Tag Archive for: A/C Tune-up

If you notice warm air blowing or frost and ice on your central air conditioner lines, your air conditioner may be low in refrigerant. Sometimes a central air conditioner needs a charge of refrigerant, commonly called Freon. Even though units sometimes require a refrigerant refill, this does not mean that your central air conditioner “uses” refrigerant. An air conditioner does not “use” refrigerant the way a car uses gasoline. Refrigerant is the primary product that a system uses to transfer heat from inside to outside your home.

When the refrigerant is low, there is a leak somewhere in your system. The outdoor portion of you A/C system is susceptible to wear and tear from outdoor elements and critters. Most times these leaks are minuscule and not visible to the naked eye.

If your unit does not seem to be performing optimally, consider an air conditioner tune-up. A tune-up from Hillside includes a check of your refrigerant level. If you find yourself recharging your system annually, it might be time for a replacement. Hillside can help with that, too!

To learn more about our air conditioning tune-ups and maintenance plans, call us in Delaware at (302) 738-4144 and in Maryland at (410) 398-2146.

De-pollen and other maintenance for A/C

Windows are open and the fresh air of springtime is wafting through the house. It’s just about air conditioning season. Now is the time, before the heat of summer, to have an A/C tune-up.

For window air conditioners, prep them before installing by gently vacuuming the soft coils with a brush attachment, using caution to not push on and damage the coils. With the unit cover off, you can brush out or blow out dust on the inside of the unit using a can of compressed air. For safety and home security, make sure window units are properly secured in place with nails or screws between the unit and your millwork. You can also secure your window from opening up by using additional hardware or wood.

For all air conditioners, change your air filter or clean off the filter (if you have a washable type). This will allow air to flow through properly so your unit doesn’t have to work as hard and will reduce the pollen that escapes into your home. If you’re an allergy sufferer, that’s especially important right now!

Beyond changing the air filter, your air conditioning system should be tuned up annually, and there’s no better time than NOW, before the raging heat of summer begins. Hillside HVAC offers a central air tune-up for $89 (mention this email). It includes all these check points:

• Clean condenser coil
• Clean indoor coil (where accessible)
• Oil and inspect motors
• Inspect wiring and tighten electrical connections
• Check capacitor
• Check contactor
• Check and change air filter (customer supplied)
• Clear condensate drain line
• Inspect refrigerant lines connections
• Check system refrigerant charge
• Check thermostat for proper operation
• Check supply and return air temperatures
• Check amp draw of compressor
• Check amp draw of condenser motor
• Check amp draw of blower motor

Tune up your air conditioning system now. Call Hillside HVAC to make an appointment.

In Delaware: 302-738-4144.

In Maryland: 410-398-2146.

As we move further into spring, the outdoor temperature fluctuations that cause us to flip-flop the thermostat between “heat” and “cool” are occurring less frequently. Let’s get ready for full-time cooling. First, change that filter, then go outside and hose off the air conditioning unit, if needed, to clear it of excess pollen or leaves that have collected there. This will allow your A/C unit to “breathe.” Or better yet, let Hillside make sure you are ready for summer with an A/C Tune-up.

Now it is time to test your A/C unit to see how well it’s cooling. Lowe’s* recommends these steps:

1. After setting your thermostat to “cool,” set the temperature to well below the room’s temperature. You should hear your system kick on and feel air blowing out of your vents.
2. Place a thermometer at a vent nearest where the inside unit is in your house. After about 10 minutes, record the temperature.
3. Move the thermometer to an air return and leave it there until the temperature remains steady. Record that temperature.
4. Subtract the second reading (at the air return) from the first reading (at the vent). A healthy difference should be 14–20 degrees Fahrenheit. Less than that may indicate a problem, such as low refrigerant.

If you haven’t done so already, have your A/C unit serviced for the warm-weather season to ensure its parts are clean and in good working order.

Let Hillside HVAC keep you up and running this summer! Delaware: 302-738-4144 Maryland: 410-398-2146

*Ref: http://www.lowes.com/cd_Test+Your+Central+Airs+Cooling+Ability_1351517191983_ng+Ability_1351517191983_