When an air conditioning system is running properly, it will go through cycles that last relatively consistent, regular intervals. When the thermostat triggers the AC, the system will come on, run for a while, and then turn off. As you live in a home with the same air conditioner for months and then years, you start to get used to those cycles, and you have a sense for how long they last. But what happens if those intervals don’t seem quite right? This page will discuss how long your AC should really be running and what to do if it gets off track.

For the best AC repair Burlington has to offer, take a moment now to call Berico and schedule an appointment to have your system inspected.

What’s a Normal AC Cycle?

In general, an air conditioner should run in cycles that last around 15-20 minutes. That will vary some depending on a number of factors, including the outdoor temperature and thermostat settings. It’s normal for the cycles to get a bit longer on a particularly hot day, for example. However, the cycling should remain pretty consistent as the unit comes on and off to keep the house at the desired temperature.

Reasons for Short Cycling

Short cycling is the term used to describe an air conditioner that is coming on and off far too regularly. When this occurs, the cycles might last just a few minutes – which really isn’t long enough to effectively control the temperature in the house.

There are a few issues that can cause short cycling. One is a clogged air filter. Without good airflow, the system will overheat and shut itself off for safety purposes. Also, if you have an air conditioner that is actually too large and powerful for your house, it will cool spaces too quickly and then shut off before the cycle is complete. Short cycling is a problem because it dramatically reduces energy efficiency and can lead to premature wear and tear on the system.

What If the AC Runs Constantly?

On the other end of the spectrum, it’s also a problem if your air conditioner just keeps running with no end in sight. This can stem from low refrigerant levels, an undersized AC unit, or dirty condenser coils. Also, the air conditioner might keep running and running if you have the thermostat set too low based on the conditions outside. In the middle of a heatwave, you can’t expect your home to stay nice and chilly all day long. In such a situation, just bumping up the thermostat setting by a few degrees can solve the problem right away.

No Time to Waste

It’s frustrating – and uncomfortable – to deal with hot North Carolina weather without a reliable air conditioning system to keep you cool. Whether you need a repair or Burlington AC replacement, the next step is the same. Get in touch with Berico today to get the help you need.

Having the right size AC unit for your home is a key component of staying comfortable in Greensboro throughout the hot summer months. It might seem like the only problem here would be having an AC unit that is too small, but having a system that is too large for your home can be problematic, as well.

If you are getting ready for an air conditioning installation project, reach out to Berico today to get help from experienced professionals. You’ll be in good hands with the Berico team, and you can be sure that the finished product will be a system that serves your family well for years.

The Importance of AC Sizing

Bigger is not always better in the world of air conditioning. If you just purchase a large AC unit and assume it will be more than enough to cool your home, you’ll have problems with it cycling on and off too often – leading to high energy bills and increased wear and tear.

Of course, if your AC unit is undersized, it won’t be able to keep up with the demands of keeping a house in Greensboro cool in the middle of the summer. Accurately assessing your home’s needs and getting as close as possible to the perfect size is important if you are going to get efficient performance year after year.

Understanding How to Read Air Conditioner Sizes

When you look at various air conditioners on the market, you’ll see that they are labeled with a “ton” capacity. That’s how much heat the system can take out of a house in an hour, with a ton equating to 12,000 British Thermal Units. So, for example, a small air conditioner might be rated for just 2 tons, while a bigger unit could be rated for 4 or more.

Estimates and a Warning

You can roughly estimate the size that your air conditioner should be based on the size of your home. If you have a smaller home around 1,000 square feet, a unit in the 1.5 – 2-ton range will often work well. On the other hand, a house at 2,000 square feet or more is usually going to need at least a 3.5 – 4-ton system.

The warning that applies here is that there are other factors to weigh that need to be evaluated by a professional. To get the right size system for your home, and to be sure the system is going to serve you well for years to come, work with an experienced contractor right from the start.

Berico Does More Than AC Installations

Installing a new, properly-sized air conditioner is one of the many tasks Berico can complete on your Greensboro property. A/C repair is also available to get your system back up and running in no time. If the need for Greensboro AC repair has popped up during a particularly hot stretch of weather, simply call Berico right away and look forward to the cold air flowing again shortly.

When the conditions are just right, a plumbing system can last for many years without having significant problems of any kind. Of course, things aren’t always just right, and issues with the quality of your water supply can wreak havoc. Specifically, hard water presents plenty of problems, and this article will discuss those so you can understand how to fight back properly.

If damage from hard water has led to the need for Greensboro plumbing repair, call the team at Berico today. Berico offers a long list of plumbing services and will be able to solve any issues that you are facing.

What is Hard Water?

The term “hard water” is used to describe water that has a high level of dissolved minerals. These minerals can be many things, but it is usually calcium and magnesium that are the primary offenders. While there is nothing dangerous about hard water in terms of your health, the story is very different when it comes to your plumbing system. Over time, the minerals in the water will accumulate on your plumbing components and can cause major problems.

The Impact of Scale Buildup

Over the course of a day or two, you wouldn’t notice anything different when monitoring the condition of your plumbing system when hard water is present. Given enough time, however, the mineral deposits are going to start to add up. Slowly, the interior of a pipe will narrow as a result of minerals collecting on the surface. This will start to reduce water flow, and you’ll notice a decline in the performance of your plumbing. It’s even possible for the buildup in an older pipe to get so bad that the water can’t flow at all anymore.

Problems with Soap

Have you ever noticed that the water in your house doesn’t seem to create a nice foamy lather when you mix it with soap? Hard water is likely to blame here, as well. With hard water, soap will usually turn into a sticky residue known as soap scum. This makes it difficult to clean things properly, and a film from the scum will also accumulate over time in pipes and drains.

How to Deal with the Problem

Having a water softener installed is the best way to deal with hard water. This is a device that is designed to pull excess minerals out of your water supply before they can do damage to your plumbing system. If you suspect that hard water is an issue for your home and your plumbing, call in a professional to have the water tested as a first step.

Put Expert Help on Your Side

Hard water can cause problems, but it’s nothing that the best plumber Greensboro has to offer can’t handle. Take a moment to make your first appointment with the Berico team today, and you’ll have a Greensboro plumber that will always work with your best interests in mind.

Electric vehicles are more popular than ever. More and more people have at least one EV in their driveway or garage, and as a result, they need a way to charge that vehicle while it’s not on the road. If you are getting ready to join the ranks of electric vehicle owners, you might be thinking about doing your own EV charger installation in Greensboro. But is that a good idea? This page takes a closer look.

To schedule an EV home charging set up with an expert team of professionals instead of doing it on your own, get in touch with Berico right away.

Understanding the EV Charging Options

There are two basic options for charging your electric vehicle. The first is known as a Level 1 charger. This type of device doesn’t need to be installed and can just be plugged into a standard outlet. That’s great for convenience, but as you might expect, it doesn’t work particularly well. It may even take more than an entire day to fully charge your vehicle.

This is why so many homeowners want to upgrade to Level 2 chargers. These need to be installed because they use 240-volt power, but they can charge as much as 10 times faster. For the average EV owner, having a Level 2 charger available is the only way to go.

The Problems with a DIY Install

There is simply too much danger involved with installing your own Level 2 EV charger, unless you happen to be a trained electrician. First, there are the personal risks – you would be dealing with high-voltage electricity and could be shocked or even start a fire. And, even if you avoid personal harm, you’ll be opening up the potential of doing serious damage to your car or your home.

The issues don’t end there. You may not wind up following local building codes and permit requirements when you do the job alone, and you could void the warranty of your EV. For so many reasons, installing your own charger is just a bad idea.

Professionals Are the Only Way

You will enjoy significant peace of mind when you have a qualified electrician do this job instead. The charger will be installed properly, and it will be up to code. Also, the electrician will be able to assess your system as a whole to make sure it is ready to support the daily charging of your vehicle. As an added bonus, you will probably get some degree of warranty protection along with this install, so in the unlikely event that something goes wrong, you will be covered.

Get It Done Right the First Time

It’s admirable to want to attempt your own electric vehicle charging installation, but this is one DIY job that should be passed over and handed to the pros instead. Schedule an installation with Berico and know that it’s going to be done properly and safely.

You don’t need to be an HVAC expert to know how your air conditioner is supposed to work. Most of the time, when it turns on, it will run for a while before turning back off. So, if yours has started turning on and off frequently, it’s likely that there is a problem you need to address.

This article will highlight some of the reasons for your AC turning on and off regularly, which is often called short cycling. To have AC repair completed, or for an AC tune up, get in touch with the experts at Berico today. Your air conditioner will be back in proper working order in no time at all!

Understanding Short Cycling

The problem known as short cycling occurs when an air conditioner turns off before the full cooling cycle has been completed. Then, it comes right back on only a short time later. You can think of this kind of like driving your car by constantly revving the engine up to the red line rather than just keeping steady pressure on the accelerator. It will lead to dramatic wear and tear and use far more energy than normal to cool the house.

Why Air Conditioners Short Cycle

Plenty of different possible explanations exist for the problem of short cycling. Those listed below are among the most common, so there is a good chance that one of these is to blame for the problems you are facing.

• Clogged air filter. This is the best place to start because it’s such an easy fix. If your air filter hasn’t been changed in a long time, it’s almost certainly clogged and restricting airflow into the air conditioner. The system may shut down prematurely because of the strain it is under. All you need to do is pick up a new air filter, swap it in for the old one, and the issue may be resolved.
• Thermostat issues. Your thermostat is responsible for sending the right instructions to the air conditioner. If it is malfunctioning in some way, it might be telling the AC to turn on and off faster than it should. If the thermostat is to blame, it will usually need to be replaced.
• Oversized AC unit. It’s possible that the air conditioner in your home is actually too big for the house. When that’s the case, cooling will happen too quickly, and the thermostat will tell the system to shut off before the full cycle is finished. It might be necessary to replace the oversized unit with a smaller one if this is the problem at hand.

Fix This Problem Today

As an HVAC contractor serving customers in and around the Greensboro area, Berico has been a trusted option for many generations. Whether it’s a repair project or a new AC installation, you’ll be in good hands and will get excellent value for your money. Take a moment today to contact the Berico team and learn more.