ServiceMax Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

7 Sounds That Spell Trouble for Your Air Conditioner

Monday, September 21st, 2020

shocked-by-loud-noiseWhen it comes to your air conditioning system, the only sounds you really want to hear are going to be the whoosh of air blowing into your home and the hum of the motors and the drip of condensate moisture. Aside from this, additional noises should be treated as what they are: likely signs of trouble in your AC system.

If you start hearing troublesome sounds from your cooling system, it is likely that you need to schedule air conditioning repair in Skokie, IL. Here are some of the warning sounds you should be on the alert for.

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Steps for Choosing a New Air Conditioner

Monday, June 29th, 2020

ac-with-toolsUh-oh! Did your air conditioner just give out? Or maybe it has been struggling more than usual lately? If you don’t have a reliable air conditioning system, things will get pretty uncomfortable this summer, even if your system sounds like it’s running. When your air conditioner is on its last leg, you are going to want to schedule an air conditioner replacement in Winnetka.

If you need to get a replacement service, you should contact the team at ServiceMax to ensure the job gets done right. Our trained technicians can help you identify when you need to retire your old unit, and we can even assist in the selection of your new one.

Let’s take a look at what you need to consider when it comes to replacing your old cooling system.

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Does Your Air Conditioner Need Help?

Monday, June 1st, 2020

spinning-fan-closeupIt is so wonderful to be able to enjoy multiple days of warmth and sunshine in a row after a winter that felt like it might never end. With that said, it is not as easy to enjoy this weather if you have no reprieve from it. Even the biggest sun-worshipper eventually needs a way to cool off, but when you need air conditioning repair in Winnetka this is easier said than done.

The good news is that you aren’t alone when it comes to dealing with this issue–we can help. The professional technicians on our team will arrive at your home ready to diagnose and fix whatever the problem with your unit is while keeping you and your home safe from start to finish.

The first step to getting this done is to figure out if you need a repair service for your cooling system. Check out these indicators to see if any sound familiar.

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Reducing Your Use While Staying Home

Monday, May 4th, 2020

houseIt is impossible to ignore the fact that most of us are spending increasing amounts of time at home. This is helping us to stay safe but it has certainly thrown a lot of things out of whack. From canceled trips and events to just general stir-craziness, it can be tough to stay home most of the day. What’s more, it can make things a lot tougher on our energy bills. When you are home all day, your energy use is often going to go up quite a bit whether it is from increased time spent cooking, needing to keep your HVAC system on more regularly, or even just needing to have the lights in the home on for a couple of extra hours a day.

We know that things have been more stressful than usual lately so we want to do our part to help. That is why we have collected some tips and tricks to help you keep your home energy efficient during this time and reduce your use so you have one less thing to worry about. Let’s get started.

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Why Bother with Maintenance?

Thursday, April 9th, 2020

wrenchesWe encounter this question all the time: “Why would you bother with maintenance for your HVAC system when you still need repairs?”

Believe it or not, there is a point to maintenance and a large number of benefits for you and your comfort systems when you schedule maintenance too.

We don’t expect you to believe us right off the bat on this one. That is why we have gone the extra mile and collected some details on HVAC maintenance and its benefits. If you are considering whether or not you should schedule your yearly maintenance appointment, perhaps reading some of the info below can help you decide.

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Why the Compressor in Your AC Is Crucial

Monday, September 9th, 2019

air-conditioners-on-slabsAll the components in your home’s AC are important. If one or more isn’t working correctly, it affects system performance.

  • A miscalibrated thermostat causes improper cooling.
  • A frozen evaporator coil reduces how much heat the AC can absorb.
  • A broken fan motor stops air circulation.

The compressor, however, has special importance. Think of it as the engine for the entire air conditioner. It consumes the most power, and if it doesn’t work, the air conditioner cannot do its job. Period. Plus, the compressor costs more to replace than other components, so a failed compressor is a Very Big Deal.

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How Long Should My AC Stay Running?

Monday, August 26th, 2019

spinning-fan-closeupOne of the most common reasons customers call our HVAC technicians for air conditioning repair in Chicago, IL is when they have an AC that’s turning on and off almost constantly over a short time. This is known as short-cycling, and there are many different potential causes:

  • A clogged air filter
  • Undercharge of refrigerant due to leaks
  • Leaks in the ventilation system
  • AC is too powerful for the space
  • Dirty or iced-up refrigerant coils

Short-cycling is both a symptom of a problem and a problem on its own since it significantly increases the workload on the air conditioner. Parts wear down faster, cooling bills rise, and the system will end up needing an early replacement.

But how long should an air conditioner’s cooling cycle last? Understanding this is important so you can know when you’ve got an AC that’s short-cycling.

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When the Upper Floor of Your House Gets Too Hot

Monday, August 12th, 2019

digital_house_blueprintA few weeks ago, we looked at a common problem homes have with central air conditioning: uneven cooling, with some rooms much warmer than others when the AC is running.

Today, we’re going to look at the most common cause of uneven cooling for homes. In two-story homes, often the upper floor is hotter than the lower floor. This is normal when there’s no central cooling or heating system running because heat naturally rises. However, a well-designed and installed HVAC system can overcome this. If you’ve discovered during this summer that the upper floor of your house isn’t getting the same level of comfort as the lower, there are some potential solutions.

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The Midsummer Stress on Your AC Can Mean Trouble

Monday, July 29th, 2019

thermometer-going-redThe peak heat of the summer season means some pretty tough days when you’re outside. When you’re in your house with your dependable air conditioning system, it’s much different. The AC sends around cool air to the rooms and maintains a pleasantly cool and comfortable environment.

But your air conditioning system has to do a large amount of work to keep your house at a comfortable temperature when the heat outside is so intense. More heat outdoors means heat moves faster inside your house, and the AC must run for longer periods to keep the temperature at the setting you want. This is why we recommend keeping the thermostat setting as high as you find comfortable, since the smaller the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the slower heat moves indoors.

But no matter how you set your thermostat, your central AC is under a great deal of work stress at this time of year—and this may lead to problems requiring air conditioning service in Chicago, IL.

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How Uneven Cooling Can Happen in Your Home

Monday, July 15th, 2019

airflow-diagramYou can have a working air conditioning system sending out cooled air to your house, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have a house that’s cooled evenly throughout. You can expect rooms with more sunlight exposure to feel warmer, for example. However, a well-installed and designed HVAC system should be able to give you a distribution of conditioned air around the house that will maintain comfort levels, no matter how hot it gets outside

If you’ve already enjoyed a few years of quality performance from your home’s AC, what does it mean when you start to notice hot spots around the house? Uneven cooling can come from simple problems, but it can also indicate a need for air conditioning repair in Chicago, IL or even that it’s time to arrange to have a new AC put in place.

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