Sunset Air Blog: Archive for June, 2014

Signs That It Is Time to Replace Your Air Conditioning System

Friday, June 20th, 2014

No home appliance will last for an eternity, and don’t expect your air conditioning system to keep cooling your home for summers without end. Eventually, you will need to replace an ailing AC that has started to run inefficiently and ineffectively.

At Sunset Air, we know that making the decision to replace an AC requires a great deal of thought. We can help you make the final choice using our years of experience. If you do choose to have a new installation of air conditioning in Tacoma, WA, we will handle all the steps of the process so you will have a system that will endure for as many years, if not more, as your last air conditioner.

Here are some of the signs that will warn you that your current AC may need to retire soon:

Elevated utility bills (with no relief)

If you notice a spike on your electrical bills, it often indicates a repair need in the air conditioner. But if the cost to run your AC rises and remains at that higher level despite repairs and maintenance, then the system has worn down to the point where it can no longer perform the energy-efficient job it once did. Have it replaced before it costs you too much to run.

Excessive amounts of repairs

Air conditioning systems need the largest number of repairs during their last two years of operation. When you start scheduling more than one repair a year to maintain the system, you may have entered into those final two years and should get ahead of the timeline with a replacement. As a rule of thumb, if repair costs rise above $500 per year for an AC, the system needs to go.

Continually noisy operation

As with a spike in cooling bills, a single odd noise from an air conditioner usually means it needs a repair job. But when the AC turns into a constant source of mechanical noise, it has probably come to the end of its usefulness due to aging and deteriorating parts.

It has exceeded the manufacturer’s lifetime expectancy

Make sure you know the age of the system and the life expectancy the manufacturer set for it. If the system has met or exceeded that span, you should have it replaced even if it still runs without major faults. You have already received more than your money’s worth from the AC, and now you can take advantage of the superior efficiency and performance of a fresh system.

Consult with our experts in air conditioning in Tacoma, WA here at Sunset Air. Since 1976, we have helped keep homes in South Puget Sound and Southwest Washington areas cool in the summers and warm in the winters.

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How Can I Prevent Future Air Conditioner Repairs?

Friday, June 6th, 2014

No one wants to think about air conditioning repair, which can actually contribute to the problem when it arises. An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure as they say, and if you work to address potential issues before they result in a breakdown, you can avoid a lot of those pesky repair bills. Services that offer air conditioning repair in Tacoma can be proactive as well as reactive, which means you can call on them to help. “How can I prevent future air conditioner repairs?” you ask. A few easy answers are outlined below.

The best option is simply to schedule regular maintenance sessions from a trained technician, ideally before the summer begins in earnest. Maintenance sessions are designed to help nip potential repair issues in the bud by cleaning off dirt, tightening loose components and recharging refrigerant levels. That reduces friction on moving parts and reduces the overall strain on the system, lowers the possibility of repairs. More importantly, it gives the technician a chance to spot big issues when they’re still small. In the event further repairs are needed, they’re apt to be much less severe than they would if you just waited for the system to suffer a breakdown.

In fact, reducing overall strain is easily the most important way to lower the risk of repairs. You can take numerous steps to achieve this, from setting your thermostat a few degrees higher than you normally would to adding insulation in your home that prevents cool air from escaping. A home energy audit can help you pinpoint spots in your home that may be costing you in energy efficiency, allowing you to correct the problem and help ease the burden on your air conditioning system

The experts at Sunset Air are on hand to help you prevent future air conditioning repairs, as well as handling any other issues related to air conditioning repair in Tacoma. Our trained professionals have the knowledge and experience to diagnose problems quickly and perform maintenance or repairs with the quality you’ve come to expect. Pick up the phone and schedule an appointment today. You’ll be glad you did!

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