What We Do During Air Conditioning Maintenance Visits

May 17th, 2013

When you live in Kentucky, you need a good air conditioning system to keep your home comfortable. In the summer, you likely run your air conditioning system almost every single day. The Louisville, KY air conditioning maintenance professionals at Accutemp Heating and Air Conditioning can help make sure that happens. We have years of experience offering complete air conditioning maintenance and we often get asked about what we actually do during our visits. Here are a few of the things that we do during our visits.

Louisville, KY Air Conditioning Maintenance Tasks

Getting regular maintenance for your air conditioning system is a great way to make a positive impact on your home’s comfort. The Louisville, KY air conditioning maintenance experts at Accutemp will perform a variety of tasks that will help them find any issues with your system. Here are a few of the most common.

Cleaning the System

One of the main things that our technicians will do is clean out all of the components of your system. Our specialists will clean out the cooling coils, the fan motor, the compressor and generally make sure that any dust, dirt or debris is removed from the inside of your system.

Replacement and Lubrication

With time, your air conditioning system will develop small problems and issues. Often, those problems can be alleviated by replacing broken parts. Also, our specialists will lubricate the moving parts of your system so that they will operate smoothly and efficiently.

Check Refrigerant, Change Filter and Fan Belt

The refrigerant level in your AC system is critical to it being able to cool your home. Our technicians will check the refrigerant levels in your system, change the air filter and also the fan belt if it needs to be changed.

For all your Louisville, KY air conditioning maintenance make sure that you call the experts at Accutemp.

Louisville, KY Commercial HVAC: Commercial Heating and Air Conditioning vs. Residential

May 8th, 2013

When you run a business or own a commercial property, you need to make sure that your heating and air conditioning systems are reliable, effective, and efficient. But if you’re new to the industry, you may be wondering what the difference is between residential and commercial, and why a contractor who specializes in commercial HVAC is an important asset. In this post, we’d like to take a look at this distinction. For comprehensive Louisville, KY commercial heating and air conditioning services, call the experts at AccuTemp Heating & Air Conditioning today!

  • Size. The size of commercial units, whether for large office buildings, hospitals, industrial warehouses, retail stores, are much larger, as you can imagine. But it’s not simply a matter of installing bigger and more comprehensive systems. While commercial heating and air conditioning systems need to be larger to accommodate the greater volumes of air, they also need to be incredibly efficient and powerful. After all, commercial systems tend to get a lot more use, and with all that use comes increased levels of wear and tear, as well as increased maintenance needs. Your clients and employees depend on the effectiveness of your HVAC system, especially if you are in the food or retail businesses.
  • Rooftop units. Commercial heating and air conditioning systems are often placed on the rooftop. The main reason for this is to ensure an economical use of the building’s footprint. There may not be enough space out back or adjacent to the building, or you may want to conceal it from the view of clients and passersby. Whatever the reason, rooftop units are popular in commercial applications.
  • Packaged units. And those rooftop units are more often than not packaged units. This simply means that all of the heating and air conditioning components are placed together in a single weatherized housing unit. This allows for efficient maintenance and repair.

We hope this answer some of your questions about the distinction between residential and Louisville, KY commercial heating and air conditioning services. Call AccuTemp Heating & Air Conditioning today for exceptional services!

Louisville Duct Cleaning: Common Issues We Find During Service

April 30th, 2013

If you have a forced-air distribution system in your home, then you rely heavily on the ability of your ductwork to move air throughout your home. As one of the leading duct cleaning specialists in the area, you’d be amazed to see what we see on a regular basis. All manner of debris finds its way within the ducts, and often on the registers and within the air handler too. Remember to check your air filter once a month to ensure that it’s doing all it can to prevent the accumulation of particles in your ductwork. When you’re ready to reap the benefits of comprehensive professional duct service—improved energy efficiency and air quality, among others—give the Louisville, KY duct cleaning experts at Accutemp Heating & Air Conditioning a call!

  • Mold growth. Mold thrives in areas of low light and high moisture, making your ductwork into a prime spot for long-term settlement. Mold can be highly toxic in large amounts, and can irritate our respiratory systems. One of the problems with its presence in the ductwork is that when it becomes airborne, its spores are sent throughout the household. Consider routine maintenance to make sure that any mold growth is regularly removed.
  • Dust. And lots of it. If you have never had your ducts cleaned before, or if not in some time, then you likely have lots of dust within your ductwork. While there is no proven link between a certain amount of dust levels in the home and respiratory function, it is an irritant to many, especially those with sensitive allergies, asthma, or some other respiratory condition. Dust also blocks airflow, and even a small layer can significantly reduce your energy efficiency.
  • Pollen. During the spring and summer, those with allergies often stay indoors to avoid hayfever and other allergenic reactions to pollen. Unfortunately, pollen can accumulate within the ductwork with dust and other debris. When that cool air moves through the ducts, the pollen goes airborne, and flows into the house.

For comprehensive Louisville, KY duct cleaning, call the experts at Accutemp Heating & Air Conditioning today!

Louisville KY Heating: Is it Time for a Furnace Replacement?

April 22nd, 2013

Furnaces are very durable, and they can provide you with years of effective, reliable heating performance. Eventually though, as is the case with any mechanical system, you will need to schedule a Louisville, KY furnace replacement. Working with a qualified furnace replacement technician is the best way to ensure that you make the right decisions when deciding if it is time to replace your furnace. If you have been considering a furnace replacement in your home, call Accutemp Heating & Air Conditioning. A professional furnace technician on our team will help you decide if a furnace replacement is your best course of action.

There are many different factors that must be considered when deciding whether or not it is time for a furnace replacement. One of the most important of these factors is your budget. While your furnace may eventually break down completely, many homeowners choose to replace their furnace at a point where it could still be repaired. If you do not have the room in your budget to purchase a replacement furnace, repair is your only option. However, if money is tight but a furnace replacement is possible, it may be worth it. Replacing your furnace will cut down your current repair and maintenance needs, which can help to offset the expense of the initial investment.

You must also consider the age of your furnace. Not only are older furnaces more likely to cost more in repair and maintenance bills, but they may simply not have been manufactured to be as efficient as a more modern furnace. If you are considering a furnace replacement, it may be worth it if your current system is unable to compete with modern efficiency levels. A furnace that fails to operate as efficiently as you‘d like even when working properly is a prime candidate for furnace replacement service.

If you have any other questions about your Louisville, KY furnace replacement options, contact Accutemp Heating & Cooling today. We have the answers you need to make an informed decision about your furnace replacement. Call us today to determine if a furnace replacement is right for your home.

Louisville Air Conditioning: How to Get Your Home Ready For the Summer

April 15th, 2013

With the summer rapidly approaching many homeowners are getting ready to turn on their air conditioning systems. However, before the hot weather hits us there are a few things that you may want to think about getting done for your AC before you switch it on for the first time. Call the Louisville, KY air conditioning maintenance experts at Accutemp Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ve been offering complete air conditioning maintenance for all different types and brands of systems for many years. We wanted to help out our customers in the area by putting together a few of the important things that homeowners should do before summer.

Get Your Air Conditioning System Maintained

Probably the most important thing that you can do for your air conditioning system is to get it maintained before the summer starts. During regular maintenance visits our technicians will thoroughly inspect every component of your AC system and look for any small problems or issues. During the winter when you air conditioning system is buried under snow and out of use for several months small things can develop like rust, dust or dirt building up. Insects or rodents can also start living there which would cause big problems for your system.

When you just start running your AC system after months of sitting it can be a shock to the system and any problems that developed over the winter will cause big problems. Call the Louisville, KY air conditioning maintenance professionals Accutemp Heating and Air Conditioning and we’ll visit your home to perform a thorough inspection of the system.

Visual Inspection

Another good thing to do before you turn on your air conditioning system for the summer is to do a visual inspection of the system. If you notice that there are loose wires, broken pipes or any leaks then you should definitely call for repair. Those kinds of problems can happen during the winter, especially if your AC system is exposed to the elements and not covered.

Call the friendly Louisville, KY air conditioning maintenance pros at Accutemp Heating and Air Conditioning today to talk with one of our experts about any AC services that you would like to set up.

Louisville KY Furnace Repair: What To Watch For

April 8th, 2013

Making sure your furnace is in top working condition is a priority for every homeowner. While professional installation and routine maintenance are excellent ways to keep your furnace running like new, it may—like all mechanical systems—eventually need repair of some kind. While all repairs should be performed by a qualified technician, there are two problems in particular to look out for: rattling sound, and a yellow or inconsistent flame. Both of these problems may indicate a potential carbon monoxide hazard, which can be dangerous, even if you have proper detection mechanisms set up in your home. For Louisville, KY furnace repair, call the pros at AccuTemp Heating & Air Conditioning today!

  • Rattling sound. While the rattling sound emitting from your gas furnace may be something as harmless as a loose panel, it can also indicate a serious problem with your heat exchanger. This device is critical to the safe and effective operation of your furnace. As its name suggests, it acts as the threshold between the burning fuel and the hot air that’s sent throughout your ductwork. If it has a crack in it, it can begin to rattle. This may mean that the exhaust gases that should be sent outside of the home are actually being sent into your living space. Because such gases can be toxic, it’s a major health hazard.
  • Yellow or inconsistent flame. The burner of your gas furnace should emit a powerful, steady blue flame. The blue color indicates that all of the hydrocarbons in the natural gas are being combusted in the burner. If your flame is yellow or orange, there may be a clog in the burner that’s preventing the correct gas-oxygen mixture. It may indicate that your heater is emitting carbon monoxide.

The results of a damaged heat exchanger or a faulty burner can be lethal. Make sure your home is always fitted with carbon monoxide detectors. If your gas furnace rattles, or has a yellow or inconsistent flame, call a professional technician immediately. For Louisville, KY furnace repair, call AccuTemp Heating & Air Conditioning today!

How A Whole House Dehumidifier Might Help Your Louisville, KY Home

April 1st, 2013

We often say that the heat is not nearly as bad as the humidity. During the hottest days of the year in Louisville, KY, this cliché rings true. As you may already know, your air conditioner also dehumidifies the air within your home—removing water vapor by condensation is part of the cooling cycle. But, for many people, it’s just not enough. The humidity of your home not only depends upon the relative amount of water vapor outside, but also the insulation of your home and how it was built. A whole-home dehumidifier can provide great comfort when your home indoor air becomes uncomfortable, despite the temperature. For Louisville, KY whole house dehumidifiers, call the experts at AccuTemp Heating & Air Conditioning today!

Let’s take a look at some of the ways a dehumidifier might help your home.

  • Reduced mold growth. While our modern home designs have successfully reduced the amount of energy we consume during the cooling season due to high quality insulation, they have also presented problems with ventilation. When moisture builds up inside your home, mold can thrive and spread throughout the home, often in hidden places.
  • Improve indoor air quality. A whole house dehumidifier is part of an essential process of air quality improvement, which can significantly affect your health. The EPA states that poor indoor air quality poses a significant threat to your health. Proper dehumidification can help to reduce allergens.
  • Avoid respiratory problems. If you or one of your family members suffers from respiratory problems, then a dehumidifier may help to produce optimal conditions for their health, and also reduce the risk of mold and dust mites, both of which are serious allergens.
  • Comfort. Comfort shouldn’t be a luxury. Dehumidification produces air that is within the optimal range for breathing. If you’ve ever been stuck in a stuffy home on a late July afternoon, much of that discomfort was caused not by the heat, but by the humidity.

You deserve clean, cool, and dehumidified air in your home. It improves the indoor air quality of your home and gives you comfort. For whole house dehumidifiers in Louisville, KY, call AccuTemp Heating & Air Conditioning today!

Louisville Heating: 3 Heating Repairs Caused by Clogged Filter

March 25th, 2013

You may or may not realize this, but if you have a forced-air heating system like a furnace or a heat pump then you have an air filter. This filter usually sits near the return air duct that leads into your heating system and keeps insects, dirt and dust from getting into the moving parts of your equipment. If you get regular maintenance for your heating system then your technician will likely change the filter during their annual visit. However, it is most likely a good idea to keep an eye on this filter because it is, by far, the most common culprit for heating repair. If your heating system isn’t working well, contact the Louisville, KY heating repair experts at Accutemp. We thought it would be a good idea to talk about the 3 most common heating problems that are caused by clogged air filters.

Not Enough Heating

If your furnace or heat pump isn’t delivering enough heat to your home one of the most common causes is a clogged air filter. If the filter is clogged then it will restrict the amount of air that can flow into your home. Less heated air means less comfortable home.

Overheating

This problem is normally associated with furnaces that use a heat exchanger to heat up the air in your home. Your furnace relies on the air moving over the heat exchanger to remove some of the heat and carry it into the home. But if a clogged air filter is limiting the flow of air across the heat exchanger then your furnace will likely overheat and automatically shut off.

Cracked Heat Exchanger

If your heat exchanger is constantly being overheated, it can eventually crack. This is a potentially deadly problem because a cracked heat exchanger means that carbon monoxide could be leaking into your home. In addition to warming the air coming into your home, the heat exchanger also exhausts all of the dangerous combustion gases that result from burning fuel.

When you need Louisville, KY heating repair just call the friendly professionals at Accutemp!

Signs You Need Duct Repair in Louisville, KY

March 18th, 2013

Ductwork is a critical component of your heating and cooling system. It allows the transmission of heated and cooled air to pass rapidly and cleanly from your air handler through the registers in your walls, floors, and ceilings. While most homeowners recognize that their units need to be energy-efficient, many do not realize the importance of ducts, which can account for up to 30% energy loss when damaged or improperly insulated. Ensuring that your ducts are clean, tightly connected, and free of cracks should be part of every homeowner’s home maintenance. Fortunately, help is a mere phone call away. For comprehensive duct repair in Louisville, KY, call AccuTemp Heating & Air Conditioning today!

Let’s take at some of the signs you need duct repair:

  • Inadequate cooling. Because your ductwork is meant to be a closed system, inadequate cooling is often caused by air leaks within your ductwork. This is common in old ductwork. But if you’ve recently had construction done on your home, or if you’ve accidentally dislodged or crimped the duct, this can often lead to leaks and blockages. Blockages tend to lead to other problems in the system, such as frozen coils.
  • Poor indoor air quality. The air filter installed in your air handler is meant to prevent the passage of allergens like dust and pollen throughout your system. If your ductwork is leaking or in disrepair, then it can bring in allergens from your attic insulation or directly from the outdoors, bypassing the air filter.
  • Energy costs. Damaged or impaired ductwork can lead to significant increases in energy costs. During the long Louisville, KY summer, we need all the energy-efficiency we can get, so if you recognize a sudden spike in your electric bill one month, your cooled air may be leaking into unused spaces in your home, like your attic, basement or inside the walls.

Fortunately, getting duct repair is as easy as calling AccuTemp Heating & Air Conditioning. As one of the leading air conditioning and ductwork experts in Louisville, KY, we can handle any job. For duct repair, call us today!

Louisville, KY Heat Pumps: Common Heat Pump Noises and What They Mean

March 11th, 2013

Heat pumps are a great home heating option for those homeowners looking to heat and cool their homes in a very efficient, environmentally friendly way. While heat pumps are also very durable and reliable, they are susceptible to occasional operational problems. Keeping your ears open and paying attention to any strange, unusual sounds coming from your heat pump can help you detect possible problems earlier on. The sooner any Louisville, KY heat pump repair is made, the less likely the problem is to do serious damage to your system. Here are some common heat pump noises you may here. For more information about possible causes of heat pump noises, call Accutemp.

Not all heat pump noises are indicative of a serious problem. Some are just the result of your heat pumps mode of operation. Most heat pumps, for example, feature a defrost cycle that will automatically come on when the coil gets to cold. There is a pressure change when this cycle kicks on, and you will notice that the sound of the operation is quite different than usual. As the pressure gets back to normal and the fan resumes its normal function the sound of your heat pump should go back to normal as well.

Any high pitched whining noises coming from your heat pump should be investigated by a Louisville, KY heat pump repair professional immediately. There are a few different possible causes of this type of noise, but one of the most common is a lack of lubrication on a moving part. If this part is not properly lubricated it can damage your system during operation.

Not all strange noises will necessarily emanate from the outdoor unit of your heat pump. A loud clanging or banging sound, for instance, may come from your ductwork. Metal will expand and contrast when there is a shift in temperature, and this expansion and contraction can account for these metallic banging sounds. It is always wise to have any heat pump noises assessed by a professional repair technician, of course.

When you hear strange sounds coming from your heat pump, call the Louisville, KY heat pump professionals you can count on. Let Accutemp find the cause of the sounds and if necessary, complete any repair work needed. We’ll keep your heat pump operating properly.