenance and prevent major AC troubles.

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Ways the AC Compressor Might Fail

Monday, June 3rd, 2019

compressor-in-ac-unitThere’s no such thing as a “non-vital” part of your central air conditioning system. All parts need to work well for the system to operate effectively and efficiently. But if any part were to be awarded the title “The Most Important AC Component,” it would be the compressor. It’s the literal heart of the air conditioner because it is what causes the refrigerant to circulate through the system. The compressor changes the refrigerant to a high-pressure hot gas that allows for the heat exchange process to start. Without a working compressor, an air conditioning system will function as nothing more than a large fan blowing around room temperature air.

The compressor usually lasts for the full life of the AC. In fact, it’s often a dead compressor that signals the end of the air conditioner’s lifecycle (around 10 to 15 years). However, a compressor might fail early—and usually it’s not worth the cost to fix it.

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The R-22 Phaseout Is Almost Done—Time to Replace That Old AC

Monday, May 20th, 2019

wall-clock

The clock is running out for old air conditioning systems that use R-22 refrigerant. If you aren’t certain what the R-22 phaseout is or how it affects your air conditioning system, here’s a quick rundown:

R-22, sometimes called Freon (a brand name), is an outdated refrigerant blend that was used for decades in air conditioning systems. Because R-22 creates ozone-depleting substances, the US Environmental Protection Agency started a process of gradually phasing-out use of this refrigerant blend to replace it with R-410A (a.k.a. Puron), which is not only healthier for the environment, but is a more efficient refrigerant blend for heat transfer.

The phase-out is now reaching its conclusion. As of 2020, professional HVAC technicians will no longer be permitted to use R-22 for any repairs to air conditioning systems, even using reclaimed refrigerant. So this means…

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Skipping Spring AC Maintenance Can Mean Plenty of Wasted Dollars

Monday, May 6th, 2019

air-conditioning-maintenance-toolsSpring is the best time to schedule annual air conditioning maintenance in Staten Island, NY. Having this job done before summer arrives helps ensure an AC is in great shape when hot weather arrives, and it gives a homeowner enough time to schedule any repairs that the technician may have discovered during the maintenance inspection. To schedule your regular AC maintenance, call our office to sign up for one of our Bob Mims Service Agreements.

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