Blog | HVAC Tips in Malvern, PA

The AC vs. The Heat Pump: Is One Clearly Better?

August 24th, 2020

When choosing between any two different HVAC systems for a home, no single type starts out as automatically the better choice. If this were true, there wouldn’t be a need for a choice in the first place: every home would have that device!

This is true for the distinction between whether you choose to install an air conditioning system or a heat pump in your house. If one were clearly better, you wouldn’t have to choose. But since there are both homes with central air conditioners and with heat pumps, the question of which is better comes down to the situation. If you are considering either an AC or heat pump installation in the next few months, the right choice for you depends on several factors. We’ll look at the pros and cons of these systems to help you get a better sense of what will work best for you.

Should I Add More Refrigerant to My AC Midsummer?

August 10th, 2020

This is a common question people have regarding their air conditioning systems. The simple answer is no. But we need to explain the answer because the question comes from a major misunderstanding about how air conditioning systems operate. Amateurs and shady contractors can use this misunderstanding to sell people on services they don’t need and which can damage their air conditioning systems.

We have plenty more to say about why adding refrigerant to an air conditioner is only done as a repair, not as a routine service.

No, You Shouldn’t See Ice on Your Air Conditioner

July 27th, 2020

This a common occurrence for homeowners who have air conditioning: seeing ice forming along the length of your indoor coil and thinking, “Well, that’s not a problem. Why wouldn’t there be ice on something that sends out cold air?”

Except … that’s not how air conditioners work. We understand why people might feel confused, but not only should ice not form on the indoor evaporator coil (or anywhere on the AC), but it’s a sign something is wrong with the AC and it will soon lose cooling power—if not fail completely.

The Dangers of Short-Cycling

July 13th, 2020

Air conditioners have a problem that we see on a consistent basis. Regardless of whether or not you’ve heard about the term “short-cycling,” we need to talk about what it means and what it could end up costing you. This is a problem that we see plague homeowners and their respective air conditioners because of just how catastrophic the effects can be.

We’re going to talk about what short-cycling is, how it can affect you, and why it so often means that you need professional AC replacement in Malvern, PA. We know that it can be scary to read about something that can be so expensive to fix, but we promise that the earlier you find out if your air conditioner is short-cycling, the better!

Read on and remember to always contact us if you start struggling with an air conditioning problem. We can help!

Is a Ductless System a Good Idea for My Home?

June 29th, 2020

One of the important services we offer as a Phoenixville, PA, HVAC contractor and the Main Line’s premier service provider is installing ductless mini split heat pumps for homes. Ductless mini splits, also called ductless air conditioning and heating systems, have grown in popularity in the US over the last decade. They’ve been the comfort system of choice in Europe and many parts of Asia for years, and the many advantages they offer make them impossible to ignore as an option for homeowners in North America.

But you’re reading this post because you want to know if installing a ductless mini split heat pump is right for your house. The best way to find out is to go directly to the source: us! We can answer questions you have about ductless installation and discover the best way to see you have the comfort you deserve.

Rundown on Common Worrying AC Sounds

June 15th, 2020

Air conditioning systems aren’t necessarily “quiet” systems (although advancing technology has reduced the amount of sound they make). You expect to hear several sounds as your home’s AC runs: the fans, the motor powering the compressor, the drip of water from the condensate pan, and the movement of air through the ductwork. It’s an easy set of sounds to become accustomed to until it turns into part of the soundtrack of summer—a soothing white noise for hot days.

Then … something strange interrupts the AC soundscape. Something odd, or loud, or unexpected. Could it be a malfunction in the AC?

It might, and we’re going to look over a few of the more common cautionary sounds you might hear from your air conditioning system. When in doubt, you’ll want to have trained HVAC technicians on the job to see what’s wrong, and what needs to be fixed.

How to Help Your AC Be Energy Efficient This Summer

June 1st, 2020

How often does the air conditioning system in your house run during the summer? The answer is probably somewhere between “a lot” to “all the time.” The AC draws on a large amount of electricity to run, and you expect to see your utility bills rise during this period.

But you don’t necessarily have to see it rise a lot. Below we’ve listed some helpful tips for keeping your air conditioner working at its most energy-efficient this hot season.

Why Your AC Is Struggling to Keep Up With the Heat

May 18th, 2020

When you have a central air conditioning system for your house, you expect it to … well, cool the house. You set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature, and after about ten minutes, you should have the level of cooling necessary to keep your household happy.

So when an AC is running but not able to deliver the comfort it should, it’s a problem.

But … what kind of problem?

We have more than 40 years of experience working on repairing air conditioning systems in Malvern, CA, so we’re the people you can turn to for the help you need to get your cooling system back to work. Below we’ve listed some of the reasons you may have an under-performing central AC.

Can I Do Some AC Repairs on My Own?

May 4th, 2020

When people ask questions about whether they can do their own air conditioning repair in Malvern, PA whenever their AC starts to malfunction, they’re often asking more about how they can troubleshoot an AC that doesn’t seem to be working right. Troubleshooting is different from a do-it-yourself repair, and in general, we encourage customers to try a few troubleshooting steps when something goes wrong with their home cooling. This troubleshooting may reveal the problem is a minor one based on a simple error, and it’s unnecessary to call for repair technicians.

But if somebody is asking if they can break out the toolkit, open up either AC cabinet and tinker around inside to do full repairs, the answer is a solid no. True air conditioning system repairs need to be left to licensed HVAC professionals. You can trust only a certified and trained technician to correctly diagnose and fix an AC problem.

Does My AC Help With Humidity in Summer?

April 20th, 2020

High humidity on summer days makes it much harder for us to keep cool. The increased moisture in the air doesn’t make the temperature hotter—a 90°F day is still 90°F—but it does make it harder for our bodies to release heat and cool us down. This is why humid days feel hotter: we have all this extra heat stored up.

Of course, you have your home’s air conditioning system to help keep you cool. But does the AC do anything about the humidity aside from blast out enough cool air to overcome the heat? Well … a little. But it’s rarely enough.