First Choice Heating & Cooling Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Duct Testing May Be the Key to Better AC Performance This Year

Monday, April 27th, 2020

The performance of your air conditioning system is not as short-term as “will it keep my house cool today?” Great AC performance is about getting the most from the system each year for the lowest cost, and then keeping that performance level for the next year, and the next, until the point where replacement is the cost-effective next step.

When you take this long view of air conditioning performance, regular duct testing becomes a vital part. We recommend homeowners have this service done every 3 to 5 years—or right now if they haven’t done it already.

Tags: Brighton, duct sealing, duct testing
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Duct Testing May Be the Key to Better AC Performance This Year

“Test Drive” Your AC This Spring

Monday, March 16th, 2020

Before the warm weather settles in to stay for the middle of the year, you want to eliminate any worries you may have about your air conditioning system. The best way to do that is to call to arrange for air conditioning maintenance in Fenton, MI through our maintenance plan. Make this a step you take every spring, and you’ll have a much healthier and cost-effective AC system.

You can also do some checks on your own with a test-drive during cooler weather. This isn’t a replacement for maintenance, but a supplement. In fact, you can do the test-drive after you schedule maintenance before the actual appointment. This way, you can tell your maintenance technician about anything you’ve noticed that may be wrong, and they can focus their efforts.

To get started, simply turn on the AC during a day when you wouldn’t otherwise require it (you may need to set the temperature lower than you normally would), and look for the following:

Tags: air conditioning maintenance, Fenton
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on “Test Drive” Your AC This Spring

March Means Time for Regular AC Maintenance

Monday, March 2nd, 2020

Yes, we know the weather outside is still cold enough for your house to need its heater running regularly. It may seem weird to start considering your air conditioner at this time, but March is the ideal month to plan for the coming change in seasons.

Spring is the period between peak business times for HVAC experts: the cold of winter and the heat of summer. As our schedules become less packed with emergency heating repairs and heating replacements, we can spend more time helping our valued customers get ready for warmer weather. You only have to call us to arrange for air conditioning maintenance in Howell, MI and we’ll get you on the schedule right away.

Tags: air conditioning maintenance, Howell
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on March Means Time for Regular AC Maintenance

My AC’s Compressor Died! Do I Need to Replace the Whole AC?

Monday, September 2nd, 2019

Shocked woman covering her mouth, possibly reacting to an unexpected cooling replacement issue.

Okay, we know this is an urgent, even alarming problem. When an air conditioning system’s compressor burns out, its AC can’t provide any cooled air. The compressor is what allows the AC to circulate refrigerant and move heat from inside the house to cool down. (A few months ago we wrote a blog post detailing exactly what a compressor does.) Without a working compressor, the air conditioner will only circulate room temperature air around the ventilation system.

What are your options when an AC compressor dies?

Replace just the compressor: If it’s still under warranty, only replacing the compressor is a practical and cost-effective solution, especially if the rest of the system is in good shape.
Replace the outdoor condenser unit: This includes the compressor, condenser coil, and fan, suitable if you’re on a tight budget and the indoor components remain sound.
Replace both the condenser and indoor evaporator coil (full AC replacement): Ensures matched components, improved efficiency, and includes a fresh system warranty, usually the best choice if the compressor is no longer under warranty.
Replace the entire HVAC system: If your heating system is also aging, replacing everything, the AC, air handler, and heater, at once can save time and money, especially if you’re transitioning to a heat pump.

You may have heard that replacing a dead compressor is so expensive that you’re better off having a complete air conditioning replacement. This is true sometimes, but not always. Below we’ll look at the different replacement options and help you think about the right choice for your situation.

Tags: Air Conditioner Repair, Air Conditioning Replacement, Brighton
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on My AC’s Compressor Died! Do I Need to Replace the Whole AC?

What to Check When Your AC Stops Working

Monday, August 19th, 2019

Whenever an appliance stops working in your house, it’s not a highlight of the day. But there is a big difference in finding out the microwave won’t turn on and discovering the air conditioning system isn’t cooling the house—especially during a hot late summer day!

A failed AC is something you’ll want remedied as soon as possible. In many cases, this requires calling for air conditioning repair in Davison, MI from professionals like the technicians at First Choice. But an AC that won’t turn on or won’t provide cooling may not be an emergency repair problem. Before you call for a technician, make several basic checks to see if a simple explanation is behind the failure to cool.

Tags: Air Conditioner Repair, Davison
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on What to Check When Your AC Stops Working

The Big Mistake People Make About AC Refrigerant

Monday, August 5th, 2019

We don’t expect our customers to be experts at how their air conditioning systems run. After all, that’s why professionals like us exist! However, there are a few basic facts about air conditioning that we’d like more people to know, because they help with understanding when repairs are necessary and what certain warning signs mean.

One of the biggest mistaken ideas people have about air conditioning systems is that the refrigerant running through them needs periodic refills, same as putting gas in a car or getting new batteries for a remote control.

This is completely untrue! Except in cases of refrigerant leaks, air conditioning systems never need to have more refrigerant put in them.

Let’s get deeper into the specifics of this, because it can end up rescuing your AC.

Tags: air conditioning repair, Davison
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on The Big Mistake People Make About AC Refrigerant

The AC Compressor: Why You Don’t Want It to Fail!

Monday, July 22nd, 2019

A short quiz. What is the most important component in your air conditioning system?

The blower fan
The condenser coils
The evaporator coils
The compressor
The thermostat
All of the above

If you answered “6,” you’re right! There isn’t such a thing as “the most important component” out of options 1-6, because if any of these fail, you won’t have cooling from your AC. No fan means no air sent into the ventilation system. Losing either set of coils means the AC can’t carry out heat exchange. No thermostat means cooling can’t be turned on. And no compressor means the entire air conditioning system is dead and probably needs to be replaced.

Tags: Air Conditioner Repair, Air Conditioning Replacement, Brighton
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on The AC Compressor: Why You Don’t Want It to Fail!

Ways We Can Improve Your Cooling This Summer

Monday, July 8th, 2019

When it comes to cooling your home during the summer season, “good enough” just isn’t good enough. Not if you ask a member of our team, anyway. We are the local HVAC company in Brighton, MI, that you can count on to help you enjoy the level of comfort that you deserve, regardless of how hot it may be outside. Sometimes, that means upgrades to your system. In other instances, it may just mean a bit of rejuvenation.

Whatever the case, you need to know for certain that your AC is optimized and ready for action. You’ll have no doubt about it when you choose to work with us. From central ACs to heat pumps and ductless mini splits, we’ve got the experience and expertise necessary to help any air conditioning system excel. So read on, reach out with any concerns that you may have, and give us the pleasure of helping you to live in the most comfortable environment possible.

Tags: AC, AC Maintenance, air conditioner, air conditioning maintenance, Brighton
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Ways We Can Improve Your Cooling This Summer

Warning Signs Your Commercial AC Is in Trouble

Monday, June 24th, 2019

The early summer, before the heavy heat of July and August start up, is a good time to pay close attention to the air conditioning system for your commercial space. It’s just started doing it’s regular work, and making sure that it isn’t developing malfunctions is helpful to head off serious system breakdowns during the summer—the kind of breakdowns that lead to work stoppage and other costly interruptions.

The best step you can take to get ahead of potential repairs is to schedule routine maintenance for your commercial air conditioning in Brighton, MI. This should always be done during spring, before the system goes to work for the year. If you’ve already had maintenance for your AC, it should be in good shape. But just in case, watch for these warning signs you need to call our repair technicians for help:

Tags: Brighton, Commercial HVAC, Commercial HVAC Maintenance, Commercial HVAC Repair
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Warning Signs Your Commercial AC Is in Trouble

AC Tune-Up Benefits That May Surprise You

Monday, June 10th, 2019

A pre-summer air conditioning tune-up in Brighton, MI is one of the best things a local homeowner can do for their comfort during the middle of the year. We’ve written before about the numerous benefits of scheduling regular AC tune-ups. And they are numerous: lower operating costs, fewer repair needs, sudden breakdown prevention, an extended service life, and all-around peace of mind.

But there’s even more to talk about. Below we’ve listed a few benefits of having routine air conditioning tune-ups from professionals that you may not have known about.

Tags: air conditioning maintenance, Brighton
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on AC Tune-Up Benefits That May Surprise You