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Spring weather in the Midwest can be, in a word, crazy. One minute, snow is in the forecast, and the next, it feels like it’s time to retrieve your summer clothes from storage, break out the backyard barbecue, and crank up the air conditioning.

If, on those warmer days, you notice the AC unit isn’t quite performing up to snuff, now’s the time to get to the bottom of the problem. Here are some common AC issues our expert technicians at Lazer Home Services tend to see when Des Moines area residents wake their air conditioners up from winter hibernation.

The Filter is Dirty

The job of the AC filter is to trap particles and pollutants so the air circulating through your home is fresh and clean, but as you might imagine, too much buildup on the filter keeps it from doing that job effectively.

Coils Are Frozen or Dirty

An AC has coils both in the evaporator (inside) and condenser (outside), and they work together to cool the air indoors and exchange and expel the heat outdoors. When the AC’s evaporator coils freeze or the condenser coils become caked with grime, that impedes the heat exchange process and causes the entire system to work overtime.

Refrigerant Levels Are Low

Refrigerant is vital to the entire system because it’s responsible for treating hot, humid air and keeping you cool and comfortable. If your unit is blowing warm air, that could mean there’s a leak somewhere in your AC system.

The Drain is Clogged

In order to discard all the moisture your AC system extracts from the air, it needs a clear drainage line. Drain backups can cause costly damage and leakage within the system.

The Thermostat is Broken

The root of AC issues could be as simple as a malfunctioning or poorly calibrated thermostat.

Now that you’ve tried to troubleshoot your AC issues, what can you do to remedy them? Check out this quick slideshow video for a few maintenance tips.

Don’t feel like much of a do-it-yourselfer? No problem; that’s what we’re here for! The air conditioner maintenance experts at Lazer Home Services are ready to help you diagnose and fix any AC problems before the spring weather roller coaster ends and summer officially begins. Call us today to schedule service.

R-22, or Freon as it is more commonly known, is a common refrigerant and propellant which absorbs heat and transfers it outside of the home or refrigeration unit. Freon was originally utilized by DuPont scientists in 1928 as one of the first refrigerants, along with HCFC, to be non-combustible and non-toxic and available for commercial use. It revolutionized residential life forever and has provided us with comforts, including refrigerated and frozen foods and air conditioning – comforts that we may take for granted. Unfortunately, though R-22 was touted as a safe refrigerant, studies have concluded that the use of Freon is contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer, causing a mass phase-out of the chemical to take place in Europe and North America.

What the R-22 Phase-Out Means for Us

Ever since it had been discovered as a greenhouse gas, the U.S. Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer laid down the groundwork for a complete phase-out of this hydrochlorofluorocarbon by 2020, a date which is nearly upon us. Unfortunately, AC and commercial refrigeration units which use R-22 have been produced up until 2010 (just under 10 years ago), and are still releasing this chemical into the air.

Replacing this refrigerant is another issue due to the sudden cap on R-22 production. If a unit uses R-22 and needs a refill, the prices of the fluid have increased by over 500 percent since 2003, so it’s an expensive way to harm our environment. There are R-22 “drop-in” refrigerants that can be used in place of R-22; however, they are only recommended as a temporary “quick-fix” because they do not work as well as the original, causing unit efficiency and reliability to eventually diminish.

Out With the Old, In With the R-410A

In newer air conditioning units, a new refrigerant, R-410A, is used. This refrigerant’s main active component is fluorine instead of chlorine, which means it has no effect on the ozone layer. R-410A also has relative price stability and availability, making it the overall better option for cooling our homes. It has become the standard refrigerant in residential AC units for a good reason.

If your unit was manufactured or installed before 2010, it likely uses R-22; if the unit is malfunctioning and needs to be refilled, it is recommended that you purchase a new unit entirely. At Lazer Home Services, we provide the best AC replacement and repair services in Iowa. If you are interested in replacing your old, R-22-fueled unit, contact us today!

If you’re reading this you might be wondering, why do pipes freeze and why is it dangerous? Simply put, water has a unique property that makes it expand as it freezes. This expansion property puts tremendous pressure on whatever is containing it, like plastic or metal pipes.

No matter the strength of a container, freezing, expanding water can cause pipes to break. As a result, if left untreated, homeowners risk paying more than just the average repair costs for burst pipes.

Just think about the cost to replace damaged drywall or kitchen cabinets, should the water affect other areas of your home… Not to mention, if water enters your home, you’re also at risk of mold which can be hazardous to your loved ones!

Which Pipes Are Most Susceptible to Freezing?

All pipes have the opportunity to freeze, but the pipes that homeowners should keep a close eye on during the winter season are:

• Outdoor hose bibs, water sprinkler lines, and swimming pool supply lines.
• Pipes in unheated interior spaces like crawl spaces, basements, attics, kitchen cabinets, and garages.
• Pipes that run up against exterior walls that have little to no insulation.

Tips for Preventing Pipes from Freezing:

1. Have your thermostat set both during the day and night to no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if you plan on leaving your home, keep your thermostat on to prevent freezing.
2. Let your faucet drip. Running even a trickle of hot water through your pipes helps prevent them from freezing.
3. Apply heating tape and add extra insulation where you can. The more you use, the lower the chances you’ll have of dealing with freezing pipes.
4. Open up bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls

What to Do if You Suspect Frozen Pipes

If your pipes still froze despite your best preventive measures, don’t panic! Just because they’re frozen it doesn’t mean they’ve burst just yet. Check out this video to see a few things that you can do:

If you’ve noticed any warning signs of frozen pipes or suspect you have a burst pipe, minimize water damage and prevent further plumbing issues by giving Lazer Home Services a call. No matter the damage, our professionals can guarantee timely repairs. To learn more, just browse our site or contact us at your earliest convenience.

Even as you continue to weather the snow and cold of a Midwestern winter, it’s important to start thinking warm thoughts. Don’t wait for the intense summer heat and humidity to invade the area before getting your home’s air conditioning system checked by Lazer Home Services.

Lazer Home Services is a leading plumbing, electrical, heating, and air conditioning contractor serving the Des Moines area and all of Central Iowa. We want to keep you warm in the winter, and make sure you stay cool when the weather heats up. Contact us today to schedule service!

Even as you continue to weather the snow and cold of a Midwestern winter, it’s important to start thinking warm thoughts. Don’t wait for the intense summer heat and humidity to invade the area before getting your home’s air conditioning system checked by Lazer Home Services.

Lazer Home Services is ready to help get your air conditioning system in tip-top shape in time for the warmer months. We do AC repair, AC replacementsand AC tune-ups in the greater Des Moines area and all over Central Iowa. Start thinking spring! Give us a call at 515-259-1152 to schedule service today.

Due to the incredible advancement in HVAC technology, the air conditioners we have today make little to no noise. If you hear your air conditioner make noises, this definitely means something is going on with your system. As a leading provider of AC, plumbing, and electrical repairs to the Polk County, IA, area, we’d like to offer some guidance on decoding the noises from your air conditioner. [Read more…] about Sounds That Indicate Your AC Needs Assistance