How to Keep Cool While Waiting for AC Repair in Austin

Day 215-2012-08-02 Air Conditioning! (Photo credit: jaysalikin)

The summer temperatures in Austin are the worst when you’re stuck waiting for a repair tech to come out and look at your air conditioner. The heat is unbearable and you’ve got no working AC, what can you do to stay cool while waiting for the AC repair technician? Well, here are a few suggestions for staying cool when your air conditioner isn’t working:

Cover Your Widows

The hottest part of the day is when the sun is at its peak in the sky which is between the hours of 10am and 2pm.  If you cover windows on the sunny side of the home you will cut a large portion of the heat transference that happens when the afternoon sun hits those windows and heats up the room even more than it already is. A heavy curtain or shade drawn will make your rooms feel noticeably cooler.

Use Fans to Cool Down

A couple of fans placed strategically around the room will create a breeze ad keep the air circulating which will make you feel cooler even if the temperature doesn’t change.  If the air conditioner is not putting out cool air you should turn it off to avoid further damage and call for AC repair as soon as possible.

Fans do not cool the air in the room, they cool the around your body making you feel cooler. It helps to wipe your face with a cool rag and sit under the fan because the water evaporating on your skin cools you off too.

Avoid Heat-Generating Appliances

The last thing you want to do when it is hot inside is use appliances that generate heat such as a dishwasher, washing machine, dryer or oven. Using those appliances will put even more humidity in the air making it feel hotter and making you sweat even more. It is best to wait and use these appliances after the sun goes down and the temperature has dropped a little.

Take a Cold Shower

If you have a pool, a quick dip will keep you cool while you’re waiting for AC service.  If you have no pool then a sprinkler or shower set to cold will also work to cool you down.  Taking a cool shower lowers your body temperature temporarily and makes you feel cooler for a little while.

Wrap it Up

Another tip for cooling off includes wetting a T-shirt in cold water and wrapping it around your head like a turban. You can also put it in the freezer for 10 minutes for a little extra cooling effect. If you are sweaty already and don’t care about how your hair looks, wetting your hair and pulling it up helps a lot to cool you off.  Body heat escapes through your head so having your hair wet and sitting under the fan will make you feel much cooler and more comfortable while you wait for service.

Get a Cold Drink

Cold, sweet tea or any cold drink also helps you cool down when it’s hot outside. Ice tea and lemonade are two popular drinks to sip during a Texas heat wave. Get a cold drink and a folding fan, prop your feet up and relax in style.

Having a broken air conditioner in the summer is a bummer, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer while waiting for a service tech to repair your system. It won’t be as cool as having air conditioning, but if you follow these tips you can bear the heat without it for a little while. ABA Heating and Cooling are HVAC experts in air conditioning repair in Austin and are known for their excellent service and quick response. Contact us today for AC repair and stay cool and comfortable all summer long.

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AC Repair in Austin: What to Do If Your Air Conditioner is Blowing Hot Air

Air conditioners draw in warm air, “condition” it with refrigerant, and then blow the super cooled air out through the vents and duct work in your home.  When you turn the system on you should hear the fan or blower kick on and feel cool air coming out after a minute or two. If your AC unit is blowing out hot air instead you may have a problem. Here are some tips on what to do if your system is not working as it should.

Check the Thermostat

This may seem like a simple thing that most people would know to do, but often we forget to check to make sure that the system is set on “cool”, especially if you’ve had a few cold nights and used your furnace or you have children who may have accidentally turned it on the heat setting.  It may just not be set right. If it is set on the proper settings and you can hear the fan kick on, then the thermostat is doing its job.

Feel the Air Coming Out of the Vent

Let the system run for a few minutes and feel the air coming out. If it’s blowing out warm air then most likely it is probably low on refrigerant.  If this is the case, it is easy to remedy. You’d need to call an HVAC technician to recharge your refrigerant levels.

Turn the System Off

What you should do now is turn the system off and contact a certified HVAC company for a service call. It is important not to run your system when it is low on coolant because it can cause your compressor to lock up and once that happens, it becomes a costly AC repair job. Turning it off when you realize there is a problem will save your system from being damaged.

Expert Tips

The first thing to do when troubleshooting any type of electrical equipment is to check the simple things first. Often times it is a simple thing like the system not being set at the right temperature or it has been turned off. If you check these things first and it does not resolve the issue, then the next logical step is to call someone who has experience with heating and cooling systems and have them diagnose the problem.  If problems are addressed immediately, they are often less expensive to repair because other parts of the system have not become damaged yet.

Call an AC Repair Service

Your AC repair technician will inspect your system thoroughly; refill Freon and check to see that all connections are tight and that there are no air leaks. They will also want to check the condition of your compressor to make sure that it is working properly.  The most common reasons for a lack of cool air is low Freon or the compressor has stopped working.

 If your air conditioner isn’t working properly, remember the tips from above and call your AC repair service. ABA Heating and Cooling services all models of air conditioners and offers quick and speedy service at affordable rates. Don’t let problems go to long or you could end up needing a total AC replacement instead of a simple repair job.

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6 Signs You May Be In Need Of AC Repair in Austin

Central air conditioner unit, from left side (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If your air conditioner just isn’t working the way it used to, it may be time to seek a qualified HVAC technician for AC repair in Austin. The worst time for your air conditioner to start acting up is in the middle of a hot summer day when temperatures are on the rise. These signs may indicate a problem that needs fixed before you experience a system breakdown; call an AC contractor if you experience any of the following:

Excessive Noise

The motor on your air conditioner is normally pretty quiet but all of a sudden it begins making a loud noise every time the blower kicks on. The noise starts out as a loud rumble that increases in volume as the unit cycles getting louder and louder until you’re tempted to just turn it off because it’s so loud. Grinding or squealing noises are not normal and are often caused by a problem with either the motor or the fan.

Inadequate Cooling

The AC unit in your home was chosen according to the number of square feet and the cooling needs of the home.  Each unit is designed to cool an average of so many square feet, so if your unit is no longer performing the way it should it may need to have the refrigerant checked or the unit may just be old and need replaced. If there is no cold air coming out through the vents the compressor may have stopped working.

Continuous Cycling

Does your air conditioner run longer than usual? Continuous cycling is the system trying to maintain a set temperature and keeps turning on because the temperature is not staying steady and it’s trying to compensate. Your system running continuously uses more energy and of course your bills will be higher than normal.

High Energy Bills
 

You may not have obvious signs of trouble yet, but high utility bills are also an indicator that you are consuming large amounts of energy and most often your air conditioner is to blame. It is not working as efficiently as it should be. Your thermostat may not be working properly or there could be some kind of interference with its ability to read.

Strange Odor

You may experience an odd smell the first time you turn on your air conditioner after sitting all winter. The smell is just the accumulation of dust and stagnant air pulled through the intake vents and as it passes over the coils it sometimes gives off a funny odor that disappears after the first few minutes its running. If that odd smell doesn’t go away after a few minutes or is more like a foul odor, you may have a problem with your ductwork.  A musty or moldy smell could indicate that your ducts are not sealed properly and moisture has gotten in through cracks and created a mold colony.  A burnt smell could be caused by wiring that has gotten too hot and burned through the insulation inside the unit.

Condensation or Moisture Buildup

Part of what your AC unit does besides cooling the air inside your home is removing the humidity in the air, providing a drier environment to keep down the growth of mold and other microbes that thrive in a warm, damp environment. Condensation buildup is a sign that the tubing or condensate drain may be clogged. 

AC Repair Service

If you are experiencing any of these problems, give us a call for quick and speedy AC repair in Austin.  ABA Heating and Cooling are experts in the industry and service most brands of heating and cooling systems. Our technicians are NATE certified and we offer free estimates for repairs and new installations.

5 Reasons Why You Should Have a Maintenance Plan for Heating and Cooling

Frigidaire (Photo credits: Best Buy)

Your AC is your best friend during the hot Austin summer months and you certainly don’t want it to break down on the day you need it the most. That is why it is important to keep it in tip top shape and running efficiently to keep your home cool and comfortable during those sweltering summer days and nights.

Your AC repair company or HVAC service may offer a regular maintenance program for heating and cooling systems for a small monthly fee. While some might think it is an added expense that is unnecessary, it can save extend the life of your air conditioner and save you money on costly repairs or even replacements. Here are a few reasons why you should get a maintenance plan if it is offered:

Avoid Your AC breaking down

This is probably the number one most important reason, avoiding a breakdown. There are usually signs that something is going on, like a loud noise or a grinding sound, and quite often we ignore it hoping it will go away. The truth is that ignoring it long enough will make it go away but not in the way you think. The noise will stop because your AC is no longer working. A system that is not well maintained is a problem waiting to happen, and usually at the most inconvenient time.

Discounts and Specials

If you are a regular customer you may be entitled to special discounts and services as a reward for continued service. These discounts can be applied to anything from AC repair in Austin to a new installation of a high-efficiency system. You may also be eligible for special response time during holidays and times when they are particularly busy. With a service plan that means if something happens a technician can be there within a couple hours instead of a couple of days to fix it. This is extremely important on those hot August days when temperatures hit 90 degrees and above.

Save Money on Utilities

A system that is not working properly consumes more energy because it has to work harder to compensate. A dirty air filter, clogged condensate drain or parts that need replaced can’t function at their best and will often need more time to complete tasks which means that your system will cycle more often or continuously until those repairs are made costing you more money. Regular maintenance will spot problems early on before they have a chance to cause damage.

Pay Less for Scheduled AC Repair

With a maintenance plan you will pay less for repairs because your costs are included in your flat rate service. Your plan is set at a low rate that includes all the fees and costs so you don’t have to pay separately for any service. Parts and labor are included, often at a discount so you will never pay the full rate.

Convenient

Having someone else to remember when your system needs a cleaning is very convenient. The appointments are scheduled when it is convenient for you taking the hassle out of making service calls.

A preventative maintenance plan saves money, time and extends the life of your cooling system. It is much more costly to have to call for emergency service or to have to purchase a whole new system if it cannot be repaired. Keeping your AC in good working order ensures that it will be there when you need it.

Here are a few of the services that are included in a maintenance plan:

•    Check thermostat
•    Lubricate all moving parts
•    Clean condensate drain
•    Tighten hoses and connections
•    Monitor refrigerant
•    Clean coils
•    Check air filters
•    Check equipment for tears or signs of wear

If you would like more information on service plans or you need AC repair in Austin, contact us for quick and speedy service.

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