Scorching summer heat can make upstairs living nearly unbearable. Sometimes AC Repair in Greensboro is inevitable. Even the best air conditioner in Greensboro has difficulty keeping upstairs spaces cool and comfortable. Why? It’s simple; because heat rises. To keep the upstairs cool in your home, utilize these easy maintenance tips.

Keep upstairs blinds and curtains closed during the day. As the sun enters the rooms through windows, it can make the space feel several degrees hotter. Pale opaque shades and drapes are ideal for blocking sunlight.

Replace single-pane windows. If you’re still living with single-paned window models, consider upgrading. Single-paned windows and window casings that leak allow hot air to seep in and make your AC work harder to cool your upstairs.

Ensure that your attic is well-insulated. Attic insulation in Greensboro is essential for all seasons, keeping heat out in the summer and in during the winter. Opt for a minimum of R30 insulation to help keep attic heat from conducting down into the second-floor living spaces.

Replace filters. When dirt and debris builds up on filters, they can become blocked, impeding proper airflow. This issue can have the greatest negative effect at the farthest reaches of the duct system, in other words upstairs. Filters should be replaced at least every three months, or more often if you have shedding pets.

Close half of your downstairs registers. Opening all upstairs supply registers and keeping downstairs supply registers partially closed forces more cold air upstairs where it’s needed. Do not close all downstairs registers as some air is needed for the air conditioner to work efficiently.

Unblock upstairs air return vents. Check upstairs air return vents to ensure none are blocked by furniture, drapes, rugs or other items. These vents should have plenty of room to create good air circulation throughout the upper floor.

Call in a professional for maintenance help. Contact Berico, a trusted Greensboro cooling and heating professional to survey your home. We can make recommendations on how to cool your upstairs spaces and will check for problems that are preventing effective cooling throughout the house. We can also provide air conditioning repair in Greensboro homes.

If your bedroom feels more like a blast furnace than a relaxing retreat, it’s time to make some vital changes to your cooling strategies. For more professional advice on home cooling and heating services for your home, please contact us today.

Are you thinking about skipping over the air conditioner tune-up in Greensboro this year? While summer may seem far away, it will be here soon. Putting off AC tune-ups can lead to long term problems and needed repairs, plus cause you and your family to be uncomfortable when you need cool air the most.

Unpleasant Conditions

Especially in Greensboro, summer time heat can be brutal. It’s very unpleasant when you walk out of the summer heat outside into a home where temperatures are even higher. Your family’s comfort is very important in the summer, especially for children who may be home all day while they are on a break from school.

While an appointment will cost money, it will make the conditions in your home better and well worth it. Look at the cost as an investment that may last for several summers to come. While the heat outside may seem unbearable, your home will be the perfect place to cool off for your entire family.

Causing More Damage

You may be tempted to put off an air conditioner repair because you think the system is working okay. Your unit isn’t in tip top condition nor running at the best efficiency, but you don’t think it requires a call to the experts just yet. In this case, you may be causing more damage than you realize. It might not only feel less than cool at home, but also damaging the system and the equipment.

If you continue to drop the thermostat temperature knowing that the system isn’t running well, there’s a problem. The system struggles to work harder to produce the same results. You can end up needing a completely new AC unit instead of just a Greensboro air conditioner repair appointment with a professional. This is such an important issue that some people even schedule regular maintenance checkups to ensure that there are no hidden problems.

Avoiding the Busy Season

You certainly do not want to put off Greensboro air conditioner repair until the middle of the summer. If you are aware of a problem before the temperatures outside begin to rise, quickly take care of it. Companies like Berico are more likely to become busy when its hot outdoors and AC units aren’t working. A lot of people are calling us needing a technician to visit their home right away.

As soon as you notice a problem, call Berico for an appointment. Even if the weather is fine and you think it isn’t a big deal, your wallet and family will thank you once the temperatures outside rise. Remember, it will be a big deal when everyone is unhappy and hot and you have to wait for a routine repair appointment. Call Berico today and let us solve your small problem before it becomes a bigger one.

How do you know when it’s time to replace your air conditioner?

There are some important factors to take into account when deciding whether or not to replace your air conditioner. If any one of these or a combination of these things apply to your air conditioner, then it may be time to replace.

Age. Central Air Conditioning units are designed to last between 15 and 20 years. But if your system is 10 years old or older, there are many reasons to consider air conditioner replacement in Reidsville or at least obtaining an estimate on a new system. As air conditioners age they run less efficiently. And due to advancements in technology, new air conditioners run more efficiently than older systems did when they were new. The money you save on energy costs will make a new system worth the money in just a few years. And as air conditioners age they need repairs more often, which can add up and begin to cost you more than a new system.

Frequent Repairs. Despite the age of your system, if you’ve had to have it repaired more than once in the last 2 years, it may be time to replace it. Frequent repairs can become quite costly and are usually a sign that the system is not running well. If the system seems to be too new for so many repairs, it’s possible the system is not the right size for the house or the system itself could be flawed.

High Energy Bills. If your energy bill has been gradually climbing or takes a sudden jump, it’s a sign that your system isn’t running efficiently. Minor repairs could solve the problem, but may only be a temporary fix. As stated previously, advancements in technology have made new air conditioners run more efficiently than in the past. There is no question that a new system will be more energy efficient than the system you have now.

Inconsistent Cooling. Do some rooms in your home cool better than others? Does it seem that your home doesn’t stay at the desired temperature? It may be time to replace your air conditioner if your home doesn’t stay comfortable. You should not have to keep changing your thermostat to achieve the desired temperature, and your system should not have to run all the time to keep your home cool. If minor repairs cannot correct this, a new air conditioner may be necessary.

Excessive Noise. If your air conditioner is suddenly running loudly or making noises you don’t remember hearing before, it most likely isn’t running properly and could be on its way to a break down. It could mean that minor parts are disconnected and may be an easy repair. But it could also mean that major parts are wearing out and failing. A professional technician can diagnose this for you.

Humidity. If your home seems humid, that is a sign of a problem with your air conditioner. This is also a problem that may be able to be repaired, but it may also mean that the system is on its last legs.

You can use these factors as a guideline, but the best thing to do would be to call a professional HVAC service to evaluate your system. In Reidsville and Eden, Carolina Fuels is an HVAC company you can count on to help you make that decision.

Has your central air conditioning been acting up lately? As with most mechanical things, air conditioners need to be tuned up periodically. You can’t expect it to work perfectly for years without any kind of maintenance. Sometimes all that’s required is a simple cleaning of the system. Other times there are a few parts that may need replaced or reconnected. So how do you know if your system needs a tune up?

Excessive Noise. You may have noticed that your air conditioner is making more noise than usual. If you hear any unusual noises coming from your system, it may be time for a tune-up. Noise can mean disconnected parts that need to be reconnected or replaced. It can mean friction between moving parts that need to be lubricated or replaced due to wear. A tune up can get your air conditioner running quietly again.

Humidity. If your home feels humid or you see condensation gathering on windows or metal surfaces, you may have a problem with your air conditioner. This is most likely due to a blocked condensate drain. If the condensate drain becomes blocked, the excess moisture is not able to drain out of the unit as it should. Instead the moisture ends up inside the home. A technician can clear the blockage and have your system filtering out moisture again.

Not cooling. Your air conditioner is running, but your home isn’t cooling. This happens when the evaporator coil becomes dirty. When dirt builds up on the evaporator coil, it is not able to absorb heat and cool the air down as it should. Another possible cause is low refrigerant. If refrigerant levels are low due to a leak or some other problem, the air won’t cool down before it blows out through the ducts and vents. The evaporator coil can be cleaned to correct that problem, and the refrigerant can be refilled and any leaks repaired. This should be done be a professional heating and air conditioning technician.

Thermostat issues. There are various problems that can occur with your thermostat. If the thermostat sensor is out of place then the system will not be able to keep the temperature in the home regulated. Sometimes the thermostat itself fails and does not call for cool air when it is needed or doesn’t tell the system when to shut off. The thermostat can be just as much of a problem as the rest of the system. A technician can repair or replace the thermostat.

If you are experiencing these or any other issues with your air conditioner, it may be time for an AC tune up. It is important that you find a reputable heating and air conditioning company to tune up your system. Carolina Fuels has served Reidsville and the surrounding area since 1924. Technicians at Carolina Fuels are trained to check every part of your air conditioning system and clean or repair it so that it runs as efficiently as possible. Carolina Fuels is a company you can trust.

When your air conditioner breaks down in Burlington, NC, you may be faced with a difficult decision; to repair it or replace it. In some cases the decision is easier than in other cases. The best way to decide is to consider the problem itself and a few other factors about your system. And enlist the help of a professional heating and air company to help you make the decision. First, ask the following questions:

Will the repair cost more than a new system? In most cases a repair is cheaper than buying a new system, but not always. If the repair will cost more or even the same amount as a new system, the choice is obvious; install a new system. If the repair is going to cost more than a few hundred dollars, consider the age of your system. If it’s more than 8 years old, it’s probably not worth the money to repair.

How old is your air conditioner? If your air conditioner is more than 8 years old, don’t waste money on repairs. Replace your system and take advantage of all the improvements in technology in the past few years. New air conditioners run twice as efficiently as systems that were made even 5 years ago. And because you have the existing ductwork from your old system, you will save money on installation. But be sure to have the technician test your ducts for leaks and seal any that are found. Leaky ducts can cause you to lose up to 30% of the cool air that should be cooling your home. Another issue with an old system is that it most likely uses Freon as its refrigerant, which is being phased out by the federal department of energy in lieu of a new refrigerant that is more energy efficient and safer for the environment.

Is your current system the right size for your home? It is not uncommon for the wrong size air conditioner to be installed in a home. If your system is too small it is most likely not cooling your home as well as it should and is probably working twice as hard as it should be. If this is not your first repair and your system isn’t very old, the size may be the problem. A system that is too large may cause excessive humidity in your home. A professional HVAC company can assess your home and your system and let you know if the system is the wrong size. If it is, then replacement is the only option.

How efficient is your current air conditioner? The efficiency of central air conditioners is measured by SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). It used to be that a system had to rate at a SEER of 10 or higher, but now the federal regulation is no less than 13. Air conditioners that rate at a SEER of 16 or higher are more expensive, but qualify you for a $300 tax credit when you install one. You will also save a significant amount of money on your energy bill.

If you find yourself faced with the difficult decision for air conditioner replacement in Burlington, the professionals at Alamance Oil can help. Alamance Oil serves Burlington and the surrounding areas. They can help you decide what to do and can repair or replace your system, whatever you decide.