Mike Smith Heat & Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Air Conditioning’ Category

Get Ready for Your New AC Installation

Monday, May 6th, 2024
AC-technicians-getting-the-outdoor-AC-unit-set-up-and-working

Having a brand-new air conditioner for the start of a long, hot Louisiana summer is going to be wonderful. Your timing couldn’t be better. But when’s the last time you went through the process of having an air conditioner installed? It may have been many years. You might never have done this before! In that case, you’ll have some questions.

What are the steps in AC installation? How long will it take to get your old system out and your new one up and running? What can you do to prepare for your AC installation, so that it goes as quickly and smoothly as possible? We’ve got all the info you need right here.

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4 Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs Help

Monday, April 22nd, 2024
close-up-view-of-air-conditioner

Professional air conditioning repair and HVAC maintenance services are available for both residential and business clients in Shreveport, ensuring your indoor environment remains comfortable and your system is running smoothly year-round. Scheduling an AC tune up as part of your regular ac maintenance is crucial for optimal system performance and can help extend the lifespan of your air conditioning unit. Shreveport AC services include routine checkups, inspections, and emergency repairs for both homes and businesses. These HVAC maintenance services also cover heating systems, including heater repair, replacement, and maintenance, to ensure reliable heating during colder seasons. During professional maintenance, cleaning condensate drain lines and evaporator coils helps prevent mold and mildew buildup. 

Inspecting and cleaning condenser coils to remove dirt is also important, as it improves the system’s ability to release heat. Ensuring that the drainage system is clear can prevent water damage and maintain system efficiency. Professional heating repair is essential to keep your home comfortable and warm during winter. Both repair and replacement options are available for heaters, air conditioners, and other HVAC components, with seamless installation and system upgrades. Expert technicians can restore both heating and cooling systems to optimal working condition through professional repairs and maintenance. Routine checks can also identify minor issues, preventing total system shutdowns during peak heat.

When your air conditioner needs repair, it really is best if that repair gets done as promptly as possible. That prevents a small issue from worsening, or from causing strain to the rest of the system. But it isn’t always obvious when your air conditioner is starting to struggle. So how can you make sure to get AC repair promptly enough? By spotting the signs that your air conditioner needs help. Here are the top 4.

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Why It’s So Important to Change Your AC Air Filter

Monday, April 8th, 2024
close-up-view-of-an-HVAC-air-filter

Anywhere you look, whether it’s a blog like this one or your air conditioner’s owner’s manual, you’ll be told to change your AC air filter regularly. Most of the recommendations say it should be done once a month during the summer, and at least every few months when your air conditioner is running less of the time. But you’re not always told why!

In our experience, people are more likely to do something if they understand the importance of it and what could happen if they don’t. So we’d like to tell you all about what your AC air filter does, why it needs to be changed, and what can happen if you don’t change it.

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3 Bad Noises Coming from an AC

Monday, September 11th, 2023
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If a person isn’t feeling well, they can tell you in words. “I’m not doing so great. This is where it hurts.” But your air conditioner can’t do that. Similar to people, your air conditioner is likely to make unhappy noises when there’s a problem. But what do those noises mean? If you have an idea of what a strange air conditioner noise might mean, you’re more likely to take it seriously. Here are 3 noises you don’t want to hear!

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Late Maintenance Is Still Worth It

Monday, July 3rd, 2023
AC-technicians-ready-to-perform-maintenance

At this point in the summer, if you haven’t had your annual AC maintenance done, you might be wondering if you should just wait until next spring. No! You should schedule that maintenance right away. While it is common to have your air conditioner’s yearly checkup done before the summer really kicks into gear, the most important thing about maintenance is not what time of year it’s done—it’s that you have it done every single year. Here’s why.

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Maximizing Energy Efficiency: How Proper Central Air Conditioner Maintenance Can Save You Money

Monday, June 19th, 2023
person-changing-an-air-conditioner-air-filter

Running your air conditioner all summer long in Louisiana can be pretty costly. It uses a lot of energy, and when your electrical bill arrives, you might be dismayed at how steep the cost is. Now, there’s nothing we can do about the price of electricity. But we can help you to make sure you use as little of it as is necessary to keep your home comfortable. You can decrease energy usage with AC maintenance. This includes professional maintenance and tasks you can do yourself to keep your AC running efficiently.

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Dirty Coils: What They Mean

Monday, June 5th, 2023
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Your air conditioner’s coils, the tubes that contain the refrigerant, have a lot of work to do. In fact, there are two separate jobs happening at different points in the loop of coils that the refrigerant runs through. And this work can only be accomplished if the coils are clean. What problems do dirty AC coils cause? How do they get dirty? Can you clean them yourself? We’ve got the answers for you.

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3 Signs of Mold Growth on Your Ductless AC

Monday, May 8th, 2023
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Ductless systems are amazing. They’re more efficient than central air conditioners, both because the motors are smaller and because they avoid the energy loss from leaky ductwork that is so common in central air systems. They can be installed in all kinds of situations where there is no room for ductwork. The ability to individually control the temperature of each zone is a benefit to your comfort as well as a way to cut down on your cooling bills. However, no system works perfectly all the time. One of the things you need to keep an eye out for with ductless AC systems is mold growth. Here’s what you should pay attention to.

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What Does the SEER Number Mean?

Monday, April 10th, 2023
new-outdoor-AC-unit

Some parts of the country are still dealing with the last of the winter snow. Here in Louisiana, though, summer is not far away. And if your air conditioner struggled to get through the heat last year, you might be considering getting a replacement so you won’t have to worry that the old one will break down just when you need it most, on the first sweltering day of the season. 

When you’re considering AC replacement options, you’ll notice that they all have SEER ratings. What does that mean? How will it affect your choice? The SEER rating requirements have changed recently, so you’re not the only one that could use some more information. Here is a breakdown of the facts for you.

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Compressor Problems: Repair or Replace?

Monday, March 27th, 2023
technician-opening-an-outdoor-AC-unit-to-access-the-compressor

The compressor is the heart of the air conditioner. It does the critical job of pumping the refrigerant throughout the entire system of evaporator and condenser coils, and your air conditioner can’t live without it just as you can’t live without your heart. Unfortunately, sometimes an air conditioner problem results in a broken compressor. What can you do then? Do you need a new AC unit?

We’ll talk you through the things most likely to cause compressor failure, what your options are once it’s happened, and some considerations to help you make the right choice about how to move forward.

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