Air Conditioning Archives - Chrome Heating & Air Conditioning

Signs You May Need Air Conditioning System Repair

ChromeAir / December 1, 2020

10 Signs That You May Need Residential AC Repair near Plano TX With a few more weeks of winter coming to North Texas, it’s hard to think about air conditioning repair service for your home AC unit. But when it’s time to switch your thermostat from heat to cool, you want your air conditioner to cool quickly and you don’t want to have to deal with problems. Unfortunately, when air conditioners work as long and hard as ours do in the Plano area, breakdowns and malfunctions are inevitable. HVAC Service near Plano TX When spring comes and you’ve got your AC up and running, here are some things to look out for: Your unit runs all the time. This could be an indication that your unit may be low on refrigerant or that your air returns are drawing in too much warm air from your attic. Your outside unit doesn’t turn on at all. There are many possible causes for this, including a lack of power to the unit, a defective thermostat, transformer or contactor, burned out wires or even an infestation of the outside unit by ants or other pests. Your outside unit turns on but the fan inside it doesn’t turn. Among the reasons the fan may not be turning are a bad blower motor, dirty evaporator coils, a defective capacitor or burned wires. Your outside unit makes a humming noise but won’t run. This can happen when the fan motor malfunctions or the wires or capacitor are bad. Your circuit breaker trips when your air conditioner is turned on. You may have a bad breaker or the problem could be with your air conditioner, which might have a defective contactor, a short in the condenser fan motor or the compressor isn’t properly grounded. Your air conditioner is leaking water inside your house. The drain pan under your evaporator coils may have developed rust holes or your outside drain hose could be clogged. Your thermostat isn’t maintaining the set temperature. The thermostat may need batteries or it may need to be calibrated. In some cases, it may need to be replaced. You have ice on your outside unit and on the condenser. This could mean you have a dirty filter or a dirty evaporator. It can also mean you’re low on refrigerant. Your energy bills are climbing. An air conditioner that isn’t working correctly will be less efficient. Lowered efficiency translates to higher energy bills. Your air conditioner is old. If your unit is ten years older or more, you may experience many symptoms that mean it’s time for a replacement. There are a variety of reasons that your AC might fail to work efficiently or fail to work at all this spring and summer. If you suspect that your unit isn’t working right and your home just isn’t cool enough, don’t wait. Sometimes just getting a tune-up can help too! Contact Chrome Heating & Air Conditioning, we can diagnose and repair all of your air conditioning problems or contact us online to schedule a visit by one of our HVAC technicians near Frisco and Plano TX.

AC Repair Plano TX

The Dangers of Not Getting Your AC Repaired

ChromeAir / July 31, 2020

AC Repair Services near Plano TX Even a relatively new air conditioning unit, be it a packaged system, heat pump, or mini-split, could eventually develop problems. If you neglect your home air conditioner by not ensuring that it gets repaired, then a number of things will happen. Extremely Loud Noises First, your system will likely make loud and irritating noises. Loose parts, for example, may rattle or bang. Defective relays may cause a clicking sound during operation, while a continual squealing may be the result of a bad motor. Weak Cooling and Humid Atmosphere Certain problems can cause your AC to blow out lukewarm air. For example, a condenser unit caked with dirt may not be able to keep your property cool. Even a dirty air filter can influence how comfortable you feel in your house. Together with weak cooling, you might notice that your interior becomes humid as your AC runs. This could be due to a refrigerant leak or water buildup in the condensate drain pipe. The former is a health hazard, while the latter can lead to flooding and mold. Uneven Cooling Neglecting repairs can also lead to uneven cooling between rooms or floors. The appearance of these “hot spots” is usually the result of clogs in ductwork, dirty air filters, and air leaks. The repair team at Chrome Heating & Air Conditioning in Plano can leave you with a more quiet, energy-efficient system. Those who don’t need certain areas cooled may even purchase a zoning system from us. Shorter Lifespan for Your System Lastly, to never repair your system is to significantly shorten its lifespan. The average heat pump or central AC unit can last between 10 and 15 years, but that’s only with regular maintenance. AC Repairs Backed By a Satisfaction Guarantee Homeowners in and around Plano have relied on Chrome Heating & Air Conditioning for more than 25 years. Our NATE-certified technicians can handle repairs large and small, and we’re available 24/7 for emergencies. Contact our family-owned and -operated company today. We can also assist with AC and heating repair, installation, and maintenance, plumbing, and attic insulation.

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AC Repair Plano TX, Indoor Air Quality

Reduce Allergens with AC Maintenance

ChromeAir / June 1, 2020

Improving Your Indoor Air Quality near Plano TX Spring is in the air and so are spring allergens; but as bad as the pollen floating around outside can be for your allergies or asthma, did you know that indoor allergens can actually be worse? That’s why it’s important for you to get a company you trust for your air conditioning repair in Frisco TX to give your unit a thorough going-over to make sure that it’s functioning correctly and that you’re using the right air filters to keep allergens from circulating throughout your home. HVAC Indoor Air Quality Common indoor allergens like mold, pet dander, dust mites, cockroach droppings and pollen can become airborne and, when you breathe them in, they can trigger an allergic reaction. This is especially bad for children or the elderly who have severe allergies or asthma. Because it takes in and expels air into your home, your air conditioning system can both harbor and spread many of these allergens that cling to the ducts, vents and other components. Regular AC maintenance by the company who handles your air conditioning services will allow the technician to spot mold growth so that it can be remediated. If you spot signs of mold around ducts and vents or on any of the AC components, call Chrome for help. You may require a thorough duct cleaning in addition to your regular check-up. One of the most important things you can do to keep allergens to a minimum inside your home is to check and change air filters regularly – usually once a month. Choosing the Right Air Filter When you purchase air filters for your home, make sure to take note of their MERV ratings. MERV or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value is a rating system devised by The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers and it lets you know how much filtration you’re going to get from your air filters. The least expensive filters are flat-panel filters and they usually carry a MERV rating of 1 to 4. Pleated or medium-efficiency filters have a higher MERV rating, between 5 and 13. There are filters that filter smaller particulates and carry higher MERV ratings – 14 to 20 – but these put too much strain on the average home air conditioner. For that reason, you should choose a medium-efficiency, pleated filter for your home unit. Air Conditioning Maintenance near Plano & Frisco TX If you need advice about the right filter for your Plano area home, especially if you or someone in your family suffers from severe allergies, call us at Chrome Heating & Air Conditioning at (469) 252-0599. We can give your unit a spring check-up and take care of any air conditioning repair service near Plano that you might need. Check out our coupons for valuable savings too.

AC Repair McKinney TX

How To Find The Right AC Company

ChromeAir / December 15, 2014

It might be winter time right now, but in Texas, cold weather is fleeting, and hot weather is right around the corner. That’s why you can never stop thinking about how your air conditioner will run and whether or not you’ll need air conditioning repair in McKinney TX sometime shortly. Even if your AC was working fine when you used it last, that doesn’t mean something catastrophic can’t happen when you crank it up this spring. The only way to be sure there won’t be a problem is to have pre-season air conditioner maintenance performed by a specialist. If you don’t have a regular AC repair company that you trust, there are some things you should remember about choosing one: ❆ Ask around This is always good advice for everything from AC repair to sushi restaurants. Ask people you trust for their recommendations. Friends, family and coworkers will be more than happy to share good news about air conditioning repair companies. ❆ Check online Yelp, Angie’s List, the Better Business Bureau and many other websites have customer-satisfaction ratings for pretty much every air conditioning repair business in your area. But be careful because many times, people only leave reviews when they have a bad experience. So, don’t necessarily take a company off your list for one or two bad reviews. They might have 100 happy customers for every unhappy one. ❆ Do your AC homework It helps to learn a little bit about air conditioning terminology before a technician baffles you with words and acronyms you probably won’t know. And while you’re at it, check to see what the licensing and insurance requirements are for AC contractors in Texas. ❆ If you have time, get more than one estimate If you don’t have a regular company that handles your air conditioning repair in McKinney TX and you’re looking for one to do your pre-summer check-up, call more than one company for an estimate on the job. You’ll be able to tell a lot about how the company operates based on what the estimator does and says. You’ll also learn what the price range is for a check-up and you’ll be able to ask each one for references from their other customers. ❆ Make sure the company offers estimates in writing This is especially important if you’re having major work done. You don’t want to be surprised by expensive repairs that weren’t on the estimate. Also, if you sign a written proposal for the work to be done, get a copy for your records. ❆ Look for Energy Star equipment If you’re having your system replaced, look for a contractor that offers Energy Star equipment. Energy Star ensures that you’ll be getting an energy-efficient air conditioner that will save you money down the line. Whether you need a check-up or a major repair, call Chrome Heating & Air Conditioning at 469-505-0944. Photo Credit: ©Depositphotos.com/ u n k r e a t i v e s

AC Repair Frisco TX

What Causes Your AC To Malfunction?

ChromeAir / December 15, 2014

Another long, hot, sweaty Frisco, Texas summer is coming, which begs the question: What Causes My Air Conditioner to Break Down? What did people do before there were air conditioners? How did they work in the heat, in the fields, all day and come home to un-air-conditioned homes? Luckily, we don’t have that problem. Most of us have wonderful air conditioning to come home to near Frisco, TX – unless, of course, it breaks down and then we have a very hot home to come home to and an AC repair company to call. What exactly can go wrong with these marvels of modern engineering that would make us need air conditioning repair? Quite a bit, actually. Unlike furnaces and other central heating units, air conditioners are fairly complex beasts that depend on many conditions being met for the AC system to work the way it’s supposed to in order to make cold air: ➙ The unit has to be sized properly to meet the load requirement for the home. The cooling load is the amount of conditioned air that’s needed to cool a designated area. If the unit in your home is the wrong size – too big or too small to handle the load – your home won’t be cooled or dehumidified properly. Also, if you increase the load on your home by adding more people and appliances that generate heat or you alter the structure of the home by adding space, your AC won’t be able to keep up. ➙ Your air conditioner is built to carry a certain “charge” of refrigerant to cool your home. If your unit develops a refrigerant leak, it won’t be able to keep up with the load on your home, even if you don’t add people or space. ➙ The big, noisy box that sits outside your home is the condenser unit and inside the condenser unit are condenser coils. The job of the coils in the air conditioning circuit is to transfer heat from the inside of the house to the outside air so any kind of dirt, debris or other build-up on the coils can greatly reduce the unit’s cooling ability. ➙ Regular maintenance is possibly the most important condition that has to be met to keep your home cool this summer. This includes not only pre-season check-ups by a specialist, but regular filter changes and maintenance of the area – including weed trimming and sweeping – around the exterior condenser unit will make a huge difference. If any of these conditions for optimum running of your air conditioning system aren’t met, your AC could fail you this summer – either by not cooling as you expect it to or by having a complete system breakdown. To find out more about keeping your air conditioner up and running, call Chrome Heating & Air Conditioning at 469-505-0944. You can schedule an appointment to have one of our technicians give your system a pre-season check.

Air Conditioning

What To Do in Extreme Heat

ChromeAir / July 21, 2014

Anyone who lives in a very hot climate, such as Texas in the summer, knows how important it is to keep cool as temperatures rise. But when the fun of summer weather turns into extreme heat (100 degrees Fahrenheit or above for days at a time), it can literally be a matter of life or death as extreme heat may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. This is why proper AC repair is so important. Maintaining your home air conditioning system can make a huge difference in the summer when extreme heat hits. As temperatures rise higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit, your home air conditioning system must run at full capacity to keep your home cool, which can significantly increase your utility costs. Plus, if you set your thermostat below 78 degrees Fahrenheit on very hot days, it will not help to keep your home cooler. The lower the settings on your thermostat, the more the air conditioning unit must work with possibly minimal or no change to inside temperatures. During the summer you should always be prepared for extreme heat. Extreme Heat FAQs [siteorigin_widget class=”HypercoreAccordion”][/siteorigin_widget] The following are a few tips to help you beat extreme heat: Don’t wait until it’s too late. It is always a good idea to get regular air conditioning maintenance. For an air conditioning unit that is getting old, have a licensed and reliable AC repair Plano TX service come to your home for an inspection. A qualified technician will be able to ensure that equipment is properly working and there are no leaks in duct-work. When you are home, keep your thermostat at 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and when you are away set it at 82 degrees Fahrenheit. A programmable thermostat can help you set your temperature so you do not have to remember to change it every time you leave. Consider a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans help cool a room by increasing air circulation, so the air conditioning unit does not have to do all the work. This will save in utility costs and possibly help maintain a longer life for your AC unit. Keep the hot sun out of your rooms. By using shades and blinds when the sunshine is at its peak, you can help keep your rooms cooler. Also, consider upgrading your insulation so that heat stays out and cool air stays in. Inspect your AC filter. You can ensure your equipment works at peak performance by checking your filter twice a year for dirt. A dirty filter makes your AC unit work harder than it should, so replace dirty air filters. When temperatures are at their highest, you can beat the heat by being prepared. Stay indoors as much as possible and drink lots of water. You can keep your home comfortable with regular AC repair Plano TX service. For other tips and help to stay cool, feel free to call Chrome Heating and Air Conditioning for all your air conditioning needs. Call them today at 469-505-0944.

AC Repair Plano TX, Air Conditioning

Common Issues with Your Home AC near Plano

ChromeAir / March 30, 2014

If you haven’t had a tune-up performed on your home’s AC system, there could be an unpleasant surprise when the summer heat arrives and you could have some unexpected AC repair problems. The unit may not come on at all or there might not be any cold air no matter how low you set the temperature on the thermostat. Common AC Repair Issues with Your Home AC near Plano Faulty Ducts Dirty ductwork has been proven to be a huge waste of energy. Unprofessional workmanship often goes undetected. Duct work can be held together with duct tape, which will eventually fail. This causes wasting valuable cooled air. Also, it brings contaminants into your home. Allergens, odors, mold, and moisture can be the result. Dirty Coils Air conditioners work by sucking the heat out of your home not by adding coolness to the air. AC coils have to be cold and junk free to absorb heat. Pollutants, bacteria, and airborne contaminants can be present in the cleanest of homes. This mix can hit the wet air conditioning coil, and turn to junk. The resulting sludge is a great insulator, which means the air conditioning unit will not work correctly in your home. Condenser Fan Problems The air conditioner works with the AC fan to expel air outdoors. It is important that the fan is running at peak performance or your air conditioner can overheat. If the fan can’t reject heat efficiently, your energy bill will be sky high, and your air conditioner performance will be unacceptably low. Thermal Expansion Valve Issues The thermal expansion valve is a modulating unit inside your air conditioner. It moves back and forth to regulate the amount of refrigerant flowing through the unit, depending on the amount of heating or cooling that is needed. This can cause restricted flow or flood the system neither of which are good for the unit. Your air conditioner will not function correctly and your energy bill will rise. Unit Age Air conditioning units and thermostats can’t last forever. The life expectancy of an air conditioning unit is typically between 7 and 10 years depending on your cooling needs. Watch for the following symptoms to be sure that your AC unit is working to the best standards: Moldy or odd smells. A noise or bump of air flow when the unit is started up. The appearance of streaks or dirt your air conditioner grill. Power failures in your home (voltage issues can affect AC units). If you are experiencing any of these AC repair problems or other issues with your AC unit near Plano TX contact Chrome Heating & Air Conditioning for help. We have been family owned and operated for more than 20 years. Top skilled technicians are on call for your convenience. Chrome believes that the highest level of service available is the standard for their customers.

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