HVAC Tips - Albatross HVAC Inc.

AC Unit Won’t Turn On?

admin | July 19, 2024

As it starts to heat up in Southwest Washington the last thing you need is your home’s AC unit to stop working. So, what’s causing it? We can’t know until we actually come to your home. But there are a few things that can be checked to possibly solve this issue before calling an AC repair technician.

Check the AC Unit Thermostat

Make sure that your thermostat is set to cool and the temperature setting is below the room temperature . Check to see if the thermostat indicates it is calling for the AC to be on.

Check the AC Unit’s Air filter

Find the systems air filter, the same filter is used for both heat and AC
Check to see if the filter is dirty (if you can barely see light coming through it, it’s too dirty).
Change the filter if it’s dirty.

A dirty air filter blocks air from returning to the AC, reducing airflow over the evaporator coil, causing it to ice up. This causes a low-pressure switch to trip and shut down your AC’s compressor (the heart of your air conditioner) to prevent it from being damaged. So, you need to change the air filter to prevent all that.

Check the circuit breakers

Find your electrical panel
Look for any tripped breakers
Turn the tripped breaker to the “off” position
Turn that same breaker to the “on” position
If the breaker trips again immediately or after several minutes, don’t reset the breaker again, call a professional for help.

The AC may not be working because its circuit breaker tripped, preventing any electric current from powering the system. If the breaker trips immediately you don’t want to reset it again because you most likely have a short circuit or a grounded circuit. It may also mean that you need to replace the circuit breaker since they wear out over time or after multiple trips.

Clear the Condensate Drain

Get a wet/dry vacuum.
Find the main condensate drain line outside your home (usually a 3/4 inch PVC pipe near the outside unit).
Connect the wet/dry vacuum’s hose to the condensate drain line and turn it on to suck out any obstructions (like algae).
Wait 3 minutes or so to clear the drain line.

When an air conditioner runs, condensation forms on the cold evaporator coil. The condensation evacuates your home via the condensate drain line. But if the drain line gets clogged with gunk, the water overflows and a drain float switch will shut down your AC to prevent any water damage. The wet-dry vacuum should help unclog any blockages.

AC still won’t turn on? Call an AC Pro in Vancouver, WA

If the above methods didn’t work, you have a bigger problem that requires an air conditioning repair technician to fix. We have been serving Clark County and the Vancouver metro area for over 25 years.

Indoor Air Quality

admin | May 13, 2024

Are you taking advantage of your heating and cooling system to improve your home’s indoor air quality? If you suffer from allergies or just want cleaner air in your home, here are some simple solutions to help you improve the air quality inside your home.

Use Filters That Improve Indoor Air Quality

Purchase quality air filters, a good filter should be rigid and have many pleats. To find the best filters suitable for your HVAC system, check the MERV rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value rating). The higher the number the better the filter. But you may need to consult with your HVAC specialist to ensure that you heating and cooling system can push air through filters rated higher than 13. You can find out more about MERV ratings on the EPA’s website.

Once you have good filters installed, run the equipment fan continuously so you are constantly filtering the air. This is particularly necessary during the Spring months as the equipment will not be running as often and allergies are most prevalent.

Use Devices to Improve Your Home’s IAQ.

There are many air purifiers on the market that can help you improve IAQ. These can be installed in conjunction with the HVAC equipment which will be more effective than “stand alone” devices. I would recommend a consultation with an HVAC professional to discuss your options.

Furnace Air Filter Installation

admin | April 9, 2024

Have you ever had trouble trying to figure out which direction to install a furnace air filter? If yes, this article is for you. Furnace air filters have arrows on them and need to be installed with the arrow pointed in the direction of the air flow of the equipment.

Replacing a furnace air filter doesn’t sound like a difficult task, right? But unless you have some experience replacing furnace filters, you are better off having an HVAC service technician replace your furnace’s filters to maximize the air flow and performance of your furnace.

SW Washington Furnace Air Filter Tips

Most people install them in an up-flow position, which in SW Washington is generally wrong. Most homes built in the SW Washington area with the furnace in the garage are downflows, so the arrow should be pointed down. So, at your next yearly maintenance have your service technician mark an arrow indicating the airflow of the equipment, that will take the guess work out of it for the future.

If you need yearly maintenance service for your furnace, and you live in Battle Ground, WA, or in the nearby Clark County area, I am here to help. Please call (360) 687-8660 to schedule service for your heating and cooling system.

Heating and Cooling Problems

admin | April 8, 2024

Are you struggling to find the right balance for home comfort with your heating and cooling system? One of the biggest complaints that homeowners bring up about their heating and cooling system is that their home gets hotter upstairs than downstairs. The good news is there are solutions available if you cannot seem to get comfortable in your home because the upper floor of your home is warmer than the lower floor.

Home Heating and Cooling Solutions

The temperature inconsistency between the upper and lower floors of your home are usually due to the duct design, design of the structure, the physics and configuration of air movement, as well as the changing demand between heat mode in winter and cool mode in summer. Here are several solutions that can help to alleviate this problem:

Zone control systems. Zone control systems allow you to have control over your heating and cooling needs for specific areas of your home. This is the best solution possible for home comfort. But it’s also the most expensive option. This is a great investment if you are looking to maximize your home’s comfort and increase the value of your home at the same time.
Manual duct dampers. A damper is a device that controls the air flow in your heating and cooling system. Manual duct dampers enable homeowners to adjust the air flow manually as needed. While manual dampers are not as expensive as zone control systems, they require re-adjusting when the season changes from heating to cooling. In fact, many homes already have these dampers installed but some homeowners are unaware of them.

Another solution that can help you optimize your home comfort needs without zoning or dampers is balancing the airflow as needed at the duct registers. This will need to be re-adjusted when the season changes from heating to cooling. Be sure to run the equipment fan continuously. This will even out the temperature between your home’s lower and upper floors. Hope these tips can help you achieve your home comfort goals. If you need further assistance with your home’s heating and cooling system in Battle Ground WA, consider hiring Albatross HVAC for reliable HVAC service and solutions.