A/C Noises You Should Never Ignore

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Air conditioning is an essential part of life in South Florida. Without it, most people wouldn’t be able to tolerate the scorching temperatures in summer. It makes sense to pay attention when your A/C system is showing signs that a repair is needed. Fortunately, there are several obvious sounds that you should never ignore, which give you ample time to call for A/C maintenance in West Palm Beach, FL.

Banging or Clanking

Your A/C system should never make banging or clanking noises, especially when it’s kicking on. Yes, you’ll hear a little bit of noise when it first turns on, but it shouldn’t be startling. Banging or clanking often indicates loose or damaged components.

Screeching or Squealing

You should never hear high-pitched sounds like screeching or squealing. This sound often indicates an issue with the A/C’s fan motor or belt. These components may be worn out or misaligned; if not addressed promptly, they can lead to system failure.

Hissing or Whistling

This kind of sound indicates a leak somewhere in your A/C system. In particular, it could relate to a problem with refrigerant levels. You should call for service immediately, as this kind of problem could cause irreversible damage to the compressor.

Rattling or Vibrating

This is another sign that may mean loose components. Call for A/C repair to have the situation addressed sooner rather than later.

Grinding

The only grinding you should hear is the sound of the coffee beans in the morning, not from your A/C unit. When the A/C’s motor bearing goes bad, there’s typically a grinding sound.

If you notice any of these sounds, contact A/C repair in West Palm Beach, FL, as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

Signs of Mold in Your Air Ducts

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The humid climate in South Florida makes mold a common HVAC problem for homeowners. Mold affects the health of residents in more ways than one. Regularduct cleaning in West Palm Beach, FL, helps to keep mold out of your air ducts. Here are signs of mold in your air ducts.

Visible Signs of Mold

Mold leaves visible signs of its presence. Take a look at the air vents around your home, including around ducts and on the VAC unit itself. If you notice black, brown, green, or white dots or specks, that’s mold. You should contact your West Palm Beach, FL, HVAC professional as soon as possible to have the ducts cleaned.

Increase in Respiratory Symptoms

Mold in the air exacerbates asthma and can increase or cause respiratory symptoms. If you notice that you or your family members are exhibiting respiratory symptoms—especially if it’s relatively recent—chances are that you need professional duct cleaning services.

Inconsistent/Blocked Airflow

Excess mold growth in the ducts can actually obstruct airflow, leading to inconsistencies in the distribution of treated air in your home. If you notice that some rooms become harder to cool or heat, or if you notice a decrease in airflow, mold could be a contributing factor.

Recent Water Damage

Flooding in West Palm Beach, Florida, has become a more frequent problem due to more unpredictable weather patterns. If your home has recently experienced water damage or if there are leaks near the HVAC system, this can create a conducive environment for mold growth. High humidity levels or condensation around or in the ductwork can also promote mold proliferation.

If you notice any of these signs, or if you can’t remember when the last time you had your air ducts cleaned, contact Pro-Star Air Conditioning today forduct cleaning services in West Palm Beach, FL.

5 Signs You Need A/C Repair

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Air conditioning in West Palm Beach isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. So when your air conditioning goes out, it’s an emergency that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible. Typically, air conditioning doesn’t just quit out of the blue. There are usually warning signs. Here are X of the most common signs you need A/C repair.

1. You’re Feeling Warm Air, Not Cold

If your A/C is blowing warm air, or air that doesn’t quality as being actually cold, this could indicate that the air compressor isn’t working as it should.

2. You Have Higher Electric Bills Than Usual

When temperatures soar, most people’s A/C bills rise a little. But if your energy bills are higher than the same season as last year, then your A/C unit likely isn’t working as efficiently as it could.

3. You’re Hearing Unusual Noises

As a homeowner, you’re accustomed to what your A/C sounds like when it’s running. If you start hearing any unusual noises–particularly clicking, knocking or humming–book an appointment for A/C service in West Pam Beach, FL right away.

4. Water is Leaking Near the A/C

Contrary to what some people might think, your A/C shouldn’t be leaking, even when you’re running it a lot. This kind of problem might have something to do with excess condensation buildup, but you’ll need to contact an HVAC technician to be sure and to resolve the issue.

5. Thermostat Adjustments Seem to Have No Effect

If your A/C system isn’t cycling on and off like it’s supposed to, or if it seems like your thermostat adjustments are having no effect on the temperature in your home, this is a sign that your A/C needs repair. It’s likely a problem with the thermostat, but there could be an underlying cause that needs to be addressed.

Don’t spend a minute longer than necessary dealing with an A/C system that needs repair. If you notice one or more of these signs, contact the leaders in HVAC services in West Palm Beach, FL for help.

How Often Do Ducts Need Cleaning?

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The climate in West Palm Beach, FL, makes home ducts vulnerable to the accumulation of dust, mold, and other contaminants. Air conditioning in West Palm Beach, FL, isn’t just about keeping your home cool. Make sure you consider the needs of your home air ducts, too.

How Often Do Ducts Need Cleaning?

As a rule of thumb, air ducts should be cleaned every three to five years. This frequency can vary based on several factors, including the location of your home, the age of your HVAC system, and your indoor air quality needs. However, in West Palm Beach, with its humid climate, ducts may need to be cleaned more frequently. Humidity can promote mold growth and the accumulation of other allergens in the ductwork.

Homes with high occupancy or those with pets might require more frequent duct cleaning. Pet dander, hair, and other particulates can clog ducts quicker than in homes without pets.

Finally, if someone in your home suffers from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, it’s wise to clean the ducts more frequently to ensure the air quality is as clean as possible.

Benefits of Regular Duct Cleaning

It pays to get regular duct cleaning services in West Palm Beach, FL.

  • Improved Air Quality – Regular cleaning helps remove dust, mold spores, pollen, and other allergens, improving the indoor air quality of your home.
  • Enhanced System Efficiency – Clean ducts allow your HVAC system to operate more efficiently, potentially lowering energy costs and extending the life of your system.
  • Odor Elimination – Cleaning can remove odor-trapping particles, leading to a fresher-smelling home.
  • Health Benefits – Reducing the presence of allergens and irritants can have a significant positive impact on the health of residents, particularly for those with respiratory issues.

Regular duct cleaning is essential to maintaining a healthy living environment. Contact us today to schedule your duct cleaning service.

3 Things a Visual Inspection of Your HVAC System Might Miss

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A visual inspection of an HVAC system can reveal any number of details, which is why they’re important for all property owners to conduct on a regular basis. The more often you look at your unit, the easier it will be to determine what’s normal and what could be cause for concern. However, no matter how thorough your visual checks are, the reality is that you can still miss a few major things that only an HVAC professional in West Palm Beach, FL, will be able to find.

Internal Issues

Internal issues can include anything from wiring problems with your electricity to the compressor to condenser coils. If these components are wearing down or the ongoing vibration of the unit has caused them to become misaligned, you might see anything from higher gas bills to hazardous flames.

Leaks

Not all leaks show up on the floor or around the unit. If your refrigerant is leaking, the leak will stay in the system. Over time, you may see operations start to slow down or stop altogether.

Ductwork

Leaking ductwork will eventually reduce the efficiency of the system because it puts more pressure on the system to heat or cool the air. Plus, it can lead to back drafting, which will put more allergens in the air. You may be able to tell that your ductwork is leaking just from looking at a shaft of air through the sun, but the important thing is to keep an eye on it all.

HVAC Inspections in West Palm Beach, FL

While you shouldn’t skip your visual checks, they can’t be done in place of a professional inspection. If you could use a professional HVAC inspection in West Palm Beach, FL, the staff at Pro-Star Air Conditioning Inc. is here to give your systems a thorough once-over.

Tips for Keeping a Cool, Comfortable Home

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When the warm weather arrives, this can create a very hot and uncomfortable home. While a properly working air conditioner can help, feeling warm is still common for millions.

Looking for easy ways to find relief? Check out the following tips for keeping a cool and comfortable home environment:

Enhance your windows

Your windows are where tons of heat enters your residence. That said, try to make some window upgrades to keep the added heat to a minimum. Installing reflective window films is a great option, which can block out a significant amount of solar heat and harmful UV rays.

Air conditioning maintenance is also very important to ensure your home stays cool. Reach out to Pro-Star Air Conditioning Inc today for trusted AC maintenance in West Palm Beach, FL!

Keep sunlight out

If you enjoy opening your blinds or shades to let in that amazing sunlight, this can also create a much warmer home. In addition, not only can it make your home warmer, but it also puts more pressure on your AC system. Keep your blinds closed as much as possible to keep the indoor temperature low.

Clean AC filters

As warm weather hits, this causes your AC unit to work overtime, which can lead to a buildup in your air conditioning filter. To ensure your unit stays running at its best, clean your AC filters every few weeks.

Schedule air conditioning maintenance

A properly working air conditioner is essential to staying cool. That said, schedule inspections and system maintenance to ensure it stays in good working order. This service can also increase the lifespan of your unit.

If you’re searching for the most dependable AC maintenance in West Palm Beach, FL, make an appointment at Pro-Star Air Conditioning Inc today!

Sources

Keep Your House Cool in Summer – 22 Tips and Tricks

How Often Does Your Air Conditioner Need Preventive Maintenance?

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All equipment becomes less effective over time, including the cooling system in your home. However, you can increase the longevity of your air conditioner and reduce or eliminate major repairs later by arranging preventive air conditioning services in West Palm Beach, FL.

How Often Should You Have Your Air Conditioner Maintained?

Ideally, you want to have a service technician from Pro-Star Air Conditioning come out at least once a year. We recommend scheduling your preventive maintenance appointment in the spring since we are busiest with these types of appointments during the summer months. You might want to consider scheduling bi-annual preventive maintenance if you have an older unit or you’re concerned about its efficiency.

What to Expect at Your Preventive Maintenance Appointment

Here are just some of the things our experienced service technicians work on during your air conditioner tune-up:

  • Ensure it has the right amount of refrigerant with no leaks.
  • Check belts for tightness and oil the motors.
  • Inspect all electric terminals.
  • Measure the current amount of airflow coming through the unit’s evaporator coils.
  • Check for leaks in the central system and seal them if necessary.

This is just a partial list of our preventive maintenance services. Our technicians will always let you know if your air conditioner has a problem that requires additional maintenance.

Change Your Filters Quarterly to Maintain a Strong Air Flow

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a clogged and dirty air filter can increase energy costs by as much as 15 percent. The reason for this is that air conditioners with a full filter must work harder to produce and distribute chilled air. The air that does come out distributes unevenly and is warmer than it should be.

Spring will be here before you know it. Please schedule an appointment for preventive air conditioning services in West Palm Beach, FL, today.

How Often Do I Need Duct Cleaning?  

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Nearly every home in West Palm Beach has central air conditioning. With summer temperatures easily soaring into the high 90s and beyond, central A/C is the only thing that makes it possible to live comfortably in South Florida. A central A/C system includes ducts, which disperse conditioned air throughout the home. Periodically, you need to have HVAC services in West Palm Beach to clean those ducts.

Why Ducts Need Cleaning

As air moves through ducts, it captures a range of “debris” that also enters the duct system. This includes allergens like pollen, human skin cells that are shed, pet dander and more. Over time, this dust and debris accumulates along the surfaces of the interior of the duct. Two things happen as a result; all the new air passing through picks up little bits of dust and debris and disperses it into your home and second, the interior space of the duct shrinks as the walls get caked with debris. Of course, with regular duct cleanings, the walls never “shrink” to the point where it’s noticeable, but if ducts aren’t cleaned, the efficiency of the A/C system is diminished and will have to work harder to pump air through an increasingly small passage.

Finally, the climate in West Palm Beach is very humid. When you combine moist air inside the ducts with the inherent darkness, what results is a thriving environment for mold. These mold spores then get spewed out through your home’s vents, where your family breathes them in.

In any event, the air quality in the home is greatly reduced. Your A/C system may be spreading allergens and mold into the air you breathe.

How Often Do I Need Duct Cleaning?

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends duct cleaning every three to five years. In South Florida, we recommend a duct cleaning every other year, due to excessive air pollution and the humid, tropical environment.

You work hard to stay healthy. Don’t let dirty ducts compromise those efforts. Contact us today for duct cleaning in West Palm Beach, FL.

 

When Should I Change My Air Conditioner Filter?  

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HVAC systems come with filters that need to be changed periodically. If the air filter isn’t changed on a regular basis, parts of the HVAC system could become clogged with dirt and debris, leading to inefficiency and unnecessary wear and tear on your air conditioner unit.

Changing your HVAC filter periodically when performing HVAC maintenance in West Palm Beach FL can prolong the life of your air conditioner and the other parts of your HVAC system. Knowing how to change your AC filter is important, if you perform your own AC maintenance. Here’s what you need to know.

What Does the HVAC Filter Do?

The HVAC filter cleans the air circulating through your home’s ducts and HVAC system, keeping dust and dander from lodging in the parts of your home’s HVAC units. The filter also cleans the air that circulates through your home. In fact, you can remove extra-small particles from the air in your home with a HEPA filter.

Where Is the Filter?

The filter is usually located near the air handler for the home’s air conditioner or furnace. Usually, the filter is kept in a slot that’s clearly labeled. You may need to open a little door to gain access to the slot.

When Should I Change the Filter?

Change the filter when it gets dirty, or after three months of use, whatever comes first. If you and other members of your household have allergies, you may find it beneficial to switch it out more frequently. You’ll know that you need to switch out your home’s filter when the allergies in your household become worse, or when you notice excessive dust on the furniture in your room.

Contact Your HVAC Professional

You don’t have to be the one to switch out your home’s air filter. Hire the professional HVAC repair people in West Palm Beach FL to perform HVAC maintenance today.

 

Does My A/C Need a Tune Up?  

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Air conditioners need tune ups on a regular basis in order to maintain efficiency and functionality. Getting your air conditioner tuned up can help keep your A/C in good condition for many years to come.

As your air conditioner repair person in West Palm Beach, FL, we can answer your questions about air conditioner tune ups and help you decide if you need an air conditioner tune up at your house.

Signs Your A/C Needs a Tune Up

Do you know when your A/C needs a tune up? Here’s how you can tell:

  • Your A/C hasn’t been serviced in a year or more. If your A/C hasn’t been tuned up in a year or more, it’s been too long! Get it serviced as soon as possible.
  • Your A/C is older. An older air conditioner needs special care from an HVAC professional to ensure that it continues to run.
  • Your A/C is behaving strangely. If your air conditioner is making strange noises or not performing as well as it once did, get it tuned up.

When to Get Your A/C Tuned Up

At Pro-Star Air Conditioning, we recommend getting your A/C tuned up annually, ideally at the beginning of every spring or summer, before you really need to use your air conditioner. If you use your air conditioner throughout the year, you may even consider getting it tuned up multiple times per year.

Difference Between a Tune Up and a Repair

A tune up is a check-up to ensure that your air conditioner will continue to run throughout the cooling season. A repair is meant to fix something that is broken. At Pro-Star Air Conditioning Inc, we provide A/C tune ups in West Palm Beach, FL.