Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Blog: Archive for July, 2013

What is Refrigerant and How Does It Work?

Tuesday, July 30th, 2013

There are numerous types of refrigerant uses in a wide variety of residential and commercial applications. From natural refrigerants like ammonia and water to the latest in ozone-friendly R-410A, which is the current standard amongst air conditioning manufacturers, there are various kinds for various applications. But what is refrigerant and how does it work? The standard refrigerant has been widely tested for flammability and toxicity, and today’s refrigerants have only a minimal impact on the environment, while still remaining effective and efficient as a chemical that absorbs thermal energy at low temperatures and dissipates thermal energy at high temperatures. It’s important to know how refrigerant works because the more your know the better chance you will have at recognizing any problems. Call Sound Heating if you would like more information about the refrigerant that circulates through your coils or if you would like to schedule air conditioning services in Puyallup.

Let’s begin with the compressor. As the engine of the refrigerant cycle, it takes the low pressure, low temperature gas from the indoor evaporator coil and turns it into a high pressure, high temperature gas, one that is substantially higher than the outside temperature. It then travels to the condenser coils to be dissipated into the outside air with the help of an exhaust fan. It has now been condensed (hence the name), but it is not yet cool enough. It flows into an expansion valve where it cools rapidly and now can be used as a material for cooling. The evaporator coil circulates this cold, liquid refrigerant and the thermal interaction that occurs between the refrigerant and the warm indoor air causes the refrigerant to turn into a gas. Hence the cycle continues.

For a long time, R-22 (also known as Freon) was the standard in the HVAC industry, but it has since been exposed as a potential environmental hazard, and is now being phased out of production. Because today’s refrigerants are not able to be retrofitted into systems designed to handle this older standard, it’s important to recognize how this phase-out could affect you.

Call Sound Heating today for professional air conditioning services in Puyallup, OR.

Continue Reading

Common Summertime Air Conditioning Repairs

Wednesday, July 24th, 2013

The summer is a beautiful time of year and is perfect for enjoying the sunshine and warm weather. But with all the heat, most homeowners end up running their air conditioning systems a lot more. Here at Sound Heating we offer fast and reliable Tacoma air conditioning repair and we wanted to put together a few of the more common air conditioning repairs that we see. Give us a call if you’re having any issues with your air conditioning system and keep an eye out for the repairs listed below.

Tacoma Air Conditioning Repair Services

  • Not enough cooling – One of the most common problems that we get called to repair is an air conditioning system that isn’t producing enough cooling. If this is happening at your house it could be caused by a clogged air filter, broken compressor, frozen coils, low refrigerant and several other problems.
  • No cooling – If your air conditioning system is blowing warm air or if it won’t even turn on at all, it could mean that the system is unplugged. But it could also be that your thermostats aren’t working well and are failing to turn on your system. It might be that your air filter is so clogged that no air is able to get into the system.
  • Unusual noises – You should definitely pay attention if your air conditioning system starts to make any new or unusual noises. Hissing is often a sign that you have refrigerant leak somewhere—possibly in your compressor. Squealing is a sign that your fan belt needs replacement and gurgling is often a sign that you have low refrigerant.
  • Leaking water – Another common issue is an air conditioner that is leaking water. I your air conditioning leaks water it almost always means that you have a clog in your condensate drain. As your AC operates condensation will start to form on the evaporator coils—similar to how water form on the outside of a cold glass on a hot day. This condensation usually drains away but if the drain gets clogged with dust or bacteria it can overflow.

Call the Tacoma air conditioning repair technicians at Sound Heating if you need to schedule repair service for your air conditioning system.

Continue Reading

How A Maintenance Program Can Prevent The Need For Air Conditioning Repairs

Thursday, July 18th, 2013

When it comes to air conditioning in your home you probably want your system to work efficiently and consistently. It can be frustrating when your AC breaks down frequently or when it starts to use more energy than it used to. So how can homeowners make sure that they get the best performance possible form their AC systems? Getting regular maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your AC working well and we wanted to put together some of the potential benefits to getting regular air conditioning maintenance. Call the Tacoma air conditioning technicians at Sound Heating if you are in need of any cooling repair or maintenance service.

Benefits of Regular Air Conditioning Maintenance

As your air conditioning system operates it will develop small problems and issues. During regular maintenance visits, our technicians will look for those small problems and fix them before they can turn into larger, more costly repairs. Here are a few of the benefits that this can have for your air conditioner.

  • Reduced repair – One of the most attractive potential benefits is that regular maintenance could reduce the need for Tacoma air conditioning repair. By fixing problems before they actually can turn into major repairs, you could prevent them from causing you any problems.
  • Increased efficiency – Another awesome benefit of regular maintenance is that it could increase the efficiency of your AC system. Any small problems that your air conditioner has will likely make it work harder to cool your home which reduces its efficiency. By removing those problems on a regular basis, you could be able to return some of the efficiency to your home.
  • Extended equipment life – When your air conditioner has a lot of small problems it can cause the equipment to fail permanently. By regularly removing small problems you could be able to extend the life of your air conditioner and delay replacement services for as long as possible.

If you’re interested in potentially avoiding Tacoma air conditioning repair services then getting regular maintenance for your system is a great idea. The friendly experts at Sound Heating have years of experience working with all different kinds of systems. Give us a call today to talk with one of our friendly technicians.

Continue Reading

Common Air Conditioning Repairs During the Summer

Wednesday, July 10th, 2013

Are you cool, crisp, and comfortable in your Tacoma home? You should not settle for anything less than comfort and convenience in your home. During the long hot summer, you need to make sure that your air conditioning system works well at all times. However, even with pro installation and routine maintenance, there may come a time when your air conditioning system needs professional services to address its problems. Don’t fret. Like any other mechanical system, your HVAC system is susceptible to problems, and due to its complexity, your repair needs should be carried out by a professional Tacoma air conditioning technician. Call Sound Heating & Air Conditioning today for comprehensive AC services, and we’ll restore your cooling.

  • Frozen evaporator coils. Your indoor evaporator coils are responsible for circulating the cold, liquid refrigerant that cools your air. As a vital component, any issues with its operation need to be addressed immediately. If you notice that your coils have frozen over, it means that your system is working harder than it should to keep you cool, although you may have already noticed a severe decline in cooling. Most likely, there is some type of airflow issue that is allowing cool air to build up inside your indoor air handler. It could also be low refrigerant.
  • Bad capacitor. The capacitor functions like a battery. It stores energy to boost the startup of your AC so that it immediately responds to your adjustments and gets beyond the limitations of residential voltage capacities. If your AC doesn’t turn on when you ask it to, or turns on only intermittently, then you may have a bad capacitor in need of professional repair or replacement.
  • Thermostat fault. Although small, your thermostat is vital to the operation of your air conditioning system. It is your primary user interface, and today’s thermostats can also be programmed to operate around a work or vacation schedule. But if something goes wrong with your thermostat, you may find that your AC doesn’t function as it should, or perhaps not at all.

If you think you might be in need of professional air conditioning repair services in Tacoma,WA, call Sound Heating & Air Conditioning today.

Continue Reading

Happy 4th of July!

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013

There are few things more “American” than baseball, apple pie and Independence Day. On this day over 200 years ago the second Continental Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence. The document, which was primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, was a written explanation of why America wanted to be free from Great Britain. This bold move by the American colonies would start the Revolutionary War where many brave women and men would give their lives for the freedom that we now hold dear.

Over the years, our celebration of Independence Day has remained largely unchanged. John Adams, the 2nd president of the United States, said this about celebrating Independence Day: “It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” We all remember going to family barbecues, watching fireworks, attending parades, picnics and fairs, building bonfires, and playing baseball.

However you celebrate this 4th of July, make sure that you take a moment to remember why we’re celebrating.

Continue Reading