Land & Property Archives - Page 3 of 16 - Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air

How to Tell if the AC Is Leaking Refrigerant and Needs Repair

Signs of a Refrigerant Leak

A refrigerant leak is a problem with the air conditioner that requires professional air conditioning repair, so it’s important to be aware of the warning signs. This guide will discuss some tell-tale signs of an AC refrigerant leak to help homeowners understand when it's time to call a professional AC service provider, ensuring the home stays comfortable and efficient.

Frozen Evaporator Coils

A frozen evaporator coil is often one of the most obvious indicators of a refrigerant leak in the system. When refrigerant levels drop below the recommended amount due to a leak, it disrupts the system's ability to absorb and release heat properly. This disruption causes the remaining refrigerant to expand too much, creating abnormally cold temperatures around the evaporator coil that can fall well below freezing, leading to ice formation.

This ice buildup creates a snowball effect of problems. As the coil freezes, it becomes increasingly difficult for air to flow through the system, further reducing the unit's efficiency and cooling capacity. The frozen coil can no longer effectively absorb heat from the home's air, forcing the AC unit to work harder. If homeowners notice ice forming on the evaporator coil, it's crucial to have a professional HVAC technician inspect the system for refrigerant leaks. Continuing to run the unit in this condition can lead to compressor damage and system failure.

The AC Is Not Cooling Properly

Another telling sign of a refrigerant leak is when an air conditioner struggles to maintain desired temperatures. Refrigerant is an essential part of the cooling system, responsible for absorbing heat from indoor air and releasing it outside. When refrigerant levels drop due to a leak, the system can't effectively remove heat, resulting in warmer air flowing from the vents even when the AC is running.

This inefficient operation can also cause the air conditioner to run longer cycles in an attempt to reach the right temperature. As the system struggles to compensate for low refrigerant levels, it consumes more energy while delivering subpar cooling performance. The extended runtime leads to higher energy bills and puts additional stress on vital components, potentially causing premature wear and damage if left unaddressed. So, a decline in cooling performance or unusually high cooling costs warrants professional inspection as these signs can indicate the unit is leaking refrigerant.

Unusual Sounds

When the AC system develops a refrigerant leak, it can also produce several distinct sounds that serve as warning signs. The most common is a hissing or whistling noise, which occurs when refrigerant escapes through a small hole or crack in the copper lines under pressure. This sound is similar to the noise of air escaping from a tire and may be more noticeable when the system is running.

In other cases, homeowners might hear bubbling or gurgling sounds, particularly when the system is off or during the defrost cycle. These noises can occur because the refrigerant is changing states between liquid and gas inappropriately due to pressure inconsistencies in the system. The sounds are often most pronounced near the indoor evaporator coil or along refrigerant lines. If homeowners notice any of these unusual sounds or other signs of refrigerant leaks, it's crucial to have an HVAC technician inspect and repair the system promptly.

About Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air

Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air is a reliable plumbing, heating, and AC company serving the Fairhope area. They offer prompt service and no overtime charges. Call them for air conditioner repair in Fairhope, AL.

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How to Tell If the Home Needs a Water Softener

What Exactly Is Hard Water?

When people speak of hard and soft water, they’re talking about the mineral content of the water. Hard water has a higher mineral content, usually calcium and magnesium. This results from the water-absorbing minerals as it passes through mineral deposits in the ground. While it’s difficult to tell whether water is hard just by looking at it, there are some tell-tale signs left behind by hard water that homeowners can look for if they’re unsure.

Signs the Home Has Hard Water

When homeowners inquire about hard water, they're often concerned about its safety for drinking and bathing. While hard water is generally safe, other negative effects come with hard water in the home.

If the home dishes never seem completely clean, it could be because of hard water when dishes are left with visible water spots. No matter what kind of dishwashing liquid or manner of drying, it’s usually because the water dries but leaves a mineral residue on it. The same can be said for clothes — they often look worn, drab, and possibly even dirty.

Hard water affects more than just clothes and dishes. Skin and hair can also feel the effects, becoming dry and losing their luster. Lastly, it can leave a chalky residue in sinks, faucets, and around drains.

How Water Softeners Work

All water softeners work by extracting or neutralizing the minerals in hard water. This reduces the mineral content of the water and eliminates or lessens the negative effects of hard water. Whole-house water softeners are installed between the water meter and the point of entry to the home, allowing the entire plumbing system to benefit from the softener.

Water softeners differ in how they negate the water's high mineral content. The most common type uses salt and resin beads to “exchange” the sodium ions from the salt with the mineral ions in the hard water, thereby softening the water. A larger, dual-tank water softener could be the best option for larger homes or those with high water usage. Smaller water softeners can also be installed under sinks to soften water at a particular location in the home.

The Many Benefits of Whole Home Water Softeners

The biggest benefit of water softeners is that they work to eliminate the issues that come with hard water. No more dry skin and lusterless hair. No more faded clothes and never-clean dishes. Plus, there are added benefits to the plumbing system itself.

Mineral buildup can damage plumbing systems and appliances, severely lessening the lifespan of dishwashers, washing machines, and water pipes. However, with a whole-house water softener, homeowners can rest easy knowing that their plumbing systems and appliances are healthy and will remain so for as long as the softener is in use.

About Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air

Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air has served Fairhope, AL, since 1996. They provide expert, on-time service and no surprise pricing. Contact them today for water softener installation in Fairhope, AL.

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Best Time to Replace the Furnace

Is Replacing The Furnace Worth It?

A working furnace prevents pipes from bursting during particularly cold nights. Even if homeowners can manage the discomfort of an indoor chill without a base temperature above 34 degrees, this can wreck a home's infrastructure. A few basic clues can help homeowners decide whether repairs will suffice or if buying a new system makes more sense.

Old Heating Systems

An old furnace will need increasingly more repairs as it reaches the end of the furnace life expectancy. Typically, a furnace's lifespan is anywhere between 15 and 20 years. This does not mean that signs of age won't show before then.

Furnaces can experience minor or major issues after ten years. Faulty thermostats can be fixed or replaced quickly without much cost to homeowners. However, this is a different story if components such as the heat exchanger experience damage.

The heat exchanger can be replaced, but it is often more expensive than replacing the entire furnace. If the furnace is only a few years old, it might be worth it, but homeowners are encouraged to talk to a trained technician before making big decisions.

Rising Utility Bills

A malfunctioning furnace can become expensive in a few different ways. Frequent repairs are one cause of high expenditure, while rising monthly bills are another. Sometimes, rising bills are easy to spot because of a significant spike from one month to the next, while other times, the increase may be much slower.

Homeowners should monitor energy efficiency by paying attention to their annual bills. It is much more difficult to notice a gradual increase over the course of the entire winter than a sudden change from month to month. While these increases may seem small, they do add up over time.

There are several reasons why heating efficiency might decrease. When the furnace must work harder to produce the same temperature as it did in previous years, the first thing to check is the air filters.

Clogged furnace filters are easy and inexpensive to replace and help keep furnaces running longer. Blocked vents also raise bills. If furniture blocks vents, it can cause uneven heating throughout the home.

Unpredictable Heating

If the home feels cold despite the thermostat setting, this indicates that something is likely wrong with one of the heating components. This is especially true if there is adequate space around the vents and the furnace is more than ten years old.

Just because a heater is running does not mean it isn't broken. Malfunctioning furnaces often produce air flow even if the home feels chilly. If the heat exchanger is cracked, the outgoing air is often cold. This is one of the main ways to tell if a furnace needs to be replaced.

Annual furnace maintenance is recommended for all homes, regardless of size. Regular inspections help discover future issues and can save homeowners money. On average, a regular inspection takes approximately one hour, and homeowners do not need to leave their homes.

About Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air

Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air provides furnace repair and maintenance services for residents in Fairhope, AL. Whether you're dealing with a heating emergency or want to prepare your heating system for winter, their expert team offers honest advice and long-lasting solutions. To learn more about their $25 off coupon for new customers, call Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air today!

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Signs of a Faulty Water Heater That Needs Service

When to Think About Water Heater Repairs

A home’s water heater is a critical piece of equipment that goes underappreciated until it fails, seemingly out of the blue. Most water heaters show signs before they fail, allowing perceptive homeowners to take preemptive action, like calling for water heater repairs. While some signs are obvious, like leaks or a loss of hot water, others are more subtle, meaning homeowners must stay on their toes.

Here are three common signs that many homeowners overlook that indicate the need for water heater repairs.

Utility Costs Are Rising

Utility costs are always rising. Despite market influences, the price of natural gas and electrical power only seems to worsen. Water heaters already use up to 30% of the energy in the average home, making them expensive to operate. How much worse could the problem be if something went wrong with the water heater?

Monitoring utility bills is a great way to track the water heater’s condition. Since water heaters use so much energy, it can be relatively easy to spot spikes in energy bills. A spreadsheet or utility tracker can be used to monitor water consumption and the energy source used by the water heater. If the two bills correlate higher every month, it is a good sign something is wrong with the water heater. For more correlations, look for things like:

Neglected water heater maintenance
Frequent repairs
Aging water tank

If these signs are present, along with the rise in bills, water heater repair or a new installation are the best options to get bills back under control.

Owners Can Hear Strange Sounds

Struggling water heaters often make noises that indicate problems. The trouble is that most people don’t spend enough time near their water heater to know the difference between normal operations and regular noise. Furthermore, a noisy water heater may go undetected simply because no one checks on it. Routinely checking the water heater and scheduling annual water heater maintenance can help find sounds that indicate repairs are needed. Common sounds that indicate abnormal operation are:

Thumping
Rumbling
Whistling
Popping
Hissing

If these sounds are heard at any point, a professional should be called to assess the situation. They can recommend whether maintenance, repairs, or replacement are the best actions.

Unusual Color or Smell to the Water

The final sign of a struggling water heater has to do with the water quality of the hot water coming from the appliances in the home. Hot water should be identical to cold water except that it is heated. It shouldn’t have any tinge of red to it or carry any sediment. As a water heater corrodes, it can increase the sediment in the water and even allow rust to leech into the water, affecting the appearance and taste. Often, odors accompany this, although there are occasions when the water will appear fine but smell sulfurous. If the water quality from the hot water tank is bad, a professional opinion is needed.

About Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air

Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air offers upfront pricing on plumbing service and leaves no mess behind once they’re done. Their membership program extends the life of the plumbing in the home, especially the portion dedicated to water heater maintenance. Call today for water heater services in Fairhope, AL.

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Tankless Water Heaters and Their Benefits

Why Install Tankless Water Heaters?

New technology always takes a while to catch on, but this is especially true when the current technology lasts ten years or more. Nowhere is this more true than with water heaters. Conventional hot water tanks have been in use for over a century, and due to their tenure, most homeowners are reluctant to try newer options.

To make matters worse, the average hot water tank lasts for about ten years, after which it fails, prompting the homeowner to make a snap judgment to get a new water tank. The choice is usually made in a matter of minutes simply because most people don’t want to take the time to explore other options when faced with a cold shower.

The truth is better options are now available for heating water. Tankless water heaters represent a new approach to heating water for the home. Instead of heating water and storing it in a tank, a tankless water heater heats water on demand, allowing it to sit idle for long periods. Here is a quick guide discussing the implications of the benefits of tankless water heater installation.

Better Energy Efficiency

Hot water tanks waste a lot of energy. Most homes only need water at certain times of the day, and for about 23 hours of the day, the water tank heats water so that it is ready. Wouldn’t a better approach be to heat water only when necessary?

Tankless water heaters take a new approach to providing hot water. Instead of heating and storing incoming water, they heat it as needed. When faucets or fixtures are turned on, they sense the flow in the pipe and use powerful heating elements of burners to heat the incoming water immediately. Since they can sit idle throughout the day, they become much more efficient than conventional water tanks, saving homeowners lots of money on monthly bills.

Endless Water Hot Water Supply

Conventional water tanks are sized by how many gallons the tank can hold. Tankless water heaters are sized based on how many fixtures need hot water at once. There are two implications hidden in this fact. First, as long as the flow is sensed, the tankless water heater will continue to provide hot water. This means endless hot water for families, so no one ever gets stuck taking a cold shower at the end of the day. Secondly, even a tankless water heater that handles multiple fixtures takes up much less space than a water tank. Switching to tankless water heaters can save valuable storage space by forgoing the bulky storage tank.

Improved Life Expectancy

Tankless water heaters spend so much time sitting idle that they add years to a unit’s life. Water tanks are the first point of failure in most water heaters because of their constant expansion and contraction as they heat and store water. By eliminating the tank, tankless water heaters remove the major cause of sudden breakdowns. Coupling this with being able to operate only when necessary, most tankless water heaters last twice as long as water tanks, with up to 20 years.

About Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air

Affordable Plumbing, Heating & Air helps keep life affordable for their customers. They can help every homeowner switch to money-saving tankless water heaters with upfront pricing. Call today for tankless water heater installation in Fairhope, AL.