Tag: dallas air conditioning repair

Texas heat is no joke and you need your air conditioner running at maximum capacity more than ever; Especially when we’ve been experiencing record-high temperatures, and it’s just the beginning of the season. No one wants to deal with a broken air conditioner, and certainly not considering the steamy start to this Texas summer. Servicing your air conditioner before making it work hard all summer long is a great way to prevent that problem. 

Here are three things to look out for to know when to call a professional like Ellis Air Conditioning and Heating for your maintenance today.

Your Filter Is Dirty 

No one wants to worry about low air quality in their home. 

If your air conditioning unit is bogged down with dirt and debris in the filter, the amount of airflow is reduced. This also causes more energy to be consumed as the unit works harder to push air through. 

You can check the filter yourself easily. There are a few different places the filter could be depending on the type of air conditioner you have. 

The main filter locations are: 

1. Where the return ducts enter the ac unit

2. Behind the return air grill

3. In the blower compartment

Once you remove the filter from the unit it is easy to tell if it needs to be replaced or cleaned. Hold the filter up the light so you can tell how much light is able to pass through. A clean filter should be semi-translucent, if it is visibly dirty you are in need of a cleaning or a replacement, depending on the type of filter. 

You might need to check your air filter more often than you think, especially if your family includes furry pets. Energy Saver recommends checking filters every 2 months.

A clean air conditioning unit doesn’t have to work as hard to push air through dirty filters and coils. These two parts are essential for the unit to function properly. 

Your Energy Bill Is Unusually High

Is your summer energy bill higher than you expected? The Texas heat may not be the one to bear all the blame, it may be your air conditioner. If you have already checked the filter, it may be time for a professional to take over the routine maintenance. 

Another consequence of dirty filters is that prolonged usage allows the dirt to seep through the filter and muck up the coils, which are key pieces in cooling efficiency. Clean coils will not only save you money by reducing the amount of expended energy, but also by extending the life of the whole air conditioning system. 

Cleaning the coils is more involved than checking the filter and it is a good idea to trust a professional with such a key piece of your air conditioning unit. 

Your Home Is Taking Longer to Cool

If your air conditioner is running a little longer than usual and your home still isn’t cool, this is another sign it’s time for professional maintenance. This can be a symptom of more than dirty filters and coils. 

You can check the coil fins, which are the exterior protective barrier to the coils and they can be easily bent, resulting in reduced airflow. It is also possible your unit may be in need of more refrigerant among other issues.  

When your AC unit is taking too long to cool, it could be a sign that it is about to go out. Don’t wait until it is already malfunctioning to call a professional. Regular maintenance and cleaning can save you from sweltering.  

Ellis Air Conditioning and Heating: Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

Better yet, keep your home cool every summer. Ellis Air Conditioning and Heating has been servicing the DFW area since 1975. These DIY cleaning tips help a lot, but nothing will extend the life of your AC or minimize energy usage like the care of a professional.

Clean air in your home, a lower energy bill, and an air conditioning unit that cools quickly are a few things that will improve your summer. Give our team a call today to request a free estimate! 

Your air conditioner is typically one of the biggest power usages in a home- if not the biggest. Because of this, some people try to only use the AC when they’re actually at home. Other schools of thought say that constantly rebooting your air conditioning unit is inefficient for the machine, ultimately costing more money when you turn your AC off and on every time you leave. So what is the best cost-effective strategy when it comes to leaving your home for large stretches of time?

Does Turning Your AC Off Save Money?

When it comes to leaving your home empty all day, many people think that running an AC unit throughout their absence would be a waste of power. However, this is entirely dependent on the target temperature, as well as a few other factors such as the amount of sun coming through your windows, the weather outside, or whether ceiling fans are running. 

Your AC unit doesn’t necessarily work harder to keep your home at a cool temperature throughout the day. Instead, it works longer. When it runs all day, your AC simply regulates the temperature as needed, and when it’s turned on after being inactive all day it runs until the temperature is brought down all at once. 

If you’re going to be gone for many hours- say, leaving in the morning and returning after sundown- then your air conditioning unit will probably work just as much keeping your home at a steady temperature by running off and on all day as it would running for a long period of time to cool it down all at once when you come back. So, unless you’re going to be gone for multiple days, the difference between the two options is probably going to be pretty insignificant.

Alternatives to Turning the AC Off

A great way to get the best of both worlds is to turn your unit to a slightly higher temperature rather than turning the AC off completely. This will keep the temperature from getting too high while it’s unattended, but it won’t be running as long as it would be to maintain the temperature you prefer to enjoy when you’re home.

Especially if you live somewhere hot and humid, having the AC on at least a little throughout the day will be beneficial to the interior of your home, as AC units dry out the air as well as cool it down. It will also keep your home from needing too long to bring its temperature back down when you return.

Programable Thermostat

Using a programable thermostat will help you manage your temperature without having to remember to set it every day. Some thermostats even let you plan the temperature for the coming week, allowing you to control the temperature while you’re out of town. When you return home, your house or apartment will be able to readjust to a comfortable temperature quickly.

Of course, if you live in an area with a very mild climate, being gone for multiple days might not raise your home’s interior temperature too high. If you think you’ll be satisfied while waiting for your air conditioner to catch back up to the normal expectation, then you can probably comfortably get away with turning your AC off for a few days.

Ellis Air Conditioning and Heating Can Help

Give Ellis Air Conditioning and Heating a call if your energy expenses continue to rise after you’ve tried our suggestions. It’s possible that your air conditioner needs to be repaired or replaced to function properly. Our staff will assess your present HVAC issue and recommend a customized solution that meets your needs–all while staying inside your budget!