Hays Cooling & Heating LLC – Expert HVAC Blog: preventative maintenance

Showing posts with label preventative maintenance. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

What to Do When Your Central Air Conditioner Smells Musty?

central air conditioner smells musty If we are lucky, our air conditioners run smoothly in the background without us ever noticing them. Unfortunately, there is one problem with an air conditioner that can cause massive disruptions to your life: unexplained, strong odor. Air blown from a central air conditioner that has a foul odor may result from an underlying issue with your system that deserves immediate attention, both to improve the quality of your air and to protect your family’s health. If you notice that the air from your central air conditioner smells musty, keep reading to learn some of the most common causes and how to address them.

Swap Out Your Air Filter

When you run into a problem with your central air conditioner, including an unexplained odor, it is best to try the simple fix first. One of the most typical causes of a smell from an AC unit is build-up on your filter. Over time, a filter can accumulate dirt, debris and even bacteria, which can result in an unpleasant odor when air passes through. For a quick fix to that mysterious aroma that happens whenever your air conditioner turns on, you might need to change an air filter. If you are lucky, this will immediately improve the quality of your air and save on more expensive repair solutions.

Clear Your Ducts of Moisture

Ideally, thanks to preventative maintenance, problems with your central air conditioner should have been addressed before they begin. Unfortunately, these problems do crop up, and a maintenance issue that may be causing the odor to come from your unit is moisture in your ducts. Due to improper insulation, moisture can build up in your air conditioning ducts causing mildew to form. Once mildew sets in, it produces a very distinct odor that is decidedly unpleasant. Check your ducts for moisture and mildew, and clean them out if you find anything. The chances are that this will completely solve your air conditioner’s odor problem.

Learn About ‘Dirty Sock Syndrome’

Although it is not as familiar as it should be, there is actually a term for certain air conditioner smells. It is what’s known as ‘dirty sock syndrome’, and it might be the source of your air conditioner’s fragrance problem. Dirty sock syndrome results from bacterial decay inside your air conditioner. Microorganisms build up inside of your air conditioner, begin to decay, and then put out a strong aroma that smells a lot like an old pair of socks that have been buried in your laundry basket for an extended period—hence the name. Making sure that your central air conditioner gets regular cleaning and maintenance will help you avoid dirty sock syndrome so that the air in your home stays fresh.

Get Your Unit Checked Out by a Technician

As we have seen, there are a number of reasons that your air conditioner might be emitting a foul scent. While some of the causes are relatively simple, others, like mildew, can turn very serious very quickly, making it difficult to live in your home and possibly putting your family’s health at risk. To address these issues and return the freshness to your home’s air, you need the help of Phoenix Arizona air conditioner repair technicians. Experienced, knowledgeable air conditioner professionals will be able to detect the cause of your system’s gross smell and take care of it as quickly as possible.

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Contact the AC repair experts in Phoenix at Hays Cooling & Heating to get your air conditioner back up and running. Email us or call 602-714-8270 now!

Read related articles:

Air Conditioning Unit Leaking Water Indoors [5 Reasons]

How Often Should You Change Your Home Air Filter in AZ

How Often Does a Home Air Conditioner Need to Be Serviced?

Read the full story at: http://hayscoolingandheating.com/central-air-conditioner-smells-musty/

Friday, June 24, 2016

Reduce Air Conditioner Repair Costs in Phoenix [3 Tips]

Reduce Air Conditioner Repair Costs in Phoenix The economy is improving at a steady pace and people in general are better off than they were eight years ago. However, in order to stay that way, we’ve got to be thrifty and savvy with our budgeting. When you’re having air conditioner issues, you naturally want to save as much money as possible while still getting the best service for the cost. There are things you can do in order to keep your system running strong without breaking your wallet! Learn these three tips to reduce air conditioner repair costs in Phoenix, including preventative maintenance, off-season work and aftermarket parts.

Get on a Maintenance Program

One of the very best things you can do to save money on your AC repairs is getting on a schedule of regular maintenance to prevent problems before they arise in the first place. It may seem counterintuitive to pay for technicians to come out more often as a cost-saving measure, but the truth is it’s far cheaper to have your system serviced twice a year than it is to have it replaced when it breaks down! There’s no question that having your system serviced regularly is the best way to save money and make sure you avoid problems down the road.

Schedule Off-Season Work

This time of year you’re approaching peak time for AC work. This means it’s likely to be more expensive to have your system serviced and repaired right now, when everyone needs work done. You also might have to wait longer for your technician to get to your system. If you wait until the cooler months and the winter off-season, you might find that your local AC repair and routine maintenance service offers special deals and lower overall rates, since work is slower that time of year. One of the very best ways to reduce costs is to do preventative maintenance and have your system serviced in the fall or winter months.

Ask about After Market Parts

Did you know that in many cases, you’re not required to use parts provided by the AC technician who comes to your house? It’s true, and it’s something that many people just don’t realize. When you call for service, after your repair professional diagnoses the problem and gives you a quote to fix it, ask if you can buy the parts yourself. This will allow you to take the time to shop around, find the best deals, and even get aftermarket parts that can cost significantly less than those offered by your repairman. Just be careful, if you take this road, that you get quality parts that are designed for your AC system. Otherwise, your costs could increase rather than decrease.

When the time comes for you to have your Phoenix AC system serviced, make sure that you have the very best Phoenix Arizona air conditioner repair specialists handle your system. Don’t wait to get it fixed—the longer you go, the more expensive it will get.

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