Rising Costs of Maintaining Older AC systems

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As mechanical equipment ages, it goes without saying that repair costs can start to rise with the age of the equipment. This is especially apparent in the A/C industry. Currently, one of the fastest rising repair costs is directly related to the rising cost of Freon that your A/C system uses; R-22.

This refrigerant has been used in A/C systems for the past 40+ years. Needless to say, you can bet that if your unit is 10 years old or older there is a high probability that it uses R-22 Freon. Studies by the EPA have found that this chemical has wide-ranging negative effects on our environment

Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating, LLCOften times with an older system, a very common repair is the need to charge a system that may be low on Freon. Since the Freon that has always been used is now starting to be phased out, the cost of that Freon is rising exponentially. In response to these rising costs, manufacturers have started selling “drop-in” refrigerant as a cheaper alternative., specifically o-zone depletion. As a result of these findings, regulations have R-22 being phased out by 2020. Now, what does all this have to do with you, the homeowner?

These alternatives can be a quick fix in the short run but can cause issues for your system long term. For example, the different Freon types use different pressure/temperature characteristics that can confuse the system software, giving inaccurate pressure and temperature readings. This can damage your A/C system and void the manufacturer’s warranty. When you need the best service of air conditioning Chandler AZ. Contact Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating.

R-22 refrigerant can be reclaimed and recycled, but as the supply continues to be reduced, the cost will continue to rise. This leaves homeowners with an important choice; pay the rising cost for R-22 refrigerant to maintain your older system, or replace your system with a new air conditioning system that uses the more environmentally friendly refrigerant, R410A.

These newer systems offer greater efficiency, and quieter operation, which may prove to be a wiser investment when faced with repairing or replacing an older unit that uses R-22. However, fully replacing your system may not be the best option for you and your family. At Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating, we are committed to working with you to find the best option possible and consider the many factors in your life that lead to making these decisions. We are happy to answer any questions you may have on this topic and work with you to find the right solution. Contact us for heating and cooling Mesa AZ. 

Why is my Air Conditioner Frozen? Its 120 degrees outside!!

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We get this question quite a bit here at Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating. It’s the middle of summer, the Arizona heat is beating down.  And all of the sudden your air conditioning system starts pumping out warm air. After a little bit of inspection, you see ice forming on your air conditioner outside.

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 You would think that would mean your air conditioning is working GREAT, considering its main function is to blow ICE COLD air into your home. What gives? Not to fear, Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating is hear to solve this mystery.

There are a few common issues that can cause an air conditioner to freeze up even during the hottest parts of the summer.

Problems with HVAC systems refrigeration

If your HVAC system has developed a refrigerant leak, this will cause pressures to drop in the evaporator coils, which allows moisture to freeze and accumulate on the coil.

Temperature outside

If you live in Arizona’s high country or even in Phoenix. When the temperatures start to change, night time temperatures can drop below 60 degrees. Most outdoor condensing units, especially in the valley, do not function very well below 60 degrees. If it gets too cold over night, freeze-ups can occur.

Insufficient Air Flow

The most preventable reason for a freeze-up is restricted air flow. Humidity will build up on the coil, causing ice to build up and shut the system down. Dirty filters are the main culprit of this. But this can also come from any other obstructions such as disconnected or undersized duct work. Other components being broken can also lead to frozen coils.

Now that we have pinpointed the issue, what can you do to fix it? Once you have found ice build-up on your HVAC system, the first thing you should do is turn off the system and allow it to defrost. Once it’s defrosted, check to see if there are any airflow restrictions. Replace any dirty filters or clean any visible dirt or debris. Many times, this will fix the issue with no other problems. Other serious airflow problems or refrigeration leaks will require a trained technician to address the issue. Give the pros at Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating a call, and we can free your system from a block of ice and get that ice-cold air back to blowing into your home!

Call us at 480-695-7834 to schedule services of air conditioning repair Mesa and surrounding areas. An appointment or consultation today!

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Why does my AC keep running?

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During the hot Phoenix Arizona summers, most people are used to their AC running quite a bit, just to keep up with the 110+ temperatures that we experience here. While it is normal for your AC to be on more than usual when the temperature goes up outside, it shouldn’t be constantly running. Here are a few troubleshooting tips to try before giving Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating a call that can save you some time and money.

  1. Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating, LLCCheck your thermostat – One of the most avoidable issues is to check your thermostat settings. With the more basic thermostats, it can be as simple as forgetting to switch your system from “ON” to “AUTOMATIC”. Having it in the “ON” position will tell your AC system to continue running, even when it satisfies the temperature you have set on your thermostat. With the more complex thermostat options that are on the market now, yours may need a little bit more programming to be set correctly. Check with your owners’ manual, or give us a call and we can try to walk you through some troubleshooting on your thermostat.
  2. Change your filters! – Airflow restrictions caused by dirty filters can greatly affect your AC system’s performance. If your AC system does not get enough airflow, it can not blow out cold air and will continue to run since it is not able to satisfy the thermostat setting. Change those filters!
  3. Dirty coils – Check to make sure there is no debris built up on your condenser outside. This is the same as a restriction for your indoor components. Restrictions can cause the system to not cooling correctly, therefore not being able to satisfy the thermostat settings leading to a constantly running AC system.

If you go through the above steps and nothing seems to work, give Sharp Air Conditioning & Heating a call and we can send a certified technician out to assess what may be wrong. Another cause of a constantly running system can be age. Your AC system may just be worn out from years of use. If this is the case, we can work with you to best determine the next steps to take in replacement.

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