Freezing up is one of the most common issues to come up with air conditioners. For many homeowners, this is a confusing issue, as they will see ice accumulating on the side of their outdoor unit, despite warm temperatures all around. What is going on? This article will break it down to help you understand the problem.

 

If you have a frozen AC unit and need help from a professional and experienced team, call Berico today. AC repair is one of the many services that Berico offers, but no matter which service you need, you’ll always receive excellent pricing and reliable work. Call today to get started.

 

How Air Conditioning Works

The issue of an air conditioning unit freezing up starts to make more sense once you understand how the system is supposed to work and what is going on behind the scenes. At the heart of your air conditioning system is a set of evaporator coils. Those coils carry refrigerant, which is how heat is moved from one place to another in this system. Inside the house, the refrigerant takes heat out of the air before carrying that heat outside where it is dumped into the surrounding atmosphere.

 

When all is well, the fan in your outdoor unit blows over the coils, cooling them off and releasing heat into the air. Then, the cooled refrigerant runs back inside, picks up more warmth from the indoor air, and takes it back outside again. This looped system just keeps running for as long as the unit is on.

 

Problems Can Arise

With the background in place of how an air conditioner is supposed to work, we can then see what causes it to freeze up in certain situations. As a starting point, make sure your air filter is always clean since a dirty filter can directly contribute to this problem. A dirty filter is going to restrict airflow, and without enough airflow, the coils could wind up freezing. Stay ahead of the game on this point so you can get optimal performance from your system without any unwanted ice developing.

 

It’s also possible for dirty coils on the outdoor unit to lead to trouble with freezing. This is a problem that is often encountered with older units that have been sitting outside for many years. Having the whole system maintained by a professional team, including a cleaning of the outdoor unit, can go a long way toward preventing freeze-ups.

Another reason for your AC freezing up is leaking coils.  When an aged coil or improperly maintained coil begins to leak refrigerant, it can cause an HVAC coil to freeze up.  Depending on the location of the leak, it can either be repaired or replaced.  Due to HVAC standards, it is not legal to refill refrigerant in an HVAC system that is known to be leaking without repairing the leak.  Many less-reputable companies will add refrigerant to a leaking system, but never truly fix the leak.  This leads to continued complications and expense for the customer.

 

Yet another possibility is a blower fan that is not working as it should. Without the blower functioning correctly, the airflow over the coil won’t be sufficient, and it can get too cold and freeze. If you find yourself with a frozen coil for any of these reasons or another one entirely, it’s best to get help from an HVAC technician to properly unfreeze the A/C system and get it back up and running once again.

 

Solve the Problem Right Away

With your A/C frozen and no cold air flowing, the summer can quickly get uncomfortable. Reach out to Berico immediately to bring a qualified technician out to your home. Soon enough, the problem will be solved and the temperature in your house will begin to fall. Don’t wait any longer!

The topic of inflation has been on the minds of many in recent years. In the aftermath of the pandemic, inflation has reached lofty levels, and many people are feeling the strain as a result. One of the biggest attempts to regain control over this issue has been the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes provisions that impact the HVAC industry. This article will go over the basics of what you need to know to take advantage of the programs featured in this bill.

 

If you have been thinking about HVAC replacement, or if you just need some A/C repair work performed, Berico should be your first choice. A known leader in the industry made up of a team of trusted professionals, you can be sure that Berico will exceed your expectations at every turn. Call today to get started.

 

A Great Opportunity

Simply put, the Inflation Reduction Act represents a great opportunity for homeowners to have new HVAC equipment installed in their homes at a discount. That discount comes in the form of a tax credit – more on that in a moment – and it will effectively lower the cost of upgrading to a new HVAC system.

 

So, for example, if you have an aging air conditioner serving your home and you have been thinking about upgrading for a while, doing it while this tax credit program is in effect makes a lot of sense. Not only do you get the improved performance and efficiency of a new system, but you get it at a lower price than would be able to get otherwise.

 

An Eye on Efficiency

So, why would the government want to subsidize the purchase of new HVAC equipment for countless Americans? Well, there can be plenty of complex economic arguments to be made here, but that’s outside the scope of this post. At least part of the motivation comes down to environmental concerns, however, as new HVAC equipment is going to be more efficient than HVAC equipment that was produced in years gone by.

 

In order to qualify for this program, the equipment you purchase needs to be ENERGY STAR-certified. Fortunately, it’s not hard to find such equipment, so you won’t have to pick from a narrow set of options to check that box – it will be easy to satisfy that requirement while getting a great system that can serve your home well for many years to come.

 

The Basics of the Credit

The part of the Inflation Reduction Act that is relevant to HVAC equipment is Tax Section 25C. In this section, you’ll find information about how much of a credit is available to those who have new, efficient HVAC equipment installed. As this is a tax issue, there are plenty of complicating factors and variables, but the basic concept is that you will receive a tax credit when you have qualifying equipment installed in your home.

 

Just how much of a credit is available? You can receive a credit of as much as 30% of the installation cost of HVAC equipment that meets the standards for the highest efficiency tier. That 30% mark is capped at $600 per air conditioner and furnace, and it is capped at $2,000 for heat pumps. If you decided to have a new air conditioner as well as a new furnace installed, you could claim the credit for both of those items.

 

It’s always important to point out that everyone’s tax situation is unique. While this credit is relatively straightforward by tax standards, you will still want to make sure you qualify and that everything you are purchasing fits with the requirements of the tax code. Take some time to read through the finer points if you plan on claiming this credit, or talk to your accountant just to be sure you are on the right track. It’s better to do some extra homework in advance than to find out later that you won’t actually be able to get the credit you were planning on receiving.

 

Upgrading Has Many Benefits

For some people, it’s hard to come to the decision to upgrade their HVAC equipment when the old system is technically still working. After all, this is a big expense, even with a tax credit, so it can be hard to make the choice to go ahead and schedule the installation of a replacement HVAC unit. However, if you take a moment to look at some of the many benefits that can come with this project, you might start to see it as an easier choice.

• Better performance. Simply put, aging HVAC equipment doesn’t work as well as newer stuff. Even if you have maintained your old system properly over the years, time is going to take a toll and it eventually won’t work quite as well as it once did. By upgrading now, you’ll be able to enjoy better performance immediately, such as more even heating or cooling throughout your house.
• Lower utility bills. Along with the savings that will come in the form of a tax credit, there is also the potential for lower monthly utility bills to consider. A new system will be more efficient than the older units, and as a result, you should find yourself paying less for energy month after month. These savings might seem modest at first, but they’ll just keep coming until they add up to a notable sum.
• It might be quieter. This point will depend on how your current system is working and exactly how old it is, but you might find that new HVAC equipment runs quite a bit quieter than what you are used to, and often it takes up much less space, which is particularly nice if the system is in a closet or utility room that then has some extra space. Who doesn’t need more storage space?

 

Get Started Today

If you have been needing new HVAC equipment but are worried about the A/C replacement cost for your home, getting help from the Inflation Reduction Act is a great opportunity. Berico always offers transparent HVAC pricing, so you can reach out to the team today to get a quote on a system that will serve you well for years to come.

For the average homeowner, the inner workings of their HVAC system are a bit of a mystery. When things are going well, the system simply comes on when it is supposed to and heats or cools the space, as necessary. Since many people don’t quite know how it works, it’s easy for plenty of myths to spring up around HVAC, and some of those myths can lead people to use their system incorrectly. This article will target a few of those myths and set the record straight.

 

When HVAC needs arise at your home, Berico is the right call for maintenance, service, and installation. Whether it’s an AC replacement in Reidsville, Eden AC repair, or anything in between, Berico is ready to answer the call.

 

Bigger is Always Better

It’s tempting to think that the biggest possible HVAC system is going to provide the best results for your home. That’s not actually how it works, however. You want to find the right-sized unit when adding a new HVAC system to your house, and working with experienced professionals is the best way to make that selection. If you wind up with a system that is bigger than what you need, it will use more energy than is necessary and you might struggle to maintain a comfortable temperature.

 

Making a Dramatic Thermostat Change Yields Faster Results

If you have ever felt yourself sweating inside on a hot day, it’s easy to reach for the thermostat and crank it way down to get the air conditioner working hard. Some people believe this will cool down their rooms faster, but that isn’t true. No matter where you set the thermostat, the AC is going to operate in the same manner.

 

With it set to a lower temperature, the only difference is it’s just going to keep on running until it hits that mark – which might take a while. It’s better to adjust your thermostat more modestly to make sure the unit doesn’t run too long, since the speed at which it cools your house is the same either way.

 

Changing Air Filters is an Annual Job

You might have heard that it’s only necessary to change the air filter in your HVAC system annually. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most homeowners should change their air filter at least every three months, and you might want to do it more often than that during the middle of summer and the dead of winter. Keeping a clean filter in your system is one of the best things you can do for your HVAC performance, and new filters are affordable, so this task doesn’t require a large investment.

 

You Can Save Money By Closing Vents

Have you ever heard that it’s a good idea to close vents in rooms you don’t use often so you can save on energy costs? This is a popular concept, and it is partly true to an extent.  It’s ok for one or two rooms to close the vents, but if you take it much further than that it can lead to problems.  Unfortunately, even with multiple vents closed, you are running a system that is larger than needed to cool (or heat) the space that is now allotted to it.  These can lead to any number of issues none of which are good for your HVAC system or your budget.  So when closing vents, just be careful not to close more than a couple rooms.

 

Reach Out Today

No matter what your HVAC needs may be, the team at Berico is ready to serve you. Get in touch today to schedule your first appointment.

When you spend money on your home, it’s always nice if you can make sure that spending is going to boost the value of your home in some way. Even if you aren’t planning on selling in the near future, adding to your home’s value allows you to recoup at least some of the money you spend at some point in the future. This article is going to take a look at some of the upgrades that you might consider when keeping home value in mind.

 

Of course, you’ll need an HVAC partner for these upgrades, and Berico is the right choice for all kinds of AC services in Greensboro and more. Reach out today for more information or to make an appointment.

 

A Smart Thermostat

The easiest and most affordable option on our list is a smart thermostat. By upgrading from a standard thermostat to a smart thermostat, you’ll gain plenty of advantages for a very minimal investment. Programming this kind of advanced thermostat is a breeze, and you should be able to better manage the temperature in your home to get exactly the results you desire. While such a simple upgrade shouldn’t be expected to deliver a significant jump in home value, it is a nice modern feature that potential buyers will like to see.

 

Energy-Efficient Equipment

This next point jumps up to perhaps the costliest upgrade you can make, but the one that is going to have the biggest impact. Having new HVAC equipment installed that meets modern efficiency standards is a significant improvement for the house as a whole. Not only will better efficiency mean you don’t have to spend as much on utilities each month, but it will also give you better results and improved comfort. Any potential buyer would love to know that the house comes with an up-to-date HVAC system.

 

Air Purification Capabilities

Adding an air purifier to your HVAC system might not be an upgrade you have previously considered, but it’s an addition that is well worth what it costs. When the air purifier is in place and running, it will cut down on pollutants and allergens in the air, allowing you to breathe easier and adding yet another appealing feature for would-be buyers to contemplate.

 

Add a Zoning System

Zoning systems are becoming more and more popular in residential HVAC installations, especially in larger homes. If your home typically struggles to stay consistent in terms of temperature from room to room, adding a zoning system will make it easier to dial in the results you get and balance out how the house feels. Although zoning is gaining in popularity, it’s still a relatively uncommon feature to have in your house – so this might be one amenity that helps convince a buyer that your house is the right one for their family.

 

Get Great Value

For an AC replacement in Greensboro, or for any other kind of HVAC project around your home, choose Berico to get great results and fair prices. Now is the time to get started!