HVAC & Electrical Services Blog | Covenant Heating and Cooling

AC Compressor Failure: What Do You Do?

August 16th, 2021

Interior view of an AC unit showing compressor and wiring, indicating a need for AC repair.

Did you know that your air conditioner’s compressor is considered the “heart” of your air conditioning system? It is the component that causes the refrigerant to move through the rest of the system and transfer heat from inside your home and expel it outside. When the compressor fails, the air conditioner essentially fails. The fans might still operate, but you’ll notice that no cooled air will come through the vents. This type of issue may resemble other cooling problems, like when your AC isn’t cooling properly, making accurate diagnosis critical.

Since the compressor is so essential, and an expensive component to replace, homeowners have a big decision to face when theirs fails.

So let’s say this is you, your compressor has failed and there’s no bringing it back to life. You had an HVAC technician out to take a look and it’s fried. You have a few options at this point:

Replace just the compressor.
Replace the entire outdoor unit.
Replace the entire air conditioner.

Read on to learn what the best option might be for your home!

Power Surge 101: Everything You Need to Know

August 2nd, 2021

One of the biggest misconceptions about power surges is that they only occur due to lightning storms, and you really don’t need to worry about them outside of storm season. Unfortunately, this just isn’t true.

On the contrary, power surges are caused by and impact the electrical appliances and equipment in your home. You can have dozens of small power surges in your home a week and not even know it! And since homes have more precise electrical equipment in them than ever before, it’s important to be aware of this.

You likely have multiple devices connected to your home’s power supply at any time, right? You probably also have a number of charging stations to manage your family’s smartphones and other devices. If you want to protect all these devices, then it’s important to know what a power surge really is and how its voltage can impact your home. And before you tell us you’re not worried because you have power strips in place–that’s not the most ideal solution. Read on to learn more!

The Importance of Proper Sizing with Your AC Installation

July 19th, 2021

“How do I know if my air conditioner is the right size?” is the question that’s probably on your mind after reading the title of this blog post.

And the answer is a little tricky.

If you have your air conditioner installed by a team of qualified professionals who help you choose that air conditioner, and come to your home before doing so, then you don’t need to worry about it–your air conditioner will be properly sized.

Appropriate AC size is determined by a process called a cooling load calculation. This is one of the most important parts of AC installation and if not done correctly can lead to a number of problems, including premature replacement. Read on to learn more!

The Benefits of Investing in a Solar Attic Fan

July 5th, 2021

When we’re in the middle of a hot and sticky summer, there’s only so much a homeowner can do to keep their living space cool. You can make sure you keep your air conditioner tuned-up properly, that you keep your blinds and curtains closed in the middle of the day to keep the sunshine out (especially on south facing windows), and run your solar attic fan!

Wait, what’s that? You haven’t invested in a solar attic fan yet? Well not to worry, it’s never too late!

Wondering what the benefits are? Consider this: On the hottest days of summer, the sun beats down on your roof for hours, while humidity lingers both outside and in your home. Your air conditioner keeps running to try to keep you home cool enough, with its compressor running for longer and longer. Your air conditioner can actually struggle with this, causing exacerbated wear and tear and higher than average energy bills. Fortunately, a professionally installed solar attic fan can help prevent this.

Going Ductless: Is This Right for Your Home?

June 21st, 2021

With the official start of summer upon us, it’s time for homeowners to ask themselves if their air conditioners are up to the task of keeping them cool and comfortable throughout the coming months, at a relatively low cost. If not, and if your air conditioner has reached 10-15 years of age, then it may very well be time to replace the system. The question is now, should you replace your conventional central air conditioner with a ductless system?

If so, you’ve definitely come to the right team! But what if you’re still unsure? After all, a ductless air conditioning system (and heating system) is a great, efficient choice for many homes, but it’s not the best choice for all homes. Read on to learn if its right for yours.

Rattle, Bang, Hiss: Why Your Air Conditioner Shouldn’t Sound Like an Orchestra

June 7th, 2021

We all have a genre of music that we prefer. Maybe your chosen type is classical or instrumental. If so, you’ll likely enjoy a good orchestra… unless the performance is coming from your air conditioning system. That level of noise and the many sounds it entails is bad news for the operation of your AC.

To put it bluntly, a noisy AC needs some help. If you start to notice any of the sounds we’ve listed coming from your system then you’ll need to contact us for professional repairs. The sooner you get these noises addressed, the better it will be for your system and your comfort in the long run.

What You Should Know about Air Conditioner Capacitors

May 24th, 2021

The one thing you should know about your air conditioner is that it takes a lot of different components working together for the system to function as efficiently and effectively as it’s meant to, and to perform at all. It’s a complex electronic appliance with many wires, switches, motors, and capacitors. When something goes amiss with this system, it’s always solvable—but you need to call on an experienced pro for the job.

If your air conditioner isn’t working, even if you’re sure you know why, it’s time to give us a call. In the meantime, read on to learn about how your AC problems could be connected to one AC component in particular—a capacitor.

How to Tell When You Need Air Conditioning Repairs

May 10th, 2021

Two HVAC technicians wearing masks and helmets repairing an outdoor AC unit.

As much as we’re sure you’d like it to, your air conditioner simply won’t last forever.

Think of it this way a car with over 150,000 miles on it simply can’t drive like a brand new one that’s just how stuff works! However, with routine air conditioning maintenance and by staying on top of your AC repair needs, you can keep your air conditioner operating well for at least 10-15 years. This sure beats being disappointed by subpar AC service, right?

Cooling system problems that go unaddressed can unfortunately build up and cause significant damage. A small refrigerant leak, for example, can eventually lead to your compressor working “too hard” to do its job, and failing as a result. And we hate to break this to you, but a failed compressor usually means a failed air conditioner altogether. That’s why it’s important not to delay neglecting air conditioning repair needs can quickly lead to costlier consequences.

But how do you know when your air conditioner needs help?

How You Can Boost AC Efficiency This Summer

April 26th, 2021

Two HVAC technicians reviewing a tablet while performing AC maintenance service on an outdoor unit.

In just a couple of short months, summer will officially be upon us. When summer does arrive, homeowners have to be ready. This means ensuring that your air conditioner is in great shape and ready to handle whatever Mother Nature brings its way.

The best way to ensure your air conditioner is ready for summer is with maintenance. During professional maintenance, our technicians comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust components of the system that need it. We will also alert you to any repair needs we find so you can get those on your schedule right away and don’t have to wait for a breakdown to occur. Maintenance helps your air conditioner perform as effectively as it’s meant to, and as efficiently as possible, too. Even with maintenance, it’s important not to neglect necessary air conditioning repairs that could escalate into costly problems.

With or without maintenance though, there are a number of things you can do to boost and maintain AC efficiency, such as:

The Power of Whole-House Air Purification

April 12th, 2021

We have a number of customers ask us if whole-house air purification is worth it. Our short answer is, “yes!” But of course, we will elaborate below.

Over the past year, many homeowners have struggled a bit with deciding the best ways to stay healthy inside their own homes. Indoor air quality has been a bit of a “buzzword” so to speak. But indoor air quality is actually really important. And your indoor air quality can be worse than the quality of the air outside if you don’t have the right IAQ solutions in place.

While no indoor air quality product can guarantee that things like virus transmission will never happen, but using the right product or service can definitely reduce the risks involved with poor indoor air quality. Read on as we uncover the power of whole-house air purification.