Envirotech Air Quality Services Blog : Archive for August, 2013

Why Burning Odors in Your West Palm Beach Home Could Mean You Need an Air Conditioning Repair

Thursday, August 29th, 2013

Unusual smells are one way to determine if you need air conditioning repair. West Palm Beach, FL depends on reliable air conditioning to fend off the local heat and humidity. If something’s wrong with your air conditioning system, you should probably take steps to correct it sooner rather than later. Not only does it avert the risk of a breakdown in the middle of a heat waves, but it can save you money by correcting a small problem before it becomes a large one. So what do burning odors in your home mean and how can they suggest a need for air conditioning repair?

Normally, the components of an air conditioning unit don’t make any smells: the refrigerant gas used to facilitate the cooling cycle doesn’t have an odor and is in a closed system. If burning smell is coming from the unit, it probably indicates that something in the electrical system has short circuited. Turn off the air conditioning system immediately and summon a trained professional. He can ascertain the source of the overloaded circuit and chart out a plan to repair it. You may also want to shut power to the AC unit down from the circuit panel box in your home.

Depending on the air conditioning system, you may be smelling a burning odor for some other part of the house. In that case, the smell is being circulated with the air in your house and you’ll need to track it down before you can correct it. Whatever the cause, it certainly isn’t a part of your AC unit’s normal functions. A qualified expert can come to your home to ascertain the problem and find out if it’s caused by your air conditioning. The technicians at Envirotech serve the West Palm Beach area and have the experience to diagnose electrical problems. Emergency services are available 24 hours a day, so give us a call!

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, West Palm Beach
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Should I Schedule Air Conditioning Repair in Lake Worth, FL if Circuits Keep Tripping?

Tuesday, August 20th, 2013

The climate in Florida, with its heat and humidity, means that homeowners need quality air conditioning repair. Lake Worth, FL is no different, and local residents need a solid AC unit to keep their homes comfortable during those sweltering summer heat waves. If your system is experiencing problems, they might make themselves known in another part of your house: specifically the circuit breakers. If the circuits keep tripping, should you schedule air conditioning repair?

In some cases, the breaker might be tripping because it’s overloaded by multiple appliances. Your central AC usually has a dedicated circuit when professional installed, so this is not often a problem. The issue typically stems from the air conditioner itself: likely because one or more components is overworked and overloaded. That can stem from a number of different factors. Wear and tear can cause damage to individual components, which need to work harder to cool your air. A lack of maintenance can result in dust build-up on the coils and elsewhere, while air filters that you don’t change can do the same thing.

Depending on the precise air conditioning model, an overloaded component has a shut-off switch, which shuts the entire unit down in the event of an overload. This serves much the same purpose as your circuit breakers: cutting off power before the overload causes more damage. If your air conditioning lacks those features, then the circuit breaker in your home will perform the same function.

Regardless of the causes, the circuit breaker will keep tripping until you correct the issue, either by having the overloaded part replaced or cleaning and maintaining the system such that it doesn’t labor so hard to cool the air. To do that right, you need a qualified technician to assess the problem and enact a proper solution. The experts at Envirotech specialize in air conditioning repair, and serve the Lake Worth, FL and the surrounding West Palm Beach area. If your air conditioner keeps tripping the breakers, call us today to set up an appointment.

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Lake Worth
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What Problems Can a Poor Air Conditioning Installation in West Palm Beach Lead To?

Monday, August 12th, 2013

Here in West Palm Beach, we understand the need for quality air conditioning installation. Without a good AC system, the heat and humidity would overwhelm us; quality air conditioning units mean our households can stay cool air and comfortable. If the air conditioning system is installed in a shoddy or slipshod manner, it can lead to a number of significant problems. A few of the more prominent ones appear below.

Inefficiency: Poor air conditioning installation means fittings and connections in your ducts and the AC unit itself that aren’t properly secured. A bad fitting or loose bolt can lead to cool air leaking out of the system instead of into your home like it should. As a consequence, your air conditioning system must labor to cool your air, resulting in higher monthly bills and greater wear and tear on the system.
Damage: If your various components aren’t installed correctly, they can cause damage to other parts of the system. For example, a misaligned fan may start to grind against nearby components, while an improperly set condensate line won’t drain, causing an overflow of condensation to seep into other components. That kind of damage eventually needs a trained technician to address, costing you time and money.
No guarantees: Licensed contractors are far less likely to do a poor job of installation than unlicensed contractors. Even when they do, their work is usually covered under a warranty or similar guarantee, ensuring that any problems will be swiftly corrected. A poor installation that isn’t covered can turn into a huge headache for the homeowner, as he must either cajole the installer to correct the problems or hire a new one to do the job.

You can avoid these problems by selecting a skilled professional to handle air conditioning installation. Envirotech proudly serves West Palm Beach and other nearby communities, and can advise you on all your options before conducting an installation. Contact us today to see what a difference a seasoned expert can make.

Tags: Air Conditioning Installation, West Palm Beach
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Does Ice on My System Necessitate Air Conditioning Repair in West Palm Beach?

Monday, August 5th, 2013

In West Palm Beach, air conditioning systems are a vital fact of life. We depend on them to keep cool when the mercury rises, and to hold off the muggy Florida summers with reliable comfort in our homes. When an air conditioning unit breaks down, you need to move quickly to repair it before the next heat wave. Learning to spot the telltale signs of a problem is a good way to get on top of it quickly, when it can be addressed without spending an excessive amount of money. For example, you may notice ice forming on your system. What does it mean and does it mean you have to call for air conditioning repair?

Ice usually forms on the evaporator coils, where refrigerant transforms from a liquid state to a gaseous state. The process cools the surrounding air, which a fan then blows into your duct system for distribution throughout your house. It might seem like ice on the surface is a good thing, but in fact the opposite is true. It means cold air isn’t being properly distributed throughout your house, where it belongs.

The problem may be caused by a number of things. If the blower fan isn’t working, it’s not transferring the cool air, making the temperature too low. Your unit may also have lost some refrigerant, which creates inconsistent temperatures in the coil and results in a build-up of ice. Either way, the presence of ice constitutes a significant problem that can prevent your AC from keeping your home cool. It can also create larger problems if left unchecked. Nor can you simply turn off the air conditioning unit and wait for the ice to melt. The conditions that created it will still be there. When you turn the unit on again, the ice will inevitably re-form.

The good news is that a trained professional can correct the problem for good: fixing the fan, sealing the leak, recharging the refrigerant or otherwise addressing the underlying cause of the icing. The trained professionals at Envirotech can handle such air conditioning issues in West Palm Beach, and get rid of the ice on your system in short order. Call us today and set up an appointment.

Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, West Palm Beach
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