Air Conditioning Repair

Should You Replace Both the Inside and Outside Parts of Your Air Conditioner at the Same Time?

Written by Semper Fi on October 6, 2022. Posted in Air Conditioner Troubleshooting, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Replacement.

Summer is winding down, and you may be hoping that your old air conditioner will keep working until cooler weather arrives. Even if your air conditioner is not cooling your home the way it should, waiting for cooler weather might work out, or it might not. One thing you can be certain of is that your air conditioner problems are not going to fix themselves over the winter. Waiting and hoping is not a good strategy.

Call the experts at Semper Fi Heating & Cooling to assess the problem. A minor repair might be all it takes to keep your air conditioner working well into the future. Fail to make the minor repair, and your air conditioner might not make it through the rest of summer and fall. The technicians will do everything they can to keep your system working, but sometimes replacement is more practical than repair. You may need to decide if an expensive repair on a system with significantly limited life expectancy is a good decision.

Inside, Outside, or Both

When you make the decision to replace your air conditioner, you have a second decision to make. The outside unit of your air conditioner, also called the condenser unit, is the most likely to be the first major repair to cause you to consider a replacement. The inside unit needs service and occasional repairs but generally is less expensive. If the compressor goes out on your outside unit, the cost of replacement is substantial. Should you replace the outside unit only or both inside and outside units?

Why You Should Consider Replacing Both

Newer systems are more energy efficient. If you replace both units, you can expect that your new air conditioner will save you money through lower utility bills in the future.
You will have a multi-year warranty on your new air conditioner. Your system will still need preventative maintenance and possibly some minor repairs, but the expensive parts will be covered by the warranty.
Replacing both inside and outside units at once is significantly less expensive than replacing outside now and inside a few years in the future.
Older air conditioners often contain older refrigerants, the kind that harm the atmosphere when released and possibly cause refrigerant poisoning if they leak. Newer refrigerants are better and significantly less harmful to the environment.
If you replace both inside and outside units at the same time, all of the components of the system are sure to be compatible. If you replace the outside unit this year and the inside unit in five years, you may end up with a system that is not perfectly compatible. An incompatible system may not cool as well as it should and may cost more to operate.

The one or both decision is much like a decision you may have faced with your car. It is expensive to replace the engine, and if you do, you have a car with a great new engine but concern about other car parts breaking down. Replace both inside and outside, and you have a new car.

Call the experts at Semper Fi Heating & Cooling at 480-616-3636 and make an appointment to discuss the options for air conditioner replacement or repair.

Finding and Fixing a Refrigerant Leak in Your Air Conditioner

Written by Semper Fi on September 27, 2022. Posted in Air Conditioner Troubleshooting, Air Conditioning Repair.

Water is a chemical compound that has the ability to change form. At low temperatures it is ice, at mid-range it is liquid, and at high temperatures it is steam. There is a different form-changing class of chemical compounds in air conditioning systems generally referred to as refrigerant. Refrigerant changes from liquid to gas and back, as it is used to cool the air in your home.

Without refrigerant, your air conditioner cannot cool the air. Not only do you need refrigerant, but within a fairly narrow range you need the right amount of refrigerant under the right amount of pressure. Your air conditioner does not consume refrigerant; it circulates the same refrigerant over and over.

Sometimes the pipes that contain the refrigerant in your air conditioning system develop leaks. In the normal course of operation, an air conditioning system can lose a small amount of refrigerant. Your HVAC technician may recommend a “top-up” of the refrigerant levels on your system as part of routine maintenance.

The Basics About Air Conditioning

The concept is simple: collect heat and take it outside, produce cool air and bring it inside, then distribute the cooled air around the inside. The actual work is a little more complicated. Heat from inside is collected from the air intake ducts throughout your home. The heat is absorbed by the refrigerant and moved outside where it is compressed, causing it to cool. Heat is discharged outside and the cooled air travels back inside where it is distributed and picks up more heat to keep the cycle going over and over.

Stand next to the outside unit and you will feel the heat being distributed outside. Stand in front of a cool air outlet inside and you will feel the cooler air coming out. Heat discharges outside, cool air is distributed inside, and the cycle is repeated over and over again.

Finding the Leak

If there is a significant refrigerant leak in your air conditioning system, you may notice symptoms like the following:

Ice buildup on the coils
Cool air coming into your home is not as cool as it should be
System running longer while the time between cycles is less
Puddles of liquid by your outside unit
Utility bills going up because your system is running longer
Unusual sounds (listen for a bubbling sound)
If the leak is bad enough, your air conditioner will stop cooling entirely

An air conditioner service technician has the skills and tools to measure refrigerant levels and determine if the refrigerant is so low that it is causing your system to not operate as it should.

Fixing the Leak

A big part of fixing the refrigerant level is finding the leak. The first place a technician will look is the coils; small cracks in the coils can cause slow leaks. Repairing a refrigerant leak is usually not a do-it-yourself task – call an expert technician. Technicians have specialized tools to find and repair leaks. Small cracks can be patched; multiple cracks and other signs of advanced wear might mean that new coils are needed.

Failure to repair a refrigerant leak can cause big damage to other parts of your air conditioning system. A refrigerant leak serious enough to develop obvious symptoms is in need of prompt attention.

The service technicians at Semper Fi can help you understand your options for repairs. They are dedicated to helping you get as much life out of your older system as practically possible and offer competitive, cost-effective system replacement options as needed.

Call Semper Fi at 480-616-3636 to make an appointment for a technician to check your system’s refrigerant level and add whatever is needed to get your system back to working like new at full efficiency.

All About Short Cycling

Written by Semper Fi on August 23, 2022. Posted in Air Conditioner Troubleshooting, Air Conditioning Repair, Blog.

If your heating and cooling system is less than 15 years old, it is very likely that you have a high-efficiency air conditioner. As an Arizona resident, you know that even with a high-efficiency system your monthly electrical charge for air conditioning can be substantial. If your monthly electrical bill is higher than you expected, your air conditioner may not be operating as efficiently as it should. It may be something you can fix yourself, or it may be time to call a heating and cooling expert.

What Is Short Cycling?

Even on the hottest days, air conditioners do not run continuously. They operate in cycles. The cycle starts when your thermostat senses that room temperature has reached the maximum temperature setting. You hear the air conditioner turn on and begin circulating cooler air inside your home. The cycle ends when the inside temperature has been reduced by a few degrees and the air conditioner turns off and waits for the temperature to rise again before starting another cycle.

All air conditioning systems and homes are different, but the cooling cycle typically lasts for 15 to 20 minutes. If the cycle time on your system is significantly lower than that, you may be experiencing short cycling.

What Causes Short Cycling?

Following the repair technician’s No. 1 rule, always check the simplest and easiest item to fix first: the air filter. A dirty filter can prevent fresh air from getting into the system, causing it to overheat and shut down. If you are experiencing short cycles, check the filter first. If replacing the filter does not eliminate the short cycling, it is time to move to the next easiest solution: checking the outside air conditioning unit to see if it is frozen. Dirty filters or other mechanical problems can cause outside units to freeze. If frozen, turn the air conditioner off and give it time to thaw.

Another cause of short cycling could be if your system is low on refrigerant. A service technician can check and add refrigerant if necessary. If refrigerant was low, there may be a leak, and a technician can repair that as well. Was your air conditioner replaced in the winter? Cold weather makes it difficult to determine the amount of refrigerant needed. The problem may be easy for a technician to repair.

Loose or corroded electrical connections can also cause short cycling. Call an HVAC technician. If your system is oversized for your home, there is a significant risk that short cycles will develop. Energy efficiency is maximized when the unit is properly sized for the home. Too big or too small of a system will cause operational problems and reduce efficiency.

If you are experiencing short cycling, your air conditioner is not operating at peak efficiency. If your filters have been replaced and short cycling continues, check for a frozen outside unit. If you allow the frozen unit to thaw and it freezes again, then it is time to call a technician. The technicians at Semper Fi Heating & Cooling are highly qualified experts at diagnosing the problem and getting your system back to peak efficiency.

Seven Reason To Replace Rather Than Repair Your AC

Written by Semper Fi on July 12, 2022. Posted in Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Replacement, Featured.

It’s not a secret that air conditioning systems that are 15 years old are approaching their maximum lifespan. If your system is over 20 years old, you should not expect it to last much longer. Newer systems can be expected to have a longer lifespan than the older systems they are replacing. With regular preventative maintenance, newer systems should continue to keep you cool and comfortable for decades. Older systems are also no match for newer systems in terms of operational efficiency.

Is your system approaching or beyond the time that it needs to be replaced? Here are seven indicators that replacement may be the best option for your air conditioning system:

Service History
Has your air conditioner required expensive repairs over the past few years? If it has, you should expect repair expense to continue to increase in the future. Consider replacing it entirely. Furnaces generally last longer than air conditioners, but seriously consider replacing your furnace at the same time. Newer furnaces are more efficient, and you will save on utility costs. If you are replacing both the furnace and air conditioner at the same time, you should expect a better price than replacing them separately.
Home Additions and Remodeling
Have you added living space or made major renovations since your heating and air conditioning system was installed? Perhaps you are planning to make a new addition. Your system may not be properly sized for your home. Even without major renovations, you may have rooms that are not heating and cooling as well as they should. If your system is not sized properly for your home and it is more than 15 years old, it is definitely time to consider a replacement.
Lack of Routine Maintenance
Has your system had regular maintenance over the years? If not, arrange for a service check soon. Like the vehicle you drive, your system needs regular maintenance to keep it operating properly. Unlike the vehicle you drive, your heating and cooling system cycles off and on day and night almost every day of the year. Small problems can lead to bigger issues, and those system issues lead to total system failure. You really don’t want your system going down on a 98-degree heat alert day.
Performance
Is your system heating and cooling as it should? Is your home comfortable on the hottest days? Is it producing cold air as it should? How about the on/off cycles? Are they occurring more frequently than usual? Have your utility bills gone up more than expected? Your system should be cooling as well as it did immediately after it was installed. If it isn’t performing as it should, then maintenance is needed. Easy service repairs may not be enough. It may be time for a replacement.
Moisture
In addition to keeping your home cool, regulating indoor humidity is an important function of an air conditioner. If indoor humidity is high when it is dry outside, you may have evaporator coil problems. That may require a simple repair, or it may be a serious problem that would be better solved with a replacement.
Noise and Ice
Check the outside unit. Is it visibly frozen? Is it making loud grinding noises? What about the sound you hear inside? Has it become louder than usual? If it is noisy or icy, it needs attention quickly.
Freon
Some older air conditioners use R-22 refrigerant, sometimes known as Freon. R-22 is no longer produced in the United States. It is still available in limited quantities, but it is very expensive. If your air conditioner requires R-22, it may be best to replace the entire system instead of paying for repairs and R-22 refrigerant.

Emergency Heating & Air Conditioning Repair Service

Written by Semper Fi on October 26, 2021. Posted in Air Conditioning Repair, Blog, Featured, Uncategorized.

Emergency Heating & Air Conditioning Repair in the Phoenix East Valley

When the weather is at extremes, heating and cooling systems are working their hardest. When they are working their hardest, that’s when they tend to break down. They’ve also been known to break down on the day guests are due to arrive, the day you are leaving for vacation, and any other day you have too much going on. The correlation between an HVAC breakdown and you not having time to deal with one more crisis has not been independently verified. That’s why it’s called an emergency.

If you have a heating or air conditioning emergency, the technicians at Semper Fi are available seven days per week. If it is an emergency to you, it is an emergency to us.

Clearly, some situations call for emergency service. If your safety is at risk, that is an emergency. If your air conditioner quits on a scorching hot day, that is an emergency. Other situations are not that clear-cut. When the temperature is mild, a broken air conditioner or nonfunctional furnace is more of an inconvenience than an emergency. But that same inconvenience can be an emergency if you have young children, older residents, or health-compromising conditions.

Why Do Heating & Air Conditioning Systems Break Down?

No one actually wants to call for emergency service. It is always better for systems to work as they should and be there when needed. There are steps that can be taken to prevent breakdowns.

Preventive maintenance is number one on the list of steps to take to prevent system breakdowns requiring emergency services. For the most part, we don’t think of HVAC systems as needing regular maintenance. Alternately, it is understood that vehicles need proper service to keep them running. We don’t drive our vehicles until they break down on the side of the road. But some homeowners who are careful to follow maintenance schedules for their cars and trucks will go for years without getting their HVAC system serviced. Proper HVAC service involves more than just changing the filter every few months. Contact Semper Fi to arrange for your HVAC system to get a tune-up. Better yet, sign up for a preventive maintenance plan to get regular service. On each tune-up or maintenance visit, your Semper Fi technician will evaluate your entire system and identify components your technician recommends be replaced preventively or that cold fail in the next 12 months. Semper Fi offers an additional 10% discount for preventive repairs performed on a maintenance visit.

Your HVAC service technician at Semper Fi is a trained and certified professional. Do-it-yourself HVAC maintenance is generally not a good idea. Specialized tools and skills are required. It is always better to call a pro for HVAC. Improper or incomplete service can actually harm your systems and cause breakdowns requiring emergency service at the most inopportune times.

If your heating and cooling system is more than 10 years old, it is more likely to break down than a newer and more efficient system. You may be paying for preventive maintenance and regular tune-ups but still need frequent repairs and emergency service. You may be at the point where you need to consider replacing your system with a new high-efficiency system and say goodbye to expensive repairs and hello to trouble-free operations. But don’t ignore preventive maintenance on a new system. Talk to the pros at Semper Fi for help in selecting the right HVAC system for you.

HVAC Repair for Mesa AZ

Written by Semper Fi on October 12, 2021. Posted in Air Conditioning Repair, Blog, Featured.

One thing is certain about your Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) system; at some time in the first 10 years of its life it will need repairs. Early on the repairs are likely to be minor issues, but around 10-15 years and beyond the needed repairs may become more serious and more expensive. HVAC systems are expensive; you can’t buy a new system every time a control switch fails or an electrical contact comes loose. There are no brands of HVAC systems that do not need repairs from time to time.

The professional technicians at Semper Fi have the training and experience to identify problems early and repair them before they become bigger problems. Semper Fi offers a preventative maintenance program for only $10 per month that is highly recommended to keep your HVAC system at peak performance. Without ongoing preventative maintenance, your system may need to be replaced sooner.

There are some common HVAC repair issues that you can check before calling a service technician.

If your system won’t turn on, check your thermostat. Is it set lower than the room temperature? If you have a programmable thermostat, make sure it is not on vacation mode. Check the power. Is a breaker flipped off? Check your air filter. If your filter is seriously dirty, it may be preventing proper air flow.
Is your system iced up? Turn it off. With the system powered down, wait 24 hours for the coils to thaw, then turn it all back on again. If it ices up again, call Semper Fi for service.
If no cold air is coming out of the registers, check the air filter to make sure it is not clogged. If you can see your ducts, check to make sure they are properly connected.
One of the best things you can do for your heating and cooling system is to get routine tune-ups. Don’t wait until you have serious system problems before calling for repair. Proper tune-ups from the technicians at Semper Fi will keep your system running trouble-free, and it will continue to operate efficiently for years before needing to be replaced.

Despite all efforts to prevent equipment failure, there will come a day when you need to call for HVAC repairs. You may hear a screeching noise from the outdoor compressor unit that tells you repairs are needed. You may see ice forming on the compressor unit. The circulation fan may be running and blowing air, but it is not cold air in the summer or warm air in the winter.

When an easy fix doesn’t work, then it is time to call an HVAC repair service technician at Semper Fi. If your system has received regular tune-ups and preventative maintenance, issues will likely be identified early before they become major HVAC repair problems. We provide 24-hour emergency service and you should call if you have no heat on a cold night or no cooling on a hot day.

AC Repair or Replace, How to Know Which

Written by Semper Fi on September 13, 2021. Posted in Air Conditioning Repair, Blog, Featured, Uncategorized.

If you are looking for repairs to your air conditioning system, you may also be considering an AC replacement. How do you know which is right for you? There are some issues you will want to consider.

Repair Costs

How much is it going to cost to repair your system? If the cost of repairs is approaching 20% of the cost of a new system, you should give serious consideration to replacement.
It isn’t just the cost of the currently needed repair that you should consider. How many previous repairs have been needed and what did they cost? If a system needs multiple repairs to different components over a short time period it could indicate that the system is approaching the end of its useful life and replacement could be appropriate.

Age of Your System

A well-maintained system should last 10 to 20 years. As your system approaches 10 to 15 years, you should be considering a replacement.
Newer systems are generally more energy-efficient. If you have seen a significant increase in the cost of utilities, that may be an indicator that a new system is in order.
Just because your system is 10 years old doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in need of replacement. If it has been well maintained, and AC tune-ups have been made when needed, it may well provide you with a few more good years of service.
Often the outdoor unit (heat pump or condenser) will fail prior to the indoor unit (air handler or furnace) because it gets exposed to the outdoor elements.

Keeping Your Home Comfortable

Have you made additions or changes to the interior walls of your home? Your AC system may no longer be sized properly for your home.
Is your home heating and cooling uneven? Your system is not doing the job it should.
Is your AC system just not getting the job of cooling your home done properly? Is it noisy? Does it seem to run all the time? If your family is not comfortable, it is time for a change.

Current Repairs Needed

Your system has been dependable and trouble-free for many years, but now it needs major repairs. This could be the first costly repair needed but may not be the last. Do you really want to replace major parts on a system that may need more repairs soon?
There are some repairs like excessive rust and corrosion that cannot be repaired. If your system is showing signs of physical deterioration, it may be time for a replacement.
R22 refrigerant is an obsolete refrigerant that is difficult and costly to buy currently. If you have an R22 system and there is a significant leak in the system, there may not be any other option other than replacement depending on the availability and cost of replacement R22 refrigerant.

Future Plans

If you plan to stay in your home for the foreseeable future, you will need to replace your unit at some point. Replace it now and get the benefits of greater operational efficiency and the comfort of reliability.
If you plan to stay in your home for the foreseeable future, you will need to replace your unit at some point. Replace it now and get the benefits of greater operational efficiency and the comfort of reliability.
If you are planning to sell your home soon, you might make the currently needed repairs and hope for the best. Or you might choose to replace your unit and make your home more marketable. You may recover the replacement cost with a higher home selling price.

Warranty

Always check to see if your system is under warranty for any repairs that may be needed. If you do choose to replace your system, make sure you get a long-term warranty that will cover future repairs.
Warranties can be voided if the unit has not received proper maintenance. No matter how new or old your existing system or replacement is, make sure it is properly maintained by professional service technicians for a longer and more efficient life.

Contact the service professionals at Semper Fi Heating and Cooling if you are not sure your system should be repaired or replaced. Price quotes are free and we can help you understand the cause of the problems you are having. If repair is the right decision for you, we can help. If replacement is a better choice, we can help with that as well.

Click here to call Semper Fi Heating and Cooling for air conditioning repair or replacement in the Phoenix East Valley