Air conditioners are amazing machines. They can keep your home comfortably cool on even the hottest summer days, transforming hot, humid air into crisp, cool air. That is, until the unfortunate moment that something malfunctions and your system stops working. Suddenly the coolness is gone and you’re left wondering what went wrong. This situation may have been avoided if the air conditioner was properly cared for. 

Immediately following air conditioning installation in Reidsville, start on these best practices for keeping your AC in top shape and you can extend the overall life of your system. 

Follow a Regular Maintenance Schedule

The best thing you can do for your air conditioner is to get a professional inspection and tune-up each year. Regular maintenance is necessary to keep all the moving parts in your AC working properly, the refrigerant levels right, and the electrical components connected. Cleaning is a big part of maintenance as well, because dirt, dust, and other debris can build up in your air conditioner over time causing a variety of problems from clogged filters to an ineffective evaporator coil. 

Keep the Area Around your Outside AC Unit Clear

A common mistake that many homeowners make is to try and conceal their outdoor unit by planting bushes or plants around it. This, unfortunately, causes plant debris, dirt, and pollen to get into the unit and inhibit the flow of air. You should keep the area around your outdoor AC unit completely clear. Periodically clear away leaves and other debris that may blow up against the unit. When mowing around the unit, mow in such a direction that the grass clipping will be blown away from it. If necessary after mowing or weed eating, use a broom or brush to clear off the unit. 

Change your Filters Regularly

One of the easiest, but most often forgotten, best practices for air conditioners is to change your filters regularly. Every 3 months is optimal, but every 6 months is the minimum. Clogged or even slightly dirty filters inhibit the flow of air into the intake vents. When your AC doesn’t get enough air, it won’t be able to effectively create cool air and disburse it throughout your home. If you feel you’re experiencing low airflow out of your vents or any other AC problems, try replacing your filters and see if it improves. Changing filters regularly will also reduce the amount of dust, pollen, and other allergens that blow around your home. 

Call your HVAC Service at the First Sign of a Problem

Do you have reason to suspect that your AC may not be working properly? Have you heard weird noises coming from your system, noticed uneven cooling in various areas of your home, or the circuit breaker for your AC unit keeps tripping? These are just a few of the many signs that your air conditioner is not operating properly. When you ignore these signs you are increasing the chances of a total system breakdown that may result in the need for new air conditioning installation in Reidsville. 

Carolina Fuels Offers Maintenance, AC Repair, and Air Conditioning Installation in Reidsville

Carolina Fuels is your complete home comfort service, offering maintenance, emergency repair, and air conditioning installation in Reidsville, Eden, and the surrounding area. Whatever HVAC services you need, Carolina Fuels is ready to respond. Call (336) 623-9741 to schedule an appointment today.

Most of the time your air conditioner probably works fine. With regular maintenance, an air conditioning system usually operates free of problems. However, when the occasional issue occurs, there’s often an easy solution. 

But in the event that it can’t be easily solved, Berico is here to help. Call (336) 273-8663 or schedule HVAC service. Berico provides maintenance, repair, and air conditioning installation in Greensboro.

Problem 1: Low Air Flow. Does it seem that the flow of air coming out of your vents is weak? If you can barely feel it or you have to stand on a stool and put your hand right in front of the vent to feel it, something is wrong. 

Solution: Change your filters. The most common reason for low airflow is dirty, clogged filters. If it’s been more than 6 months since you’ve changed your filters, you are likely to find a buildup of dust and dirt (and pet hair if you have pets). If changing your filters doesn’t improve airflow, call Berico. You may have a blower problem instead. 

Problem 2: Outdoor unit is frozen over. Is there ice on your outdoor unit? This is a common problem that occurs with air conditioners, but there may be an easy solution.

Solution: First, check your filters. You already know from problem 1 that dirty filters can impede airflow. Low airflow over the evaporator coil inside your AC unit can cause it to freeze over because it’s not getting enough warm air. If the filters are relatively clean, you may have a dirty evaporator coil. At this point, it’s best to call Berico for a thorough cleaning of your system. 

Problem 3: Short Cycling. Does your AC seem to turn on and off repeatedly? It doesn’t stay on or off for very long, and your home doesn’t feel cool. There are a few possible reasons and solutions for this behavior.

Solution: 

• First, check your filters. This should always be the first step when you have an AC problem. 
• Next, consider your thermostat. The placement of your thermostat plays a big part in the operation of your air conditioner. If it’s in an area where it gets direct sunlight or it’s near a door that opens frequently, it may cause your AC to run more often. Consider moving your thermostat to a more ideal location. 
• Another cause could be a refrigerant leak, which requires professional HVAC service to correct.
• And finally, your air conditioner might be oversized for your home. If you’ve just had air conditioning installation in Greensboro and your AC is short cycling, you might have the wrong size system. Call Berico if you’ve checked the filters and the problem still persists. 

Fast, Affordable Air Conditioning Installation in Greensboro

Common AC problems typically have simple solutions and can often be repaired. But in some cases an air conditioner can’t be fixed and needs to be replaced. If your system is over 10 years old, it should probably be replaced anyway, whether it can be repaired or not. An older system is significantly less efficient than a new system, which means it is wasting energy and running up your energy bill. Consider air conditioning installation in Greensboro by the experts at Berico and you could save money each month. Call (336) 273-8663 or schedule HVAC service. 

What’s the number one reason homeowners opt out of yearly HVAC maintenance? The cost. You don’t want to pay for AC repair in Greensboro when nothing seems to be wrong with your system. But the reality is that preventative maintenance can actually save you money, in three specific ways.

• Energy Efficiency. One way that AC maintenance can save you money is through increased energy efficiency.

• As your air conditioner operates it accumulates dirt, dust, and grime that needs to be cleaned out. When your evaporator coil (the part that holds the refrigerant and does most of the work cooling the air that eventually goes through your ducts to cool your home) gets dirty it inhibits its cooling capabilities. The dirt insulates the coil, keeping the heat from transferring as it should, which can cause your system to freeze over or fail to achieve your desired indoor temperature.

• As parts wear out they need to be replaced. Otherwise, your system can fail at any time when a part breaks, and you won’t be able to predict when.

• Lubrication dries up and the moving parts of your air conditioner won’t move as easily. The friction that results causes your system to work harder than it should and parts wear out faster than they typically would.

• Fewer Repair Fees. Unexpected repairs can result in you paying more for services. For example:

• Emergency or after-hours fees. When you have to call an HVAC service to come out for a repair after normal business hours, such as nights or weekends, you may pay a higher fee.

• Frequent repairs needed. An HVAC system that is not regularly tuned up is likely to break down more often and require more frequent repairs, which will cost more in the long run than the upfront cost of yearly maintenance.

• Longer AC Lifespan. An HVAC system that receives regular maintenance will last longer than one that doesn’t. Much like a car or any other working machine, taking proper care of it will allow you to get more years of quality performance out of it. If you’ve ever had to replace your HVAC system, you know that’s a pretty significant financial undertaking. You don’t want to have to do it often or prematurely, which is more likely to happen without routine maintenance.

Save Even More when you choose Berico AC Repair in Greensboro

Now that you know the top 3 ways that AC maintenance can save you money, you should know all the ways Berico can save you even more. When you schedule yearly AC repair in Greensboro with a Berico technician, you receive the following additional benefits:

• 20% off all repairs
• 20% off diagnostic fees
• No after-hours charges on repairs
• Priority Service
• $50 in Bonus Bucks (can be used toward new equipment)
• $500 off a new oil or propane furnace

A Comfort and Protection Service Plan from Berico includes yearly AC maintenance and all of the above benefits. Get the best performance out of your HVAC system and save money at the same time. Call to schedule your maintenance appointment today: (336) 273-8663.

As the Earth travels around the sun the seasons inevitably change. And with the change of the seasons comes the need to change your HVAC system to the appropriate home comfort setting. Whether you’re going from heat to cool or vice versa, how do you know if your system is ready to make the switch? Is there any way to know ahead of time if you’ll need AC repair in Reidsville? There are 4 precise ways to be sure your HVAC system is going to operate properly on the first warm day.

• Inspect it. Look over your air conditioning system, both the indoor and outdoor unit. When checking the indoor unit, make sure there’s nothing sitting too close or on top of it. Dust it off, but don’t go inside of it or take anything apart unless you have the experience to do so without causing damage. Check the outside unit for leaves, sticks, or other yard debris that maybe have settled on top or around it. Remove any weeds or tree branches that have encroached on it during the offseason.

• Replace the filters. With each change in season, it’s a good idea to replace your filters. The dust, dirt, hair, and other debris will clog the filter and inhibit air flow into your air conditioner. It can even manage to get through or around the filter when it builds up excessively. You can replace your filters more often if you suffer from allergies to remove more allergens from the air. If your home is newly built or you’ve had a recent home renovation you should replace filters monthly for the first few months following construction.

• Turn it on. Test your AC by turning it on and setting the desired temperature lower than the current indoor temperature. Listen as it comes on and while it runs. Watch to see that it reaches the desired indoor temperature and shuts off properly.
• Schedule professional maintenance. The best thing you can do to be sure your HVAC system is ready for a new season is the schedule professional maintenance. Have a reliable HVAC service inspect and tune up your system with each change in seasons. Any potential problems will be discovered before the weather changes so that you can avoid unfortunate surprises that may result in the need for emergency AC repair in Reidsville.

Carolina Fuels Offers Seasonal Maintenance for your HVAC System

At each season change, call Carolina Fuels to schedule an inspection and tune-up for your system. Or to make it effortless, sign up for a Comfort and Protection Service Agreement and Carolina Fuels will contact you to schedule a maintenance appointment. The Comfort and Protection Service Agreement comes with additional benefits, such as:

• 20% off diagnostics
• 20% off repairs
• Priority service
• No additional after-hours charges on repairs
• $50 in Bonus Bucks that are good toward new equipment
• $500 off a new oil or propane furnace

Call today to schedule AC repair in Reidsville and become a priority customer when you sign up for a Comfort and Protection Service Plan at Carolina Fuels: (336) 623-9741.

Whether you use propane or you’re thinking of using it, you may be wondering where exactly it comes from. Unlike natural gas, propane does not occur naturally. It is created or manufactured for residential and commercial use. But that does not mean that it is inferior to natural gas. Actually, the fact that it is manmade is a major benefit. Propane has been chemically engineered to be safe and efficient. If you’re considering using propane in Greensboro for the first time, here’s what you should know.

Propane is Made from Crude Oil or Natural Gas

Both crude oil and natural gas can be refined to create propane. It is what chemists refer to as a three-carbon alkaline. It exists as a gas under normal pressure, but can be pressurized into a liquid form for ease of storage and transport. When natural gas is processed, propane is one of the components that is removed, along with butane and ethane. When petroleum is made into gasoline or heating oil, propane is a by-product. Therefore propane comes from either natural gas or petroleum.

The Discovery and History of Propane

Marcellin Berthelot first discovered propane in France in 1857. It was then discovered in the US by Edmund Ronalds in 1864 in Pennsylvania light crude oil. But the real beginning of the propane industry was in 1910 when the US Bureau of Mines representative Walter O. Snelling touted it as a potential household energy source. In 1912 the New York Times published an article about Snelling’s work with liquefying the gas and thus it spread and eventually developed into the propane industry we know today.

There are Many Benefits to Propane in Greensboro

• Manmade. The fact that propane does not have to be mined is a major advantage. Though it does have to be made from either natural gas or crude oil, those fuels are currently easy to access. As long as natural gas or petroleum exists, so can propane. And because it is chemically manufactured it can be altered in many ways.

• Only burns at extremely high temperatures. Propane is one of the safest fuels because it will only burn at extremely high temperatures, which are rarely achieved, even by a house fire.

• Environmentally friendly. Propane is non-toxic, burns clean, and will not contaminate groundwater in the case of a leak or spill.

• Efficient. Propane creates more heat/energy per BTU than natural gas. It can heat your home and water faster and sustain a radiant heat that feels cozier on cold days.

• Easy to transport. In its liquid form, propane is easy to store and move from place to place.

• Alternative fuel where natural gas is not available. Not every home has access to natural gas. Propane is an alternative that can be delivered rather than tapped into.

• Only buy propane when you need it. Rather than paying a monthly bill, you can simply pay when you need your tank refilled. Though many propane services do offer a monthly payment option to spread the cost more evenly.  

Call Berico today to request propane in Greensboro or speak to an expert about switching: (336) 273-8663.