Author: NTM

A furnace is an essential utility in every home since it provides comfortable temperatures during colder seasons. For this reason, it’s necessary to treat them properly so they can function when needed. Otherwise, your household can suffer more than just colder winters with a broken furnace. At worst, your home could be keeping a hazardous furnace leaking harmful and lethal gasses.

Understanding Role of Gas in Your Furnace

Furnaces can last up to 25 years or more with proper maintenance, so it’s not uncommon for homeowners to move into a house with one in good shape. In fact, many families rarely experience issues with their furnaces except for performance issues. However, furnaces use a deadly gas that can create a closed, hazardous environment in your home.

Burning gas within furnaces contains carbon monoxide. This is typically transported away from your home through furnace exhausts. However, wear and tear to your furnace can compromise its pipes, vents, and valves. This can lead the dangerous gas to leak into your home, impacting your home’s safety.

Facing the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Furnaces expel carbon monoxide as a byproduct of their heating process. Depending on the length of exposure, carbon monoxide can cause permanent brain damage or compromise the heart. The dangerous part is that it only takes two hours of inhaling this gas to experience carbon-monoxide poisoning.

Signs of carbon monoxide leaks can manifest as a presence of stale or stuffy air. You may also smell a hint of overheating or burning in the air. Upon closer inspection, your furnace may also have soot or yellow stains, which is a sign of gas leaks.

The danger of carbon monoxide poisoning is no simple matter, and its symptoms can manifest gradually. Once you show signs of dizziness, confusion, flu-like symptoms, difficulty breathing, or ringing in the ears, you may already be inhaling too much carbon monoxide. While these symptoms may seem mild, they can worsen over time.

Recovery from carbon monoxide poisoning is slow and not impossible. However, the risk of permanent brain damage and the much higher risk of death makes it a dangerous medical condition. For this reason, it’s best to avoid experiencing it through prevention.

Preventing the Right Way to Avoid Carbon Monoxide

A furnace works by sending natural gas to the burners, igniting into a controlled blue flame. This functions as the heat exchange to regulate your home’s indoor temperatures. The fumes from these flames are appropriately redirected away from your home through the furnace’s exhausts.

Replacing your furnace filter is one way to prevent leaks to your furnace. By changing the filter, you mitigate the risk of accumulating dust that could result in blockages. You may also install carbon monoxide detectors to measure carbon monoxide levels near fuel-burning appliances. Since carbon monoxide is an odorless gas, this device will help you identify potential leaks before you suffer from exposure to harmful gasses.

Conclusion

Although furnaces are essential appliance systems in your home, you shouldn’t take their durability for granted. Even if these devices take a long time to degrade, it’s best to receive inspections from your local technicians. Doing so will ensure your furnace’s quality performance and secure its safety against carbon monoxide leaks.

Since 1989, our team at Mainline Heating and Air has provided dependable heating and AC services to our Birmingham, Alabaster, Pelham and Jefferson/Shelby county area customers. If you want to experience effective furnace repair in Alabaster, AL, contact us today!

We here at Mainline Heating & Air offer a slew of different types of high-quality heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. And while using the best systems is important, it’s equally important to ensure that your HVAC systems are working properly for as long as possible. Now, this is easier said than done as HVAC systems experience a significant amount of mechanical wear and tear that leads to natural deterioration and the breakdown of their internal components.

To help you out with this, we’ve prepared a list of effective tips that allow you to make the most out of your HVAC system and extend its lifespan. Hopefully, these tips prove to be useful when it comes to helping you get as much as you can from your HVAC systems.

Schedule Preventive Maintenance

This shouldn’t be a surprise but one of the best ways to extend the lifespan of your HVAC systems is to schedule annual or bi-annual preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance gives professional technicians the opportunity to clean, inspect, and tune up your system. This allows them to catch any problems that are beginning to manifest, which in turn prevents them from getting any worse. 

Change the Air Filters Regularly

Some people may not know this but the air filters on HVAC systems need to be changed regularly. Air filters that are commonly used for HVAC systems typically last either 30-days or 90-days. Be sure to check how often you need to replace your filter, as failing to do so leaves your system vulnerable to a multitude of different complications that can hamper its overall performance and drastically shorten its lifespan.

Utilize the Auto Settings

HVAC systems are prone to breaking down due to how often they are used. You can get around this problem by making use of their built-in auto settings. Using the auto settings ensures that your system won’t be running at full blast at all times.  Not only does this extend the lifespan of your HVAC system but it also helps you cut back on your energy usage.

Check On You Home’s Insulation

Not all of these tips revolve around the HVAC system itself. In fact, one of the best things you can do for your HVAC system is to improve your home’s insulation. By making sure that your home is properly insulated, you are effectively minimizing the load that’s put on your HVAC system to cool or heat your home. Properly insulated homes are able to maintain temperatures more effectively. 

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a slew of different things you can do to extend the life of your HVAC system. Now, it’s important that you make use of all of these tips together to get the best results and to get the most out of your HVAC systems. While this may seem like a lot of work, it will be well worth it as it will go a long way when it comes to keeping your HVAC system in great condition.

If you are ever in need of dependable AC services and quality products, Mainline Heating & Air has got you covered. Our quality products include air conditioners, heat pumps, gas furnaces, air handlers, package units, home generators, tankless hot water heaters, UV lights, humidifiers, filtering systems, and dehumidifiers. For more information, check out the rest of our website!

If you’re like most homeowners, you have probably wondered how long your HVAC system will survive. While these are long-lasting systems, the years will take their toll, and eventually repair or replacement will be essential for maintaining efficiency. 

Having an idea of how long your HVAC system will last is crucial because it helps you budget for a future heating and cooling system replacement. The lifespan of your HVAC system is determined by the type of system you have and the level of maintenance you provide. 

Here’s a look at some of the most common HVAC systems and their typical lifespans:

Furnace

With an average lifespan of over 20 years, the central heating and air system furnace will likely outlast the air conditioner. When the heat exchanger starts to leak, the furnace is usually replaced. The heat exchanger is one of the most critical components of a furnace, and replacing it rather than repairing it is usually more cost-effective. A furnace that isn’t well-maintained is only likely to last 10 to 15 years.

Air Conditioning Units

An air conditioner part of the central heating and air system has a 15- to 20-year lifespan. In hot climates where the air conditioner is used frequently, the lifespan is typically in the 15-year range. When an air conditioner’s compressor breaks, it’s usually a sign that the unit has to be replaced. Furthermore, if the condenser develops corrosion or leaks, this is another clue that the AC should be replaced soon. An air conditioner with little maintenance, like a furnace, would have a shorter lifespan than one that is well-maintained.

Heat Pumps

The lifespan of a heat pump might range from 10 to 20 years. In addition to providing cooled air, heat pumps can offer heated air, allowing them to be utilized all year. This also means they are used far more frequently than the typical air conditioner and do not survive nearly as long. Heat pumps have an even shorter lifespan when used in coastal areas.

Boilers

Boilers have a slightly longer life expectancy than furnaces, ranging from 20 to 35 years. When the heat exchanger begins to leak, they are usually replaced.

Ductless Mini-Splits

Ductless mini-splits, like heat pumps, may provide heating and cooling and have an average life expectancy of 10 to 30 years, except for coastal areas.

How to Make Your HVAC System Last Longer?

There are a few things you can do to make your HVAC system last longer.

First, invest in regular HVAC maintenance. A technician will inspect all aspects of the heating and cooling system during a maintenance appointment. The specialist will repair or replace any worn or broken parts as needed. This is critical for the HVAC system’s efficiency and longevity. You’ll notice a difference in indoor comfort when each portion is fully functional. Lower heating and cooling costs are also a result of increased efficiency.

Second, change the air filter regularly. This usually entails replacing it every two to three months. A blocked filter restricts airflow and makes your home’s heating and cooling system work harder than it has to. This increases your heating and cooling costs since it works harder and consumes more energy. It also adds to the system’s wear and tear, reducing its lifespan.

Third, pay attention to the landscaping around your home. Trees and plants should ideally shade your home’s western exposures. Trees and plants should be at least three to five feet away from the exterior HVAC unit. When plants or shrubs come into contact with the outdoor unit, it can cause damage and shorten its lifespan.

Wrapping Up

So how long do HVAC systems last? The answer varies based on the components your system employs. Professional installation and frequent maintenance can help extend the average lifespan of any HVAC system component.

Do you have any more questions about the lifespans of HVAC systems? Or do you want to schedule an appointment for repair or maintenance? Either way, get in touch with Mainline Heating and Air right away. We will answer any remaining questions you may have and perform quality HVAC repair in Alabaster, AL.

It is usually around fall and winter when people start using their furnaces. But they may start exhibiting certain issues right when you need your furnace most.

Some may forget to perform maintenance on theirs. Others may have faulty furnaces due to issues with their gas connections. Others may also experience issues with electrical parts for those with newer models.

To help you identify these potential issues, we will talk about these common problems encountered in furnaces.

Top Causes of Furnace Issues

Our furnaces can have underlying problems that only surface when fall and winter come. They are caused by long inactivity, a lack of maintenance, or individual parts with issues.

Some of these common issues are from long periods of no use and maintenance. Dirt buildup from months or even years can block heat and add pressure to your furnace. It can also affect your fans. You may experience weak heating or malfunctioning parts. You’ll also feel less hot air blowing out of the airways.

Major issues can also be found in the thermostat and in the controls. It will produce weak heat, or your heating won’t turn on. You may observe strange noises too. Malfunctioning parts in the controls can also manifest when pilot lights or switches won’t work. These are the signs you need immediate repair.

Worn-out parts, especially on older furnaces that use gas, are priority issues too. Older gas furnaces have safety precautions built-in to stop fires, but electrical furnaces might be safer too.

DIY Repairs or Pro Repairs?

Some of the most common furnace issues may be repairable. Simple replacements or maintenance might solve some minor issues as well. But more importantly, preventive maintenance checks can catch these issues early. For other problems beyond, you need furnace repair services immediately.

Some important parts to check are the filters to avoid weak heating and circulation issues. Blockages in the airways can affect the thermostat and the fan as it is blocked from either point. You can easily clean filters and airways yourself with enough study.

Next is the thermostat. Make sure that the heating device works and is not turning on and off. It should work in conjunction with the fans and blowers. The pathways going to your exhaust should be clear as well. If these three main parts are cleared, the furnace should be functional without any issues.

In Conclusion

You have to take care of furnaces when they’re not in use. Simple maintenance checks and cleaning can prevent some of the most common issues. But eventually, you’ll have to deal with specific problems. Make sure to check its parts carefully for issues. If it’s not possible to remedy, you need to call the professionals for proper services.

Mainline Heating and Air will take care of your heating and furnace repair to get you ready for the cold season ahead. Avoid the hassle of a malfunctioning furnace in the dead of winter. Call us, and we’ll fix your HVAC systems!

Are you asking yourself if air conditioner maintenance is necessary? If so, then ask yourself this other question: are you willing to deal with a broken aircon in the middle of the summer? If the answer is no, then yes, AC maintenance is quite necessary. Not only does it ensure that the AC will run when you need it to, but it also provides a whole load of other benefits you may not realize that maintenance provides.

With that being said, here are the two reasons air conditioner maintenance is vital:

1. Extends Lifespan

Without maintenance, your AC’s components are at higher risk of issues and problems. This can quickly interfere with the AC’s operations and reduce its lifespan. To make matters worse, lack of maintenance can leave many of these issues uncaught until they get worse and worse. In other words, no maintenance means no catching these problems early when they are still easy and cheap to fix. As a result, by the time you notice that something is wrong with your AC, chances are that damage has already been done. This leads to expensive fixes, not to mention more frequent repairs needed.

AC maintenance prevents all of the above issues by catching the problems in their early stages. In addition, maintenance can also prevent problems from occurring in the future, extending the AC’s lifespan and reducing any repair or even replacement costs.

2. Reduces Energy Use

Apart from being expensive to fix, issues in your AC can cause the entire system to perform under par. For example, a filter that is jam-packed with dust will not only have more trouble regulating air throughout the home but will have to work extra hard to meet the temperatures it is set to try and hit. This leads to more energy being consumed to maintain comfort levels, translating to more expensive energy bills.

That said, a well-maintained AC will use much less energy than a maintained one. This is all thanks to the fact that maintenance ensures all of its components are in good order. In the long run, this helps to save a lot of energy, which lets you run ACs more affordably. As an added bonus, if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, doing this will allow you to live a greener life.

Conclusion

As you can see from the top two benefits, they both constitute one thing: saving money. A well-maintained air conditioner helps you save money in so many ways, including increasing the AC’s lifespan, reducing the need for more expensive repairs, and reducing the AC’s energy consumption. Preventative maintenance plays a crucial role as well, ensuring that any hidden problems are quickly discovered and solved with affordable solutions. 

That being said, if you are interested in having your AC maintained, be sure to look for local professionals to service the AC for you. Sure, you can attempt to maintain the AC yourself, but there are just some aspects of AC maintenance that only a professional can do properly. Despite the initial investment to pay for AC maintenance, you’ll find that it is an incredibly good investment to make. When all things are said and done, you can simply sit back and relax, enjoying a wonderfully performing AC you know won’t break down anytime soon!

Mainline Heating and Air provides dependable HVAC services and quality products, including air conditioners, heat pumps, gas furnaces, and more. If you are looking for air conditioning service in Alabaster, contact us today!

Your air conditioner is one of the most important systems in your home. It keeps your house cool and makes living more comfortable. That’s why you shouldn’t take it for granted. Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure it works efficiently. In fact, here are the benefits you can get from maintaining your AC unit regularly: 

1. Improve Your AC Unit’s Efficiency

As much as possible, you don’t want to encounter any issue with your AC unit, especially in the middle of a hot summer day! Regular maintenance can improve the unit’s efficiency as it helps reduce stress and pressure caused by the build-up of dust and debris on the unit. 

Furthermore, air filters can get clogged and dirty, which can compromise the unit’s airflow. In turn, it will make the unit work harder than it should. With regular maintenance, you don’t need to worry about it. Plus, it will keep the evaporator coil clean for better efficiency. 

2. Lower Energy Bills

Who doesn’t want to save more money on utility bills? Everybody does! One of the reasons your electricity bill spikes is due to inefficient appliances and systems in your property. Your AC unit is a major system in your home, which is a significant contributor to your energy bills, too. 

When an AC unit isn’t maintained properly, it will work harder to keep your home cool; therefore, it will use more power. On the other hand, a regularly maintained unit can keep the system running more efficiently to lower your energy bills. 

3. Avoid Costly Repairs or Replacement

An AC unit that is not maintained properly will spew out a lot of issues over time. In turn, this will leave you with costly repairs, or worse, a replacement. You don’t want this to happen to you! The good news is, you can avoid it. 

Furthermore, the maintenance process can identify potential issues that the unit may encounter in the future. Doing so will prevent expensive repairs. 

4. Improve Indoor Air Quality

When was the last time you thought about your indoor air quality? An AC unit not only cools your home, but it ensures the air circulating inside is clean. So, when the unit is dirty, you can count on dirty air circulating in the air. 

So, when you maintain your AC unit properly, you can guarantee better indoor air quality at all times. 

Take Care of Your AC Unit, and It Will Take Care of You

A properly maintained AC unit will go a long way. The benefits above are what you’ll get when you commit to regular AC maintenance. All you need to do is find the right professional to take care of your unit. 

Preventative maintenance is important to ensure your house is comfortable. It can also extend the life of your AC unit. So, don’t hesitate to spend a few bucks for a clean air conditioner—you’re going to benefit a lot from it. Go on and find the right AC maintenance service today! 

Get the best air conditioning service in Alabaster, AL, at Mainline Heating and Air. Join our Maintenance Club, where you can choose an AC maintenance plan. 

During the hotter summer months, your air conditioning system may account for a considerable percentage of your entire yearly home energy expenditures. Most homes’ heating and air conditioning systems are the largest sources of consumption. If you are like the majority of households, you are undoubtedly looking for ways to increase the efficiency of your air conditioner while also lowering your expenses. Improving the efficiency of your unit may help you save money while also extending its life.

Here are some ways to make your air conditioner more efficient: 

1. Clean the Area around the Condenser Unit from the Outside

Cleaning and clearing away any dirt from your outdoor unit will ensure that it performs at its highest level of efficiency and effectiveness. On the other hand, cleaning the condenser may be difficult, so be sure you understand what you’re doing and how to do it before you begin. 

Consider leaving the more detailed cleaning and other AC services to the professionals. They can guarantee that the correct procedures are followed to avoid any kind of lasting harm that could leave you with hefty repair bills in the future.

2. Vents Should Be Unblocked and Vacuumed

The ability to maintain your air conditioner’s vents clear of obstructions is one of the most effective methods to increase its performance. Take some time to go around your home and look into the vents to see what you can find. 

Take a little time to clean out any debris that has accumulated in your interior air supply vents. That is very necessary if you want to ensure that the airflow through your system remains constant. Even if you clean and sweep your home regularly, your vents may still be obstructed by blinds, carpets, toys, or other pieces of furniture. Check to ensure that each of the vents is free of obstructions. Even if you have to change the furniture in a space, this is critical.

3. Close All of the Doors and Windows in the House

The conditioned air in your house can escape to the outside if you leave the doors and windows of your home open. That has the potential to result in significant inefficiencies. 

If you want to air out the room, ensure that your air conditioning equipment is turned off. Keep in mind that it is not your responsibility to chill the whole street.

4. Ensure That Your Windows Are Covered

Lower your curtains or shut your blinds to keep the heat of the day out of your room. When you are attempting to increase the efficiency of your system, this is very advantageous. 

It is possible to decrease the overall heat that enters your house by covering your windows with drapes. Consequently, your system will not be forced to work as hard as it otherwise would. When you leave for work in the morning, it’s a good idea to shut your blinds and drapes to keep the heat out. 

5. Replace the Air Conditioning Filter

When your air conditioning system reaches maximum airflow, it implies that it will run at maximum efficiency rates and vice versa. A clogged filter, on the other hand, may have a considerable effect on this. 

A dirty filter may not only decrease the quality of air in your house, but it may also limit the flow of air, making the work of your air conditioner that much more challenging to complete. 

Performing regular upkeep on your filters is a simple and reasonably priced method of preventing air conditioner efficiency issues. Without handling this issue, you may find yourself needing to spend a lot of money on costly repairs.

6. Increase the Temperature of Your Home on Your Thermostat

Consider raising the temperature of your home by a few degrees. A change in temperature of five to eight degrees, up in the summer and down in the winter season can help you save both resources and costs in the majority of cases. You can also invest in a programmable thermostat, and your smart device will be able to adjust the temperature on its own. Many systems even allow you to make these modifications from any location—even while you’re still traveling home!

Final Thoughts

If you are ready to increase the efficiency of your air conditioner, be sure to put the suggestions and advice you have read here into action. You will save money while also prolonging the life of your unit if you follow these instructions.

Mainline Heating and Air is the company you want for everything AC-related. Whether you need an entirely new AC unit or just want to check on your heating and air conditioning system, you can rely on us to do the job! Call us today to learn more.

Are you dealing with asthma? Even if you or your family members do not have asthma, ensuring that the home’s indoor air quality is excellent is vital. Poor indoor air quality is a one-way ticket to worsened asthma problems, and the last thing you want to face is a health problem caused by poor air quality.

Apart from asthma, you deal with many other issues when faced with poor indoor air quality, such as allergies and respiratory diseases. Regardless, the point is that you need to make sure your indoor air quality is excellent, and in this article, we’ll share tips on how you can do precisely that:

1. Open the Windows 

One of the best things you can do to improve air quality is to open your windows. This allows fresh air to come in and replace any old and stale air hanging around in the home. As such, if you haven’t opened your windows in a while or are going to participate in an activity that will generate a lot of dust or fumes, open the windows. This will help to maintain good indoor air quality, keeping you and the family safe!

2. Clean the Home Often

A lot of dust generated in the home is mostly from you shedding your skin. However, said skin flakes wouldn’t disappear by themselves. They can easily stay on your carpets, sofas, blankets, mattresses, tables, and the like, causing allergic reactions, heightened asthma problems, and more. 

To combat this issue, all you need to do is spend the time cleaning your home. Consider cleaning the house thoroughly at least once every week, and you will soon enjoy not only much better air quality but a tidier home as a result!

3. Buy Some in Indoor Plants

If you live in urban areas, chances are that there aren’t many plants outside to help produce fresh air. If this is the case, your indoor air quality may not be any better than the outdoor air quality. To fix this problem, try and go green!

Indoor plants come in all shapes and sizes, but they are all great at improving your indoor air quality. Apart from this, they can also visually enhance your home, which can help to boost your concentration, reduce stress, and increase productivity. In other words, they are a fantastic investment to make that benefits you in many ways, and you can’t go wrong adding a little green to your home interior.

4. Invest in an Air Filter System

There may be only so many things you can do to improve your indoor air quality in an older home. Solutions like indoor plants and opening the windows will help boost air quality, but sometimes, it may not be enough.

If that’s the case for your situation, you should consider investing in an advanced air filtration system. Older homes may not have such systems installed or are dealing with old systems, so investing in one can help to improve indoor air quality. Keep in mind that there are different price ranges for the air filtration system, so do your research before picking a solution.

Conclusion

If you find yourself often dealing with respiratory issues and allergic reactions for seemingly no reason in your home, there’s a high chance the indoor air quality is poor. As such, do follow the tips we’ve shared above to try and improve your indoor air quality. Good air will only lead to good health and will ensure you live a happy and satisfying life within the comforts of your home.

Mainline Heating & Air offers reliable heating and AC service and quality products to ensure all HVAC needs in Alabaster are adequately met. If you are looking for help to improve your indoor air quality, reach out to us today!

If it’s your first time being a homeowner, there are some details that you may overlook in your house, especially if it’s the first time you’re encountering it. Take your air conditioning unit, for example. It’s not always evident when your unit may need air conditioning repair, especially if you didn’t notice anything that’s currently wrong with it. You won’t actually realize it’s broken until it just stopped working. Well, this guide should help you be more mindful of the warning signs. Here are some quick troubleshooting tips you can do if your air conditioning unit isn’t working properly.

1. Check the Power

If your air conditioner suddenly stops working or isn’t turning on, you might simply have a tripped circuit or a blown fuse, which could have nothing to do with your AC. Try to locate your electrical panel and look to see if any switches have moved to the center position. If you see one that’s been tripped, try turning it off and on again. If that didn’t solve the problem, then you might have blown a fuse. You’ll be able to tell it’s burned out by a dark spot in the glass portion of the fuse.

2. Turn on the Fan

One effective way of finding out whether or not your central air system is getting power is to turn on the fan. You’ll find it right next to the “auto” switch. Turn it on, and if the fan works, then the blower is still getting power. The next thing you need to consider should be your thermostat. That could be the issue why your air conditioning unit stopped working.

3. Thermostat Troubleshooting

Central air conditioners run off of your home’s thermostat. Check the settings and the temperature to make sure someone didn’t tamper with it or changed the settings. If you notice that the settings have been switched to “auto” instead of “cool,” then someone might have changed the settings without you knowing it. If your AC unit is relatively new, then your thermostat might be running off on batteries. Simply changing the batteries could solve the problem.

4. Disconnect Switches Might Be Off

Building codes mandate that switches be installed next to your AC’s indoor and outdoor units. There’s a possibility that your outdoor switch might have been turned off for any number of reasons. On the other hand, this could also happen to your indoor switch. Someone may have bumped it or accidentally leaned onto it. Whatever the case may be, try locating both switches and if they’ve been turned off. Just switch it on again and see if your AC’s working again.

5. Checking the Starting Components

A typical air conditioner depends on at least two capacitors inside the outdoor unit. One is the “start” capacitor, and the other is the “run” capacitor. If one of them becomes faulty or damaged somehow, then your AC can start malfunctioning and not run at all. Those capacitors hold power, so it basically means your AC is dead without them working properly. Unfortunately, there’s only one way to check them, which is by calling an HVAC repair specialist.

Conclusion

Those are just some quick troubleshooting tips you can do whenever you suspect something’s wrong with your AC. However, if there are multiple signs that your AC is on the fritz, then it’s still best to ask for help from professionals.

Mainline Heating and Air is always on standby to serve you whenever you have problems with your heating and air conditioning units. Our team is uniquely qualified to help you repair any broken HVAC components as well as find the right system that fits your needs and your budget. For emergency heating and cooling repair in Alabaster, AL, call our technicians at (205) 664-4751.

Your heating and air conditioning units serve as your lifeline, especially in harsher weather like winter or summer. Imagine how uncomfortable you and your family will be if your AC started malfunctioning and wouldn’t turn on during summertime. Without your AC, how are you going to survive the stifling Alabama heat and humidity? If your AC refuses to turn on, here are some probable causes to help you fix the issue as soon as possible.

Dirty Evaporator Coils

An air conditioner’s evaporator coil is designed to hold the chilled refrigerant that cools the air supply. Over time, the coil can accumulate dust and debris due to extensive usage. That buildup of dust, if not cleaned, could cause some problems to your air conditioning unit. For one, it can greatly decrease the effectiveness of your AC and could eventually lead to it breaking down and not turning on. 

Clogged Filter

An AC’s air filter is perhaps the part of the unit that’s most vulnerable to dust buildup. That’s mainly because the filter is responsible for catching all the dust and debris from the air. When an air filter becomes clogged, that’s when various problems start to arise. The worst-case scenario is the AC’s performance could be weakened or even stalled. The easiest way to prevent this from happening is to replace your air filters regularly.

Condenser Lines Need Cleaning

Aside from filters and evaporator coils, an AC’s condenser line could also become dirty over time. What’s worse is having some mold and algae growth on them. Try to look for your air conditioning unit’s condenser outside your home for some cleaning. Lift the lid and use a wet/dry vac along with some distilled white vinegar to get rid of all the debris inside. Remember to turn off the power first before doing this.

Faulty Motor

The problem could also be just a faulty motor. If your AC is a bit old and has been working nonstop for many years, then a faulty motor might be the likely cause of your problem. An AC fan motor is designed to circulate cool air evenly throughout your home. Even if your AC is producing cool air, without the motor, your fan won’t be able to distribute it all around the house. When a faulty motor prevents your AC from turning on or working properly, it’s time to call an AC repair specialist.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Circuit breakers are designed to protect you from fires, electrical surges, and more. Despite all that, circuit breakers aren’t immune to tripping. When that happens, it can be very frustrating and confusing, especially if you don’t know what’s causing it. Every time your circuit breaker trips while connected to your AC, it’s quite likely that your air conditioner is very old and is using too much electricity, which is what’s causing the tripping.

Electrical Wiring Issues

If your circuit breaker isn’t the problem, then a wiring issue might be what’s preventing your AC from turning on. In fact, a constantly tripping circuit breaker could be caused by an electrical wiring issue. Flickering lights, discoloration on the outlets, and other electrical issues are usually signs of a wiring problem. You may want to call in an electrician and have the wires fixed or replaced.

Conclusion

There are many problems that could be the cause as to why your air conditioner isn’t turning on. This list should give you an idea of what those problems are and how you can identify and fix them. However, the best solution to most of these problems is to ask for help from a professional.

Mainline Heating and Air provides quality products and complete HVAC repair services to clients in the greater Birmingham area. Since 1989, our team has served the community with our repair, installation, and maintenance work for all types of heating and cooling systems. Whenever you need emergency air conditioning service in Alabaster, AL, give us a call.