Natal's Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning Posts’ Category

A Handy Air Conditioning Term Glossary

Monday, August 9th, 2021
AC condenser unit

We’ve all been there—searching for help with your air conditioning issue while you’ve got 18 different tabs open on your browser looking up HVAC industry terms. When you’re not well-acquainted with this technology and this industry, it’s really hard to know just what we’re talking about. BTUs? SEER and AFUE? Short-cycling and refrigerant recharges? What do all of these words mean?

Don’t worry, we’ve got a blog post for everything and that’s the topic we’re going to cover today. In order for you to be an informed consumer when looking for AC repair in Mandeville, LA, you’ll need to be able to identify these terms and know what they mean. They’re everywhere and the more you understand about them, the more likely you are to save on energy bills, repair costs, or the cost of an early system replacement.

Let’s get started! And don’t forget to call our pros if you have any questions, or if you run into a lesser-known term that you’d like some knowledge about.

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Is It Time to Go with a Heat Pump?

Tuesday, June 1st, 2021
AC condenser unit

If you’ve been concerned about air conditioning in Gretna, LA for as long as we have, then you’ll be at least semi-interested in heat pump technology. It hasn’t been around as long as regular air conditioners have, but it’s quickly becoming a household name that homeowners are starting to turn to. Especially in our area where our summers are long and our winters are mild, heat pumps are an exceptionally great choice for homes that need an all-year comfort system.

At this point, you’re probably wondering, “Alright, what’s the catch?” And you’re right to think that. When something sounds too good to be true, or like it’s a one-size-fits-all solution, then there’s usually something up.

Don’t worry, we’ll be brutally honest while reviewing this kind of system. We’ll tell you why a heat pump might be perfect for your home, and why it might not be.

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Is Refrigerant Leaking From Your System?

Monday, May 3rd, 2021
AC condenser unit

Your air conditioner requires a set amount of refrigerant in order to do its job. This is just a fact. How much refrigerant, the pressure at which the refrigerant should be kept, and the type of refrigerant is going to vary depending on the system you have and some other factors. For instance, R-22 refrigerant was phased out in 2020 and we now regularly use R-410A, which is a lot more environmentally friendly and still works just fine.

What we’re trying to say is, refrigerant is the lifeblood of your system. It’s going to be different depending on the system, but every air conditioner needs it. So when a system starts leaking refrigerant, it’s only a matter of time before your home is too hot, your energy bills spike, and your AC breaks down.

We want to help you avoid the most expensive AC repairs in Harvey, LA. That’s why we’re going to go over some signs you’ll notice when your air conditioner develops a refrigerant leak.

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3 Problems Winter Could’ve Caused to Your AC

Monday, April 19th, 2021
AC condenser unit
An air conditioner unit outside a brick home in a residential neighborhood. The air conditioner is in a back yard in the hot summer season. Service industry, working class.

It might not seem like it, but winter took a long time. We’re enjoying living in the moment, as temperatures start to warm up and the flowers begin to bloom. But let’s not forget the harsh winter temperatures, the problems we had with indoor air quality, and everything else that occurred this winter.

Sometimes homeowners forget that their air conditioners were sitting in the garage, basement, or crawlspace for the whole winter. Likewise, they believe their system will just magically turn on the way it did months ago, like nothing has changed. While we wish this were the case, some AC systems require air conditioning repair in Slidell, LA or some kind of maintenance because of the wintertime wear and tear.

Let’s talk about a few problems that the stale, winter air could have cause your AC system and what you can do to mitigate the damage.

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It’s Time to Take Your AC Out of Retirement

Monday, April 5th, 2021
AC condenser unit

Down here in the Bayou, we get a lot of mileage out of our air conditioners. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that the season for bringing our AC systems out of retirement is already well underway. We’ve had some freak-cold weather for a few weeks, but now it’s time to prepare for the heat.

Wait, don’t just run the system willy-nilly! Just like a car or a different appliance that’s been in retirement for a few months, there will be some things you’ll want to do to make sure it runs optimally. After all, running your system incorrectly now, before the heat has arrived, could cause a breakdown when you need it the most.

Today, we’ll go through and mention why Gretna air conditioning maintenance is so vital during the spring, as well as talk about some best practices for taking your AC out of retirement.

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Put Your AC Away the Right Way

Monday, November 16th, 2020
checklist

Things are starting to get chilly here in Slidell. And if they’re not at the time of reading this, then they will be. There’s no getting around this—it’s time to put away the air conditioners and pull out our trustworthy heaters. For some of us, that’s great news because your heater is much newer and more efficient than your air conditioner. For others, the feeling is the opposite.

We’re not here to write a poem about fall weather and the chilly winter, we’re here to talk turkey. You could be looking at some expensive air conditioning service in Slidell, LA if your air conditioner isn’t put away the right way. Yes, we have to take care of our air conditioning systems even when we aren’t using them for the season. The more your system has to endure the elements, neglect, and time, the less efficient and more problematic it will become.

Don’t worry, keep reading. We’ve got your back.

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Does Your AC Need Help Today?

Monday, October 5th, 2020
AC condenser unit
High efficiency modern AC-heater unit, energy save solution

This is a question that we need to answer. Notice how we didn’t just ask “Does your AC need help?” We added that “today” on the end because it’s important to get your air conditioner repaired as quickly as possible. Why is that? Well, let us explain!

Air conditioners that run into issues don’t operate in a vacuum. A lot of the time, one problem that’s constantly occurring inside an air conditioner will compound into another one, or make a separate problem worse. Basically, problems work together to make your life miserable. The quicker you can call us for AC repair in New Orleans, the better off your air conditioner will be as a whole.

Not convinced that fast AC repair makes a difference? Well, how were we going to convince you in just a few sentences? Keep reading as we get into the details about what can go wrong with waiting for repair.

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AC and Our Climate: Maintenance Is Key

Monday, September 21st, 2020
AC condenser unit
Air conditioner with clipboard and paper

You might notice something when you talk to friends and family across the country. HVAC companies are starting to make their great switch from air conditioning care to heating care. This makes sense, as the seasons change, so must our equipment to deal with the temperatures at hand. However, things are a little different for us.

While we heavily advise you to get your heater maintained, which is what most HVAC companies are talking about this fall, there’s something else we’d like you to do. Hot temperatures aren’t over for us, and we think it’s important that you schedule AC maintenance in New Orleans as well.

We know, it seems a little late to schedule maintenance for your air conditioner—but that’s just it—late is better than never. Let’s talk about why now could be the perfect time for AC maintenance in our area.

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You Could Be Suffering From a Refrigerant Leak

Monday, September 7th, 2020
Technician working
“Air conditioner repairman in uniform, discussing with the female homeowner the unit’s repair.Take a look at my LIGHTBOXS with other related images.”

Do you hear a hissing or a bubbling noise late at night while your air conditioner is working? Or perhaps you can tell that the temperature of your home is a little “off” and not reaching the standards set on your thermostat? If that’s the case then you could be suffering from a refrigerant leak.

This can occur in air conditioners from time to time, but it often results in poor efficiency, effectiveness, and the eventual breakdown of a system. If you think this kind of problem can fix itself, you’re absolutely wrong!

Call us when it comes to AC repair in New Orleans. We know how to deal with refrigerant leaks, how to patch them, and how to give your system a proper recharge. Below, we’ll go into detail about how you can notice your AC is suffering from this kind of problem, and why calling us sooner is always better than waiting.

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Uh Oh, Did Your AC Break Down? Don’t Panic!

Monday, August 24th, 2020
Technician working
Air Conditioner repairman explaining cost of repairs to homeowners

Air conditioners do break down, even though we try our hardest to stop that from happening. Preventative maintenance, targeted repairs, sensible diagnoses, these are all wonderful tools to keep breakdowns at bay. Unfortunately, our world is not always ideal and breakdowns do happen.

Don’t panic or fall into despair. Breakdowns might be devastating when they happen but they’re not the end of the world. Teams like ours specialize in dealing with air conditioners that are broken down, and we have a whole host of ideas, equipment, and checklists to see what we can do in repairing your system. Call us for AC repair in New Orleans, LA—we promise we can help.

Let’s talk about what you as a homeowner can do during an AC breakdown. Follow our guide and make sure you do everything you can to help mitigate problems and keep yourself comfortable.

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