Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning Blog : Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Why It’s Important to Keep the Outdoor AC Cabinet Clean and Clear

Monday, September 7th, 2020

AC-Unit-Outside-SummerA piece of machinery that’s covered with a layer of grime and dirt won’t run as well as when it’s clean. That’s just a basic fact. When it comes to your air conditioning system, a layer of dirt and grime almost anywhere on it is bad news. For example, dust along the indoor evaporator coils can quickly cause the AC to lose energy efficiency and ice to develop along the coils.

But you may not have considered dirt and debris on or around the outdoor cabinet (the condenser) as a problem. The condenser is located in a place on your property where it doesn’t attract much attention, since it’s not the most attractive piece of machinery. Many condensers are placed behind fences or barriers for this reason. And because the condenser is outdoors, it’s easy to think that it’s impervious to elements, and if it gets dirty or leaves or branches grow close to it, it’s not that big a deal.

But a dirty or obstructed condenser cabinet is a problem. If you’ve noticed trouble with your AC at this late part of the season and don’t know why, check the condenser. If it’s covered in dirt or obstructed in some way, this may be why you’re having AC issues.

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5 Reasons Your AC’s Fan Isn’t Working

Monday, August 24th, 2020

air-conditioner-plastic-grillThe indoor fan for your central air conditioning system is not only how the AC sends cooled air around the house. It’s also how the AC moves warm air brought from the living spaces across the evaporator coils to cool it down. Without a working fan, you have no cool air and no way to deliver any air to the rooms.

If you have an air conditioning in Colorado Springs, CO with a non-working fan, it may be time to call for repairs. After all, you can’t go long during the hot late summer days without a cooling system for your house. However, the problem might be a simple error. Below we’ve listed the five most common reasons for a failed central AC fan. Looking over these will help you know when it’s time to call our team to repair the system.

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The Late-Summer AC Failure—Signs You May Need a Replacement

Monday, August 10th, 2020

Air-conditioner-recyclingThe second half of summer is when you are more likely to encounter a malfunction with your air conditioning system. This makes sense, as the AC has been hard at work for at least a few months, and wear on the system can cause small problems to start to worsen. (Another reminder about why spring air conditioning maintenance is so vital.)

If you have a large-scale air conditioning failure at this time of year, you’ll probably face a big question: When do you need a new air conditioning installation in Colorado Springs, CO, and when can you continue with your current system for a few more years, investing in an occasional repair? It’s not always an easy question to answer, and it’s one you should never rush to answer. You’ll need more information as well as the assistance of skilled HVAC technicians.

We’ll explore more about this question below, but please call our team to examine your broken AC and see what the best path forward is.

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When Is an AC Repair a Real Emergency?

Monday, July 27th, 2020

man-with-fanDuring stressful times, you don’t want to have yet another major problem dropped into your schedule. A broken air conditioning system counts for most people as a “major problem” during the summer, and if you have an air conditioner that isn’t providing the level of comfort your household requires, you will probably need to call us for air conditioning repair in Colorado Springs, CO.

The question we’re tackling here is how urgent the repair need is. When do you make an emergency AC call to a contractor (like us) who offers 24-hour service to fix air conditioners? When is the problem that immediate? We’ll get into this more below.

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Do Air Conditioner Efficiency Ratings Confuse You? We Can Help!

Monday, June 29th, 2020

woman-stressed-and-depressedYou’re probably not an expert at the technology of air conditioning systems. We don’t expect you to be—it’s a large field and it takes years of training to handle the extensive work involved in AC repair, installation, and other service work. We understand if you look at the stats on an air conditioner and feel a little bewildered. For example, what does a “5 Ton 15 SEER/11 EER R-410A refrigerant unit with a scroll compressor” mean?

There is a lot to unpack with that single example, but in this post, we’re going to look at the efficiency rating specifically, which is the “SEER” listed in that confusing set of stats. People shopping for a new air conditioning installation in Colorado Springs, CO, are often most interested in how energy-efficient an AC is. They want a system that will provide cooling but also lower energy use. A good goal, but navigating efficiency ratings can be tricky.

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Tips (And an Important Warning) About Summer Thermostat Settings

Monday, June 15th, 2020

digital-thermostat-handThe thermostat is how you communicate with your heating and cooling system. A simple idea on the surface. But handling thermostat settings requires a bit more planning and thought than just “raise it when it’s cold, lower it when it’s hot.” The thermostat doesn’t work like a throttle, and when it’s treated like one, it leads to energy waste, an uncomfortable house, and a potentially broken air conditioner during the summer.

We have some tips to help with your air conditioning in Colorado Springs, CO through wise thermostat settings. And we have a special warning that applies specifically to Colorado Springs—a problem we see often when servicing ACs during the summer.

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No, It’s Not Too Late for AC Maintenance!

Monday, June 1st, 2020

air-conditioning-manometer-pressure-refrigerantTo ensure you have air conditioning in Colorado Springs, CO that won’t let you down during the coming summer, you need to arrange to have the unit maintained. Professionally maintained. There are a few basic maintenance steps you can handle your own, such as regularly changing the air filter, but the bulk of the work requires technicians with training and licensing. Maintenance takes around an hour and involves complex checks and tune-ups with specialized equipment.

We recommend our customers have maintenance in the spring. It’s still spring now, and even with warm weather already arriving in Colorado Springs, it’s not too late to arrange for our technicians to handle maintenance for your house’s AC. In fact, it’s ideal. 

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Could You Benefit from an HRV or ERV This Summer?

Monday, May 18th, 2020

energy-efficiency-green-homeNew homes are built with efficiency in mind, and for home builders, this means sealing them up as tightly as possible. Sure, this does wonders for your heating and cooling efficiency, however, it can seriously impact your indoor air quality, as tight sealing can seriously limit the amount of natural ventilation in the house. For this reason, it is important that homeowners have the proper ventilation systems in place, specifically heat recovery and energy recovery ventilators.

Below, we have explained exactly what heat and energy recovery ventilators are and the benefits of installing one in your home. All you’ve got to do is keep reading to find out more, and of course, remember to call us when you need HVAC services in Colorado Springs, CO.

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Beware of Short-Cycling this Summer!

Monday, May 4th, 2020

AC-compressor-money-pileIf there is one issue that we see all the time with air conditioners, it’s short-cycling. Not only is this issue super annoying to deal with, but it also can end up costing you a lot of money! Therefore, it is important to keep an ear out and remember to call us at the first sign of trouble.

There are a number of issues that can lead to short-cycling and below, we have listed some of them for you. All you need to do is keep reading to find out more and of course, call us when you need AC repair in Colorado Springs.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

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Boosting Your AC Efficiency is as Easy as 1..2..3!

Monday, April 20th, 2020

energy-efficiency-green-homeWhen summer rolls around, the last thing any homeowner needs is a pile of high energy bills! See, your air conditioner works hard all season long to keep you and your family, so the least you can do is take some of the burden off.

There are a number of great way to boost your air conditioner’s efficiency, and below, we have listed some of them for you. All you have to do is keep reading to find out more! And of course, you can always call our team when you need air conditioning services in Colorado Springs, CO!

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