Tag: hvac maintenance

Should You Cover Your AC Unit for Fall and Winter?

Published on

Should You Cover Your AC Unit for Fall and Winter?

Fall has come with a touch of coolness in the air – with winter not far behind. Even in Houston and the surrounding cities, we experience a moderate change in the weather. As the leaves change and cooler temperatures creep in, homeowners begin contemplating covering outdoor AC window units and winterizing their homes.

However, consideration should also be given to winterizing your HVAC condenser. While this outdoor component was designed to withstand the worst weather conditions, it can also be compromised by several factors in the fall and winter when not in use. There are a few advantages and disadvantages to covering your AC unit. The professionals at Weeks have listed the most common issues:

Covering Outdoor AC Unit: CONs

  • Covering the entire condenser may actually trap dampness inside the unit – as a Houston fall can be both wet and muggy. Inside this component are electrical wiring and essential HVAC parts. A damp, humid interior can easily be compromised and affect the running of the HVAC.
  • Rodents and different animals look for cover from cruel winters and will sometimes seek refuge inside a covered condenser. This can lead to issues like chewed electrical wires and leaking Freon lines among other problems.
  • Most manufacturers don’t suggest covering your HVAC condenser. Forced air systems that work all year (as they sometimes do in Houston) are designed to withstand the elements and don’t always need a cover.

Most manufacturers don’t suggest covering your AC unit. Forced air systems that work all year are worked to withstand an outdoor climate and don’t need coverage.

Covering Outdoor AC Unit: PROs

  • It keeps your forced air system interior a little cleaner so it might run somewhat more productively when you use it again
  • A cover will keep fall leaves and other fall/winter detritus from coming inside the unit. Keeps water from straightforwardly laying on your loops and freezing, which could be harming.
  • A cover that guards the condenser, without touching the unit itself, such as a screen or wood box will keep the elements and animals away.

In the event that you do cover your climate control system, make sure you just cover the top to keep leaves and other detritus from falling inside the unit.

Call Weeks!

If you have any questions regarding your condenser and safety precautions during the fall and winter, don’t hesitate to contact us! Call 281-738-1362 to speak with a technician today!

Why is My Air Conditioner Leaking Water?

Published on

With the Houston heat and humidity increasing rapidly, the last thing you want to deal with is an air conditioner that is causing problems. We understand you would much rather be thinking about relaxing and making the most of what is left of summer.

But life happens and your AC might be showing signs of malfunctioning, like leaking water. This problem can be difficult to diagnose, especially if you’re new to HVAC maintenance. Luckily, the pros at Weeks Service Company know a thing or two about your AC system and can answer the age-old question: Why is my air conditioner leaking water?

1. Damaged Drain Pan

The drain pan is usually located underneath the indoor air handling unit. The indoor handling unit includes the evaporator coil, which is an important component of your AC system. During the process of air conditioning, warm indoor air blows over the evaporator coil that includes a cooling agent called refrigerant. The refrigerant in the coil absorbs the heat from the warm air which causes condensation or moisture to collect on the coil and drip into the drain pan.

This is our long-winded way of saying that the drain pan is important. It collects excess moisture but if the pan is damaged, old or cracked, condensate might be leaking through. If your drain pan has minor cracks, you can use epoxy glue to repair them. However, it’s better to simply replace the pan!

2. Dirty Air Filter

We cannot stress how important it is to consistently replace or clean your AC’s air filter. A clean air filter improves air flow as well as your indoor air quality. A clogged, dirty filter can reduce the efficiency of your AC and cause other problems such as a frozen evaporator coil.

When air is absorbed and blown past a dirty filter, it might carry the dirt and debris with it onto the coil. Over time, the dirt collecting on the evaporator coil can hinder the coil’s ability to absorb heat, causing it to freeze. The ice on the coil can melt and the moisture can leak excessively. To avoid this, be sure to replace your air filter 1-3 months depending on the climate you live in!

3. Clogged Condensate Line

If there isn’t an issue with your air filter or drain pan, you might want to check the condensate line. The condensate line is an important part of your AC system. When your AC absorbs warm air from your home, it also absorbs humidity. The excess humidity removed from your home eventually condenses and is drained out through the condensate line.

If your AC is leaking water, there is a chance that your condensate line (which is located near your outdoor condenser) is clogged by debris, algae or fungi. When the condensate line is clogged, excess moisture can’t move away from your HVAC system. Instead, it gets backed up into your home. You can try to remove the clog yourself by using a wet-dry vacuum ¼ inch smaller than the pipe opening.

Need A Professional? Contact Weeks Service Company!

No matter what the cause, a leaking and malfunctioning air conditioner isn’t fun, especially in this hot weather. If you think your AC is giving you any problems, just give Weeks Service Company a shout! Our team of knowledgeable technicians will be able to solve any problems your home has, so you can be a relaxed homeowner this summer. Call us today at 281-738-1362 or schedule a service online!

HVAC Routine Maintenance Reasons

Published on

Routine maintenance may seem like a chore. Your HVAC unit is running perfectly fine, so what’s the point in paying to have someone come tell you that everything looks good? As it turns out, there are quite a few benefits – it isn’t just something that service providers came up with to squeeze an extra buck out of you.

To help drive home the importance of having regular HVAC maintenance on your unit, the heating and cooling experts at Weeks Service Company have a list of 4 reasons why routine maintenance on your HVAC unit is well worth whatever you pay for it!

Your Home Feels Better

One of the main benefits of routine maintenance is that it gives your technician a chance to calibrate your unit. Over time, as the heating and cooling cycles on and off, parts and connections lose their effectiveness. When a trained eye looks at the components lying in your HVAC unit, they’ll make the small adjustments necessary to raise your unit’s efficiency back to normal.

That lets your air system take it a bit easier and still heat and cool your home properly. A regularly scheduled maintenance session from a technician you trust will keep you and your family comfortable year-round.

Energy Bills Take a Dip

As we noted above, routine maintenance keeps your HVAC unit from working too hard. When it doesn’t have to overcompensate to make up for a lack of efficiency, then the energy it expends is well within normal levels. Over time, you’ll be pleased to see your energy bills steadily decrease!

Problems Get Caught Early

Although paying money for an inspection isn’t something you may be thrilled about, the idea of paying for an expensive repair is probably even less exciting. But that’s what can happen when you neglect routine maintenance!

As your unit pumps air through your home day after day, it’ll eventually wear down and need repairs or need to have smaller parts replaced. When a technician inspects it regularly, they’ll conduct a thorough check to see if they notice anything that could be a warning sign. By catching these smaller problems early, you’ll avoid the potential of a catastrophic repair that blindsides you.

You Get a Chance to Ask Questions

To top it all off, when a technician visits your home, you’ll have the opportunity to present any questions you may have about your home’s air system or HVAC unit right then and there. Although you can technically pick up the phone and call them whenever you want, there’s something about having a face-to-face discussion with someone you trust that makes you feel more comfortable.

 

These 4 reasons for routine HVAC maintenance certainly don’t cover the entire list of benefits. There are plenty more that we haven’t touched on, but we don’t want to take up an entire day.

However, you can give Weeks Service Company a call at 281-738-1362, and we’d be glad to go over the other reasons why this is something we recommend for all our League City and Houston neighbors!

Get Your Furnace Ready for Winter

Published on

Since we’re in Texas, we don’t have to endure the harsher winters that our neighbors in other parts of the country do. However, the temperatures are still going to drop significantly compared to the sweltering summers, so it makes sense to do your due diligence and prepare your furnace for the colder months ahead.

But what exactly does that look like? “Preparing your furnace” is a vague and imprecise phrase, so that doesn’t give you a whole lot of direction. Well, have no fear! We’ve taken a few of our most reliable and time-tested furnace-preparation tips and compiled them here for you. Take the time to perform a few of them, and you and your family will be cozy and comfortable all winter long!

Flip That Filter

One of the most essential components of your HVAC system isn’t a complicated mechanical part or a flimsy metal duct. Although those are indeed important, your air filter is just as integral. While you should be replacing your air filter every 30 days, we recommend going ahead and switching it out again before beginning to use your furnace.

The sudden change in airflow (from AC to furnace) can play tricks on your HVAC system, so it make sense to start with a clean slate, so to speak. That way, this brand-new filter will only be screening air that has been heated.

Test it First

Similarly, we highly suggest testing your furnace ahead of time to make sure it’s all working properly. We’d hate for the temperatures to drop and have you flip on your furnace, only to discover that some part has gotten jarred loose or a faulty pilot light won’t ignite correctly.

Just take a few minutes to test your furnace now while you can still afford to live comfortably without running it. That way, you’ll be able to schedule an inspection or appointment with a technician who will fix your issue before it gets too cold.

Have It Inspected

This piggybacks off the previous tip, but it’s arguably more important. You can do all the home-DIY jobs in the world to safeguard your furnace from leakage and breaks, but only the eye of a trained professional will catch everything.

That’s why it’s critical to schedule a comprehensive inspection when winter rolls around. An expert will notice things you’d never dream of seeing, and they’ll be able to tell you which problems need fixing now — and which ones can wait.

In fact, a lot of manufacturer’s warranties and maintenance clubs require yearly inspections around this time of year for that exact reason. We recommend the same, because we think you’ll be better off for it.

Weeks Service Company: Handling All Your Furnace-Related Requests and Concerns

When you’re in the market for a service provider that won’t nickel and dime you for a smidgen of profit, one that will treat you with respect and professionalism, but one that will still take care of everything you need, we’ve got you covered.

Weeks Service Company is your trusted furnace service provider. Whether you’ve sprung a leak, need a prompt repair or anything in-between, just give us a shout!

We’re always willing to work with you to find out what needs fixing. Give us a call at 281-738-1362 for more information!