Just like you, your HVAC system needs to breathe—but that can be hard in a city sandwiched between I-80 and Highway 12, two of the busiest roadways in the region. Fairfield summers mean an increase in both temperatures traffic. Combined with low air movement, these added stresses to the environment mean Fairfield , making it a sometimes unpleasant time of year to be outside, despite everyone pitching in on “Spare the Air” days. Our variable air quality outside makes it that much more important to have a working air filter in your HVAC system inside your home, not only to help you breathe easy, but to keep your air conditioner from freezing up during the hottest days of the year. In the early days of our business, we got a service call about a motor burnout in Fairfield. It was around this time of year and the client’s AC wasn’t working—meaning things were getting heated in their house.  When our tech arrived he saw that the AC would turn on, but then turn off again within a minute or two.

Our tech immediately had a pretty good idea about what the problem was once he saw the service history—the system had not been serviced since installation, which meant the air filter had never been changed in four years.central air conditioning cost 2012 When your HVAC system blows hot or cold air, it uses a fan called the “blower.” why does an ac unit freeze upThis is a motor that pulls air in from outside the house and passes it through an air filter. package air conditioning unit wiring diagramImagine sucking on a straw in a glass of water. Now imagine trying to do it with a milkshake from Dave’s Giant Burgers—delicious, and arguably the best shake in Fairfield, but also much more difficult to suck through a straw.

Milkshakes are thicker, much thicker, than water, and so create more resistance when you try to drink them. A clogged air filter that’s never been changed creates resistance in the same way, causing the motor to work harder. Day in and day out, that motor works until it finally overheats. And when it overheats, it shuts down. Without a motor to keep it running, your air conditioner simply cannot work. This cycle of overheating and shutting down was what had been happening to our client’s motor and was the reason for his AC unit freezing up. Eventually, though, it overheated one too many times and simply gave up the ghost. The motor was fried, burning smell and all. There was nothing to do but replace it in order to bring his air conditioner back to life. We did replace it, incidentally. Since it had been 4 years since his HVAC system was maintenanced, we also cleaned the client’s ducts and, most importantly, we put in clean filters and set the client up on a regular maintenance schedule.

It was a no-brainer for them once we explained that regularly replacing their air filter for ten dollars apiece could save them hundreds in repairs over the years. The moral of this story is simple: regular maintenance can save you money in the long run. As expensive as the work we did was compared to the costs of regular maintenance, it could have been much more costly. Had the system been even a few years older, we’d have been talking less than a decade after they’d installed it—not to mention a few hot summer days spent without the relief of a working air conditioner. Do yourself—and your wallet—a favor. Stay on top of maintenance, give your HVAC guys a call, and change those air filters! Tags: , , , , , ,A/C Coils Freezing Up? When To Call A Pro An air conditioner that “freezes up” is actually a victim of the A/C coils freezing up. As a result, homeowners may find themselves without any air conditioning, and will need to troubleshoot the system or call a pro.

When A/C coils freeze, there could be a simple solution to the problem; however, more complicated scenarios may have caused the freezing. Before you call a pro, it pays to investigate the source of the problem. The evaporator coil is prone to freezing, primarily because it transfers heat, or evaporates it, from the indoor to the outdoor air. In the process, it also drains a lot of condensation. When problems occur, this condensation can form a block of ice around the coil, causing it to freeze. At this point, the air conditioner won’t work anymore. Four primary factors lead to the A/C coils freezing up: Regardless of the cause, frozen coils prohibit heat from dissipating as it moves over the coil, the coil becomes overcooled, and condensation and ice can form. Follow these steps to troubleshoot coil freeze: Shut down the A/C by setting the thermostat to “off.”If it’s dirty, it’s likely restricting airflow. Install a new filter, and turn the A/C back on.

If the filter was the problem, the coils should begin to thaw, and the air conditioner should begin running soon. If the problem does not resolve itself, other factors to consider include: A wet filter may indicate that the coils are frozen, as the large amount of condensate is averting the drain pan. The coil itself is likely dirty, which can inhibit heat transfer as well as airflow. Refrigerant levels may be too low. In the case of a wet filter, dirty coil or low refrigerant, it’s best to let a professional diagnose the problem. If you need help with A/C coils freezing up, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning. For almost 40 years, our experts have served homeowners in the greater San Antonio area with quality HVAC services, installation and repairs. Give us a call today.For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide. Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County.