“Let comfort be your guide,” says Tom Hutchinson of Hutchinson Plumbing Heating Cooling. Air conditioning is all about comfort, so the simplest way to evaluate your system is to ask: Am I comfortable?Air conditioning and HVAC units don’t last forever — 12 years is an average lifespan — and the moment they fail is usually when you need them the most. The good news is that not every system malfunction spells total doom. Many nuisances are so cheap and easy to fix, you’ll kick yourself for not doing them sooner.Possible cause: Often, the most likely culprit is the easiest to remedy: The thermostat isn’t set correctly, or power isn’t reaching the AC unit.The fix: Make sure that the thermostat is set to AC or “cool,” that the temperature setting is correct, and that the battery is fresh. Second, check the circuit breaker: It could simply be a tripped fuse. Cost: FreePossible cause: ”Airflow is paramount to comfort,” notes Hutchinson. If you aren’t comfortable, the problem usually can be traced to issues with airflow.

The fix: Change the filter. (You should do this as part of regular HVAC maintenance anyway.) Depending on the quality of the filter, the amount of people living in the house, and if there are pets, the filter should be changed every 30-60 days. Outdoors, make sure there’s at least 24 inches of clearance on the sides and 5 feet on top of the unit. Also, check to make sure there are no obstructions to the home’s cold air returns and registers.Cost: $5 to $20, depending on the filter.Possible cause: A spike in operating costs typically signals inefficient operation. After a dirty filter (warning sign #2), the most likely culprit is a choked condensing coil. Located within the outdoor unit, the coil has countless cooling fins — much like a car radiator — that can accumulate dust and debris. The fix: Call out a pro for a spring tune-up.Cost: $75 to $150Possible cause: Rattling, buzzing, or ticking? The good news is that the cause might be little more than a loose screw. The bad news is that it could be caused by a bum blower motor (indoors) or bent fan blade (outdoors).

The fix: If you’re lucky, a simple tightening here and lubricating there will fix the problem. If not, you might require a new fan motor or fan blade.Cost: $75 to $150 for an inspection and tune-up; $150 to $750 for a new blower motor.Possible cause: Improper placement of the thermostat can wreak havoc on one’s comfort. The unit might be in direct sun, too close to a register, or near a hot oven. Also, a remodel might have you spending more time where the thermostat is not.The fix: Relocate the thermostat.Cost: Free if you’re handy (and plan on reusing the same unit); up to $250 for a new programmable unit, plus another $90 for an electrician to install it.Possible cause: During normal operation, the system generates moisture in the form of condensate. That water collects in a pan and flows out a line either into a floor drain or condensate sump basin. An accumulation of water signals a blockage or disconnection of the tube.The fix: Inspect the tube for crimps, clogs, and disconnections.

Also, if the water flows into a sump basin, ensure that the sump pump is in good working order.Cost: Free to clean out blockage; $20 to replace the tube; $40 to $110 for a new condensate sump pump.Possible cause: The refrigerant lines aren’t insulated.The fix: The outdoor unit is connected to the indoor system by two copper refrigerant lines, which should be covered with insulating sleeves. Make sure that they are. Also, the system may need its refrigerant re-charged.old window ac unitCost: $5 for insulating sleeves; price of ac window unitsup to $150 for a system re-charge.best hvac units 2014Possible cause: Burnt-out compressorThe fix: If the compressor fails, the unit won’t run. The only fix for this is a costly replacement of the equipment, which includes various small parts, new Freon, and labor.

Cost: $600 to $1,900. It might be wise to replace your air conditioner if it’s more than eight years old, or if the estimated cost of repair is more than 50% of the cost of a new unit.If you have a heat pump in your home you have a great advantage. This one system can provide both heating and cooling for your home. As the summer months arrive and the weather warms up, you will want to switch your heat pump from warm to cool, but how do you do this? And how does a heat pump cool homes in Oklahoma? Continue to read below and for any additional questions, call Hill & Company. Much like an AC unit, heat pumps use refrigerant to absorb heat. Your heat pump will pull the heat from inside your home, run it through its system and move this hot air outside or transfer it into the ground.  This will leave your home feeling comfortable without having to dry out the air or run an AC unit constantly. It is important to know that your heat pump won’t automatically switch over when the weather starts to warm up.

You will need to manually switch your unit over from heating mode to cooling mode. Here’s how to switch your heat pump from warm to cool: Switch Over Your Thermostat. The first thing you will need to do is switch your thermostat from heating mode to cooling mode. This is one of your most important steps as you won’t get cool air without this.Adjust your home’s thermostats at the highest temperature where you can still remain comfortable. A temperature between 76 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit can help reduce your energy costs. Set your Heat Pump Fan. Your heat pump fan should be set to auto at all times. This will help keep the air in your home comfortable. ON means your fan will run constantly—which could increase your energy bills!Now is a great time to change out your dirty filters. Dirty filters will block air flow and could trigger allergies and upper respiratory issues. Have Your Unit Tuned-Up. You only have one unit but it is still a good idea to maintain your heat pump twice a year.

The perfect times to do this are spring and fall. A well-tuned system will run smoothly helping keep your home comfortable all year long. There are a few issues that may prevent your unit from switching over, even if you have followed the above steps. Let’s look at these reasons.Just as it sound the reversing valve helps switch over the way the refrigerant flows. If this valve is broken or is malfunctioning your heat pump will be stuck and the valve may need to be replaced. Low or No Refrigerant. If your heat pump has a refrigerant leak, the refrigerant may have slowly leaked out. Without refrigerant, your heat pump can’t cool the air effectively. You will need to have a professional HVAC team test for a leak and refill your refrigerant.If your thermostat is not working correctly it may tell you it is in cooling mode but it may not be able to send that message to your heat pump. If this is the case it may be time to upgrade your current thermostat. Need to schedule a repair for your heat pump?