Troubleshooting a Window-Mounted Air Conditioner

In homes that do not have central HVAC systems, window air conditioners provide great relief especially when summer is at its peak. Window air conditioners, just like other comfort systems, are susceptible to damage, if they are not maintained well. 

Maintenance and periodic cleaning are essential for all home appliances. They are the health mantras for the long, efficient, and problem-free lives of your home comfort systems. Those of you who have wall-mounted window air conditioners have a set of tasks to perform. These, if neglected, can make a hole in your pocket and cause a lot of inconvenience as well. 

There are some HVAC problems that you can fix yourself. All you may need to do is some troubleshooting. If problem solving is something you would rather not do, troubleshooting will help you in narrowing down the potential problems, helping you make informed decisions about repair or replacement.

Common Problems in Window Air Conditioners

1. The air conditioner does not turn on 

If you experience problems when you turn on your window air conditioner, i.e. if your window air conditioner refuses to start up, check if it is receiving power. Try unplugging and plugging it again. Next, you could try plugging it in a different socket. Check the same socket with another appliance to ensure power is passing through. If you are still having problems, check your circuit breaker. If there is power, there could be problems in any of the related components in the unit, such as wiring, compressor, thermostat, selector switch or control board. Please call a professional HVAC technician to handle these. 

2. The fan does not blow out cold air

If there is no cold air blowing out from the system, but the fan is running, you need to check if the thermostat is set correctly. If this is okay, check the compressor motor, which is situated inside the air conditioner, in the form of a small case. If the compressor makes a humming nose continuously, there could be a problem in the condenser, or the evaporator or the compressor itself. Another option is that the motor may be broken. Here again, you will need a licensed technician to fix the problem. 

3. The air conditioner does not blow out cold enough air

If you feel that after having kept your air conditioner on for a few minutes, the air that is blowing out is not cold enough, you will first need to check the temperature of the air. This can be done with a simple thermometer. If you notice that the temperature of the air going in is 15° higher than that of the air that is blowing out, you can conclude that the unit is doing more work than it is capable of. This is not a good sign.

On the other hand, if the difference is less than 15°, check if the air damper is open. Next, check the back cover, which may have been forgotten after the winter has passed. Finally, you need to check the condensing coils. For this, remove the cover of the air conditioner and clean the coils with a soft brush.

4. The coils are freezing 

 

This problem could be due to a dirty air filter. Dirt that accumulates on the air filter restricts the air flow to the evaporator coils. This reduction in the airflow makes the evaporator too cold. This causes humidity inside the room, which causes condensation and the coils freeze. When coils freeze, further problem is caused as there is reduced airflow because of the frost. 

5. Water leaks out of the air conditioner 

When you notice water at the base of the air conditioning unit, the main reason could be improper installation. You could try to tilt the system backwards a little. This will allow the water to drain away. Window air conditioners are known for water collection water at the base of the unit. 

Being aware of these troubleshooting tips will help you in detecting the problem and deciding on the need to call a HVAC professional. Some of these common problems can be fixed by the average homeowner, for some a technician may be required.

Stop Uneven Heating and Cooling with Home Energy Audit

Are you among those who are irritated because of inadequate cooling in their house? Does your house have cooling that is uneven, even if the thermostat has been set right to give just enough cooling to keep you comfortable? Do you keep opening and closing the vents or adjusting your thermostat to maintain the right amount of cooling within your house? If yes, then this uneven cooling is due to uneven airflow in the house. 

Hot and cold spots in various parts of the house are annoying and depict inefficient cooling systems. Uneven airflow, which causes uneven cooling inside the house, can cause harm to your HVAC systems. It not only increases your energy costs, but also reduces the working life of your systems. 

Factors That Cause Uneven Cooling 

There are numerous factors that can cause uneven cooling. Some common ones are: 

1. Ductwork: If the flow of air in certain parts of the house is imbalanced, you will experience uneven cooling. This airflow imbalance also could be due to ducts of improper size, and/or leaks and blockages in the ducts.

Remedy: If the ducts are not properly sized, you will need to replace them with ones of the correct size. Blockages and leaks, if identified, need to be removed to restore proper airflow. All these problems can be promptly fixed by the HVAC technician. He will find the underlying causes for the imbalance and do the needful. 

2. Speed motors: Uneven cooling or heating could occur due to the speed motor in the air conditioner. Check to see if your speed motor is a variable speed motor. 

Remedy: If your system does not have a variable speed motor, replace the existing motor with one. This type of motor provides even heating and cooling. It also allows for better control of airflow throughout the house. The motor moves the air slowly through the system, helping the air filtration and moisture control systems work more effectively and efficiently. 

3. Size of the air conditioner: The more you experience discomfort with uneven cooling, the system too is trying to compensate for the cooling by working more. This extra effort by the system is likely to increase the energy bills and reduce the life of you system. Improper size of the system can be a major cause for uneven cooling. Incorrect load calculation at the time of installation or significant change in the heating or cooling needs since installation could be the cause of uneven cooling. A system of lesser capacity than what are required provides inadequate and uneven cooling. 

Remedy: Check if the system you are using for cooling your indoors is one of the right and required size, and replace if necessary. 

Home Energy Audit

Do you know that there is professional service that could save you all the hassles of heating and cooling systems? This service is especially beneficial for houses that have uneven heating and cooling of indoors. 

This service is known as the ‘home energy audit’ or a ‘professional energy audit.’

A home energy audit presents a comprehensive picture of the state of the heating and cooling system that is fitted in your home. This audit is conducted by a professional HVAC technician. Many professionals offer such an assessment free of cost. 

A reputed energy auditor can assess your home systems and identify the areas that cause the uneven heating or cooling problems. He may also perform some tests, like the blower test. The blower door test will determine the air infiltration rate of your house. If your energy bills are high, such an auditor will be able to identify the cause for the problem and correct it as well. 

It is highly recommended that houses that have uneven heating and cooling should opt for an energy audit, especially after your area has had a harsh winter. This is the time when issues related to the ducts, thermostat settings, worn-out indoor weather seals and water leaks are most prevalent.

How to hire an HVAC expert

We never place enough importance to the professionalism of the HVAC technician who is hired to maintain or repair the home cooling or heating system. We always feel that periodic checks are important to keep the home comfort systems healthy, and for this, any technician is okay. Usually, we tie up with the local agency or contractor, who sends across a technician for the periodic checks and maintenance required. It would do us a wealth of good if we are aware of our comfort needs and how important they are to us before we actually hire a technician for our comfort system. 

Growing comfort needs 

 

All of us like to enjoy life with comfort and ease. This is the reason we see air conditioners and heaters being installed in almost every other home and definitely all corporate offices.

But, installation of comfort systems requires competency and skill that not all technicians have. The HVAC technician should also have knowledge of plumbing to conduct efficient installations. It does not stop here. Once the installation has taken place, periodic checks need to be conducted to ensure system efficiency and long life. Cleaning and maintenance is required at regular intervals to enjoy continued comfort. 

For all this we require a skilled heating and air conditioning service technician who will perform periodic maintenance of your heating and air-conditioning systems. These regular checks can also identify the prospective repairs that are likely to take place in the future. A good technician will also maintain the right system efficiency and foresee any major problems and fix them well in advance.

Hence, the need is not just for a technician, but a HVAC professional who knows his job and will save our families from any domestic hazards, such as an ignition or a major repair. But do we place as much importance to the technician as we should? 

Spare a second thought

Have you ever given a second thought to the technician who has come over to have a look at your heating and cooling system? Can you tell if it was the same person who came the last time for the periodic check? Have you ever seen his license or any form of proof to ensure he is a professional? 

Most of us never spare a second thought to the technician. We just do not bother about the person’s professionalism or skills as long as our systems are well maintained. Conscious effort is required to understand the technician who comes to our house. After all, we trust him with the lives and well being of our families! 

Here are some tips that can help us source and hire a good HVAC technician.

• Look for a company that houses a team of professional technicians. Usually, such companies boast of the Technician’s Seal of Safety. This seal of safety symbolizes the contractor's commitment towards his job and these companies will always employ skilled personnel as their reputation is at stake.
• Ask your technician about the maintenance of the system. Timely checks means coming on time and conducting all the required checks essential for smooth working of the system.
• Maintain a checklist and ensure that all checks mentioned are completed at regular intervals.
• Remember, professional technicians not only provide timely services, but also offer advice on any impending repairs or breakdowns.
• A little market research on the reputation of the HVAC contractor can work wonders. If you get good reviews on the contractor from your neighborhood, you can safely hire him.
• Reference check with the clients the HVAC company has worked for. A competent contractor will never hesitate to share the names and addresses of its clients. Call a few of them and check on the professionalism of the contracting company. Questions on the effectiveness of the contracting system and quality of service they render go a long way in hiring the right technician.

If you are hiring a company that will send a technician periodically, you can ask some of these basic questions before you actually hire them for you HVAC maintenance needs. These include questions on 

a. minimum education and skills of the technicians
b. knowledge of the different types of energy rating comfort systems have
c. estimated price for each type of job
d. technicians' experience in the field
e. timeline for work such as installation or repairs 

Hiring a technician with care will ensure a long and satisfactory relationship.

Common problems with radiators

As winter approaches, we start thinking about keeping warm. Warm clothes come out of the closets; blankets are aired out, and shopping for the rainy weather starts. Soon the chill sets in. The need for warmth becomes inevitable. We start feeling the need to replace the air conditioner with the radiator. 

Often, we never give a thought to our radiator until the cold actually sets in. We assume that it will work as efficiently as last year and without any hiccups. It never occurs to us that the poor machine has been in hibernation for a long time and probably needs a little attention. All we do is wait till winter and then the trouble starts. Then when winter is here, the radiator just doesn’t warm up! If you are lucky, and it does, it does not warm enough!

Know your radiator 

Radiators are common devices widely used to heat indoors. Central heating systems, steam generation and hot water systems are some heating systems that keep the houses and buildings warm in winter. These systems have radiators, through which the warm air generated in the boiler and circulated indoors. Radiators may be single-pipe or double-pipe ones. While the former is used to circulate steam, the latter generally works with both hot water and steam. The fans in the radiator blow the warm air into the room. 

Available in different sizes and shapes, radiators may be wall-mounting devices or covered under the floor of the room. Modern units have electrical filaments for heat transmission. The most commonly used radiators are central heating radiators. These are efficient and easy to use. They contain a furnace and a heat pump that warms the water to send out steam to the area you want to warm up. Other types include cast iron radiators, towel rail radiators and bathroom radiators.

Common problems with radiators

Some common complaints most people have about radiators include:

• The radiator just does not start
• The radiator does not generate hot air
• The bottom section of the radiator is cold
• The 'feed' pipe is very hot to touch, but hot air does not come out of the radiator

Here are a few things that can help your radiators function optimally:

• You can turn the radiators on fully, meaning all the way up. This will make them warm all over and leads to better air generation.
• Bleed the radiators. This means that you have to let all the air within come out.
• Reduce the heat and open the bleed screw situated at the top end of your radiator. If you hear a hissing sound, it means that air is being pushed out by the water.
• If your radiator does not start warming even after bleeding, check the radiator valve. This could be blocked.
• Try removing the sensor from the valve and push the pin down. You will feel it moving just about 2 or 3 mm. Reattach the sensor on the valve and start the radiator. Ensure that there is no leakage in the stuffing box.

Some thumb rules

• Use all the radiators fitted in the rooms of your house. It is better to have all your radiators running rather than keep one on maximum and the others off.
• Leave windows open for about five minutes while ventilating the room. Keep the thermostat turned down to create a draft. This will make the walls and furniture warm.
• Try to keep the minimum temperature around 16 degrees in all rooms.
• Turn down the radiators at night. This will save money and energy.
• Placing the thermostats in the right place is another way to ensure optimal heating. Do not place them where the sunlight will directly fall on them, or behind the curtains. This will restrict them from reading the exact room temperature. Installing a remote sensor will help a great deal.

Is your AC dripping water into your room? What is the problem?

There are times when we have noticed water around the base of the air conditioner. The bet is that most of us do not bother about this type of water leakage. We consider it quite normal. But it is not so. Air conditioners should not leak water. If they do, it means that there is a block in the drain pipe or there is a permanent clog that has stopped it from functioning.

Reasons for water leakage 

1. The drain line needs cleaning: When your periodic cleaning takes place, the drain pipes may be left clogged a little. Over a period of time, this clog becomes bigger and bigger and finally results in a complete drain pipe block. Ensure that this does not happen.

The remedy is to use the pills available for dissolving particulate accumulation. These pills are usually put in the pan under the frame. You could also use a 50/50 water bleach solution to prevent dust and particle accumulation. 

2. Air conditioner tubes may be leaking: Air conditioners have tubes that tend to leak. The water puddle you find under or around the air conditioner may be due to a simple leakage in the tubes. 

If you find a tube leakage, replace the leaking tube with another one. 

3. The condensate pump may not be working properly: To detect any error in the pump, you need to pour water into the pump and check if it begins working. If the condensate pump does not start up, there could be a block in the electrical power or the pump is no more operational. 

It is better to call over an electrician than meddle with the electrical connections. 

4. Improper installation: Incorrect installation can also cause water leakage or accumulation around your air conditioner.

You need to ensure that while installing, your technician places the window unit in such a way that the rear side of the unit is slightly lower than the front. This ensures proper water drainage, which in turn results in no leakage. 

5. Ice formation: Water that is de-humidified can crystallize into ice if your air conditioner ran into a problem. You can check for ice formation by removing the front grille, but only when the air conditioner is running. If you see ice present on the cooling coils, the water leakage could be from this ice.

You will need to call the technician to clean up your machine.

6. Water pool around the air conditioner in the morning: Usually, this occurs when you are nearing the end of the cooling season. It is seen that when the temperature outside drops below 60°F during the night, the cooling coil within the air conditioner may ice up.

Selecting the fan mode alternatively can help in preventing this type of leakage. 

Sealing the tubes can be done by reinsulation of the air conditioner. You could try to fix this problem by cutting the line near the drain pan and blowing it to remove clogged matter. For blowing, you will need high pressure air. A water hose will also suffice. You could also try connecting the vacuum cleaner to the outlet of the drain line. 

Air conditioners have some type of condensate management. In window units, there is a removable catch pan which can be emptied manually to drain out the water. Central units usually have an active draining system as there are large amounts of condensate generated. 

These tips will help you understand the working of your air conditioners and avoid that small puddle of water around your precious air conditioning units.

Innovative ways to slash your electricity bills

Electric bills have sky-rocketed, especially in the past couple of years. Just like the prices of other commodities, energy bills also seem to be on an upward trend. This means that electricity bills are likely to increase in the future.

Electric bills on the rise

To combat the rise in the energy charges, there are few things that we need to keep in mind. First of all, we need to be aware of our electricity consumption. The amount of energy we use or rather, are used to consuming, is an important factor that often goes unnoticed. Keeping a track of this will help us make a conscious effort towards attempting to control the usage and eventually, reduce it.

Secondly, we need to make energy restrictions or form go-green goals and remember them too. Controlling electric usage leads to efforts in reducing electricity bills, and reduction in energy bills leads to cost saving, and of course a smaller hole in the pocket!

Home appliances love electricity

Among all home appliances, it is the HVAC systems that consume the most amount of electricity. Air conditioners, water heaters, refrigerators, and dryers are some appliances that consume the most electricity. Being aware of the amount of consumption and consciously reducing them will help in a great deal of savings. 

Some useful tips to help reduce energy consumption of these appliances are elucidated below. 

Maintain the temperature: Air conditioners consume tremendous amounts of electricity. All we need to do is manage the temperatures right in summer and winter. Try setting the temperature around 78°F in summer and set temperature down during the winter. Remember, every degree counts! This habit can help in reducing up to 3% of our energy costs. Use devices with latest technology: An electronic, programmable thermostat is the need of every air conditioner. We need to seriously consider purchasing a programmable electronic thermostat for our HVAC systems if we do not already have one. The device is based on the latest technology and allows us to set it in such a way that the temperature will automatically adjust according to the timings set. For e.g. a programmable thermostat can be used to allow our indoor temperature to rise when nobody is at home and commence cooling at the time set, usually before the arrival of the family members. The programmable thermostat can also reduce energy consumption when we are sleeping. 

Periodic maintenance of air conditioners: We have never given a thought to how much we could save with a little awareness and restraint. Regular air conditioner servicing can help us save $65 annually. Employ a professional HVAC contractor to periodically check your HVAC systems as well as other electrical appliances. Periodic maintenance keeps the systems healthy and healthy systems consume lesser electricity that those that are not periodically maintained. 

Replace old air conditioners: If the air conditioner is over 12 years old, we need to replace it with a new one. Latest models from ENERGY STAR have high seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), a unit used to measure the efficiency of the air conditioner. The higher the SEER, the more efficient will be the system. We need to choose air conditioner with SEER rating of 13 or 14. 

Position the air-conditioner: It is essential that our air conditioners are protected from sunlight. If the air conditioner is positioned in a place that receives direct sunlight, we need to block the direct sunlight without impeding the airflow or enclosing the system. We could plant tall trees or shrubs, or consider placing an awning to protect it from sunlight. Protecting the air conditioning unit from direct sunlight can save up to 10% electricity. 

Intelligent shopping: The next time we go shopping for electric appliances; let us look for those with the Energy Star label. These come with the assurance that they have been tested against certain energy-efficiency guidelines. Energy Star claims that their appliances can reduce our annual energy bills by 30%. Now this is too good a deal to miss!

Choosing the right thermostat-A simple guide

A thermostat is a switch that is temperature-sensitive and responsible for turning your heating and cooling systems on and off. The switch recognizes the preset limit fixed and turns the air conditioner off when the indoor temperature reaches that limit. When the temperature starts rising after some time, the switch turns the air conditioner on again. This program works vice versa for heaters.

A thermostat conducts a range of operations. These could be simple manual operations or technology-based programmable units. There are different types of functionalities to offer users with enhanced and efficient operation.

Choosing a thermostat

The selection of a thermostat is easy. The recent technology has paved the way for units that are of universal compatibility. They feature product information on the package, which makes thermostats easy to understand and install. However, there are some basic rules that you need to be aware of while choosing a thermostat.

Different types of Thermostats

Based on your need and comfort requirements, you can choose a thermostat from the various options available today. But first you need to have fairly good knowledge about the different types of thermostats.

To start off with, there are 2 basic types of thermostats - Manual Thermostats and Programmable Thermostats

Both manual thermostats and programmable thermostats control the air conditioning. They also work on different types of furnaces that may be of gas, oil or electric. Manual thermostats are ones that are usually found in old houses and mansions. They are typically economical units with controls that are simple and easy to operate by different people. They work efficiently, but you need to diligently set the temperature controls often. Their settings need to be changed as the temperature changes. In addition, they provide limited comfort and energy savings.

Programmable thermostats work automatically with minimum human intervention. They adjust the room temperature throughout the day without the need to set and reset the settings. They can save as much as 33% of your energy costs in heating operations and 15 to 25% energy costs in cooling operations. There are advanced models that have the ability to alternate between air conditioning and heating, especially during seasonal transitions. They feature a simple interface that is easy to operate. Some mercury-free models are also available.

Compatibility with your heating systems and air conditioners

Your thermostat needs to be compatible with your home comfort systems. You can refer to the information printed on the packaging labels to choose a thermostat that is compatible with your HVAC system. Below are a few terms with which you should be familiar to determine capability with your HVAC system.

• There are thermostats with 1, 2, and multi-stage heating or cooling capabilities.
• There are switches that work with direct line voltage and ones that works with 24mV. The latter is usually used with a fireplace, wall or floor furnace.
• Finally, there are thermostats that are made for zoned HVAC devices. These systems feature individually controls for heating and cooling from the same HVAC system.

Thermostats to suit your lifestyle

Programmable thermostats are most suited for the modern lifestyles. They can provide you with the required levels of comfort. All you need to do is set different temperatures for the various parts of the day. Their energy-saving temperature feature helps you save energy even when you are away or sleeping.

You need to select a thermostat that allows changes in settings often. While there are thermostats with preset schedules that are based on common household energy requirements, there are also thermostats that are pre-programmed and need no further setting adjustments. All that is required is plain installation.

It is important that you keep in mind the flexibility you need for your day to day comfort requirements. You could choose from any of these options:

• 7-day programming
• 5-2 programming
• 5-1-1 programming
• Week-long programming

Programmable thermostats also come with a variety of controls that also allow for changing the preset program schedule when required. These have a number of features, including touch screen controls, backlit display panels and remote programming and control.